Chapter 71 Ruifeng Tower

Chapter 71: Ruifeng Tavern

Two carriages drove away from the entrance of Ruifeng Tavern one after another. After Manager Shi boarded his carriage, he took out four or five sheets of paper from his bosom, tore them all up, and bundled them together, intending to destroy them once he returned to Panshi Studio.

"Although it’s ten percent more than expected, we still managed to negotiate it. At least I can report back to the boss."

Manager Jin of Baojin Studio wasn’t nearly as relaxed. When he returned to Baojin Studio, he was met with another harsh scolding from the boss.

"What’s so special about a mere Xiucai’s husband? Acting so high and mighty in front of me—and they actually had the nerve to accept a thirty percent cut?"

Manager Jin tremblingly advised him: "Boss, although thirty percent is not a small amount, Manager Shi of Panshi Studio is a careful calculator. If he was willing to give up profit so readily, it shows that the first volume earned them far more than we estimated."

"Besides, when it comes to selling storybooks, whether it’s Kongmo Bookshop or Panshi Studio, who can compare to us? Not to mention the scattered buyers in the city, there are also small book vendors who come to our studio to purchase stock for re-sale—that alone is a huge income. On top of that, even though we agreed on a thirty percent cut, could Song Fulang possibly come check our studio’s accounts one by one? In the end, how much we actually give him is entirely up to us."

The boss of Baojin Studio was satisfied with this reasoning. "He’s just a country hick. When he brings the book for signing the contract, there’s no need to be too picky."

Manager Jin understood. "Yes, sir."

——

After leaving Ruifeng Tavern, Meng Wan heaved a huge sigh of relief. All three came together, keeping each other in check—this was the best outcome he could have imagined.

Kongmo Bookshop was generous and polite, easy to deal with. Manager Shi of Panshi Studio was shrewd and greedy, but had no malicious intent.

As for Baojin Studio, from top to bottom, they had a holier-than-thou attitude. If not for the other two studios keeping them in check, they would have used every means to seize the book. In that case, forget about any share of profits; even staying alive would have been a blessing.

Manager Zhou, the son of Aunt Zhou from next door, chased after him from the tavern. "Song Fulang, the tea you ordered was top-grade Lushan Cloud Mist. It’s a shame to waste what’s left in the pot. I drained it and wrapped it in oil paper. If you don’t mind, you can take it home and brew it. It’s still better than the well water in our alley."

Ruifeng Tavern was an old tavern in the west of the city. Manager Zhou had managed to become a minor manager there, and his skill in handling social situations was impeccable.

Before the powerful, he could fawn over them without shame; among the common folk, he could get his hands dirty with common folk.

Meng Wan took the oil paper package and smiled. "How thoughtful of you, Brother Zhou. Thank you very much."

"Don’t mention it." Manager Zhou was busy and retreated back into the tavern after handing over the tea.

Meng Wan went straight to the west room. Chang Jinhua had indeed hidden the cloth bundle from earlier under the chest.

"Fifty-tael silver ingots—two, four, six, eight... then seventeen ingots, plus three ten-tael small ingots. Eight hundred and eighty taels! And this is just for one month."

Meng Wan swallowed his exclamation. Wait... thirty taels now seemed like pocket change to him!

I'm rich, rich, rich!

"Mother!" Meng Wan put the huge sum back into the cabinet and bounded out joyfully to find Chang Jinhua.

"Mother! Mother! Mother!!!"

"I heard you, I heard you! What are you yelling for? With all the work ahead, come help!" Chang Jinhua didn’t even look up, scolding him with a fierce look of concentration.

Meng Wan thought to himself, I'm so wealthy now, why am I still bothering with this nickel-and-dime business?

But under Chang Jinhua’s glare, he obediently went back to selling fried dough.

