Chapter 47: Old Acquaintance
At dawn, when sunlight cast its glow from the east side of the market, the cart had already been pushed to its regular corner, and Nie Yunzhu and Hutao tidied up some things, then carried their basket to make deliveries. She still wore simple cloth clothes with a headscarf, looking like most village women. But even just her figure couldn't hide that exceptional bearing from her past. If talking face to face, her refined and beautiful features naturally wouldn't escape notice.
Yesterday she'd made her first century egg delivery to Spring Mood Tower, marking a beginning, and today she went again, following Ning Yi's plan—putting different sauces in pretty small porcelain bottles, preparing porcelain dishes. After delivery, she'd cut one century egg into four pieces, take four small dishes, pour a bit of sauce on each, displaying different flavors. Century eggs already looked good when cut open. Paired with red, black, and white sauces, the visual impact was definitely sufficient. Even though the restaurant hadn't given them the most prominent display position, they'd still sold over ten yesterday.
This progress caught Nie Yunzhu off guard. But if there was a second restaurant, the plan of thirty century eggs daily would basically be complete.
Under the same morning light, as she carried her basket through the streets toward Spring Mood Tower, Li Pin was walking out of an alley, pausing briefly before going toward Four Seas Tower at the other end of the street. A friend had already arrived, waiting for him: "Brother Xie came early... Where's Zishan?"
"Zishan didn't come with me today. Said he met a good friend last night and will come with him later."
"That's good."
Everything developed normally, and Li Pin's influence was still effective. Over the past three or four days, he'd found friends who usually dined at different nearby restaurants, asking them to help call waiters to buy century eggs when the restaurants were busy. Just a small favor—since Ning Yi had said a few people would suffice that day, he hadn't notified too many. These friends could keep secrets well. Casual performances posed no problem. Yesterday he'd heard Spring Mood Tower had already displayed the century eggs, marking initial success.
Li Pin was curious about Ning Yi's talents, but as for century eggs, he didn't take them too seriously. Meeting this friend named Xie Jiang now, they chatted and went upstairs. After waiting a while, another friend they'd arranged to meet arrived. This person was named Shen Miao, courtesy name Zishan, also a somewhat famous talent in Jiangning. Coming with him was another person—dignified appearance, impressive bearing, over twenty years old but with quite a steady temperament. Upon entering, he bowed to Li Pin and Xie Jiang.
"Dexin, Xishen, long time no see."
"Yanzhen!"
Li Pin stood up in surprise, for this person was actually an old acquaintance. Originally in Jiangning, he'd been on par with Li Pin and Cao Guan. Gu Hong, courtesy name Gu Yanzhen, had gone to the capital three years ago. Reportedly he'd passed the palace examination. Afterward he'd mostly been active in Bianliang, working various connections seeking actual positions. Unexpectedly, he'd now returned from there.
Everyone was delighted for a moment.
"When exactly did you arrive? Not contacting us first thing—this debt is noted."
"Today we must hold a banquet at Golden Wind Tower, welcoming you properly."
"Penalty drinks!"
"Wonder what insights you gained in the Eastern Capital these three years. You must tell us carefully."
The four sat down at the table laughing. Gu Yanzhen told them various capital trivia.
"Currently in the Eastern Capital and such places, what's discussed most is the recent deterioration between Liao and Jin. Since His Majesty appointed Minister Li, military affairs have been reorganized, discipline tightened. Now the court is invigorated from top to bottom. If I'm not mistaken, within three to five months at least, a year and a half at most, the court will surely seize the opportunity to ally with Jin. Sweeping away the depression since Tanyuan1, recovering You and Yun2 is just around the corner!"
Since last year's second half, when Jin under Wanyan Aguda's leadership erupted in large-scale conflict with Liao, raising troops to recover You and Yun and revitalizing the nation had been these Wu Dynasty scholars' most discussed topic—sixty years of Tanyuan, six years ago Black Water, a hundred years of oppression, but now the opportunity had finally arrived. Since the current emperor appointed Li Gang as minister, vigorously reorganizing military affairs, the situation was now crystal clear. Everything seemed pressed on a single string. The future seemed separated by only paper-thin window gauze. Once pierced, they'd see great armies exiting Yanmen Pass, directly taking You and Yun, restoring the Tang Dynasty's former glory. The four talked with boiling blood. Then Gu Yanzhen mentioned his gains this time.
