Chapter 44: The Wager

After the Lantern Festival, the dense visiting and socializing wasn't too much anymore, and everything around began moving out of New Year's lively atmosphere toward ordinary daily life.

That "Green Jadeite Bowl" spread at an incalculable speed, and in any case, a few days later people were discussing it again in teahouses and taverns. Regarding Ning Yi, discussions affirming his talent and speculating why he married in increased. By now no one said he plagiarized poems anymore. Some people seemed to crown him with the praise of "Jiangning's number one talent." Of course, many others said this person had a strange temperament, was arrogantly talented, wasting his gifts—the condensed label being the so-called eccentric scholar.

Going against convention could solve problems but would definitely have side effects, though such side effects were originally what Ning Yi expected. Afterward, others' probing and such matters could basically quiet down. He could teach peacefully, research chemistry when free. Recently he'd ordered a batch of porcelain bottles as test tubes to review simple chemical reactions.

More interesting was the sixteenth morning when he still went running and met Nie Yunzhu waiting at her small building's entrance, and seeing him, she gracefully curtsied: "Greetings, Great Talent Ning." Quite the feeling of talented scholar and beauty. Ning Yi nodded: "Hello, little miss." Nie Yunzhu's face instantly reddened, stepping back half a step, her face seeming about to burn. Her large eyes turned here and there, looking at Ning Yi then immediately darting elsewhere, somewhat lost.

"Young, Young Master Ning, how can you speak thus..."

"Oh? You just said 'Greetings, Great Talent Ning'... Shouldn't I respond this way?"

"How can you! Young Master Ning should say... should say... say..." She stood there flustered for a long time, then finally laughed with a "poof." "Anyway, it's too frivolous..."

After this small episode, Nie Yunzhu didn't mention his great talent status anymore, able to chat with him like before, though of course, she still asked with interest about last night's poetry gathering, everyone's behavior and such. Learning Qilan was there, she smiled and asked about her reaction: "That Miss Qilan supposedly loves poetry greatly. Was she conquered by Young Master Ning's poetic talent?"

"She should be conquered—with this young master's talent several floors high, what else could she do if not conquered... Don't you think?" Ning Yi was busy observing that female assassin and had no idea about Miss Qilan. Thinking about it, he answered perfunctorily. Nie Yunzhu smiled: "Young Master speaks most truly."

"I also think I speak most truly..." Ning Yi smiled and stood up. "I'm off, still have a stretch to run."

"See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Winter dawns came late, and the whole sky was still grayish at this time. The small building swayed with bean-sized lamplight. Nie Yunzhu stood before the building watching him leave, eyes still containing thick smiles. The weather was still cold. After Ning Yi's figure completely disappeared into that blue-gray, she looked at the sky, smiled and exhaled white mist, rubbed her palms, and turned to walk back up the steps.

Today would surely be a good mood all day.

A few days later he met Kang Xian on the street, where this old man was in a sedan going somewhere. An eight-carrier sedan plus four fixed servants—quite the procession. Seeing Ning Yi, he stopped ahead on the road to intercept him. Kang Xian gave instructions, having the sedan follow behind: "Disgrace to scholars!"

"Happy New Year, Old Kang... What terrible thing did I do now?"

"'In the crowd I look for her presence everywhere time and again, suddenly I turn around, and I see her there, where lights are dim and faint.' Good poem, wrong occasion. Leave some leeway in everything. The reputation of eccentric scholar and hermit—at your age, even if you have reclusive intentions, you shouldn't express them to this degree."

The two walked along the street with unmelted snow, and what Kang Xian thought about was the same as before, but speaking of this matter, there wasn't much severity in it. Ning Yi smiled: "Just this?"

"Of course not just this! Today is already the nineteenth of the first month. Nineteen days since New Year, yet you haven't come to visit this old man's mansion. About this matter, this old man is very angry, the consequences very serious... Oh right, I passed by here before New Year once. Your beauty friend's stall should have been at the street corner ahead. Has she moved now, or not set up yet?"

Kang Xian pointed at the street corner ahead, and Ning Yi shook his head: "Old man, you need to be responsible with your words. Don't say such ambiguous things... Before New Year not many people bought food, so naturally she closed the stall. Setting up again will probably take a few more days, selling together with a new batch of century eggs. Why does Old Kang ask?"

"It's about your century eggs... Though the taste is strange, they're still edible. Most importantly they look good. These few days when hosting guests I thought—just placing a bowl on the table to look at would be pleasing. When Miss Nie sets up her stall in a few days, have her deliver some to my place."

Ning Yi nodded: "According to taste, you can also pair with vinegar, sauces and such for flavor. Have your kitchen chef experiment a few times. But don't eat too many at once—too many and your body will feel uncomfortable."

