Chapter 533: Breaking the Engagement |
The thirty-second year of Jianing, August 6th.
The sky had just faintly brightened. Chen Ji in his sleep consecutively sneezed quite a few times waking up. He sat his body up, muttering to himself in a daze on the bed: "Who is talking about me? Master? Also not knowing how Master and the others are doing..."
Thinking up to this point, he again sat blankly somewhat disconsolately for a while. Only then rising his body putting clothes on properly, rolling up his sleeves, and shouldering a Carrying Pole exiting the door.
Chen Ji unhurriedly went along the bluestone slab road toward the well opening, also not rushing for time.
Arriving by the well side, he suddenly discovered the well opening's windlass, hemp rope, and wooden bucket had all been swapped for new ones. Even the well brim had been stacked anew using green bricks.
Chen Ji pondered for a moment, actually carrying the empty water buckets walking toward the outside of the Chen Estate.
[Translation note: Skipped website advertisement message]
Exiting Right Prefecture Street, again walking toward Chang'an Avenue. Walking for the time of two incense sticks without finding a single well. The officials and nobles of Right Prefecture Street, Xuanwu Gate Avenue, Chang'an Avenue, and Checkerboard Street, had enclosed all the well openings within their own homes.
Chen Ji continued heading west, straight until passing Jade River Bridge, entering Gate Tower Alley. Only then did he see from afar a dozen or so residents guarding at a well opening forming a long queue.
A young man passed by the well opening. Someone smilingly offered greetings: "Little Doctor Chen, morning ah."
Chen Ji subconsciously wished to respond, but opening his mouth halfway only then realizing, the other party shouting was by no means himself.
At this time, a small door at the alley entrance was pushed open. A mister retaining a goatee beard walked out from inside. Someone immediately tangled up to him: "Mister Yang, reading the newspaper today?"
Mister Yang, retaining a goatee beard, said impatiently: "Read the newspaper, read the newspaper. You guys should just read some books and recognize some characters yourselves. Tangling with me every single day, what kind of matter does this count as?"
An old uncle pointed at a young stout fellow wearing a white jacket saying: "Er-wa. In a little while you carry water to fill Mister Yang's family's water vat full."
The young stout fellow hummed an acknowledgement: "Done."
Mister Yang hesitated for a bit, ultimately still sighing: "Where is the newspaper?"
The young stout fellow handed over a stack of Capital Morning Posts: "This is yesterday's, today's hasn't been delivered over yet.
Mister Yang spread open and looked at the Capital Morning Post, wrinkling his brows: "Looking at this damn Morning Newspaper to do what. A newspaper produced by a martial artist and a marketplace Stick Bearer is unspeakably coarse and vulgar. If reading, it's also reading the Evening News. Bring yesterday's Evening News over."
A woman suddenly asked: "Mister Yang. I heard this Capital City Evening News was exclusively established by the Qi Family's Third Miss in order to fight an arena match (compete) with that Baron of Wuxiang County. Is it truly real?"
Yet another person gathered forward: "I also heard the compensation the Qi Family's Third Miss gives is rather abundant. Over at the Morning Newspaper the highest given is three hundred wen of brush-moistening (writer's fee) for a line of text, the Qi Family gives five hundred wen."
"Also, also! Someone said Third Miss Qi let off words. Those possessing Official Honors on their bodies are universally not permitted to write essays for the Morning Newspaper. Otherwise their Official Honors will be stripped. Is it true or not?"
The crowd of people squeezed beside Mister Yang, you saying one sentence and I saying one word asking.
Mister Yang was asked until impatient, admitting: "Indeed there is this matter."
A woman cried out in alarm: "Third Miss Qi and the Baron of Wuxiang County still hold a marriage contract with each other too. Why the need to be so sharply opposed like needle against awl."
The young stout fellow by the side smilingly said: "The Baron of Wuxiang County established the Capital Morning Post. The front page of the first publication was precisely the legendary story of him and Second Miss Zhang undergoing life and death together. Angering Third Miss Qi until she tore several copies of the newspaper right on the street. Afterwards Third Miss Qi instigated Wenyuan Bookstore to establish an Evening News to fight an arena match with the Morning Newspaper. As a result on that very day the Baron of Wuxiang County sought their doors. Taking away Hanlin Bachelor Lin Chaojing and using Private Torture. This enmity can be considered forged massively."
"How come I heard Lin Chaojing was a Jing Dynasty spy?"
