Chapter 29: An Unexpected Encounter with My Schoolmate, Young Jiang

Gentle and soothing notes from the zither drifted into the air, blending seamlessly with the refined atmosphere of the room, inviting one to sink into a state of blissful relaxation. Lu Jin felt his body and mind gradually ease; these ancient folk certainly knew how to enjoy life.

“Sir, please have some tea!” After bustling about for quite some time, the tea master finally finished her preparations, presenting a cup of tea to Lu Jin. He accepted it and took a sip.

“Sir, does the tea suit your taste?” The woman beside him asked softly.

“It’s rather robust,” Lu Jin replied. In truth, he wasn’t particularly fond of this elaborate tea ceremony; he preferred something simpler and more straightforward.

“Huh?” The tea master was momentarily stunned, then blushed and lowered her head.

Just as Lu Jin was lost in thought, the door to the private chamber opened. Xiaobai, peering in from the doorway, announced, “Master, someone is looking for you. They say they know you…”

Lu Jin was startled—whom could he possibly know in this place? He hurriedly rose and went toward the door.

He hadn’t reached it when a plump, fair-faced fellow burst in, grinning from ear to ear. “Ah! I thought I recognized you as Nanqing, and it turns out it really is you! Where have you been these past few days? I—”

Lu Jin hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the newcomer before the pudgy man launched into his speech like a rapid-fire cannon. Who was this, and why did he act so familiar?

“Excuse me, are you sure you haven’t mistaken me for someone else?” Lu Jin asked cautiously. And Nanqing—who was that?

“Nanqing, don’t joke around. Lu Jin, courtesy name Nanqing, native of Shangqing in Jiangzhou, top scorer in the recent provincial exam—have I said anything wrong?” The plump fellow, thinking Lu Jin was teasing him, continued with a self-satisfied air, his smile unwavering.

How does one handle meeting someone who knows more about oneself than one does? So he had a courtesy name, Nanqing. It sounded decent enough. Luckily, he’d met this chubby fellow—a true benefactor.

Lu Jin finally took stock of him. He was about five feet three, dressed in a dark green, wide-sleeved robe. His round face sported two bead-like eyes, a slightly flat nose but a prominent tip, and a mouth so small and thin it was barely noticeable. The whole man radiated cheerfulness.

“And you are?” Lu Jin asked. There was no sense pretending; he truly didn’t know this person, and any further disguise would be pointless.

“Ah, Nanqing, you really are blessed with forgetfulness among your friends. I’m Jiang Shaonian—my family lives right here in Jianglin County. We chatted a bit before the exam, and on the exam day, I sat right beside you: I was candidate thirteen, you were twelve!” Jiang Shaonian looked at him in surprise.

Compared to Lu Jin’s reserved manner and inward drama, this fellow was clearly a chatterbox—once he started, he never stopped.

“So it’s Brother Jiang, please—” Before Lu Jin could finish, Jiang Shaonian had already taken a seat as if he were at home, leaving Lu Jin little choice but to sit as well.

“Nanqing, no need for formality. Just call me by my courtesy name,” Jiang Shaonian, evidently a social butterfly, immediately began chatting up the tea master, seemingly unafraid of being lured into some mountain valley and robbed of his kidneys.

“May I ask Brother Jiang’s courtesy name?”

“Nanqing, honestly! I told you last time—Jiang Shaonian, courtesy name Buyan,” Jiang Shaonian replied with an exasperated glance. Lu Jin always acted indifferent; now he was feigning forgetfulness.

Lu Jin: …What kind of courtesy name is that? Does it really suit him?

“Nanqing, your tea master is quite impressive—truly lovely,” Jiang Shaonian said animatedly.

Lu Jin was speechless. What was this fellow’s deal, and was he really so familiar with him? How had he already taken a fancy to the master?

The tea master blushed demurely. “Sir flatters me; I am but a willow in the breeze.”

“May I ask what brings Brother Jiang to see me?” Lu Jin quickly steered the conversation away to spare the tea master from further teasing.

“Ah, Nanqing, where have you been these days? We wanted to celebrate your top score together, but you were nowhere to be found…”

I was taken back by the Shen family to become their son-in-law—where else would I be?

But he couldn’t say that; it wasn’t exactly an honorable matter. Besides, he’d already decided to leave soon, so what was the point in discussing it? The less said, the better; trouble only comes from talking too much.

“Well, I…” Lu Jin was still weighing his words.

“My family’s master, of course, was busy marrying our young lady!”

What the—who was that?

Lu Jin looked up—wasn’t that Xiaobai? He was supposed to be standing at the door; when had he slipped inside? And why was he blurting out nonsense? Was he trying to get them all killed?

Lu Jin was frozen, giving Xiaobai a fierce glare.

Only then did Xiaobai realize he’d spoken too hastily. Cold sweat broke out on his brow, and he looked at Lu Jin with a pitiful expression: I only answered because you seemed lost in thought. Besides, how could I know if this newcomer was friend or foe? Surely I should keep an eye out.

