Chapter Forty-Four: Wanxiang’s Advice

Gou Ye was momentarily stunned. This Miss Wanxiang truly possessed a keen mind; merely by seeing me speak with my shop assistant, she had already deduced my intent to close the shop. He then said, “Miss Wanxiang, your wisdom is admirable. I was merely speaking with my assistant inside the shop, and you have already guessed my plan. Yet I am quite curious—how did you come to this conclusion?”

Wanxiang tilted her head slightly, her smile radiant. “Young Master Gou, whenever you visit the shop, you never stay longer than half an hour. Each time, you exchange only hurried greetings with the shopkeeper, collect the day’s takings, and leave at once. But today, you remained for over an hour and spoke at length with your assistant. I noticed he didn’t once hand you any silver. Though I could not see his face clearly, from the way he paced back and forth, it was obvious he was troubled. You must have told him something that weighed on his mind. Later, he bowed in gratitude—so I surmise you offered him terms that were finally agreed upon. That led me to guess you have already agreed to sell the business to Magistrate Qin and his wife.”

Hearing her analysis, Gou Ye could not help but feel both awe and a touch of fear toward the woman before him. He respected her talent, and although she worked in a brothel, she was anything but vulgar. Outwardly tainted, she was inwardly far purer than many women outside. Yet he also dreaded her meticulous mind. If they were ever to be together, would he not be at her mercy? Hold on—together? Why would I think such a thing? He shook his head abruptly and looked at Wanxiang. “Miss Wanxiang, your mind is sharp indeed. I am impressed. But tell me, did you truly spend all this time watching from your window?”

Wanxiang seemed almost bashful as she turned aside, her voice soft. “What is this, Young Master? Are you concerned for me?”

Gou Ye swallowed, gazing at her alluring expression, and dared not reply.

Seeing this, Wanxiang ceased her teasing and continued, “Young Master Gou, pray tell me how you came to terms with Magistrate Qin and his wife, and how you finally reached an agreement with them.”

Gou Ye saw no reason to hide the truth and recounted the entire process in detail.

When he had finished, Wanxiang frowned slightly and reproached him, “Young Master Gou, how muddleheaded you are. Since you had already decided to sell them the business, why deliberately raise the price? Your intent was to avoid further enmity by selling to them. True, you may have regained your pride and earned a tidy sum, but in doing so you have surely offended them. I imagine they are now filled with resentment and dissatisfaction.”

Gou Ye had not considered this. He had simply been unable to swallow his anger, and having acted thus, there was no taking it back; he certainly could not return part of the money now. He forced a smile. “Miss Wanxiang, I think you worry too much. Zhu Ling is the daughter of Zhu Jin, and their clan is one of great wealth. To them, a mere hundred thousand is hardly worth mentioning. Now that the business is theirs, we have no more dealings. They go their way, I go mine—best not to interfere with each other.”

Wanxiang’s annoyance did not abate. “Young Master Gou, if you think this way, you are gravely mistaken. Zhu Ling may be a noble’s descendant, but by forcing such terms upon them, you have made an enemy of the Zhu family. And from what you told me before, Magistrate Qin is calculating and narrow-minded. For the sake of his family’s interests, he may have agreed, but you still reside in this county. Tumeng Village falls under their jurisdiction as well. I fear that in the future, they will make things difficult for you.”

Considering this, Gou Ye realized he might not have handled matters wisely. His intention had been to rid himself of an enemy, but he had instead deepened their resentment. The business was gone, the trouble remained, and he had only brought more misfortune upon himself. He frowned in distress.

Noticing his gloom, Wanxiang’s expression suddenly brightened into a cheerful smile. She walked over, gently placing a hand on his shoulder with a playful laugh, “Young Master Gou, do not fret. Am I not here to help you?”

Gou Ye paid no mind to her casual touch this time and asked directly, “Oh? Then I must ask, what counsel can you offer me, Miss?”

Wanxiang laughed like a tinkling bell. “It is simple, Young Master. Share a meal with me here, and I shall share my advice.”

It seemed that this meal was inevitable. Gou Ye thought, It is but a meal—so long as there is no wine, it should be harmless enough. He nodded his assent.

Wanxiang immediately darted out like a child, summoned a maid, and whispered something in her ear. The maid laughed and hurried away.

Finding himself idle, Gou Ye rose and wandered about the room. He noticed a painting hanging inside the bed curtains. Lowering his gaze, he saw it was the very lines he had quoted before: “Ask the world, what is love, that binds life and death together?” To his surprise, Wanxiang had not only had these lines mounted but hung them by her bedside.

“The lines you once recited, Young Master, I cherish greatly,” Wanxiang said softly. “I had them mounted and gaze upon them every night before I sleep. Each time I do, I wonder when the one who holds my heart might truly vow life and death with me.”

Hearing this, Gou Ye felt awkward and forced a smile. Of course, he understood her feelings. Though he was inexperienced and unremarkable, even a fool could see her affections. He could only walk to the window and silently watch the passersby in the street below. Wanxiang did not disturb him, but sat quietly at the table, gazing at his back with tender longing.

Wanxiang herself could not say why she was so enamored with this man. He was not handsome, nor was he exceptionally learned, yet he was different from all those other upright scholars—he was genuine and had his own ideas, unafraid of the powerful, righteous in his dealings, and deeply passionate. Perhaps these feelings had taken root the day he first quoted those lines.

Gou Ye had no idea that, useless as he was in the modern world, he could win such admiration from a talented woman in Ming times.

Soon after, several maids entered bearing dishes. One carried a large jar of Daughter’s Red wine. Gou Ye quickly waved his hands, protesting, “Miss Wanxiang, did we not agree there would be no wine? Why have you brought out such a large jar?”

Wanxiang paid him no heed, instructing the maids to set the dishes on the table and place the wine jar on a chair beside it. She shot Gou Ye a glare. “Who said it was for you? Can’t I drink it myself?”