Chapter 3: The guest does not know that the person is no longer the same
Fu Qinghe was leading two disciples to instruct the boatmen to light the lanterns hanging under the eaves of the painted boat. Du Rong cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Master Fu is busy..." Fu Qinghe had little fondness for Du Rong, merely nodding coldly as a form of acknowledgment, and he chose to ignore Du Rong's cutting remarks.
History has been so thoroughly distorted that Lin Fu can only accept it in its entirety. To this day, the Great Chen Dynasty has turned to ashes, and the founding emperor of this dynasty, Yuan Tuo, originally a descendant of the Yuan family from Shangyang in Huainan, rose to prominence during the chaotic final years of the previous dynasty. The founding emperor, who held the title of pacification commissioner of Jiangdong, established his base in Jiangning Prefecture and achieved imperial success, founding the Great Yue Empire, which has now lasted for two hundred years.
Lin Fu thought of Lady Gu Yingxiu, a faint bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: Gu Yingxiu was only seven years older than him, and it could be said that both he and Gu Yingxiu were raised by their mother. If it were not for Gu Yingxiu's family falling into decline, leading the already over fifty-year-old Lin Tingxun to take her as a concubine, Lin Fu would probably still call her Sister Yingxiu at this moment. Lin Fu's first spring dream was of Gu Yingxiu entering his dream, which made the naturally timid Lin Fu, who valued or perhaps feared propriety, extremely afraid of meeting Gu Yingxiu in the future. On the other hand, before marrying Lin Tingxun, Gu Yingxiu had a gentle and submissive temperament, but after becoming a concubine, her character became remarkably strong, even surpassing the roles of wife and concubine to assertively intervene in family affairs. This made the inherently timid Lin Fu feel even more unable to hold his head high in front of Gu Yingxiu.
What does Miss Su want with such a useless person
The three men who had borrowed a place on the boat to listen to music were still in high spirits, continuing to invite Zhao Neng and the boatman to drink at the bow of the boat; they also took care of Lin Ba, keeping their laughter relatively subdued. Lin Ba was not one to dampen others' spirits, but considering that he needed to instruct the boatman to set sail early the next day, he took off his clothes, blew out the candle, and went to bed to rest.
The guard Du Rong noticed the way Lin Fu was looking at him, but simply turned down his collar to cover the leather armor and then turned to walk away into the distance
The small bundle of silk handkerchief in Lin Fu's hand felt somewhat heavy, weighing nearly ten taels of silver. No matter how thick-skinned he was, could he really use the travel funds gifted by Su Mei as fare for the boat?
Ah! Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, suddenly startled Lin Fu as she walked out. Without waiting for Su Mei's maid to respond, Lin Fu turned and sternly reprimanded Zhao Neng, "Stop gossiping so much; it won't kill you! What do you mean my temper is rising?"
In recent years, banditry has been severe in various regions, and although the private security of merchants and travelers contradicts the imperial system, local authorities have turned a blind eye. In some areas, wealthy families have even used the pretext of banditry to establish fortified camps and organize private armies, with the imperial court showing little ability to impose restrictions. Du Rong, after all, is merely a merchant, and the fact that more than a dozen of his bodyguards are armed already violates regulations. To openly don armor is truly an act of extreme arrogance.
Lin Buxin thought: How did this man come to act as the host here? Although he felt displeased, he did not want to give Zhao Neng the opportunity to leverage the influence of outsiders. Moreover, he noticed that other boats seemed to have similar guests bringing food and drinks on board, so he silently retreated to the cabin and casually bolted the door.
Du Rong's voice, though strained, still clearly reached Lin Fu's ears. Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, even turned back to glance at Lin Fu; at that moment, Zhao Neng appeared as if Du Rong had relieved his anger, a hint of coldness and disdain evident in his expression.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen, Zhao Neng had already been following Lin Tingxun, the head of the Lin family, attending to his commands. Now at eighteen, although he is somewhat slender, he is sharp-witted and knowledgeable. This is why he was sent by Madam Gu Yingxiu to assist Lin Fu in preparing for the examination. Zhao Neng harbors some resentment towards this arrangement, yet he does not dare to offend Madam Gu. Throughout the journey, he has shown a lack of regard for Lin Fu.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, Lin Fu heard some unusual noises outside the cabin. Alert, he sat up, and the more he listened, the more something felt off. Cautiously, he pressed against the crack of the wooden cabin door to look outside. To his shock, he saw two men who had boarded the ship earlier to drink standing at the bow. One had a knife pressed against Zhao Neng's throat, while the other was forcing the boatman to untie the mooring ropes. A third man was nowhere to be seen.
