[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-assuming-the-langya-surname":3,"chapter-assuming-the-langya-surname-assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-23":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The False Clan of Langya",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273819,4442,"Chapter 23: Fake Scholar-Officiais Wearing Fake","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>\"These clothes are usually custom-made; ready-made ones are rare. But there is one ready-made Shu brocade robe—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang quickly interrupted the shopkeeper: \"Forget the Shu brocade—our young master prefers simpler styles—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For convenience, he and the Black Han had disguised themselves as servants sent to buy clothes for their master. They had already visited several ready-made clothing shops but could not afford a single garment suitable for a scholar-official. Such garments were terrifyingly expensive, especially Shu brocade—the ultimate luxury among ancient luxuries!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this year, Jingzhou had inexplicably suffered a severe shortage of brocade, causing prices that were already sky-high to surge further, leaving Wang Yang, the fake scholar-official, helpless and sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper said: \"For simpler styles, we have ling-fang robes and wen-qi trousers—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ling\" and \"qi\" were high-grade silk fabrics inferior to brocade, which Wang Yang could not afford either, so he clarified further: \"Our master prefers more plain and understated garments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More understated? You mean solid-colored 'luo' or 'sha'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang asked: \"Is it made of silkworm silk?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even plainer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper glanced at Wang Yang: \"Then only hemp remains.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even good-quality hemp will do,\" Wang Yang said gritting his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper frowned slightly: \"We have one hemp shu single robe, but it’s meant for summer—wearing it now is a bit early. What about this one? The fabric is excellent—authentic Huangrun fine cloth, just arrived from Shu last month, and the cut is simple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang looked at the garments on the rack, nodded, and asked: \"How much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Four thousand two hundred cash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang immediately averted his gaze, his eyes landing on a distant white robe—ethereal, light as water—and his eyes brightened; he asked cautiously: \"This isn’t silkworm silk, is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have sharp eyes. It looks like silk, but it isn’t—it’s also hemp, spun from Kuaiji ramie yarn, called Yue cloth. Its quality rivals Huangrun cloth, yet it costs far less—only three thousand cash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang wanted to cry, but gritted his teeth: \"My master won’t like this one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it the master who dislikes it—or you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it dislike—or inability to afford it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper studied Wang Yang with a knowing look: \"Why not just tell me outright—what kind of garment does your 'master' truly want?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He emphasized the word \"master\" heavily, his expression as if he saw through everything—he had long noticed that the two buyers, though poorly dressed themselves, clearly resembled master and servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang’s face flushed slightly: \"The cheapest one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang no longer wished to browse further; he suspected he could not afford even a single garment fit for a scholar-official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was speechless: \"Even the cheapest can’t be coarse hemp—after all, he’s a scholar-official!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang forced himself: \"Yes, something suitable for a scholar-official—the cheapest possible. How much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper was now certain: all talk of plainness and simplicity was just an excuse for having no money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man was either a fallen noble or a man of humble origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Humble origin\" did not mean poor in the modern sense—it referred to a social tier between the high aristocratic clans and the common masses, then also called \"secondary clans.\" \"Secondary\" meant \"below the high aristocratic clans,\" yet their family background still far surpassed ordinary commoners. Many were local powerful clans and prominent surnames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They imitated the aristocracy on one hand, yet were barred from it by rigid class hierarchies. The shopkeeper judged this man belonged to the subset of humble-origin families with extremely meager means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out a white robe from a chest and asked Wang Yang: \"What do you think of this white jia robe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A jia robe is a lined garment, with an extra layer compared to a single-layer summer robe, typically worn in spring or autumn—perfect for the current weather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang asked curiously: \"Isn’t this the same fabric as that Yue cloth robe before? Just a different cut. Why is this one cheaper?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, look closer! These two garments appear identical in fabric, but they are vastly different!