Chapter 68: A Heated Discussion

Chapter 68: A Heated Discussion

After Du Yunse and Yun Cheng entered Qingfeng Academy to study, the household became quieter. However, Qiu Huanian quickly found new activities to occupy himself.

A few days later, after Su Xinbai and Qiu Huanian discussed the books available in the market of Xiangping Prefecture, Su Xinbai sent an invitation for Qiu Huanian to hang out at the bookstore.

Meng Yuanling, who had only recently begun learning to read and write, was not very interested in these matters, so he stayed home to babysit and play with the cat, while Qiu Huanian went out alone.

The bookstore Su Xinbai invited Qiu Huanian to was not the same one Qiu Huanian had visited the previous year. It was probably the largest bookstore owned by the Zhu family, located near Qingfeng Academy, spanning at least 1,000 square meters, designed in a courtyard layout with a garden and a small lake.

In the innermost part of the courtyard, where guests could not reach, amidst the dappled bamboo shadows, stood a delicate two-story building with intricately painted beams and pillars. From the second floor, one could see a winding bridge and the garden through the window.

The building was named "Bitter Boat Pavilion," derived from the saying, "Diligence is the path to the mountain of books, and hardship is the boat on the endless sea of learning." The plaque and couplets at the entrance were crafted by renowned calligraphers.

The second floor of the building was spacious and unobstructed, with a long, expansive table in the center, neatly stacked with manuscripts sorted into various categories.

Su Xinbai explained to Qiu Huanian, "Scholars in Xiangping Prefecture submit their manuscripts to the bookstore. If chosen, they can be typeset and published, earning the author a stipend."

"These are the manuscripts the Zhu family's bookstore has received in recent months. If you want to read something different, you can find it here."

Qiu Huanian had never really understood the ancient publishing industry. Listening to this, it seemed that the bookstore was not merely a printing house or a bookshop but also functioned as a publishing house, performing multiple functions.

Qiu Huanian noticed that the manuscripts pertaining to the imperial examinations were all stacked to one side, suggesting that Su Xinbai was not particularly interested in them.

In anticipation of Qiu Huanian's visit, Su Xinbai had the staff bring out manuscripts of other genres and place them on the table for Qiu Huanian to browse.

In ancient times, without phones or the internet, books were the primary means of accessing a wealth of information. With so many manuscripts laid out before him, Qiu Huanian felt as if he had connected to the internet, reading with relish.

The manuscripts that had not been chosen for publication by the bookstore were more varied in genre and more daring in content.

Qiu Huanian came across at least a dozen supernatural novels, featuring romances between humans and ghosts, humans and demons, as well as stories about ethics, horror, suspense, and even humorous tales.

Some involved men and female demons, others women and male demons, and some were even more daring, with themes like threesomes and brotherly love. Though the language was richly classical and subtly romantic, the content was clearly erotic.

Phrases like "a pear blossom in spring with rain," "dew drops on a peony," and "a winding path leading to a secluded place" could not be taken at face value when read in context.

Who says ancient people were conservative? Anyone who reads a couple of ancient novels would not say that.

Although these supernatural novels were novel, after reading a few, one would realize they followed just one or two patterns. Compared to modern web novels and TV dramas, the plots were rough and straightforward. Qiu Huanian soon lost interest.

Su Xinbai, who was looking at other things nearby, noticed Qiu Huanian putting down the supernatural novels and gave an approving look.

"Out of a thousand such books, you might find one good one, but most are just imitations written for the fee. After reading a few, you'll see there's not much to them."

Qiu Huanian nodded and turned to other manuscripts from the "publishing house."

What interested Qiu Huanian the most were travelogues, but there were only a few on the table, and they were vague and poorly documented.

Ancient scholars rarely traveled, and travelogues did not sell as well as supernatural novels, so few people wrote them.

As for technical books on agricultural planting, which Qiu Huanian was looking for, there were none at all.

From the submissions received by the Zhu family's bookstore, one could see the distribution of various types of books in the market.

When Qiu Huanian asked Su Xinbai about it, Su Xinbai explained, "The imperial library in the capital compiles some agricultural books every year and presents them to the emperor. No one in the private sector compiles them."

He then sent a servant to fetch the agricultural books compiled by the imperial library, and soon the servant returned with the books.