After Lin Fu passed the examination and became a scholar, he could only receive six coins of silver as a monthly allowance from his clan. Ten taels of silver is undoubtedly a substantial sum for an ordinary family. For instance, the boatmen on the pleasure boats toil for an entire year to earn only three to four taels of silver, which amounts to three to four thousand coins.
The maid Xiaoman followed behind Du Rong and said flatteringly: "Sir Du, you may not know that Young Master Lin just mentioned he will be leaving Baisha County early tomorrow. My young lady has given him some silver coins as travel expenses..."
Lin Fu's words were indeed veiled and indirect, akin to criticizing someone while ostensibly referring to another. The maid Xiaoman felt a burning heat on her face; she always knew that she and Zhao were in the wrong for gossiping behind others' backs. She thought to herself: when did this useless coward gain the courage to reprimand others? Initially, she wanted to mock him a bit more, but at that moment, she found it pointless. She simply said: "I will let my young lady know..."
Du Rongping is known for his extravagant hospitality when receiving guests, being a prominent wealthy merchant in Jiangning and Weiyang. Perhaps it is Lin Ba's relentless pursuit of Su Mei that has caused him to feel disgusted, leading him to treat her harshly.
Lin Fu had no time to listen, as a sword hung in the cabin, usually serving only as decoration. He took it down and pressed the latch at the mouth of the scabbard, and with a sound of "ding," the sword sprang out, reflecting the flickering candlelight. Upon closer inspection, the sword was merely ordinary, its edge could not be considered sharp, and it did not have a blood groove.
"After he passed the imperial examination and became a successful candidate, his temper has grown more arrogant. How could I, as his follower, possibly persuade him?" Zhao said helplessly outside the cabin, his tone revealing his inner dissatisfaction.
"My young master asked me to thank your young lady." At that moment, the sound of Zhao Neng talking to someone else came from outside
When Emperor Taizu first proclaimed himself emperor, he established the capital in Jiangning. To defend against the northern tribes, Emperor Taizong moved the capital to Yanshan Prefecture in Hebei, renaming it Yanjing, while retaining Jiangning as the secondary capital, which was then referred to as Nanjing—this coincides with the later historical memory of Nanjing.
Lin Fu had made up his mind to leave Baisha County tomorrow, letting Su Mei become a fleeting memory. He thought to himself that she had taken care of him quite a bit these days, sending him to the doctor and providing medicine, as well as assisting him with his daily needs. He could not just leave without a word. Moreover, he could not allow Zhao Neng, this dog-like servant, to continue gossiping about him outside. Lin Fu threw his sword onto the table, pushed open the cabin door, and stepped out. He saw Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, leaning against the side of the painted boat, half her body out as she spoke to Zhao Neng. He called out to her: "Please tell Miss Su that Lin Fu has caused her quite a bit of trouble these days and plans to take a light boat upstream back to Dongyang tomorrow morning. I also thank her for her concern during this time..."
Speaking of which, Lin Fu is merely somewhat timid in the Lin family, lacking in the poetry and prose commonly used in the imperial examinations. However, his knowledge is not lacking; he excels in various subjects and has a particular fondness for studying military strategy, often fantasizing about becoming a general who expands territories. Yet, due to his timid nature, these aspirations remain mere fantasies in his mind, and he is even afraid to speak of them for fear of attracting others' ridicule
After Lin Fu passed the provincial examination, the manager of the Lin family's business in Jiangning sent over twenty taels of silver to assist with travel expenses. After nearly a month of extravagance, even though there was still some left, it was in Zhao Neng's hands; this wicked servant needed to be taught a good lesson, and he could not be allowed to threaten them over financial matters. Lin Fu was not being hypocritical or polite; after receiving the silver, he felt a bit heavy-handed and said, "Please convey a message to Miss Xiaoman, Lin Fu thanks Miss Su..." He thought to himself that Su Mei's reluctance to come out and bid farewell was certainly not because she was bathing and changing clothes, but rather because she did not want him to continue harboring infatuations for her. The travel expenses were also her usual generosity towards down-and-out scholars—Lin Fu looked at the last trace of red in the western sky, reminiscent of a young girl's fragrant lips, and thought to himself that he was indeed a down-and-out scholar at this moment.
The windows in the cabin were tightly shut, instantly filling the space with a strong medicinal scent
Lin Buxin thought that the rumors outside about Du Rong originally being a pirate, and after coming ashore, making a fortune by smuggling salt before turning to the silk business, were mostly true; he did not think much of it, as the boatman brought the cooked chicken porridge, which he took and entered the cabin.
