Chapter 249: Giving Flowers

Chapter 249: Sending Flowers

By noon, Meng Wan had already grown tired of manning the stall. "Husband, I want to go eat stone flower jelly."

Song Tingzhou picked a peanut skin off the corner of his mouth. "Let's go find some now. We'll leave the things here."

He wrote a note with the rules, weighed it down with a charcoal stick on the table, and led Meng Wan onto the street.

The vendor selling stone flower jelly had indeed set up a stall in the prefectural city, and other hawkers had a wide variety of goods as well, all having traveled here from towns and villages across the region.

Meng Wan strolled along eating his stone flower jelly, while Song Tingzhou kept a firm arm around his waist to keep him from being jostled by the crowd, carrying Meng Wan's small basket in his other hand.

"Wan'er, that looks like a pickled-fruit stall over there. Want some?"

Meng Wan shook his head vigorously. "It's fine with congee, but I don't feel like it right now."

"Meng Fulang, Lord Song!" A call with a hint of exotic accent came from behind them.

Song Tingzhou led Meng Wan over and saw Dami Mei with several other young Zhuang women selling goods at a stall. Business seemed quite good, with many young xiaoge and maidens gathered around.

"No wonder we only saw Wei Kai and the others earlier, but not you." Meng Wan's eyes scanned the stall. Dami Mei had opened a fabric shop, and as the most dexterous girl in the Zhuang tribe, her stall was filled with brightly woven cloth. The largest pieces were only bed-sheet size, with most being small handkerchiefs and the like.

Meng Wan picked out several handkerchiefs, intending to give them to the elders, and paid despite Dami Mei's protests. "You're now a part-time instructor at the academy—how can I take advantage of a tutor?"

The Zhuang village had become a large textile learning base, with locals all asking Dami Mei for guidance on weaving Zhuang brocade. But this skill required great talent, and Dami Mei remained the best weaver.

Meng Wan had hired Dami Mei and several other Zhuang xiaoge and maidens as instructors for the Hui San Weaving Class at Songyun College. Along with the embroidery master Xiang Yun had found for him in Yangzhou, this was truly master-level instruction.

Song Tingzhou bought a packet of "sand cake" pastries from another Zhuang xiaoge's stall, pinched off a piece, and fed it to Meng Wan. Meng Wan's eyes lit up after a bite. "Delicious! There's peanut and sesame inside."

With so many people around, Meng Wan's naturally soft voice was overheard. Two people, seeing how much he enjoyed it, also went to buy some sand cakes from the Zhuang stall.

Thanks to the rise of sugar workshops in Heshan in recent years, local sugar prices had gradually dropped, and sugar pastries came in all sorts of varieties. People were willing to buy them as a sweet treat for their kids.

After sharing two pieces of sand cake, Song Tingzhou and Meng Wan moved on to sugar-scallion pancakes, and soon felt cloyed.

"I think I saw Qing Xing and the others," Meng Wan said, taking an orange from his snack basket to cut the sweetness. He peeled it and shared half with Song Tingzhou.

Song Tingzhou took the orange and looked where Meng Wan pointed, indeed seeing Qing Xing leading a group of younger siblings while shopping. "Who's that man beside her?"

Beside Qing Xing and her siblings was a stranger—a handsome man with a somewhat delicate air, accompanied by two servants, chatting and laughing with Qing Xing.

"A concubine-born son of the Xu family, tea merchants from Huizhou Prefecture. He did a big deal with Zhen Guan Workshop. He's bold, but he's too calculating, he speaks in too many circles—not a good match." Meng Wan mused that Zhen Guan Workshop had already supplied Xu Wenjun with the goods, so he should be leaving soon. Why was he hanging around Qing Xing instead?

Everyone in Xiwu Prefecture knew that the Miao family's pharmacy was connected to the Prefect's Lord. With Xu Wenjun's sharpness, he must have found that out. After Meng Wan had scared him before, he wouldn't dare play tricks in front of Meng Wan. But Qing Xing was just a female physician—aside from her connection to Meng Wan, she only had her medical skills. What was there to gain?

"Miss Qing, it's so crowded here. Why don't I treat your family to a meal at Wei Zhen Tower?" Xu Wenjun spoke politely and gracefully, easily winning people over.

Qing Xing's cheeks flushed. "Mr. Xu is too kind. I have many younger siblings, so you needn't trouble yourself. We'll just browse the streets."

Xu Wenjun disagreed. "Miss Qing saved my life—how can that be called trouble?"

Qing Xing was embarrassed. "Healing the sick and saving lives is a physician's duty. Besides, you've already paid the consultation fee."

Doctor Miao had raised his children well—they never used their medical skills to coerce others. After speaking, Qing Xing led her younger siblings toward another direction.