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\" Wang Yang touched the fabric—it felt soft and light, yet he could detect no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper beamed: \"Only experts can tell! This is finely spun ge cloth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Han exclaimed: \"Finely spun ge?\" He’d heard spinning fine ge was extremely difficult—and expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper waved his hands: \"True fine ge is Yulin ge, whose price rivals Huangrun cloth from Shu! This one is spun by a skilled artisan in his own home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang examined it closely and was quite satisfied; he asked: \"Would a scholar-official consider this too shabby?\" He didn’t want to look extravagant—just not so shabby that people would immediately doubt he was a scholar-official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could it be shabby?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper thought this, but said something else aloud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this be shabby? Look at the stitching! The texture! No one can tell it’s ge or hemp! Even if they can, you can claim it’s Yulin cloth or Jiaoge —who dares look down on you?! Unless they’re true fabric connoisseurs, no one can tell the difference.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, scholar-officials wearing Yulin cloth or Jiaoge  garments were merely considered \"not disgraceful\" or \"acceptable\"—to say \"who dares look down on you?\" was absurd exaggeration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang knew the shopkeeper’s words couldn’t be taken at face value, but he had no other choice; he bitterly joked: A fake scholar-official wearing a fake \"brand\"—fitting enough. He asked: \"How much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two thousand two hundred cash.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too expensive! One thousand!\" Wang Yang immediately halved the price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible! If you think it’s too expensive, go elsewhere!\" The shopkeeper was firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some haggling, Wang Yang finally said he’d buy shoes here too, and the shopkeeper reluctantly agreed to lower the price to two thousand cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang then picked a pair of the most ordinary hu-tou shoes, which cost five hundred cash! This time the shopkeeper refused to budge a single coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang could have chosen cheaper fang-tou or yuan-tou shoes, but those styles were lower-cut and mostly worn by servants of scholar-official families. To avoid being exposed, he had no choice but to play the fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t afford two thousand five hundred cash, let alone buy a chang or ku for his lower body. Fortunately, scholar-officials of the Six Dynasties favored loose, flowing robes with wide sleeves—precisely why some shops dared to display ready-made garments without sizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang measured himself—the white jia robe hung long enough that his lower garments wouldn’t be too noticeable. Otherwise, he’d have to buy a chang and ku, or switch to a one-piece pao robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang told the shopkeeper he didn’t have enough cash and needed to return home to fetch more; he instructed the shopkeeper to keep the clothes and shoes he’d chosen, then left with the Black Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Han frowned: \"Young master, we’re short over half of two thousand five hundred cash—where can we raise the money?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me think.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang lowered his head, walking forward as he pondered ways to earn money. As he passed the entrance of a wine shop, about to leave the alley, his arm was suddenly grabbed and yanked inside!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang startled, about to struggle free—when the hand holding him suddenly released him. A plump youth, eighteen or nineteen, dressed in brocade finery, looked at him with earnest sincerity: \"I’m doing this for your own good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young master!\" The Black Han rushed into the wine shop in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, over twenty youths sat—most around the same age as the plump boy. Half of them wore exceptionally luxurious clothes; the rest were neatly dressed. They occasionally glanced out the window, and upon hearing the Black Han’s cry, all turned to glare at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shh!\" The plump boy gestured to the Black Han, then pointed to the seat across the table: \"Listen to me—just sit here and watch. It’s not worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Note: The term \"humble origin\" is now used loosely, a casualness that has even extended to academia, where many studies on the Six Dynasties conflate \"humble people\" and \"humble origin\" as synonyms for those without family background. But historically, this is inaccurate. Those with absolutely no family lineage were not considered \"humble origin\" in that era. For this issue, see Zhu Zongbin’s \"On the Aristocratic Clan System of the Wei-Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties\" and Miyazaki Ichisada’s \"A Study of the Nine-Rank System.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1396,"2026-06-19T23:36:03.373Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c3238e368b7078972f3a221970684f1927639d1af239ee1ab1d14310493c136d","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-24","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-22",62,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-false-clan-of-langya-cover.jpg"]