Qiu Huanian glanced through them and found that while they had some merits, they were clearly written for scholars and officials. The language was difficult and obscure, with no illustrations or explanations. Even Qiu Huanian found them hard to read, let alone farmers who could barely read.

"The books compiled by the Imperial Library, once approved by the Emperor, are reprinted by all publishing houses, but only those who wish to show off their status would buy them."

Originally intended to develop agricultural production and spread planting techniques, the agricultural books ironically ended up merely bearing the prestigious title of the Imperial Library, sitting high on the bookshelves of the wealthy and noble, which is quite laughable.

Qiu Huanian was intrigued, "Are the books printed by the Zhu family bookshop all selected by Mr. Su?"

Su Xinbai shook his head, "If it were up to me, perhaps only one or two books would be published in a month, at most. The books for printing and publishing are chosen by the managers of the bookshop. I just drop by to review them during my leisure time."

"If Mr. Su finds these books unsatisfactory, why not actively curate good books?"

"How to curate?" Su Xinbai was puzzled.

"Most contributors write for the payment, so they will definitely choose books that are easy to get published. Since the managers of the bookshop love to publish tales of the strange, they naturally prefer to submit tales of the strange."

"If Mr. Su puts out a call, sets standards, specifies what types of books and what language styles are desired, and offers substantial rewards, wouldn't people write?"

"...This, using money to lure people into writing manuscripts, is after all, unseemly." Su Xinbai still had reservations due to his upbringing.

Qiu Huanian shook his head with a smile, "People need to make a living in this world; where’s the lack of elegance in that? If Mr. Su could direct those with talent to use their abilities properly, instead of just writing derivative works to make a living, wouldn't that be a good thing?"

"With a bookshop, financial resources, and unique insights, who is better suited than you to take this on?"

Su Xinbai paused thoughtfully for a moment, then turned to look out the window. The room was warm from the charcoal fire, and through the half-open window, the garden outside remained barren. A cold crow glided over the icy water surface, fluttering towards the distance.

"This had never crossed my mind... I need to give it more thought."

Qiu Huanian did not press him further, just hinted, "Whether to do it or not, everyone should have a goal, know what they want to do, and what they should do, so as not to waste their life."

Goal...

Su Xinbai's long, slender eyelashes trembled, hiding the glimmer in his clear eyes.

Suddenly looking back, he realized that he had been living aimlessly for so long.

Life had settled into calm, but could he still reclaim the ambitions and dreams of his past?

...

The impact of that day's conversation in the bookshop on Su Xinbai remained unclear to Qiu Huanian.

Nowadays, Qiu Huanian spends his days at home playing with cats, painting, reading, or chatting. When the weather is nice, he goes out for a stroll, thinks about new dishes to try, and has Auntie Qiao attempt to make them.

In the quiet of the night, he figures out when Du Yunse will be on leave, thinks about what Du Yunse is doing, and falls asleep with a smile.

It wasn't until Su Xinbai brought the manager of his dowry estate to visit that Qiu Huanian shook off his idleness and found something serious to do again.

The relationship between Su Xinbai and Qiu Huanian developed rapidly. Though Su Xinbai maintained a cool demeanor, the frequency of his invitations and visits revealed his satisfaction with this new friendship.

The estate manager, surnamed Deng, was in his fifties, commonly referred to as Old Deng by those around him, and had been managing the estate for more than ten years.

Knowing that the estate was to be transferred to new management this year, Old Deng brought his son and eldest grandson along to introduce them to the master.

Old Deng handed over the recent accounts of the estate. Su Xinbai, not fond of looking at these, directly passed them to Qiu Huanian.

The estate had forty acres of land, thirty of which were farmland, five acres of plum trees, and the rest was a residential area. There was a house built near a hot spring, usually empty, waiting for the master to stay during leisure times.

Of the thirty acres of farmland, ten were of high quality and twenty were of medium quality, all planted with rice. The average grain yield in recent years was about fifty stones, roughly equivalent to fifty taels of silver.

The five acres of plum trees were in their prime fruiting period. During the summer and autumn, the total yield of plums could reach four to five thousand pounds, also worth about fifty taels of silver.

The tenant farmers on the estate can live in the estate's houses rent-free, and they don't need to pay for seeds or fertilizers when farming. They receive twenty percent of the harvest each year.