Lin Fu merely smiled upon hearing this, thinking to himself that Zhao Neng was intentionally saying it for his benefit
Although he could only live as Lin Fu, he still subconsciously regarded himself as Tan Zhong from the future in his dreams, pondering issues in this manner: apart from the chaos of the Five Barbarians after the Wei and Jin dynasties, the nearly six to seven hundred years were not a history he was familiar with—there were no Southern and Northern Dynasties, nor the Sui and Tang dynasties. He was not well-versed in historical details; even when reading the comprehensive historical text "Records of the Grand Historian," he only knew that the chaos of the Five Barbarians was a prolonged turmoil lasting a hundred years. The empire that unified the world after the chaos of the Five Barbarians was Yan, which lasted only a hundred years, and it was overthrown by Chen.
"I trouble the young girl..." Lin Fu clasped his hands in greeting, watching as Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, entered the cabin to report back. The young girl glanced back one more time before entering the cabin, her small face pale and luminous like jade in the twilight, her innocence still apparent. Her dark, sparkling eyes resembled stars shining in the depths of the night. Her skin was fair and tender, and her features were exquisite, with not a single flaw; she was truly a beauty in the making. No wonder Zhao was so pleased to chat with her here. It seems she also enjoyed listening to Zhao vent his grievances against him, as this kind of thing resonates just as easily as shared enmity.
In the past, even though Lin Fu was inherently timid and did not dare to retort, he would still feel humiliated and uncomfortable. However, at this moment, he felt nothing, merely staring calmly at the back of Du Rong as he jumped onto the pleasure boat, then shifting his gaze to the followers of Du Rong who remained on the shore. More than ten men were dressed in short garments and boots, with weapons such as knives or swords at their waists. Some tied their horses to the willows on the bank, while others approached the boatmen to negotiate for a place to rest on the boat. One man squatted by the water's edge, cupping water to wash his face. Lin Fu was startled to see the hem of his garment flip up, revealing a corner of leather armor underneath. He was taken aback: the area within the boundaries of the Weiyang Prefecture was relatively peaceful; even if there were occasional bandit troubles, did Du Rong really need to come here to listen to music with more than ten men dressed in short garments and armed? Was it necessary for the guards to remain fully armored and on high alert?
Lin Fu shook his head slightly and sighed. In his previous life, Tan Zong had met his demise due to a prostitute who helped the police with a sting operation. In this life, Lin Fu was infatuated with a songstress from the entertainment industry. What on earth was going on? It would be better to return home and seduce the young and beautiful Seventh Madam for a more promising future. Yet, all he could do was think about enjoying himself in his heart, fully aware that in this world governed by strict etiquette and laws, the consequences of such actions would be even more tragic if exposed. However, nothing is absolute; did not the Emperor Taizong of this dynasty openly confer titles upon his brother's wife, making her a concubine in the imperial harem? No one dared to risk losing their head by speaking out against it.
Besides a few historical books on the bedside, there is a large pile of miscellaneous books, while there are hardly any poetry or literary works that are typically kept by scholars and literati.
Although he is said to be a descendant of the prominent Lin family from Dongyang Prefecture in Jiangdong, he is merely a member of a collateral branch and lost his parents at an early age. Lin Fu's deceased mother was once a maidservant to Gu Yingxiu, the seventh concubine of the Lin family head Lin Tingxun, and also served as Gu Yingxiu's wet nurse. After Gu Yingxiu married Lin Tingxun as his seventh concubine, Lin Fu was able to receive care from the main family due to this connection. Although he no longer had to work as hard as before, he still needed to perform manual labor to make a living. It was only after he passed the examination and became a scholar that he qualified to receive a small monthly allowance from the family to focus on his studies. The servant Zhao Neng who accompanied him was also sent by the seventh concubine Gu Yingxiu to take care of him when he went to Jianye for the examination.
Lin Bu is not accustomed to using a sword, but he still feels some strength in his arms; his physical condition is quite good, not the kind of frail and useless scholar who is easily blown away by the wind
Lin Fu waited at the bow of the boat for a response, while Zhao Neng felt a mix of resentment and helplessness, standing silently with a dark expression. After a moment, Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, returned, holding a small bundle tied with a silk handkerchief. She leaned against the ship's railing and said to Lin Fu: "We are setting sail today. My young lady is still bathing and changing, and it is inconvenient for her to come out to bid farewell to Young Master Lin. Here are some silver coins for your travel expenses. I hope Young Master Lin will not delay..." Her voice was soft as she spoke, her face devoid of expression, as if mechanically reciting Su Mei's words. It seemed she was unwilling to let her young lady provide further financial assistance for Lin Fu's journey home.