"Your century eggs' taste isn't the best. How would this old man eat too many?" Kang Xian joked, then patted his shoulder. "I also know your family situation is complicated. But no need to care too much. Next New Year, just bring your wife over. With your talent, you don't need this old man's reputation to help. This old man is also interested to see what grace the woman who could make you willingly marry in has, haha..."

Late first month, the weather gradually warmed as piles of snow melted into trickling streams flowing into Qinhuai River. The spring atmosphere of orioles flying and grass growing approached step by step. Then Yushan Academy opened in this atmosphere. The first day going to the academy, he met an unexpected person.

"Brother Ning, from now on we'll be colleagues, both teaching at the academy. I have many things I don't understand. Please take care of me."

Li Pin, Li Dexin—speaking of him in Jiangning, this person was a talent equal to Cao Guan, just that Cao Guan's style was steady while his personality was carefree, so others often listed Cao Guan as first. Such a person actually coming to teach at Yushan Academy was truly puzzling. Ning Yi greeted him but didn't pay further attention. Soon after Su Chonghua came to talk with him, and he learned Li Pin had discussed this with Su Chonghua last year.

"Must be conquered by Liheng's talent, so he wants to come to the academy for further discussion. This person is quite sincere." After the Lantern Festival, Su Tan'er had a meal with Su Chonghua, probably clarifying that Ning Yi wasn't interested in the academy. So Su Chonghua's attitude toward Ning Yi had become friendly again recently.

Li Pin was five years older than Ning Yi, supposedly already had jinshi degree but hadn't gotten an actual position yet, and he hadn't gone to Bianliang to make connections, just mixing around in Jiangning, mixing for reputation—also a strange person. Of course, even if he really wanted to make connections, someone without much background would need great effort to get an actual position. He was modest with handsome appearance. Though he already had a wife at home, he was quite popular with women outside. Especially the talent reputation had too much killing power. Previously Su Tan'er probably also regarded Li Pin's name as an idol. Now she was calm. Speaking at home, she smiled: "Must be conquered by husband's bearing."

What conquered Li Pin might not be literary talent. Of course those two poems might be part of it, but in Ning Yi's view, what Li Pin seemed more interested in were the stories Ning Yi told. What he came to teach at Yushan Academy wasn't poetry but archery, charioteering, and arithmetic. These courses were all in the afternoon. In the morning, he'd also run to the classroom to audit. At first, it made the young students quite uncomfortable.

Occasionally Li Pin would question some things Ning Yi said. These were also some rather key points in Ning Yi's view—some social laws summarized and generalized, research methods for thoroughly investigating principles, pure mechanical causality. These things Ning Yi would casually tell these children, but he also didn't want to explain too thoroughly. Because once thorough, they'd become modern theory, becoming unorthodox. Li Pin occasionally asked, and Ning Yi would also casually say a bit more, but Li Pin might understand while the children didn't, often quite puzzled.

Li Pin probably also knew Ning Yi might not talk much with him now, so he only occasionally raised questions in class. Meeting normally, he'd just greet Ning Yi and exchange pleasantries.

Time reached the second month, and Nie Yunzhu's cart was pushed out again, selling pancakes and century eggs together. But honestly, century eggs sold rather expensively. Currently business wasn't very good, just sending a batch to Kang Xian counted as income. This day at the Qin mansion, he was mocked by Kang Xian.

"Your century eggs actually sell for twenty wen each. Even expensive salted eggs are only ten wen. And at a pancake stall—think about it, Miss Nie's pancakes are only two wen. Paired with twenty-wen century eggs, people buying pancakes won't buy century eggs. Those who can buy century eggs as snacks often don't eat pancakes. This pairing is truly nonsense."

"Hehe, new things—if sold cheaply right away, the price can't go up later. Actually if I did it, I might find a way to sell for fifty wen. She doesn't seek to earn too much from that business, so she's this casual."

"Haha, truly the human heart is never satisfied, like a snake swallowing an elephant. Fifty wen each—you think it's a golden hen laying golden eggs? Now at twenty wen you can hardly sell any... Hehe, but you don't need to worry. When this old man hosts guests in some days, I'll help promote them. At twenty wen, quite a few people can afford them. Then you'll have to thank this old man, counting as owing this old man a favor..."

Kang Xian spoke proudly, though he wasn't really using favors to demand anything, and Old Qin also chimed in beside them. Ning Yi didn't care much about favors anyway. Now he pursed his lips boredly: "Thank you for Old Kang's help. But even without your help, I can spread things out in a month's time, selling for twenty wen for you to see. How about it?"

"Oh? Really?"

"Salted eggs can sell for ten wen. What's hard about century eggs selling for twenty wen? Just that not many people know about them now..." Ning Yi shrugged. "Who told me I'm bored lately..."

(End of Chapter)