This busyness lasted until noon. Everyone finished cleaning up the stall. Lu Chunfang and Xue Sheng washed the basins and wooden trays. Chang Jinhua rubbed her waist and complained, "Why are there so many people today? Wan Geer, what did those people who came early in the morning want with you? I heard they sounded like bookshop managers. In the end, why did you go to the tavern for tea?"

If the baozi seller across the street knew she was saying this, they would scold her for not appreciating her good fortune. Others envied their popularity, yet she found it too much trouble!

Finally getting to the real matter, Meng Wan grinned. "They came to deliver money to our family."

"Really? Could it be that bookshop in the east of the city you mentioned before, the one about sharing profits?" Chang Jinhua poured two bowls of mung bean soup and drank one herself. Lately, they kept a pot ready every day to beat the summer heat.

Meng Wan picked up the other bowl. "Exactly them. Plus the ones from the west and south of the city—they all came to discuss business with us. In short, I earned a lot of money. We have enough to buy a house now."

"Really!"

Chang Jinhua’s exclamation made Lu Chunfang, who was working, turn her head. "Aunt, what’s wrong?"

Xue Sheng was still quietly working.

Chang Jinhua quickly waved her hand. "Nothing, nothing. Those basins can be washed anytime. Come have some mung bean soup too."

Lu Chunfang replied, "Almost done."

Chang Jinhua pulled Meng Wan into the house and whispered, "Did you earn that much?"

Meng Wan gestured for her to open the cabinet and see for herself.

"No, no. With so much money, we should keep it properly. Opening the cabinet back and forth will only attract thieves."

Chang Jinhua had never handled so much money before. Her first thought was to keep it safe and not let it get stolen.

Meng Wan teased her, "Mother, if you’re so afraid of theft, why don’t we just spend it all? Then we won’t have to worry."

As expected, he got glared at again.

Summer days were long. In the early evening, the sun was still harsh. Song Tingzhou returned on horseback. On other days, the chimney would be smoking and the aroma of food would greet him as he entered the courtyard. But today was different.

He led his horse to the stable, tied it up, and casually filled the stone trough with water from the bucket nearby.

Meng Wan ran out of the house to greet him. "You’re back."

He was wearing summer clothes made from the fine cotton cloth he had bought earlier—iris blue, with a cross-collar front and loose sleeves.

The lower garment resembled a skirt yet was like trousers, wide-legged, swaying like a skirt when he walked but not touching the ground, covering his feet. If made of gauze or silk, it would hang more gracefully and flow more elegantly.

But Meng Wan’s beauty was striking. Even now, with a hint of youthfulness, he looked lively and spirited. They say some people look good even in a sack—he was exactly that type.

Song Tingzhou stared at him without shifting his gaze. "Where’s Mother? Why don’t I see them?"

Meng Wan’s eyes curved slightly. He pulled Song Tingzhou to the courtyard to wash his hands. "Today, I’m treating you to a feast at Ruifeng Tavern."

Song Tingzhou washed his hands and raised an eyebrow. "Going to a tavern? Did you get the share from Kongmo Bookshop?"

Meng Wan pretended to be surprised. "Oh, husband is so smart! You figured it out? So, guess how much I got?"

Song Tingzhou linked his hand with Meng Wan’s and chuckled. "My husband is being so generous today—it must be over a hundred taels."

"Haha!" Meng Wan burst out laughing. He pulled Song Tingzhou’s hand and hopped around, his eyes and brows brimming with pride. At this moment, he was a completely different person from the Meng Wan who had faced Manager Shi and the others.

Qin Niang from next door, who was working, couldn’t help but smile when she heard Meng Wan’s laughter.

Her second sister-in-law, thinking Qin Niang was interested, continued her persuasion. "There’s a young man who runs a meat stall in the northern part of the city. His family lives in a nearby village close to the city. They have over ten mu of fertile land, managed by his elderly parents. He’s their only son, with two younger brothers who are gē’er. All the savings they have will go to this son. Your second brother and I have seen him twice—he’s hardworking and reliable, and he has some savings. I heard he’s saving up to buy a courtyard. He’s not blindly supporting his parents."

