Chapter 225: Precious Moon

Fingers slender, ink fragrance on the desk;

Brows knitted, lines of script form beneath the wrist.

A gentle breeze quietly brushes the gauze sleeves, sunbeams shift lightly across the amber window.

Jingzhou's summer days are long.

Xiao Baoyue finished writing and, unwillingly, handed it to Wang Yang: "Now, let us talk..."

Wang Yang lowered his eyes to examine it:

"No rush, let me look first."

Xiao Baoyue curled her lip in disdain:

"It was all written according to your requirements; it's not an essay, can you really find flowers in it? A grown man, acting so indecisively..."

Wang Yang looked at Xiao Baoyue:

"One only acts decisively when dealing with decisive people; with you, forget it. There are no flowers, but there are traps."

Xiao Baoyue looked puzzled: "What traps?"

Wang Yang placed the paper on the table and tapped it with his finger:

"The first characters of the first four lines, when connected, read: 'Under duress'."

He leaned forward slightly, staring at Xiao Baoyue, and asked with a half-smile:

"Xie Xie Niangzi Xiao, under whose duress are you?"

Abominable!

Exposed to her face, Xiao Baoyue couldn't keep her composure and braced herself:

"Is that so? If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed. It was merely a coincidence."

Wang Yang leaned back, looking somewhat languid:

"Fine, then I'll trouble Xie Xie Niangzi Xiao to write another copy. But this time, let's not have any more 'coincidences'."

A flash of annoyance crossed Xiao Baoyue's eyes. She grabbed the brush, dipped it fiercely into the inkstone, and rewrote it, though this time much faster. Then, she threw it before Wang Yang with ill temper:

"Is this acceptable now?"

Wang Yang looked it over carefully: "Acceptable. Sign it."

Xiao Baoyue signed with a cold face. Wang Yang glanced at it and reminded her:

"There are many women of the Lanling Xiao clan; add 'Xichang Hou Fu' in front."

Xiao Baoyue threw the brush!

"Wang Yang, don't go too far!"

The art of negotiation requires a balance of hardness and softness. Once the substantive conditions are settled, there is no need to keep pressing; one must show appropriate weakness to prevent the other party from feeling too unbalanced, which would only add complications, while simultaneously ensuring the negotiation concludes smoothly. In negotiation theory, this is called "emotional compensation."

In some cases, this compensation is simply giving the other party a way to save face—superficially a sign of respect or concession, but in reality, a psychological comfort.

However, while giving face is one thing, principled issues cannot be conceded.

"Xie Xie Niangzi Xiao, don't be angry. I have no intention of making things difficult for you. This is a habit formed from doing business; whenever a contract is signed and put into writing, I become a bit pedantic. It is better to be the villain first and the gentleman later. In any case, this paper will be returned to you sooner or later. Signing it properly is just a way for me to set my mind at ease. Once my mind is at ease, things will naturally be done with half the effort."

Although Xiao Baoyue knew Wang Yang was just coaxing her to sign, it sounded pleasant enough, and it was reasoned, so she snorted coldly, picked up the brush again, and added the four characters "Xichang Hou Fu." Then she looked at Wang Yang. Seeing him make a gesture of invitation, she knew she couldn't bluff her way out, so she had her maid bring her private seal.

Xiao Baoyue's private seal was the popular six-sided seal of the time. The so-called six-sided seal is convex-shaped, with a small seal on the top of the knob, plus four sides and the bottom, totaling six engraved surfaces, suitable for different purposes.

The six-sided bronze seal of Yan Lin of the Eastern Jin, now in the Nanjing Museum; the seal script is shown below.

The seal inscriptions are: "Bai Ji," "Yan Wenhe," "Yan Lin," "Chen Lin," "Yan Lin Bai Jian," and "Yan Lin Bai Shi."

Xiao Baoyue's six seal faces were: "Qie Baoyue" ("Qie" was the customary term for private seals at the time; men used "Chen" before their names, women used "Qie," a practice dating back to the Han), "Lanling Xiao Nu," "Guan" (official family), "Nu Yan Shu" (a humble term for letters, stamped after the name), "Xichang," and "Jian Qie" (for sealing letters. It reminds the recipient to check if the letter has been stolen and if the seal is intact).