"Hai, the Baron of Wuxiang County is of Right Prefecture Street's Chen Family, holding monstrous power and influence. Fabricating an unwarranted criminal charge... isn't that simple? Let alone a Hanlin Academy Bachelor. How about his older brother Lin Chaoqing? The Trouble-Resolving Guard Commander... didn't he also have to flee for his life to the ends of the earth like a dog having lost its home?"
"Tsk, if you want me to say, Third Miss Qi not only wants to fight an arena match with him, but should also take the marriage matters and break them off together with it."
At this time, everyone surrounded beside Mister Yang, not even drawing water anymore. Originally in front of Chen Ji there was queued a long, long line; now it had become completely empty.
He was happy to not need to queue. Shaking the windlass he drew water up from the well opening. Following which he lifted the Carrying Pole passing through the crowded press of humanity, saying smiling: "I trouble you to yield a bit. Careful of water spilling onto your feet yo."
The people beside Mister Yang withdrew and evaded in succession. Chen Ji with nimble and brisk footsteps carried the Carrying Pole, walking past several miles of road returning into Ginkgo Garden.
Arriving home, Xiaoman was precisely laying out the morning meal onto the stone table. Seeing him she simply asked bewildered: "Young Master carrying water today, how come you went for this long?"
Chen Ji walked into the side room, slanting his body putting down the Carrying Pole: "Walked somewhat further today. Went to Gate Tower Alley to carry water."
Xiaoman widened her eyes greatly: "Why did Young Master run that far to carry water?"
Chen Ji smiled faintly: "It's somewhat more bustling and lively over there."
Xiaoman sat down beside the stone table, propping up her chin watching Chen Ji eat his meal: "Young Master. Brother Pao said Third Miss Qi transmitted words to the entirety of Liulichang. Fresh story scripts are universally to be given to the Evening News to look over first. The prices they give will definitely be higher than other establishments. Now quite a few Misters have universally ran off to Wenyuan Bookstore. Previously the widely circulating 'Talents of Jinling' and 'General's Command' within the workshops and markets are universally placed on the Evening News for publication. The commoner common folks have all been lured over to buy their Evening News."
Chen Ji ate his meal also not speaking words, acting as if not treating it as a matter.
Xiaoman further said: "Also also! The poetry written by Capital City's literati scholars have universally been given to the Evening News. The day before yesterday Master Cui published a Mid-Autumn quatrain on the Evening News, it has already spread throughout Capital City. Even the servant girls of the Chen Estate are universally circulating and reading it. Someone said—"
Chen Ji looked at Xiaoman's Hesitating to Speak appearance: "Said what?"
Xiaoman rambled disjointedly: "Someone said you are going to take Master Cui catching him away and using Private Torture again. But Master Cui yesterday at a literary gathering said he isn't afraid... Now quite a few people say Third Miss Qi holds thoughts of Breaking the Engagement. The Cui Family is wanting to exploit a weak point to enter, borrowing the chance to climb up the Qi Family's high branch. Yesterday Master Cui gifted Third Miss Qi a Sweating Blood Steed come from the Western Regions. It is said that Sweating Blood Steed's skin and fur is a pink color. Under the sun it flashes with light... This clearly is wishing to compare Big Sister A'Xia's Zaozao down. But Zaozao is a Dragon Breed brought back from the Northern Region by Director Xu. What kind of fart does her Sweating Blood Steed count as—"
Chen Ji stopped his chopsticks, smilingly interrupting saying: "If the Qi Family is able to break the engagement and tie a marriage with the Cui Family, isn't it great joy for everyone."
Xiaoman said displeased: "But the people of the entire Capital City will all watch your joke ah. They originally are precisely spreading your rumors. If the Qi Family broke the engagement, it would then even more so fulfill their intentions."
Chen Ji calmly said: "It doesn't matter."
The Little Monk sent a meaningful glance to Xiaoman. Xiaoman hurriedly switched the topic of conversation: "Young Master. Still a few more days and it is precisely the Mid-Autumn Festival. What filling of mooncake do you wish to eat?"
Chen Ji asked curiously: "What fillings are there?"
Xiaoman pondered saying: "Ordinary families eat nut-filled or Preserved Fruits ones. If they are wealthy households, then they must eat flaky pastry Maltose Candy mooncakes. It's said there are even crab meat mooncakes too. Not only mooncakes. I heard people say, when the time comes Bianyi Workshop over there has also prepared Jinling's sweet osmanthus duck, Suzhou Prefecture's simmered taro heads. These few days the banquets will simply be booked full."