She rambled on until her throat was dry. Qin Niang poured her a bowl of plain tea. "Alright, I’ll meet him."

Sister Li: "His appearance is ordinary, but... what did you say? Meet him? Really! Hey, second brother! Qin Niang agreed!"

Ruifeng Tavern wasn’t far from home. Chang Jinhua, Lu Chunfang, and Xue Sheng went ahead, leaving Meng Wan at home to wait for Song Tingzhou. The two of them locked the house door and the courtyard gate before slowly heading out.

On the way, Meng Wan saw a vendor selling round silk fans made of silk and bamboo, with magpies, bamboo, flowers, and plants painted on them. He picked out three: "One for Mother, one for Sister-in-law Chunfang, one for myself... and there are folding fans here. I see those scholars using them all year round, so let me buy one for you too. Which one do you like?"

Song Tingzhou chose a folding fan with a blank surface. "This one. I want my husband to paint something on it."

Meng Wan shot him a look that said, "You know how to pick 'em," and bought all four fans.

When they arrived at Ruifeng Tower, Meng Wan first greeted Manager Zhou. "Brother Zhou, where are my mother and the others seated?"

Manager Zhou smiled and led them upstairs. "Auntie Song is in the second-floor room called 'Rice Fragrance,' third door on the left after turning left. There’s a window; you can open it to enjoy a cooler meal."

Song Tingzhou, holding Meng Wan’s hand, followed behind and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhou."

Manager Zhou felt honored. "You're welcome, Mr. Song."

He led Meng Wan and the others upstairs and personally helped them order dishes, introducing the menu.

"Xue Sheng is still recovering from his injury and can't drink alcohol, so let's have a pot of green grape wine for the rest of us," Meng Wan said after ordering the food. He also ordered a pot of fruit wine, which had a low alcohol content. Sharing it among all of them wouldn't be a problem.

This was Meng Wan’s first real dining-out experience since coming here, and he found it quite fascinating. The others were even more nervous than he was, feeling awkward and stiff.

When the waiter brought the dishes, they all felt like they should go and carry the dishes themselves, uncomfortable being waited on.

"Wan Ge'er, maybe we should pack it up and eat at home? I feel awkward eating here," Chang Jinhua said, earning a strong nod from Lu Chunfang, who said, "Me too..."

"Mother, but I want to go out to a restaurant today. No dishes to wash—just let me eat out today, okay?" Meng Wan’s mouth watered at the sight of the stir-fried lamb with scallions on the table.

"Alright then, let's eat. Mother will put some on your plate," Chang Jinhua said as she used her chopsticks to pick a piece of lamb for Meng Wan. The others slowly began to eat too.

Meng Wan thought it was heavenly. The restaurant's food was definitely better than home-cooked meals. "This bamboo shoot pickle is so good—tart and appetizing. Mother, try it."

"This fish soup is so fresh. Husband, let me serve you a bowl."

"Everyone, dig in! It's rare for us to come here, so enjoy!"

Meng Wan not only ate heartily but also enthusiastically urged others to do the same, clearly overjoyed today.

His mood infected the others, and they gradually relaxed. Chang Jinhua loved the fruit wine and drank most of a pot. Meng Wan also liked it, so he ordered another pot.

After eating and drinking their fill, the six dishes and one soup were completely finished. Chang Jinhua was slightly tipsy, and Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou helped her downstairs.

The sky had grown dark. After returning home, everyone washed up and went to bed. Before sleeping, Song Tingzhou added more firewood to the stove and filled the pot with water.

In summer, it was hot, so they didn’t need to heat the kang every day. But if Meng Wan wanted to bathe at night, it was better to use warm water.