"...This time in the Eastern Capital, I finally gained Lord Qinsou's favor, filling a seventh-rank actual position. Heh, Leping County Magistrate in Raozhou. I'll take office in July—still some time, so I returned to Jiangning to catch up with everyone..."
This Lord Qinsou he mentioned was Tang Ke, courtesy name Tang Qinsou, quite famous among these scholars. This prompted another round of questions. Regarding his actual position, naturally there was envy, jealousy and teasing. Afterward they mentioned various romantic matters. Gu Yanzhen had originally been quite the romantic figure in Jiangning, favored by various beauties. Going to the Eastern Capital for three years, naturally he wouldn't lack romantic affairs. Gu Yanzhen smiled, telling various trivial anecdotes.
"Actually reputation and talent aren't much different from Jiangning. Eastern Capital women are mostly proud. That place gathers scholars from everywhere—wanting to win them over isn't easy. During my three years in the Eastern Capital, among the most popular girls recently, Li Shishi3—I only met her once..."
Time passed in conversation as the restaurant's busiest, most bustling time had arrived. Li Pin was thinking whether to order century eggs when Gu Yanzhen suddenly stopped, tapped the table, then told the waiter: "Bring four century eggs."
The restaurant naturally didn't have any. Gu Yanzhen gave directions to the location, surprisingly familiar with it. Li Pin looked astonished. Gu Yanzhen then smiled, saying quietly: "Yesterday at Emerald Screen Tower catching up with Brother Mu Fang, I suddenly saw him ordering these century eggs quite seriously. When I asked, I learned it was Brother Dexin's request. Naturally I must remember it well. Heh... Was what I said earlier wrong? Wonder what relationship these century eggs have with Dexin."
Li Pin also smiled: "Not much relationship. Also a friend's request, just a game. Just can't deliberately promote using our reputations."
"Understood." Making bets and jokes, anything could happen. Seeing Li Pin say it was a game, Gu Yanzhen didn't care further, continuing to discuss the Eastern Capital's atmosphere. After eating and drinking their fill, when Li Pin chatted privately with Gu Yanzhen, Li Pin teased: "Earlier mentioning those Eastern Capital women, Yanzhen seemed hesitant. Could it be you suffered setbacks in the Eastern Capital and don't want to say?"
Gu Yanzhen smiled, then shook his head helplessly: "Dexin observes keenly—indeed there are some matters, but not much related to the Eastern Capital... Uh, though there is some connection... Wonder if Dexin has visited Golden Wind Tower these past years?"
Li Pin shook his head: "Golden Wind Tower I visit rarely. Thinking back, Yanzhen indeed frequented it back then. Heh, recently Golden Wind Tower's Yuan Jin'er has been quite close with Cao Guan. Yanzhen knows that Cao Guan is my Lichuan mortal enemy. If I went, I'd probably be turned away... Uh, what exactly happened?"
"Three years ago before going to the Eastern Capital, I had a beauty at Golden Wind Tower. A few days ago entering the city, I went looking for her that night. Unfortunately... three years passed, she's no longer at Golden Wind Tower..." Gu Yanzhen's fingers tapped the table, his expression slightly melancholy. "I won't hide from Dexin—I've been romantic before, admittedly seen many women. Only this woman... made me feel most connected, most peaceful inside. Her literary talent and bearing completely unlike someone from that world. I remember three years ago when bidding her farewell, she said: 'Wishing Young Master success in examinations, returning in glory...' This time I've more or less succeeded in examinations, returned in glory. Such a pity... Had I known, three years ago even if she'd refused, I should have redeemed her..."