Xiao Baoyue had a thought, chose the "Jian Qie" side, lightly dipped it in the ink paste, and stamped it.

The seal script was not the popular seal script (Miao Zhuan) commonly used at the time, but the ancient seal script, winding and twisting like worms and snakes.

Xiao Baoyue looked at Wang Yang indifferently: "Are you satisfied?"

Wang Yang looked at the vermilion seal script, feeling slightly surprised.

This is bird-worm seal script.

Bird-worm seal script is a variant of the Great Seal and bronze script, commonly used by southern states like Wu and Yue; the inscription on the Sword of King Goujian of Yue uses this script. Wang Yang did not specialize in seal studies, but he had collected many seal manuals. From what he had seen before and after his transmigration, bird-worm seal script was rarely used in Southern Dynasties seals. This seal of the little girl actually had quite a bit of the charm of Han seals.

The crystal seal of the Marquis's wife unearthed from the Laishan Han tomb in Jinan, now in the Jinan Archaeological Research Institute; the seal script is bird-worm seal script, see the figure below.

The seal is taken from Yang Yang's "Appreciation of Han Dynasty Seals in the Collection of Jinan Archaeological Research Institute," published in "Cultural Relics Identification and Appreciation," 2021, Issue 1. Seal inscription: Fu E Nu.

Seeing Wang Yang somewhat distracted, Xiao Baoyue became more certain that he did not understand worm script, so she deliberately cautioned:

"'Chun Yang' is my maiden name. I only told you today out of necessity; do not spread it."

Stupid girl, even if you were tricked again, you wouldn't tell me your private name, right? Should... not be, right?

Wang Yang frowned slightly: "Isn't your maiden name 'Jian Qie'?"

Xiao Baoyue: Σ(°△°|||)︴

"You... you even understand worm script?"

This guy couldn't really be from the Langya Wang clan, could he!

For a moment, Xiao Baoyue actually fell into self-doubt!

"I know a little... but Xie Xie Niangzi Xiao, can you stop playing these childish games? 'Chun Yang,' I think you look like a stupid—"

Wang Yang stopped himself, suddenly realizing: "So you were scolding me?"

Xiao Baoyue gave Wang Yang a look that said "figure it out yourself," then heavily stamped the three characters "Qie Baoyue."

So the little girl's name is Baoyue.

Was it chosen casually, or is it Buddhist terminology?

In the "Bhadrakalpika Sutra," there is a "Baoyue Buddha," and the "Tathagatagarbha Sutra" says: "Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was in the city of Rajagriha, on Mount Gridhrakuta, in the Baoyue Lecture Hall, the sandalwood pavilion." Therefore, Lu Zhaolin's "Shijing Temple" has the line: "Beaded robes for a thousand years, the precious moon is round in two layers." Baoyue is not just a poetic term for the moon; viewing the moon in a temple while using Buddhist terminology is more fitting.

Hmm, perhaps her parents were Buddhist?

Wang Yang pondered, his hand reaching for the "Record," but Xiao Baoyue pressed down on the paper:

"The matter of the crimson jackets must be handled within three days."

"I cannot guarantee three days; I must first consult the brocade workshop. And for the sake of stability, I can only choose the brocade workshop I trust the most to handle this."

Hearing Wang Yang say this, Xiao Baoyue felt slightly relieved; if he had really promised recklessly, she would have had to reconsider this deal.

"No later than seven days. Notify me once it is done."

Wang Yang thought for a moment and said: "Fine. But how will you know whether I have actually done it or not?"

"That is none of your concern; I naturally have my ways of verifying it. Once the household registration in the Ministry of Personnel is settled, I will tell you, and then you will return this paper to me."

"Of course, once I verify it is true, I will return it to you."

"How will you verify it?"

Wang Yang smiled: "I also have my own ways."

