Chapter 41: The Li Family’s Old Master
The next afternoon, calculating that his father would arrive soon, Li Wenliang went all the way to Guo Lane to pick up his father, Li Shikuan.
As soon as Li Wenliang got into the cart and before he could sit steady, Li Shikuan asked him directly, “What happened at the Xiucai Scholar’s home?”
“This matter requires Father’s consultation,” Li Wenliang shifted closer to Li Shikuan and lowered his voice.
“The Xiucai Scholar’s family partnered with the Zhang family, who run a warehouse next door, and rented a workshop outside the city. They’ve already started pickling preserved eggs and salted eggs, planning to open a shop to sell them.”
Li Shikuan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had thought of countless possibilities on the way, but never this.
“I asked Jin Zhu, and she said she partnered with Sister-in-law Yin, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhang family. She mentioned that Sister-in-law Yin’s family is from Gaoyou and runs a preserved egg and salted egg business, the renowned Yin family old brand. There is indeed a Yin family old brand in Gaoyou, and their preserved eggs and salted eggs are excellent.
“The Xiucai Scholar and Sister-in-law Yin’s partnership is a sixty-forty split for capital and profit…”
Li Wenliang carefully explained the detailed situation of the partnership between Li Jin Zhu’s sisters and Sister-in-law Yin.
Li Shikuan listened intently, frowned, and asked, “Using eggs for sixty percent of the capital, how many eggs is that? Where did so many eggs come from?”
“I suspect that the matter concerning the Xiucai Scholar’s home, which Old Master Hong mentioned, is precisely about where these eggs came from,” Li Wenliang lowered his voice further and leaned forward. “I didn’t dare to ask the neighbors, so I inquired at the framing shop diagonally opposite the Cai Lian Lane entrance.
“The shop assistant said that the first time the eggs were delivered, it was a rare sight. They all went to watch the spectacle. They said it was a full cart, piled high, all eggs, and that a Brocade-clad Young Master delivered them.”
Li Shikuan was even more astonished.
“That assistant said that the day before yesterday, he saw that Brocade-clad Young Master again. It turned out that young master wasn’t a young master, but someone’s servant. He said there was a very tall, extremely handsome man talking to the two sisters from the newly moved-in Xiucai Scholar’s home at the alley entrance.
“It was Yin Zhu and A Nan. Jin Zhu and Yu Zhu were in the workshop all day.”
“Tell me more about that man!” Li Shikuan’s tone was urgent.
“He said he brought about twenty retainers, each dressed in brocade, and each with a horse. They said the horses were tall and magnificent. When the man spoke to Yin Zhu and A Nan, the retainers held the horses and stood by the roadside, very quiet. The horses were also quiet, not making a sound.
“Furthermore, they said the man was handsome, with great bearing. He looked very good when he smiled, and very imposing when he didn’t.
“I subtly questioned Jin Zhu, and it seems she doesn’t know about Yin Zhu and A Nan talking to this man. That’s all.”
Li Shikuan slowly exhaled, leaned back against the cart’s side panel, and carefully reviewed everything. Looking at his son, he said, “Your sudden proposal to marry Yin Zhu to the Hong family yesterday made me think that whatever happened at the Xiucai Scholar’s home could only be a good thing. And that old fox, Master Hong, saw this good thing.
“Considering this, Old Master Hong must have arrived in Pingjiang City the day before yesterday. The matter of Yin Zhu and A Nan talking to that man must have been seen by Old Master Hong.” Li Shikuan was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowed. “It seems Old Master Hong has already guessed who this man is, and this man is definitely looking for A Nan, which is why he proposed to marry Yin Zhu.
“Let’s go to the Hong family first,” Li Shikuan’s tone rose.
“A Nan, that child, seems very spirited.” Li Wenliang paused, leaned forward, and whispered to Li Shikuan, “Father, you think the matter Li Wencai reported, could it be…”
“Mmm…” Li Shikuan was halfway through his “mmm” when he suddenly froze. His eyes widened gradually, and after a moment of stunned silence, he let out a sharp breath.
“Father!” Li Wenliang was startled.
“On the day the County Magistrate held the trial, there was a man, very tall, wearing a black gauze veil hat, and his retainers and horses were also very unusual,” Li Shikuan’s extremely low voice was filled with excitement.
“This is…”
“Hush! Why are you so spineless!” Li Shikuan glared fiercely at his eldest son.
“Father!” Li Wenliang’s voice trembled slightly. “This, this, could it be trouble, this…”
“Don’t be afraid,” Li Shikuan said “don’t be afraid,” but his face turned slightly pale, and he pursed his lips tightly. After a moment, he snorted and said, “It’s fine! Master Hong, that man, is more experienced and shrewder than us. He’s not backing down; he’s reaching out! Don’t be afraid!”
With this “don’t be afraid,” Li Shikuan’s confidence returned.
“This matter, it’s just for the two of us to know. You don’t need to tell your wife; it’s better for her not to know.”
Li Shikuan lifted the curtain and saw that they had already entered Pingjiang City. He signaled to his eldest son, “You point the way. I’ll go to the Hong family alone. You go pick out some gifts and wait for me at Cai Lian Lane. We need to pay a visit to the Zhang family.”
“Okay,” Li Wenliang agreed. He told the cart driver how to get to the Hong family, jumped off the cart, and hurried to prepare the gifts.
When Li Jin Zhu and Li Yu Zhu returned to Cai Lian Lane, exhausted, Li Shikuan and Li Wenliang were sitting in the Main Hall, chatting and laughing with Li Xue Dong. Li Yin Zhu was squatting by the kitchen door in the lamplight, washing Li Xue Dong’s Long Gown. Li Xiao Nan was squatting beside her, resting her chin on her hand, watching Li Yin Zhu do the laundry.
Hearing the movement, Li Yin Zhu leaped up and rushed forward, “Eldest Sister, Eldest Sister! Tang Weng Weng is here! Eldest Uncle said to wait for you to come back before serving the meal!”
Li Xiao Nan followed behind. Before she could speak, Li Wenliang had already come out from the Main Hall, “Jin Zhu, you’re back. Go in and rest. I’ll have them send the meal over.”
Li Jin Zhu and Li Yu Zhu first went into the Main Hall to greet Li Shikuan. After washing their faces in the Courtyard, they went inside to change out of their work Clothes. When they came out again, Li Wenliang had returned, followed by two Shop Assistants.
The two Shop Assistants set out several cold dishes, and then another Shop Assistant came over with hot dishes, Hot Soup, and dumplings.
“Jin Zhu and Yu Zhu have been tired all day, let’s eat first,” Li Shikuan sat at the head of the Table and gestured with a smile.
Li Xiao Nan sat at the very end, directly opposite Li Shikuan, holding her Chopsticks and looking at the cold and hot dishes on the Table one by one.
This was her first time eating restaurant food here, and it all looked very good!
Li Shikuan picked out a few dumplings, scooped a spoonful of mushroom and bamboo shoot with ham soup, and ate slowly, unobtrusively observing Li Xiao Nan opposite him.
After Li Xiao Nan had looked them over, she reached for the Biluo Shrimp.
Li Shikuan then looked at Li Yin Zhu, who scooped up a large piece of braised pork with one chopstick, and couldn’t help but smile.
Yin Zhu, this child, is truly straightforward.