Li Pin thought: "Speaking of three years ago... Before Yuan Jin'er was Pan Shi. Mm, I heard she indeed was redeemed and married..."
"How could it be Pan Shi." Gu Yanzhen raised his eyebrows disdainfully. "That Pan Shi woman is just vulgar. How could she be worth my devotion? I'm talking about Miss Yunzhu. She was always low-key. If she hadn't refused to compete for fame, how could Pan Shi have stood out at Golden Wind Tower... This matter, can only say we had fate but no destiny..."
"Yunzhu... I seem to have heard this name back then..."
"If Dexin had truly met her back then, you'd naturally know her worth. This woman's poetry and singing were all superb. What she thought was completely different from those women wanting to be top courtesans, competing for fame. Though I don't know her past clearly, if not for some difficult circumstances, how would she fall into that world? I originally thought I could help her, but knowing her character, never dared mention redeeming her. Sigh, now I understand 'when flowers bloom, pick them; don't wait for empty branches.' Unfortunately it's too late..."
"Asked about her current whereabouts?"
Gu Yanzhen shook his head: "Asked, but they didn't answer... Heh, since they won't answer, she must have married. If she'd just left Golden Wind Tower and was still in Jiangning, she should still have some reputation. Given our past affection, she wouldn't refuse me."
In matters of emotion, the most heartbreaking was such missed chances. Li Pin thought: "Why not ask more? At least know where she is now."
"What use is asking thoroughly? Who she finally chose, I'm indeed curious, but... if I can avoid seeing..." He looked at Li Pin, smiling. "Perhaps not seeing... has its benefits too."
Li Pin nodded, patting his shoulder: "So be it. You'll forget after some time."
While the group discussed these matters upstairs at Four Seas Tower, the restaurant had passed its busiest time, and customers gradually decreased. The waiter who'd just run to buy century eggs consulted with several others who'd been sent to buy in previous days, then reported to the manager. The manager looked at these four people here—clearly refined scholars with status—and waved his instructions. The waiter left, crossed the street to that corner, telling Nie Yunzhu about tomorrow's century egg delivery request. Before this, a waiter from Emerald Screen Tower had also come, making the same request.
The next morning before dawn, Nie Yunzhu waited on the small building's steps. When Ning Yi arrived, she happily told him the news that sales had expanded to three restaurants, while also somewhat puzzledly watching Ning Yi's expression. Actually this market expansion seemed strange to her—often people had waiters buy century eggs from restaurants, but the reputation hadn't spread yet. How could this happen? Perhaps it was his doing behind the scenes.
If truly so, she'd feel admiration. But despite being skilled at reading expressions, Nie Yunzhu naturally couldn't see much beyond happiness on Ning Yi's face now. Actually she was also happy about being self-sufficient, discussing with Ning Yi how they hadn't preserved enough earlier, emergency measures if stock ran short midway, and so on.
Morning, street corner, small cart, Four Seas Tower—when Nie Yunzhu came with her bamboo basket telling the waiter about various pairings, she decided to probe the inside story a bit. In her mind, the matter probably couldn't be separated from Ning Yi.
"...Brother waiter, those who had you buy century eggs these past days, what kind of people were they... I want to understand who exactly likes eating these."
"Oh, all learned scholars. Some also call them jade eggs or fortune eggs. Yesterday I accidentally overheard—one of them had just returned from the Eastern Capital, a successful examination candidate... Such people also know century eggs' name. Miss Nie, could these century eggs be novel things learned from the Eastern Capital... No wonder other places don't sell them... Right, right, Miss, look—yesterday the one wanting century eggs was that talented gentleman."
Nie Yunzhu smiled and turned around as two scholars were entering. Shen Miao first saw the century eggs being taken from the bamboo basket at the counter. He thought Brother Li's goal had been achieved. Amused, he nudged Gu Yanzhen with his hand. When Gu Yanzhen looked over, he saw a village woman with a headscarf taking out century eggs for sale. Also quite amused, he whispered and chuckled with Shen Miao. A second or two later, words still on his lips, his gaze had frozen...
(End of Chapter)