Song Tingzhou lowered the mosquito net and tucked in the corners. Meng Wan, wearing just a cool little bellyband, curled into his arms. "Today, Jin Rong sent me a note through the paperboy. He and Ge Quan have already left the city, and it seemed very hurried. I think it's related to the death of that concubine-born son from the Zhu family." He recounted the morning's events.

Song Tingzhou wrapped his arm around Meng Wan's smooth, delicate shoulders, leaning back against the bedding. "Since he was also in the city, why is the news only reaching us now?"

Meng Wan pondered. "He only said he was going to stay with relatives, but I don't know which branch of the family. Now the trouble is in the second branch, and the one holding power over the Zhu family is the second master. If his relative has little influence, maybe they couldn’t send word out?"

A merchant family, even an imperial merchant—were the rules really that strict? Meng Wan had no experience with this and was puzzled. But for now, these were secondary concerns.

"Today, the people from the Zhu family seemed intent on taking me directly to the Zhu residence. But coincidentally, several bookshops sent people, among them the Nie family from Kongmo Bookshop, who are also imperial merchants. Those servants were wary of Teacher Nie and retreated for now. But I feel it’s not over. The Zhu family will come again."

Song Tingzhou frowned. "Your only connection to the Zhu family is through Fang Jinrong. Could that concubine-born son have been killed by Ge Quan? They couldn't find him, so they came to you?"

Meng Wan felt something was off. He fiddled with his clothes ties and thought for a moment. "Ge Quan is a wanderer who roams the land, but I don’t think he’s the type to kill wantonly. Besides, if he and Jin Rong really killed someone, they would have subtly hinted at it in their note.

Since they didn’t mention it, either their leaving has nothing to do with this, or the concubine-born son wasn’t dead yet when they left."

Song Tingzhou was still uneasy. "I have a classmate who is the legitimate son of the third branch of the Zhu family. Second Master Zhu is his uncle. Tomorrow I’ll go ask him. With this connection, it should be fine."

Meng Wan sat up from his arms, startled. "You have that kind of connection? Why didn’t I know? Is that the one who taught you those crude words before?"

Feeling the sudden lightness in his arms, Song Tingzhou instinctively pulled him back. "What crude words?"

Meng Wan almost blurted something out but caught himself. He accused, "You rascal, Song Tingzhou, you've turned bad!"

Song Tingzhou blinked innocently. "Turned bad?"

"Hmph. Are you acting innocent in front of me?"

Meng Wan tugged at his pants and cooed, "Zhou~ Lang?"

Song Tingzhou’s throat tightened. "Mm."

"Is that classmate from the Zhu family one of those with many wives and concubines, always at home flirting with maids and pages?" Meng Wan squinted suspiciously.

"Heh."

Song Tingzhou chuckled and gave him two light pecks. "I only know he’s not married yet. Whether he flirts with maids and pages, I don’t know."

Meng Wan couldn’t hold back and pounced on him, laughing. "I used to worry you were too withdrawn to have friends at the prefectural academy. Good that you’ve made a few. Not bad, not bad!"

With Song Tingzhou’s connection, things would be easier. Most importantly, Meng Wan had never offended the Zhu family, and Song Tingzhou had an official status. Would the Zhu family dare to falsely accuse him? There was no ill will between the two families—no reason for it.

After discussing the bad news, they moved on to happier topics. "I’ve already negotiated with the three major bookshops. When you have a holiday, come with me to sign the contracts."

Song Tingzhou hugged him, picked up a round fan from the bed, and gently fanned him. "Alright, I’ll go with you."

Meng Wan closed his eyes in comfort. "Also, now it’s summer, so riding your horse home is fine. But when winter comes and the snow makes the roads slippery, you should have the carriage fitted and let Xue Sheng pick you up."

"Now we have some savings, and we can look for a house closer to the prefectural academy. But there’s no rush this time—we can take it slow..."

His voice gradually trailed off, and his breathing became steady. Song Tingzhou continued fanning him, kissed his forehead, and closed his eyes too.