"Young Master Lin, " the young servant in a green robe pushed open the door to the cabin, holding a bowl of medicinal soup. "It is time for you to take your medicine. The boatman will soon finish cooking the porridge, and Miss Su has also sent over half a black-boned chicken, saying it is for your nourishment. I asked the boatman to cook it together with the porridge. After you have eaten, you should rest well and not just sit there all night long. It was not easy to escape a calamity; if you return looking emaciated, Madam Qi will surely blame me for not taking proper care of you..."
The sky darkened, and Lin Fu heard several men boarding the ship from the cabin. He lifted the curtain to take a glance and saw Zhao Neng sitting at the bow of the deck, laughing and chatting with three unfamiliar men. The three men came aboard with food boxes, setting out small dishes and two small jars of wine. Upon seeing Lin Fu peeking out, one of the men said, "We can't afford the boarding fee, thank you, Young Master Lin, for lending us the space... Shall we have a drink together?"
It is unclear when it happened, but I heard the sounds of guests gradually leaving the boat, and I also heard Du Rong bidding farewell on the shore, along with the sounds of the group riding away.
At this moment, there were still people on the shore wanting to board the boat. The man stepped forward and refused, saying: "If you come aboard, would you prefer to drink or not? The bow of the boat is too small; it cannot accommodate many people..."
Lin Fu wielded the sword and executed several slashing and thrusting movements. He had never used a sword before and was not accustomed to it; if he truly had to resort to violence to kill, he felt that a bone knife measuring twenty to thirty centimeters would be more suitable. Over the past few days, he had secretly observed Fu Qinghe teaching his two disciples martial arts at the stern of a pleasure boat. Fu Qinghe was a renowned martial artist in Jiangning, and from his stance, it was evident that this world did not possess the legendary martial arts of a thousand enemies. The fighting techniques resembled those from his memories of the future, and in fact, were not as concise and practical as those of the future. Lin Fu assessed that if his physical strength could keep up, he would have no problem facing Fu Qinghe's two disciples even now.
Hearing Zhao Neng's call, Lin Fu shivered and thought to himself: Indeed, there is no need to ponder whether I am Lin Fu or Tan Zong any longer. No matter how great the reluctance, I can only live in this world as Lin Fu. He instinctively took the medicine bowl, drank it all in one go, and then took a sip of tea to wash away the bitterness in his mouth. Only then did he glance at Zhao Neng and say, "I understand..."
Zhao Neng is a born servant of the Lin family, and his Zhao family has served the Lin family for three generations. Due to the strict personal dependency relationships in today's society, a born servant is more likely to gain the trust and favor of the master family. Before Lin Fu became a scholar in the imperial examination, his status in the Lin family was far inferior to that of the born servant Zhao Neng
Lin Fu merely assumed that Zhao had the authority to allow others to board the ship, and with a gesture of respect, said: "Having just recovered, I cannot drink alcohol; please feel free to make your own arrangements..."
Although Su Mei is more radiant and beautiful than Gu Yingxiu, there are still three or four similarities between them. This is probably the reason why Lin Ba first met Su Mei and fell deeply in love, unable to extricate himself.
Su Mei established a rule for performing arts on the ship for disaster relief, requiring an entrance fee of ten taels of silver, while subsequent tips were left to the discretion of the patrons
"Words of gratitude are better off disappearing quickly; if a scholar were to drown, my young lady might also be drowned by the spittle of others upon her return to Jiangning... You should also advise your young master more often." This was a crisp and youthful voice. Lin Zonghui felt as if he were listening to someone speaking through a mobile inquiry service from a past life; she was Xiaoman, the personal maid of Su Mei. Xiaoman was extremely displeased with him, a mere scholar who had only passed by chance and came from a rather ordinary background, for his relentless pursuit of her young lady, and she showed no favorable expression upon seeing him.
Zhao Neng did not expect that Lin Fu, by sheer luck, would succeed in the provincial examination and become a successful candidate. With the status of a successful candidate, he would be qualified to hold an official position. Given the influence of the Lin family, it was certain that they would secure Lin Fu a minor official role in the local government. Considering that Lin Fu's status in the Lin family would change significantly in the future, Zhao Neng's attitude began to shift slightly. In the past, he would never have addressed him as "Young Master Lin Fu"; however, the resentment he harbored in private had not diminished much.