This means that this small estate of forty mu can earn Su Xinbai seventy to eighty taels of silver annually.

According to Su Xinbai, his dowry includes more than ten such small estates, three large estates, as well as shops, silver shops, and restaurants. The annual income from these properties alone amounts to several thousand taels of silver.

More than half of this dowry was provided by the Zhu family, who transferred it to the Su family, making it Su Xinbai's personal wealth.

To marry the son of a second-rank official, the Zhu family undoubtedly made a significant sacrifice. However, they also gained substantial benefits, as having the provincial governor as a relative provided them with strong backing, and their business in Liaozhou flourished.

When Qiu Huanian first heard this, he couldn't help but think of his own two dou of sorghum. He smiled and shook his head, not dwelling on it too much.

Through the efforts of his family, he would continue to improve their livelihood.

Qiu Huanian quickly finished reviewing the accounts and felt confident. He looked up at Old Dengtou, who was standing in the middle of the room.

Old Dengtou had initially been relaxed and confident, but under Qiu Huanian's gaze, he began to feel uneasy.

This young lad, whose background was unknown, might have noticed something amiss.

"Huanian, is there anything wrong?" Su Xinbai asked him.

Qiu Huanian shook his head and said to Old Dengtou, "You all can go sit in the back room for now. We'll call you if we need anything."

Old Dengtou, seeing Qiu Huanian's flawless smile, felt even more anxious. After managing the estate for over a decade, this was the first time he felt his palms sweating.

Old Dengtou and the others were led by Auntie Qiao to the back room to rest and have some water. Only then did Qiu Huanian point out the issues with the estate to Su Xinbai.

"The yield of the high-quality and medium-quality fields is recorded separately, but the amount of fertilizer used is the same, which is unreasonable. There must be something fishy about the misreported fertilizer expenses."

"Secondly, apart from the rice fields and plum trees, the remaining five mu of land couldn't possibly be all residential. There should be vegetables planted and poultry or livestock raised, but the income from these isn't recorded in the accounts."

"The accounts are incomplete. Based on my estimation, about twenty taels of silver are being hidden each year."

Su Xinbai frowned, his long, delicate eyebrows creasing.

He didn't care much about the money, but he had chosen this estate to hand over to Qiu Huanian because he thought it was problem-free. Discovering these discrepancies made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Su Xinbai pursed his lips, "I'm not very good at managing family estates. Before I married, I only learned the basics. Every year, I would check the accounts with the estate managers, and as long as they roughly matched, I let it go. I never imagined there were so many intricacies."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "These things aren't common knowledge unless you've lived in the countryside. Old Dengtou was quite clever about it; it's not your fault for not noticing."

In truth, Old Dengtou hadn't embezzled an excessive amount. It's likely that similar issues exist in the estates of many wealthy families where the owners don't understand farming.

However, Qiu Huanian intended to use this estate to experiment with and refine cotton cultivation methods. To ensure that the tenant farmers didn't falsify data or embezzle funds, which could skew the experimental results, he needed to enforce strict discipline from the start, setting an example to deter others.

Su Xinbai sighed in relief, "Huanian, I'll leave the management of this estate entirely to you. As for my other properties, I need to take a closer look at them as well. The money isn't the main issue; it's the principle of not being taken advantage of."

In the short time since he had met Qiu Huanian, Su Xinbai had found himself with a lot more to do.

Qiu Huanian, now more familiar with Su Xinbai, joked, "'The money isn't the main issue'—when will I be able to say that so casually?"

A hint of a smile appeared in Su Xinbai's eyes, "When Du Yunse passes the imperial examination and the court rewards him with fifteen mu of farmland and exempts fifty mu from taxes, you can buy another ten mu or so, and you'll have a small estate of your own."

"Then you can buy a few loyal servants and use their names to start businesses. Once the shops and other ventures take off, you won't have to worry about money."

Su Xinbai knew that Qiu Huanian was far more skilled at managing estates than he was. Despite his young age, Qiu Huanian was shrewd and experienced, unlike a typical young lad from the countryside.

"Passing the imperial examination..."

The provincial examination is held every three years in autumn, commonly known as the Autumn Trials. Once passed, one becomes a true *Juren* (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), marking a significant leap in social class.

