Chapter 25: A Rather Romantic Disposition

Wu Residence, backyard.

"I won't look, I won't look!"

Inside the room, Wu Lijun pushed the fabric store ledger aside, rested her chin on her hands, and gazed longingly out the window. In the birdcages hanging from the corridor outside, a light yellow canary chirped, and a vibrant green thrush fluttered about. The canary hopped around happily, singing a cheerful tune, while the thrush danced along.

"Little birds, you are locked in cages too, so why are you so happy?" Wu Lijun asked, puzzled.

"Because they don't have someone outside that they are fond of," her maid, Xiaoyu, said with a smile.

"Why hasn't Huan'er returned yet?" Wu Lijun asked.

"Miss."

Speak of the devil. A maid no taller than five feet hurried into the room, her face flushed and sweat beading on her forehead.

"Huan'er, what happened?" Wu Lijun stood up quickly, grabbing her.

Huan'er panted heavily. "Miss, I ran into the Master’s carriage on my way back, so I rushed through the back alley to avoid being seen."

"And the letter? Did you deliver it?"

Huan'er shook her head. "The hero Zhang has already checked out."

"He's gone?" Wu Lijun’s expression fell instantly.

"However, he left this at the counter, saying if a young lady came looking for him, I should give it to her." Huan'er produced the letter Wu Lijun had written, along with an envelope.

Wu Lijun quickly opened the envelope and pulled out the note inside.

"To Miss Wu: When the moon hangs over the willow branches, we shall meet after dusk. If your heart holds the same sentiment, tie a golden thread with a red string to the large locust tree in front of the Confucian Temple. If I see it, I will come to find you."

It was only a short sentence, yet the spirit returned to Wu Lijun's eyes. "Huan'er, go to the shop and find some golden thread and red string!" She wanted to weave the token herself.

***

County Yamen, inner residence.

An Xin looked at the ledger on his desk. He did not yet know that Wu Lijun had received the letter he left at the inn. The letter had been a whim. He felt that Wu Lijun had feelings for him, but he was the type to think every girl who glanced his way was interested, and fearing he might be misinterpreting things or being overly sentimental, he had left that note.

The Confucian Temple was right next to the yamen—visible as soon as one stepped out of the gate. If one day he truly saw a golden and red string tied there, it would confirm the romance; it was, he thought, quite romantic.

An Xin carefully reviewed the ledger page by page. It had been brought over by Old Zhang, the gatekeeper. It contained the gift money from hundreds of people, including Lu Xun, Qian Ruming, Huang Shouyin, the county clerks, runners, and officials from the Tax Bureau, the County School, and the Inspection Office. Added to that were the gifts from the wealthy gentry who had attended the gathering today. It totaled over two thousand taels.

"This is just the first day; there should be more coming in. Not to mention the gifts from those in the yamen who haven't paid their respects yet, and the contributions from the rural gentry."

An Xin scanned the ledger quickly, calculating the totals. Old Zhang was an honest man and wouldn't dare embezzle such funds.

"No wonder everyone fights to be an official. In a single day of taking office, one earns more than an ordinary person struggling in the fields could save in ten lifetimes."

These were the established, unspoken rules of the entire bureaucracy. Not everyone was like this, but it was the political ecosystem; who could swim in such waters without getting wet? Thinking back to the day he arrived in Wuren County and saw the procession and display of the Prefect, An Xin couldn't help but sigh: "It truly offers both prestige and profit! No wonder the world says that of all pursuits, only scholarship is noble."

He closed the ledger and blew out the lamp. He checked his watch; it was only nine o'clock. In his previous life, this would have been the hour of wine and revelry. But here, nightlife was scarce. There was no electricity, no internet, and information was gained only through word of mouth or the written word. Access was difficult, and the volume was low. Because of this, although An Xin felt lonely, he also felt a sense of clarity, and time seemed to pass much slower.

"Since I haven't found a way to cultivate immortality yet, I might as well try practicing martial arts with Hu Changshan," he thought as he lay down. He pondered his visit to the Huang family tomorrow, considered potential problems and how to handle them, and soon, soft snoring filled the room.

He slept soundly.

***

He woke the next morning to the sound of rain. As he washed his face in a copper basin, An Xin wondered if he should hire more maids. Although he was the only master in the inner residence and could eat the food prepared by the yamen kitchen, relying solely on Old Zhang for cleaning, fetching water, washing clothes, and warming the bed was a bit thin.

The morning rain cleared by the time he was ready to leave. As he stepped out of the yamen, the sun had emerged, and he was greeted by a rainbow across the horizon. Passing the Confucian Temple, An Xin glanced at the old locust tree; there were a few red ribbons fluttering, but no sign of a golden and red string.

The Huang family’s estate in Queqiao Ward was right next to the yamen. The sedan chair arrived in about twenty minutes and stopped before the Huang gate. It was an imposing residence, with seven or eight carriages tied to the hitching posts.

When the chair touched down, Hu Changshan stepped forward to present the calling card to the gatekeeper. The man took one look and ran into the estate. A short while later, the main gate opened, and the eldest grandson of the Huang family, whom An Xin had met the night before, trotted out to welcome him.

"County Magistrate, I am terribly sorry. My father has gone to the capital, and my grandfather is currently receiving a distinguished guest and cannot step away, so I am here to welcome you," Huang Shanbo said, bowing low.

"There is no need for such formality, Shanbo." Since An Xin was here to visit, he naturally wanted to show goodwill, and he reached out both hands to help him up.

Huang Shanbo was surprised by the strength he felt. He had practiced martial arts with the family instructor for years and was sensitive to force. This made him re-evaluate the new magistrate; he was a man of both literary and martial talent.

The Huang estate was a complex of courtyards, pavilions, and corridors, with carved beams and painted pillars. Even the blue bricks on the ground were engraved with intricate reliefs, stunning in their detail. This alone spoke to the wealth of the Huang family.

Huang Shanbo led him to a flower hall. Outside was a rockery and a fish pond where fat, golden-red koi swam lazily. A breeze blew, causing the autumn chrysanthemums to sway, filling the air with fragrance.

The scenery was beautiful, but he ended up waiting for over half an hour. As time passed and three cups of tea were consumed, although Huang Shanbo kept the conversation going with literary allusions and banter, it was highly improper for the master of the house to keep the local magistrate waiting for so long.

As more time ticked by, An Xin’s brow furrowed. The Huang family might be prestigious, but they were still a clan within his jurisdiction of Wuren County. Was this not showing far too little respect for the local magistrate?

An Xin set his tea cup down once more, his tone noticeably colder as he spoke to Huang Shanbo: "May I ask what kind of distinguished guest is visiting your estate today that requires the personal attention of Old Master Huang for so long?"