Xu Wenjun paused slightly, then followed behind Qing Xing with a meaningful smile.

Meng Wan caught the shift in their expressions and sighed faintly. "There aren't that many perfect love stories. Ordinary people always suffer some heartbreak."

The arm around his waist tightened abruptly. "I will never hurt you."

Meng Wan patted Song Tingzhou's arm with his free hand. "I believe you, of course. We're the lucky ones."

This was just a budding spark between them, and as an outsider, Meng Wan couldn't easily intervene. But later, when A Xun came looking for Chu Ci to play, he could casually drop a hint.

After wandering for half a day, Meng Wan's mouth never stopped. By afternoon, they returned home. Everyone else was out. Xue Sheng and Zhu Yan had gone with A Yan to find friends at the academy, Huang Ye was accompanying Chang Jinhua, Chu Ci had gone to find A Xun early, Xiang Yun and Lin Yi were having tea with old friends at Wei Zhen Tower, and the servants had all been given leave.

The few remaining maids and page boys, afraid of being snatched by traffickers, stayed home, hoping for treats and toys brought back by their older siblings.

The cook was also off duty, so Meng Wan fried a plate of egg-fried rice for Song Tingzhou, and just joined him in drinking half a pot of tea.

They rested at home for a while; the evening lantern festival was the main event. Few commoners usually dared to come near the government office, but now it was packed with people.

Qiao Xingyuan, working overtime while others had time off, stood on a temporary platform, listlessly chatting with a few similarly overworked yamen runners. Suddenly spotting Song Tingzhou approaching from a distance, he immediately straightened his back.

Once upon a time, he had scorned Tong Ping for being lazy and sly, only to find himself forced into becoming an old hand himself.

With a solemn expression, Qiao Xingyuan addressed the crowd below: "A few days ago was the great harvest season. I trust everyone had a good yield. From now on, all citizens of Xiwu Prefecture need only pay land tax—the more land, the more tax, with no connection to population. Families with more labor can open up new wasteland, and even if you don't grow rice, planting fruit trees is also a source of income."

The people below were inspired by this. Not only had life in the countryside improved compared to before, but even urban residents were doing better business—something everyone had personally experienced.

Qiao Xingyuan had written a speech. He glanced at it and continued: "Now, the prefectural school in the city and the county schools in the county seats all accept commoners for study—no tuition fees, only room and board. Songyun College's tuition is even just one tael of silver, and xiaoge and maidens who go there get free room, board, and clothing."

"For families with many children, don't be stingy with them. You all know that men who study and take the imperial exams can become High Officials."

"Women and xiaoge who study at the academy, learn characters, and master arithmetic can become supervisors at Meng Fulang's workshops. Those who learn embroidery can become embroiderers, those who learn weaving can weave cloth at fabric shops, those who learn cooking can open their own food stalls, and those who learn medicine can become physicians who treat illnesses!"

Meng Wan looked up at the impassioned Qiao Xingyuan on the platform and asked Song Tingzhou beside him, "Earlier when we came over, Qiao Registrar seemed to have a hint of resentment about him. Was he hoping for a day off too?"

Song Tingzhou said flatly, "We drew lots. He just got unlucky."

There were two people drawing lots: Registrar Qiao and Professor Shan.

Qiao Xingyuan whipped up the crowd's excitement, and some even regretted not sending their children to the prefectural school, county school, or academy when they had the chance. Those who had sent their children—who had kept quiet about it—now felt proud of their foresight.

Seeing the high spirits, Qiao Xingyuan continued: "Don't regret it. Every September from now on, the county schools, prefectural school, and Songyun College will recruit new students again."

Today's gathering had three purposes: first, to add a local holiday in Xiwu Prefecture, boosting consumption and cash flow; second, to advertise the academies while everyone was gathered; and third, most importantly, to encourage marriages between the ethnic minorities and the Yu people, increasing the local population.

As Qiao Xingyuan had said, Xiwu Prefecture had abolished the poll tax. It was time to have more children, open up land, and send young scholars to the academies to train talent for the imperial government.

Finally, Qiao Xingyuan reminded everyone that those in no hurry to leave could stay for the lantern festival. Wealthy merchants in the city had bought fireworks, which would be set off by the river later. And the common rooms in city inns were only half the usual price tonight.

Common rooms were already cheap; half price was just a few steamed buns' worth. At this, the crowd dispersed to book rooms.

Meng Wan stayed behind to greet Qiao Xingyuan as he stepped off the platform. "Registrar Qiao, thank you for speaking on behalf of Songyun College."

Qiao Xingyuan bowed to them both. "Lord, Fulang. Songyun College is a benefit to the people. My own daughter will be six next year, and she will also enter the academy. Once the common people see its convenience, I believe they will compete for enrollment without needing persuasion."

Meng Wan smiled. "I'll take your kind words, Registrar Qiao."