The next Autumn Trials are this autumn, with less than eight months left—neither too long nor too short.

Qiu Huanian glanced outside, where snowflakes had started to fall once more. The maid Su Xinbai brought, worried about the cold, lowered the red flowered curtain, cutting off the snowy view.

"I wonder about Yun Se... cough." Qiu Huanian remembered Su Xinbai was still there and awkwardly fell silent.

A flicker of envy crossed Su Xinbai's eyes, and he tactfully changed the subject, "It's snowing again. I wonder how many more snowfalls before spring arrives."

Qiu Huanian calculated the days, "In a few days, it will be February 2nd, Dragon Head-Raising Day, followed by the Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, and Qingming Festival—spring will be in full bloom."

"By the way, is Eldest Young Master Zhu about to return?"

"According to the previous letter, he should be back in these few days." Su Xinbai thought of the snow outside and fell silent.

"When he returns, he will probably choose a day when Du Gongzi is on leave to invite you all to a banquet."

Su Xinbai didn’t mention whether he’d attend, and Qiu Huanian didn’t press further.

Su Xinbai had always kept a distance from his husband, but Qiu Huanian vaguely felt that he did not actually dislike Zhu Jingcheng.

As the snow thickened, Qiu Huanian asked Auntie Qiao to fetch the copper pot he’d picked up with Meng Yuanling the day before for a hot pot feast.

The copper pot, entirely made of brass, featured a central cylinder for adding charcoal, surrounded by a circular trough, similar to the modern Beijing-style mutton hot pot. Qiu Huanian was delighted to discover it.

This meant he could enjoy hot pot.

Qiu Huanian laid out detailed instructions for Auntie Qiao.

"First, grab some large bones and fish bones, fry them up, and simmer them into a rich broth. Filter out the fish bones and bones, add finely shredded sauerkraut, and cook with some spices to make a sauerkraut base."

"For the hot pot, thinly slice a pound of lamb, whip up a plate of fish balls, and chop tender corn, winter melon, and cabbage into bite-sized pieces. Also, prepare a plate of softened vermicelli."

"For the dipping sauce, mix leek flower sauce, sesame paste, and sesame oil, with a pinch of sugar to brighten the flavor. Serve each person a small bowl, and feel free to tweak the seasoning."

...

Once Auntie Qiao had memorized the instructions and left, Su Xinbai remarked, "Huanian, you really know your way around food."

Su Xinbai had long since grown weary of fancy, elaborate meals, but Qiu Huanian’s descriptions left him craving a bite.

Qiu Huanian smiled, "Since it’s snowing, why not stay for dinner? Your servants can whip up another meal and eat in the back."

Su Xinbai cleared his throat and said with restraint, "That would be fine."

Cream Frost the cat slipped in through the door curtain, meowed twice, and jumped onto Qiu Huanian's lap, sitting elegantly with her legs together. Qiu Huanian glanced at Cream Frost, then at Su Xinbai, and burst into laughter.

Su Xinbai looked confused, but Qiu Huanian simply smiled, shook his head, and left it at that.

While Auntie Qiao was cooking, Qiu Huanian dealt with the estate matters. He summoned Old Dengtou and his grandsons to the study, pulled out paper and pen, and began questioning them as he wrote.

"How many people live on the estate, their ages, and genders; how often they fertilize the fields and how long it takes; what the estate residents typically eat, and what tasks the children too young for fieldwork handle..."

Old Dengtou started off answering smoothly, but as the questions piled up, he began to falter, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Whenever Old Dengtou’s answers didn’t match up, Qiu Huanian paused, pulled out the earlier notes, and pointed out the discrepancies.

"For instance, if the estate residents mostly eat wild vegetables, why aren’t the children gathering them, and where do the vegetables come from? If fertilizing takes half a day, why does the ledger show three days’ worth..."

Sometimes, just as Old Deng managed to come up with an explanation, Qiu Huanian would stop him and instead ask his son or grandson to speak, leaving Old Deng scratching his head in frustration.

Throughout the entire process, Qiu Huanian never raised his voice, remaining gentle and smiling, yet Old Deng felt that this young man of unknown background was more intimidating than the fierce stewards by the side of the Zhu family's masters.