“You may leave for now,” Lu Jin said, waving him away in annoyance.

“Nanqing, what’s going on? You’re just now getting married?” Jiang Shaonian asked curiously.

Why call me Nanqing? Call me Shimei—wait, never mind. Don’t ask. If you keep asking, I’ll want to turn back; it’s a tangled mess.

Seeing Lu Jin lower his head in silence, Jiang Shaonian didn’t press. “Which family’s daughter was fortunate enough to marry such an ideal husband as Nanqing?”

“The Shen family,” Lu Jin replied.

“Which Shen family?”

“The Shen family in the west of town.” Lu Jin wasn’t above hiding the truth; though his social skills weren’t stellar, he could handle casual conversation well enough.

He said it not only because Xiaobai had already let it slip, but also to see if he might glean any further information.

“…Unbelievable, truly unbelievable. Nanqing, you are the model of our generation. The Shen family in the west is one of the great houses of Liang, its doors higher than the sky. For you to marry the cherished daughter of Shen Mansion—I am deeply impressed…” Jiang Shaonian feigned politeness, hands clasped, his astonishment undiminished.

Lu Jin sipped his tea and said nothing, letting Jiang Shaonian perform.

“Which branch of the family did you marry from?” By Jiang Shaonian’s reckoning, a provincial exam top scorer couldn’t hope to wed a Shen family daughter of the main line, so he asked which secondary branch, failing to notice the impropriety of his words in his shock.

But Lu Jin didn’t know—he thought Jiang Shaonian meant a virtuous young lady, so he paid no mind. “Second branch of Shen Mansion; the family head is my father-in-law.”

“What?” Jiang Shaonian choked on his tea, sputtering. Lu Jin looked on in silence. Was it really that shocking? Was there something he didn’t know? His heart grew uneasy.

“Nanqing, surely you don’t mean that the legitimate daughter of the second branch, Shen Yanxi, is your wife?” Jiang Shaonian’s eyes widened like copper bells, leaning over the table to seek confirmation.

“Yes, that's right.”

“This—ah, Nanqing, you truly astonish me. Do you know that Shen Yanxi is renowned for her beauty? How many—”

Before Jiang Shaonian could finish, Lu Jin shot him a cold look. Though he’d only recently arrived in this era, the words unsettled him—what did he mean by “how many…”

“Ah, forgive me, Nanqing. I was simply overwhelmed and spoke rashly. Never would I have expected the legitimate daughter of the second branch to be your wife…” Jiang Shaonian apologized, though his shock remained undiminished.

The woman beside them also stared wide-eyed, her hand pressed tightly over her mouth in silence. This gentleman was actually the Shen family’s son-in-law?

Seeing their expressions, Lu Jin felt a surge of surprise. Did the Shen family wield such influence?

Though he knew they were a powerful clan, he hadn’t felt it directly, having only interacted with those within Shen Mansion.

Jiang Shaonian seemed to recall something; his small eyes darted about. After a moment, he leaned in and whispered, “Nanqing, I’ve heard rumors that the second Miss Shen was seeking a husband—could it be…?”

“Yes, I am that son-in-law,” Lu Jin replied.

Jiang Shaonian’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. He was puzzled—why would Lu Jin willingly become a son-in-law?

“Judging by your expression, Brother Jiang, are you mocking me?” Lu Jin said with a smile. The fellow’s face was just too expressive.

“Not at all, not at all. Far from mocking, I am full of admiration. Not only is your wife a paragon of beauty, but the Shen Mansion—even if a secondary branch sought a son-in-law, I’d scramble for the chance. Truly, I envy you.”

Jiang Shaonian was sincere; his family was in trade, valuing practicality over pride. Scholars’ lofty airs were less common there.

Besides, the Shen family was the main line. What did it matter if one was a scholar? They only uttered sour words about unattainable things. In Liang, scholars still served the great houses, did they not?

Whether Jiang Shaonian’s words were true or not, Lu Jin changed the subject. “How did Brother Jiang fare in the recent provincial exam?”

“Of course, I couldn’t compare to Nanqing. I barely earned the title of scholar, second tier, far behind you!” Jiang Shaonian replied, a subtle note of disappointment in his voice.

He seemed to remember something else. “Nanqing, now that you’re the Shen family’s son-in-law, will you still pursue the imperial examinations?”

“No. Life is short; to waste precious time in rote study is unwise. We scholars should read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles, practicing the sage’s way in the real world.”

Lu Jin spoke with righteous conviction, his face solemn. As if he could admit he knew nothing—that was why he wouldn’t sit for the exams.

“Ah, but how can one practice the sage’s way without entering officialdom?” Jiang Shaonian wondered.

“Jiang—Buyan, you are too narrow. In this world, all trades and professions, countless people, each have their own way of life. If you hold the way in your heart, no matter where you are or what you do, you can walk the path of the sages.”

Ah? That… it sounded so reasonable, but what did it mean? Was this the difference between himself and the top scorer?