Xiao Baoyue got angry whenever she saw Wang Yang's smile. Resisting the urge to punch him twice, she said:

"Now tell me the barbarian route."

"I cannot say it now. If I say it now and you suddenly turn against me, wouldn't I suffer a huge loss?"

Xiao Baoyue's face turned cold, her tone icy:

"I still need you to make the crimson jackets, why would I turn against you?"

"The crimson jacket matter might be a smokescreen. Besides, your reputation isn't exactly great; it's not like you haven't turned against people before..."

Hearing Wang Yang's words, Xiao Baoyue's anger flared even higher, almost uncontrollable:

"I have already written the document as agreed, do you dare not keep your word?!"

Wang Yang immediately said: "I will! How could I not? I have already written down the detailed situation regarding the barbarian route; as soon as I get home, I will send someone to deliver it to you immediately!"

"Wang Yang, I warn you! If you dare to play any more tricks this time, I will spare no cost to tear you to pieces! You had better believe me!"

Wang Yang put away his folding fan and asked unhurriedly:

"Are you done with the threats? Then I shall take my leave."

Xiao Baoyue gritted her teeth in anger and pointed to the door: "Get out!"

Wang Yang stood up to take the document Xiao Baoyue had written.

"Wait!" Xiao Baoyue called out.

Wang Yang looked at Xiao Baoyue: "Regretting it?"

"I, Xiao Baoyue, never regret a move once made! But you still owe me one thing!"

"What thing?"

"Xiangxue Tower, you promised me before!"

"I invited you, but you didn't go!"

"If I don't go, you can have the banquet sent over! I want to eat it now!"

"Now?"

When Wang Yang said he would treat Xiao Baoyue to Xiangxue Tower, it was because he was certain she wouldn't go...

"What? Are you in a difficult position?"

Xiao Baoyue felt a bit of pleasure, thinking she had finally found the right way to retaliate against Wang Yang! Striking a snake at its seven inches—this treacherous villain was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, slippery as an eel, but he had weaknesses too!

"Not difficult, I'll go order it now."

I have the foundation; it's just a meal at Xiangxue Tower, I can afford to order it!

"I want you to order the Abalone Banquet at Xiangxue Tower!"

Holy crap!

Wang Yang's face changed abruptly.

The so-called "abalone" was mainly produced along the coast of Shandong, with the abalone from the Jiaodong Peninsula being of the best quality. As for the Jiangnan region, either the local waters didn't produce abalone at the time, or people hadn't discovered it yet; in short, abalone was extremely scarce in the Southern Dynasties. Since the Song lost the north of the Huai River, if southerners wanted to eat abalone, they had to rely on "imports," which caused the price of abalone to skyrocket, reaching the point where a single abalone cost several thousand coins!

Since transmigrating, Wang Yang hadn't eaten a single abalone. Xiangxue Tower did indeed have an "Abalone Grand Banquet" that cost 88,888 coins, claiming to use abalone in every dish, but in reality, if it contained twenty abalones, it would be considered conscientious. In Wang Yang's view, it was purely a rip-off!

Rip-off or not, he wouldn't buy it, so it wouldn't rip him off. But this little girl wanted to rip him off...

Seeing Wang Yang unable to smile, Xiao Baoyue felt extremely refreshed!

Wang Yang drank water tactically, while Xiao Baoyue curled the corners of her mouth:

"Although there were some twists and turns in the negotiation today, ending with an Abalone Banquet can be considered a perfect conclusion."

That's you being satisfied...

"Actually, Xiangxue Tower uses dried abalone, it's not fresh at all! My friends also say it doesn't taste good, and their chefs don't really know how to cook abalone; they can't remove the fishy smell, and it lacks flavor. However, their 'Ten Thousand Coin Chopstick Dish' is truly excellent. I ate it once last time, and it lives up to its reputation! But the 'Ten Thousand Coin Chopstick Dish' is quite popular and often sells out early; I don't know if there's any left now..."

