Where Immortals Once Walked

“Madame is aware of the situation and has been cutting back on purpose. We also don’t dare hire freely. Aside from Nanny Qian and me, there are only two maids, another two for the kitchen and odd jobs, three long-term hands, and one gardener. Where labor falls short, we plan to make up with day workers.”

He Chunhua nodded. In estates of similar size, you could barely keep things running with fewer than twenty or thirty servants. Even Manager Qian, who had quietly handled errands for him for years, was only acting as the Zhu Family’s agent in Dunyu, and his own household still kept seven or eight servants.

He let himself fall back onto the couch, and the day’s fatigue washed over him. “What about Chuan’er?”

It was a casual question, but Old Steward Mo replied, “The young master’s been very active these past few days.”

He Chunhua kept his eyes closed. “Has that brat started causing trouble again?”

He was used to such behavior coming from his eldest, so his heart did not so much as ripple.

“I wouldn’t call it trouble,” Old Mo said with a smile. “Young Master has taken in a few men, and he’s begun spending to acquire properties in Dunyu and the surrounding counties.”

“Acquiring properties?” He Chunhua opened his eyes, genuinely surprised. “What has he bought?”

Buying up assets—that did not sound like his eldest. “No, wait, who are these men he hired?”

“A few of the Li Family’s dismissed private soldiers, and a local steward surnamed Ding,” Old Mo said, clearly having done his homework. “The acquisitions were arranged by this Steward Ding. He went out and closed the deals one by one.”

“He’s picked capable people, then,” He Chunhua said with a nod. “Local help is not to be underestimated.”

“Indeed. We’ve also hired quite a few locals ourselves. Without locals, half the tasks here won’t even get off the ground.” Old Mo went on, “As far as I know, the young master has already bought several storefronts, tens of thousands square meters of excellent irrigated fields, a fishery on the west side of Qing Lake, the old-established Dunyu restaurant Hesu Tower, and even taken over a trading firm. That firm has two complete caravans that were on the verge of disbanding.”

“He managed to get his hands on a fishery?” He Chunhua stroked his chin. “Interesting.”

“I heard that the east side of Qing Lake has the richest weeds and the densest shoals, with the west a little worse.”

“If he could buy in at all, he’s done well. He’s had a bit of luck.” Fisheries were not assets one could acquire simply by having money. Within Great Yuan, the large rivers, lakes, forests, and mines were all owned by the state, and random harvesting or logging was forbidden. However, local authorities could not manage everything themselves, so they contracted out these resources and shared the profits with lessees.

Qing Lake, which was right outside Dunyu, was a vast freshwater lake fed by three inlets, teeming with fish, shrimp, crabs, and clams. It was divided into twenty-seven fisheries, every one already spoken for. To protect the resource, the state mandated two closed seasons and two open seasons each year.

Once the open season began, only the fishery’s own workers could operate freely. Even outsiders digging clams on the shoals had to pay first.

In short, it was a quasi-monopolized industry. Hold a decent fishery, and you were holding the hen that laid silver eggs.

“I heard the Shu Family originally had their eyes on that fishery,” Old Mo added. “Steward Ding stepped in and flashed the He Family’s credentials.”

“Mm. The kid knows how to seize an angle. But where did he get the money? Did he force the deal?”

At this, Old Steward Mo faltered. “That, I’m not certain.”

A single fishery would fetch a hefty price, even in extraordinary times such as now. He Chunhua thought back.

Did I ever give He Lingchuan that much money? Did he save it all?

Strange.

Perhaps Chuan’er had gotten something out of the rebel suppression?

He did make off with Lu Yao’s items. From Heishui City to Shihuan and now to Dunyu, plenty of people sought favor through Chuan’er to reach me. It wouldn’t be too strange if some simply paid him.

Or... has the boy been throwing his weight around and collecting assets in private?

But a mountain of other problems awaited him, and his son’s little matters could not quite compare. He Chunhua chuckled and said, “Leave him be. If he wants to buy those things, let him.”

Truth be told, he was pleased.

The gentry of Xia Province were carving off meat to dump their properties, which meant they had no confidence in the province’s defensive lines, or in its new governor-general. All they wanted was to flee south. Granted, some of that was quietly encouraged by He Chunhua himself. Even so, the thought soured his mood.

His eldest son stepping in to bottom-fish right now was a vote of confidence in action, not only mere words.

It brought comfort to a father’s heart.

“But I do want to know how much he ends up with.”

“Yes.”

* * *

At dawn the next day, Dunyu City posted an official notice, which stated: from this evening, at the hour of the dog[1], the city would be open to entry but closed to exit. Merchants wishing to leave would need special writs from the relevant offices; only then would the gates open.

The notice also stressed that the northern defensive line was stable, the troops were fighting well, and the situation was improving. It urged the populace not to believe or spread rumors, but to live in peace.

The moment the notice went up, a wave of panic surged through the city!

It was like trying to cap price rises. The more you cap them, the higher they spike. Similarly, in trying to prop up a falling price, the more you propped it up, the faster it drops. With this notice out, the first thought in countless minds was:

It’s over. Run!

Something must be wrong up north. If anything, then it was almost definitely that the Xun Province army was about to break through!

If one ran late or slow, they would be trapped and die in Dunyu.