After riding for a while on a swift horse, the time had unexpectedly passed a little. The middle-aged man at the forefront dismounted, responding to Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, while handing the horse over to his attendant. Without waiting for the boatmen on the pleasure boat to lower the ladder, he leaped onto the bow of the black canopy boat. He was agile, dressed in a short robe with a blue collar, sporting a short beard on his lips and no mustache on his chin. He was none other than Du Rong, a wealthy merchant from Jiangning and the major financier of Qingfeng Trading Company. Upon jumping onto the boat, Du Rong noticed Lin Fu standing at the bow and, quite surprised, asked, "Young Master Lin, you finally decided to show your face today! What brings you here? Are you also here to listen to Miss Su's music?" He patted his pocket and then leaped onto the bow of the black canopy boat, agile as ever, dressed in a short robe with a blue collar, sporting a short beard on his lips and no mustache on his chin. He was none other than Du Rong, a wealthy merchant from Jiangning and the major financier of Qingfeng Trading Company. Upon jumping onto the boat, Du Rong noticed Lin Fu standing at the bow and, quite surprised, asked, "Young Master Lin, you finally decided to show your face today! What brings you here? Are you also here to listen to Miss Su's music?" He patted his pocket again and spread his hands, saying, "I have no silver coins to offer you, Young Master Lin. With your agility, you might as well climb to the top of the boat to listen to the music. Just be careful not to fall into the water again..." He laughed heartily and then leaped onto the pleasure boat.
As dusk deepened outside, the cabin was tightly shut, and the light was dim. Zhao Neng took out a candlestick, murmuring softly as he lit it before leaving.
If one cannot afford the fare for the pleasure boat but still wishes to listen to Su Mei sing and play the zither, it is most convenient to do so from the few light boats adjacent to the painted pleasure boat
As Zhao Neng walked along, he had never before scolded Lin Fu with such harsh words. Suddenly being reprimanded, a surge of resentment rushed to his head, and just as he was about to erupt, he noticed that Lin Fu's cold, piercing gaze in the twilight was markedly different from before. He paused for a moment, realizing in his heart that outside, Lin Fu was the master and he was the servant. Moreover, with Lin Fu having passed the imperial examination, things were no longer the same as before. On the day the results of the provincial examination were announced, the person in charge of the Lin family in Jiangning had specially sent over twenty taels of silver for expenses. Zhao Neng suppressed the resentment boiling within him, but the shame of being scolded harshly in front of Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, could not be erased. His neck flushed red, and he stood there frozen, unsure of how to respond.
At this moment, the sound of hooves, "de de," approached as more than ten tall horses galloped along the riverbank. In the twilight, the riders' faces were indistinguishable. In the blink of an eye, they arrived nearby, with over ten horses of various colors—some black, some yellow, some spotted—crowding at the ferry landing. Su Mei's maid, Xiao Man, with her keen eyes, called out sweetly: "Master Du, why are you an hour earlier than usual today? I will have someone lower the ladder right away."
In the night, the sound of a qin melody drifted from the neighboring boat. It seemed that Su Mei had her maid, Xiao Man, perform her novice voice in front of the guests. Listening to the soft and gentle tune, Lin Fu picked up a comprehensive history book, "Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government," but found himself somewhat distracted and unable to focus.
Reflecting on his past lives, Lin Fu shook his head with a bitter smile. With two entirely different memories and two completely distinct personalities, what kind of person would he ultimately become?
A continuous and delicate sound of the qin came from the neighboring boat. With some time left before the performance tonight, Su Mei had already begun tuning the qin in the painted boat.
Lin Buluan was flipping through the historical book "Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government". He found it difficult to make sense of this unfamiliar history, as there was no common era dating system, and the recorded reign titles were somewhat complex. He could only roughly estimate that this period was approximately equivalent to the early Song Dynasty. Due to the rule of three unfamiliar dynasties, the political, economic, and military situations were vastly different from his vague memories of the early Song Dynasty.
The fourteen-year-old little girl truly did not evoke a sense of cuteness. Lin Fu shook his head and sighed in the cabin after hearing Xiao Man's words
Su Mei, as the foremost among the six renowned courtesans of Jiangning, had a significant appeal when she performed in Baisha County, Weiyang, to raise funds for disaster relief. Lin Ba, inside the cabin, gradually heard the sounds of horse hooves and cart tracks stopping at the ferry, while some individuals arrived in light sedan chairs. The painted boat over there lowered a ladder to the shore, allowing those wealthy merchants and distinguished guests to avoid having to jump across from the black awning boat.