Wang Yang tried his best to persuade her, while Xiao Baoyue's smile became even brighter:

"Whether it's fresh or not doesn't matter; it's the price that counts! Even if it doesn't taste good, I'll be happy just looking at it! If you really think the 'Ten Thousand Coin Chopstick Dish' is good, you can add a portion for me too."

Wang Yang:...

"But sending a banquet is very eye-catching! You need to hide your identity; if the food is sent in, there's a risk of exposing who you are!"

Xiao Baoyue said happily:

"Don't trouble yourself with that, Young Master. Once the banquet arrives, hand it directly to the manager of Ruyi Tower; he will naturally send someone to bring it in."

Wang Yang sighed: "Then you should tell him, lest he doesn't know to receive it when the banquet arrives."

Xiao Baoyue was extremely proud, feeling she had finally vented her anger! She immediately ordered her maid to tell Zhao Quan to prepare to receive the banquet.

Watching Wang Yang leave in a dejected manner, Xiao Baoyue was overjoyed! She laughed out loud!

Wang Yang, oh Wang Yang, you have your days too, hahahaha!

Wang Yang returned to Ruyi Tower from the secret passage and called Manager Zhao to ask: "Did you receive your young mistress's order?"

Manager Zhao asked in confusion: "Order? Young Master, are you talking about receiving the 'Abalone Banquet' banquet from Xiangxue Tower?"

"Yes, I'm going to order it now. You write a note saying you are the recipient."

"Ordering a banquet doesn't require writing this."

"In general, it doesn't. But your situation is not general! This is a restaurant; ordering a banquet from a peer to be sent here has some taboos. They might think you're going to pick a fight or smash the place in public. You write clearly that it's for you, Manager Zhao, personally, to avoid trouble later."

The manager thought it made sense, so he wrote a note and gave it to Wang Yang.

Wang Yang arrived at Xiangxue Tower and called the manager in charge of delivering banquets:

"Order an Abalone Banquet for Manager Zhao of Ruyi Tower, payment upon delivery."

The manager was stunned: "Payment... payment upon delivery?"

"That means pay when it's delivered."

The manager exclaimed: "How can that be!"

"This is a note written by Manager Zhao himself. Take a look. This note will be kept by you. Don't worry, although Ruyi Tower isn't as good as yours, they wouldn't dare to default on the bill."

The manager looked bitter: "But... but we've never delivered like this before!"

Wang Yang raised an eyebrow: "That's because I hadn't come; if I had come earlier, you would have delivered like this long ago!"

That night, Baoyue ate the Abalone Grand Banquet.

That night, Baoyue roared like an evil dragon again!

——————

Note: ① "Book of Southern Qi, Biography of Chu Yanhui": "At that time, the north of the Huai River belonged to the north, and there was no more abalone in Jiangnan. Occasionally, someone would get some through great difficulty, and one piece cost several thousand coins. Someone gave Yanhui thirty abalones. Although Yanhui was noble at the time, he was extremely poor. A student suggested selling them, saying it could fetch one hundred thousand coins."

Thirty pieces sold for one hundred thousand, meaning one piece cost over three thousand three hundred.

Abalone was produced in Shandong during the Han Dynasty. "Book of the Later Han, Biography of Fu Long" says: "Zhang Bu sent an envoy to follow Long to the court to submit a letter and offer abalone." This Zhang Bu was a warlord in Shandong, which is why he could offer abalone.

Cao Zhi's "Table Requesting to Sacrifice to the Late King": "The late king loved to eat abalone. I have already submitted a table before, requesting Xu Zhou Zang Ba to send two hundred abalones." The late king was Cao Cao. Cao Zhi wanted to use the abalone his father loved to sacrifice to him, so he submitted a table requesting his brother to let the Inspector of Xu Province, Zang Ba, send abalone. Why let Zang Ba send it? First, Zang Ba was the commander of all military affairs in Qing Province at the time, controlling Shandong. Second, Xu Province at the time also included southern Lu. Therefore, he was suitable to be the captain of the abalone transport team.

② Regarding emotional compensation, see Chapter 6 of Stuart Diamond's "Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life." ===== CHAPTER 226 =====