Chen Ji smilingly said: "What filling you like to eat, simply wrap what filling. I am indifferent... Also the matters of that Evening News, let them make a wild fuss. Brother Pao's ultimate trump cards are still universally hidden and un-utilized."
Wenyuan Bookstore.
Literati scholars and refined gentlemen engaging in lofty talk and broad discussions in the backyard. In a corner, Qi Zhenzhu with white gauze concealing her face was currently lightly plucking and fiddling with zither strings.
Wenyuan Bookstore's proprietor Xu Bin beckoned shop assistants to bring over melons and fruits, smilingly saying: "Various Misters. Jiangnan's water caltrops, Huguang's honey pomelos, the Northern Region's crisp pears. Universally are some foods responding to the season."
Runan Yuan Family's Yuan Wang sitting behind a desk cupped his hands a bit: "Proprietor Xu has put his heart into it."
Honganong Yang Family's Yang Zhong cupping a drafted poetry manuscript, sighed in admiration with a high and loud voice: "'Pine needles freeze the night white, heavy dew wets the cricket's cry. Native garden's moon a thousand miles away slants illuminating the guest's window bright.' Precisely as Mid-Autumn is about to arrive, Brother Yuan's piece 'Native Garden's Bright Moon' truly wrote out the bitter suffering of us foreign guests coming to the capital to seek studies, with no way to reunite with family members. Published onto tomorrow's Evening News, I'm afraid it will again arouse a patch of cheering voices. Pressing that Morning Newspaper down until it cannot raise its head."
Yuan Wang smilingly responded: "Brother Yang overpraises. I see that piece 'Jade Sea Tide' of yours is even better."
At this time, they together looked toward the head seat position at Master Cui Cui Qinghe who lowered his head writing poetry. Yet seeing the other party having just finished writing the final sentence, placing his ink brush to rest on the inkstone.
Yuan Wang Can't Wait rising his body and walking over. Pinching up the Xuan Paper evaluating the poetry: "'Do not say this heart is easily lacking when round, clear light originally does not rely on heaven for completeness' - A fine sentence ah!"
Cui Qinghe said modestly: "Made a laughingstock of myself. What a pity, that Poetry Chief Shen Ye of Tiger Hill Poetry Society is not present. Otherwise where would it be my turn to come show off."
Not far away, Qi Zhaoning said in a cold voice: "Mentioning him to do what? That Shen Ye, to vainly think he's still a Top Scorer of the new civil examinations. Truly every day however hopelessly mixed together with marketplace Stick Bearers and brothel prostitutes. What kind of propriety is this?"
Cui Qinghe smiled responding: "Truly disgracing educated refinement... Zhaoning, now that Morning Newspaper every day can only sell over three thousand copies. But the Evening News can sell over six thousand copies every day. This is already steadily pressing down on their heads a bit."
Qi Zhaoning said in a sunken voice: "Still not enough. I want them to be unable to sell bringing out even a single copy!"
Xu Bin beamed with joy (eyebrows opened and eyes smiled): "Third Miss Qi. Wishing to make them unable to sell bringing out even a single copy is also difficult."
Qi Zhaoning's voice pitch pulled high: "If it's difficult we must also think of a way!"
While speaking, a youngster servant ran into the backyard from outside the door, his hands still grasping a stack of Bamboo Paper: "Proprietor, things are not good—"
Qi Zhaoning abruptly stood her body up: "What is not good?"
The youngster servant panted said: "Plum Blossom Ferry actually also established an Evening News, fighting an arena match with us."
Xu Bin's complexion stared blankly for a second: "They established another Evening News? How is their block carving this fast? We had over forty carving laborers carve blocks overnight, only just barely able to carve a copy out. How can they publish Morning Newspaper and Evening News together? Which family's carving laborers did they poach away?"
The youngster servant shook his head: "Don't know.
Yuan Wang smilingly said: "Proprietor Xu do not panic. Now the momentum and trend of this Evening News of ours has already thoroughly pressed past them. Letting them establish an additional Evening News again, what does it matter. Merely a vain effort... let me look at what has been written on this damn Evening News of theirs."
The youngster servant handed the Evening News over to Yuan Wang. Yuan Wang spread it open taking a look, suddenly staring blankly on the original spot.
Cui Qinghe asked bewildered: "Brother Yuan what's wrong?"
Waiting until he gathered close, yet listening to Yuan Wang reciting and reading in a low voice: "'Over the sea a bright moon is born, sharing this time from the ends of the earth—'"
(End of this chapter)