Rumors had already been flying these past days, so with the announcement, the people’s wavering turned, all at once, into an iron resolve to flee.

Prices collapsed across the board, grain included.

The wealthy and the great families held too much grain to move it all at once, and they could only liquidate in a panic. Market prices had initially climbed to about ten wen per kilogram. In less than half a day, they fell to three wen per kilogram, and for bulk purchases of about seven hundred kilograms or more, the price dropped to about one and a half wen per kilogram.

A straight-up clearance price, even below cost.

And if this was true for grain, it was truer still for all other trades. Everyone wanted to sell out in tears before the gates closed.

The prefecture sent runners to beat gongs in the streets, telling the people not to panic, and deployed men to keep order and stop looting or riots.

He Chunhua himself even came out to address a crowd at the vegetable market, speaking to calm their fears.

Seeing how firmly he spoke, and how the government’s swift, no-nonsense style differed from the past, most commoners settled somewhat, their nerves easing a little.

Even so, under the surface, the currents raced.

The nobles and gentry ordered their men to dump assets while they themselves slipped away. The Zhan Family’s caravan, for example, stretched in a long line from their gate all the way to the city gate, nearly causing a massive traffic jam.

In such a climate, Ding Zuodong did not come home all day. His wife and children waited at the door till their hearts were raw with worry.

When had this man of theirs ever been so unreliable?

Fortunately, he finally ran back at the hour of the monkey[2]. Despite the cold, he was soaked in sweat. “Can you bring me some food and water? I’ve been running all day. I’m starving!”

His wife hurried to pour him a cup of water, her voice tight with fear as she said, “The officials posted a notice. Everyone’s leaving. The Wangs and the Yins next door have already packed their boxes and scooped up the babies. Are we... are we running too?”

He gulped the water down. “Where would we run?”

“South, as refugees! We’ve packed everything. The horse is harnessed and fed. Your son’s out watching it so that no one steals it!”

“Watching the horse is right. A horse is worth more than anything, today.” Ding Zuodong, however, remained perfectly calm. “Put everything back. Heat the food and bring it to me.”

“But what if the Xun Province soldiers come—”

“Who told you that?”

“Everyone’s saying it. Heavens, there’s no smoke without fire. Things must be going badly up north.” She twisted her handkerchief anxiously. “Did you hear something from Lord He?”

“Yes. All good news. We’re staying. If fools want to run, let them.”

She was dubious, but she had always taken her cue from her husband. He spoke with such certainty that she turned and went to the kitchen.

Just then, their five-year-old grandson toddled over and latched onto Ding Zuodong’s leg.

When his wife came out with the food, she found Ding Zuodong teasing the boy. She wiped her hands on her apron and sighed, “I don’t know which scoundrel stole the money we set aside for Bao’er! We promised him a hobbyhorse, and now we can’t buy it.”

Ding Zuodong raised his head and said, “I took it.”

She blinked.

What? You actually took back money you’ve already given to your grandson? You old rascal!

“The big house at the east end of the street—you know the one, the one with the peach grove inside the walls? The owner dumped it for cheap. I didn’t have quite enough, so I poured in Bao’er’s pocket money, too.” Ding pulled a deed from his robe and waved it under her nose. “Look. From this moment on, you’re the mistress of that estate.”

Such a lovely residence is ours? She stared thunderstruck, and only after a long beat did she find her breath. “We put all our money into it?”

“I also bought two small storefronts.” It had been a long time since Ding had smiled so broadly. “Today I didn’t just work for Young Master He, we picked up a bargain or two for ourselves.”

Her palms went slick with sweat. “Husband, this is a big gamble.” If they lost, they would be left penniless, trapped in Dunyu, waiting for the Xun Province army to come knocking.

Ding Zuodong’s fist tightened. His smile faded as he said, “Haven’t we swallowed enough humiliation? If we want to stand tall again, we have to stake it big.”

He wolfed down the meal in a few quick bites, wiped his mouth, and stood. “I’m heading back out.”

His wife watched him go as the setting sun in the west sent its final rays of light for the day across the world.

Night was coming, and Dunyu would soon be sealed.

Under that same sky, others stood staring at the sunset, and among them was Xia Province’s most powerful family.

The Li Family was in turmoil. Servants had packed their bags, but the family head had not given the word.

Relatives took turns urging him. Li Zhi had shut himself inside his study and saw no one.

At last, the family remembered Li Shuang. The old master had praised him endlessly in his lifetime, saying that he was clever, with ideas and insight.

Li Shuang shook his head. “We’re not leaving.”

“Why?”

“If the front were truly crumbling, then why has Young Master He been throwing money around the city these past few days, buying up shops and property?” He then added, “And if Dunyu were in danger, why would the provincial government be asking us to sell grain to them now and buying back garrison farms?”

Young Master He’s movements and the provincial government’s behavior could hardly escape the eyes of local snakes like the Lis.

His reasons made sense, but they were not enough to completely convince the crowd.

When people are anxious, they crave solid proof they can cling to. Soon, some family members could no longer bear the wait. They gathered their closest kin and baggage, then left.

1. This is 戌时 (xu hour), which is around 7–9 P.M. ☜

2. This is 申时 (shen hour), which is around 3–5 P.M. ☜