"You've worked hard today. You may take two extra days off after the New Year." At Song Tingzhou's words from heaven, Qiao Xingyuan's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Lord!"

Where there is demand, there is a market. A few days earlier, some well-informed hawkers had heard about the evening lantern festival. By the time Song Tingzhou and Meng Wan arrived at the tributary of the city's moat, both sides of the river were already brilliantly lit, as if it were daytime.

"Meng Fulang!" A Xun, coming down from the bridge, spotted Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou, and ran over with Chu Ci.

“I didn't see you guys all day – turns out you've been here the whole time.” Meng Wan said teasingly.

Chu Ci handed the lantern he had just bought to A Xun and made a few hand signs to Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou.

“Your grandmother and the others have gone home, and A Yan was taken away by her too? Alright, I understand.” Meng Wan pulled out a money pouch from Song Tingzhou’s arms, grabbed a small handful of silver, and gave it to Chu Ci. “Since you rarely get to go out and have fun, enjoy yourself thoroughly. Buy some trinkets with A Xun.”

Chu Ci knew he couldn’t refuse, so he reluctantly stuffed it into his sleeve pocket. He had already run into Chang Jinhua earlier, who had shoved a handful of silver at him—his money pouch was now completely full.

Song Tingzhou patted Chu Ci on the shoulder. “Be careful, and don’t stay out too late. Your father and I are going to take a look across the street.”

Chu Ci nodded and headed off with A Xun.

On the other side of the river, there were not only lanterns but also flower sellers. At this time of year, if it were the north, there would only be chrysanthemums. But in Lingnan, there were quite a variety of flowers.

Meng Wan wanted to buy a bouquet of cut flowers for Song Tingzhou—a quintessential modern romantic gesture that he had never given Song Tingzhou before.

“Husband, go over there and buy me a lantern to play with. Any kind will do—I’ll like whatever you choose.”

Meng Wan sent Song Tingzhou away with these two sentences. Once he saw him leave, he went to a small stall in the flower market, crouched down, and asked the vendor, “What kind of flower is this?”

Seeing that Meng Wan was well-dressed, the vendor eagerly promoted it. “Good eye, young master! This is called Chunli—a variety brought over from the South China Sea. Look how big the buds are. Only three wen per stem.”

Meng Wan said with an air of wealth, “I’ll take the whole basket!”

The basket for the flowers was woven from thin bamboo strips, longer and narrower than usual baskets. It could serve as a temporary vase, and there were two straps on top so it could be carried on the back.

Meng Wan paid, put the flowers on his back, and went to find Song Tingzhou in high spirits.

By this time, it was the hour of Xu (7-9 PM). Boats were floating on the river, and fireworks burst across the sky in a dazzling display, reflected beautifully on the water.

“Wow!”

“So pretty!”

“Over there, over there—it looks like the Chen family set that off.”

“It’s starting here too—those are the servants of Squire Huang setting off fireworks.”

“Look over there! It’s Second Young Master Yu! As expected of the richest man in Xiwu—the Yu family’s fireworks are the biggest and most beautiful.”

“Fireworks are going off on the other side of the river too! It’s the Zhen Guan Workshop!!!”

“No, it’s the Glaze Workshop! Wow! Such huge fireworks, and they even have patterns!”

Exclamations of wonder filled the air. Everyone was busy watching the fireworks, and the crowd lingered by the river to enjoy the spectacle.

Song Tingzhou stepped onto the bridge carrying a koi-shaped lantern. “Wan’er, do you like this?”

Meng Wan stood on the bridge, smiling as he looked at the koi lantern in Song Tingzhou’s hand, but instead of taking it, he pulled out a basket of fresh roses from behind him.

“Look! These are for you.”

As fireworks exploded in the sky, Song Tingzhou’s ears were filled with the sound of booming blasts and the crowd’s cheers. He was taken aback for a second, then suddenly smiled as he took the bouquet from Meng Wan and handed his own lantern to him.

“What made you think to buy me flowers?”

Meng Wan’s sweet words flowed freely. “Flowers are for the one you love. You’re my beloved—I should have bought them for you long ago.”

Even after being married for so long, Song Tingzhou still felt shy when he heard Meng Wan’s affectionate words. Like a young man falling in love for the first time, he responded a bit awkwardly after Meng Wan’s explanation, “Then I’ll go buy you flowers right now.”

Meng Wan took the river lantern and led him off the bridge. “Today I’ll buy them for you; next time you can buy them for me. Otherwise, we’d be carrying too much. I also want to pick up some snacks and treats to take home!”

The men and women on the bridge had all overheard Meng Wan’s words. They were a bit embarrassed, but it was also true that they felt inspired.

From that day on, a craze for giving flowers suddenly swept through Xiwu Prefecture.