With such a handsome appearance, living in such a fine main house, dressed in extraordinary attire, and being friends with the eldest young master's wife, he must be a wealthy young master. How could he know so much about farming? There was no way to deceive him!

Su Xinbai sat beside Qiu Huanian, silent, which also added significant psychological pressure on Old Deng.

Finally, just before Old Deng broke down, Qiu Huanian said lightly, "The accounts kept by Old Deng are too messy. Go back and check them thoroughly. When I visit the estate next time, I expect to see new records."

Su Xinbai spoke up, "I won't pursue what happened before, but if you remain confused after today, we'll have to replace you as the estate overseer."

Old Deng breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, knowing that he could no longer fool them. He hurriedly agreed, at least securing his position as the estate overseer.

After Old Deng and the others left, Su Xinbai frowned and asked, "Wouldn't it be better to just replace the estate overseer?"

If Qiu Huanian hadn't mentioned wanting to see Old Deng's new accounts next time, Su Xinbai had planned to replace the estate overseer directly.

Qiu Huanian said, "He's been managing this estate for over a decade. Replacing him might not yield a better overseer anytime soon. Let's wait and see. Once such people are subdued, they often work even harder to 'atone for their mistakes.'"

Su Xinbai thought for a moment and shook his head, "Learning all this is still too difficult for me."

"It's fine if you don't learn. No one can know everything. As long as you have loyal servants and stewards, and you're not interested in managing, it's enough to maintain the estate more or less."

Qiu Huanian smiled as he spoke, standing up and lazily stretching, "I think I smell the sour cabbage and bone broth. Let's go to the inner courtyard to eat. The hot pot tastes best when the dishes are cooked in the boiling broth."

The rich aroma of bone broth and sour cabbage mixed with the rising steam, wafting from the kitchen next to the study, making everyone's mouths water.

Qiu Huanian lifted the thick curtain of the study door and quickly walked into the courtyard. The snow was falling heavily, instantly whitening his eyelashes. The maids hurriedly opened oil-paper umbrellas to shield him and Su Xinbai from the snow.

Auntie Qiao brought out the prepared hot pot, the brass pot emitting thick white steam that rose into the snowy scene. The milky bone broth was still bubbling, and the black-red charcoal could be seen in the central chimney.

"Quick, quick, let's eat!" Meng Yuanling, who had been waiting in the kitchen, quickly called them over.

The group trudged through the snow to the flower hall, where the table was already set with the dishes to be cooked in the hot pot. Auntie Qiao had carved rabbit designs into the winter melon, making it look crystal-clear and adorable.

Qiu Huanian taught everyone to place the dishes into the boiling pot, cooking them for anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, then dipping them into the sauce bowls to eat.

Su Xinbai, seeing this method of eating for the first time, was initially reserved but gradually got caught up in the lively atmosphere and started cooking the dishes himself. In the end, a pound of lamb was hardly enough for the group.

Su Xinbai said with lingering satisfaction, "Next time, I'll bring some items for the hot pot."

The phrase "hot pot" coming from Su Xinbai, a cold beauty, had an oddly amusing charm.

Qiu Huanian teased, "Young Master Su, you can enjoy hot pot anywhere. Why wait until next time to come here?"

Su Xinbai shook his head, "This way of eating is only enjoyable with more people."

Su Xinbai stayed at Qiu Huanian's place until dusk before setting off to return.

The Zhu family's mansion was vast, with four or five branches living together, housing dozens of masters. When Su Xinbai returned to the Zhu family, all the servants greeted him with respect, and people from other branches also greeted him politely on the surface.

Su Xinbai knew that he was the golden Buddha invited back by the Zhu family. His life had no major grievances, but there was also nothing particularly satisfying.

As he walked back to his courtyard, he noticed the light in the study was on and called over a servant sweeping the yard to ask.

"Madam, the eldest young master has returned."

"When did he arrive?"

"It's just past noon."

Half a day has passed since noon, and no one has come to call for the eldest young mistress to return. Everyone has grown accustomed to it.

Su Xinbai lowered his eyelids, his long lashes dusted with snow, and acknowledged with a nod, "Take good care of the eldest young master."

After speaking, he walked straight to the main residence, ready to change clothes and rest.

Zhu Jingcheng, hearing the commotion outside, paused his hand that was flipping through the account books but did not get up to go out.

Better not go and make a nuisance of myself...