Chapter 95: Meeting Too Late

The Xu Family estate covers a vast area and is decorated with great sophistication.

The gardens, in particular—as the saying goes, "Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou"—were designed by four or five masters of Suzhou garden landscaping working in concert.

Within the twenty-mu garden, they managed to create a scene where "towers and pavilions are endless, and flowing water winds in lingering paths." With small bridges over flowing water, rockeries, and clear springs, there is a new view every three steps, with a perfect balance of movement and stillness, making it a feast for the eyes.

In the center of the garden lies a five-mu square lotus pond, filled with koi and brimming with vitality.

Around the pond, various rare flowers and herbs are planted in the garden beds; though it is autumn, they remain vibrant and colorful.

Amidst the flowers and plants, several pavilions with upturned eaves stand faintly in view.

Those are prepared for those who wish to enjoy the scenery.

Just past the hour of Yin this day, thin threads of rain began to stretch across the sky, and the water vapor from the pond rose, causing the entire garden to suddenly become hazy.

Inside the central pavilion, the crisp sound of a zheng gradually began to resonate. The melody was winding and melodious, as if weeping or complaining, intoxicating the listener's heart and spirit.

Following the sound, one could see two women in the pavilion to the left.

The one standing is about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a bean-green silk long dress.

The one sitting is about eighteen or nineteen, petite in stature, with a gentle and elegant temperament, eyebrows like a new moon, skin like congealed fat, and dressed in an ink-colored tight-fitting long dress patterned with woven koi.

Just sitting there, she already looked like someone out of a painting.

She is Xu Fan's youngest daughter, Xu Ruoxi, seventeen years of age, just at the age for marriage.

One could see her jade fingers lightly plucking the strings, and the pleasant sound emerged like dancing spirits from the strings.

At times rapid, at times melodious, it made one hold their breath and focus their attention, fearing to disturb this heavenly sound.

As the song ended, the green-clad girl to the side clapped and exclaimed, "Miss, you are playing better and better! In my opinion, those so-called masters in the pugilistic world aren't even worth a single hair of yours, Miss."

Although Xu Ruoxi felt proud in her heart, she chided, "Look at you, speaking more and more outrageously. Those masters haven't spent decades honing their craft to earn such great reputations; where do I even stand compared to them?"

The green-clad girl remained unconvinced, muttering as she pouted, "Miss has talent. Look, throughout history, those who have achieved great things—who among them relied on just grinding away with age?"

"Gan Luo was a high minister at twelve, Huo Qubing could lead thousands of troops at eighteen, and the famous Tang Taizong was already renowned throughout the world at sixteen or seventeen."

The Xu Family is a scholarly household, so even maids like her have some ink in their bellies.

Before Xu Ruoxi could answer, she heard a playful laugh from behind: "Oh my, Lvluo, I didn't expect you to know so much."

The two turned to look and saw a plump young woman walking in, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

This is Xu Ruoxi's eldest sister-in-law, Zhu Ling.

"Sister-in-law."

"Young Mistress."

Lvluo and Xu Ruoxi called out respectfully almost in unison. Zhu Ling waved her hand, signaling for Lvluo to move away, then sat down on the stone stool next to Xu Ruoxi.

As their eyes met, Xu Ruoxi noticed her sister-in-law's burning gaze, and her little face instantly flushed red as she pouted softly, "Eldest sister-in-law, what are you looking at so wildly?"

"Giggle," Zhu Ling laughed until she swayed, panting as she teased, "If you're this shy just from me looking at you, you'll be even shyer after you get married."

"Sister-in-law!" Xu Ruoxi grew anxious.

Zhu Ling didn't tease the young girl further and went straight to the point: "In two days, the Zhang Family brothers will arrive. Your husband-to-be is Grand Tutor's fifth son, Zhang Yunxiu, two years your senior, who just passed the imperial examinations."

"Oh." Xu Ruoxi was so nervous her palms were sweating, but she could only squeeze out an "Oh."

Zhu Ling grabbed the young girl's hand, stared into her eyes, and comforted her with a smile: "Don't be too nervous. His family is the son of the Senior Grand Secretary, and our family is the granddaughter of a former Senior Grand Secretary."

Saying this, she blinked and tilted up Xu Ruoxi's increasingly lowered head: "Besides, our Ruoxi's appearance, figure, and temperament—as a woman's assets, you are not lacking at all. Once you marry, you'll surely have that greenhorn spellbound."

"Sister-in-law, please stop talking; you're making me sound like a vixen." Xu Ruoxi's cheeks were burning hot.

"What's wrong with being a vixen? Don't look at those scholars acting all upright on the surface; there isn't a man who doesn't like a vixenish woman."

"Think about it, those women in the brothels only need to crook a finger, and plenty of men will throw money at them—that is their power."

"Sister-in-law... you're becoming more and more improper."

Zhu Ling was already a married woman and wasn't shy, continuing, "But being a vixen isn't enough; you must also be dignified. Dignified in front of others, and vixenish in the marriage bed—that is the kind of woman a man truly cannot bear to leave."

She had wanted to say "more wanton" in bed, but felt it was too explicit, so she changed her words.

Even so, Xu Ruoxi, an inexperienced virgin, could not withstand such teasing.

Her neck turned bright red, and she stood up to flee, but Zhu Ling grabbed her and laughed, "Why be shy? You will experience this sooner or later; it's better to know sooner than later." "Sister-in-law, you are so shameless to be able to say such things," Xu Ruoxi pouted.

"What of it? A husband and wife should be intimate," Zhu Ling waved her hand dismissively and offered a tip, "You must not hold yourself back. The more you hold back, the more a man will resent it, and in the end, you'll be the one left in an empty room suffering."

"It's still early; there are two more years, sister-in-law, you're talking about this too soon."

"Doesn't one need to prepare early? If a girl as pure as a blank sheet of paper goes to someone else's house and makes a huge fool of herself, that would be truly embarrassing."

"Who says I'm a blank sheet? Lvluo is a clever one; with her by my side, I won't be fooled."

Seeing herself looked down upon, Xu Ruoxi pointed at Lvluo and retorted loudly, full of defiance.

Zhu Ling smiled, shaking her head like a peddler's drum, and teased, "For young ladies like you who never step out of the inner chambers, I dare guarantee that if you went out, you'd be sold off by someone within a day."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ruoxi was full of indignation and was about to argue back.

Suddenly, a servant came to report that the eldest young master had already met the Zhang Family brothers and was now on his way to the house.

"So fast?" Zhu Ling was startled.

Xu Ruoxi felt a flush rise to her cheeks, her hands clenched tight, biting her cherry-like red lips.

"Let's go, let's go see your future husband." Zhu Ling smiled, took Xu Ruoxi's little hand, and whispered softly, "The most important thing for us women in this life is to find a good husband and get married."

"Mm." Xu Ruoxi nodded slightly in agreement.

On the other side, the Zhang brothers, Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jingxiu, accompanied by Xu Yuanchun, walked slowly to the living room and sat down.

Because the three were of the same generation, they were not overly formal.

After each exchanged a bow, Zhang Jingxiu leaned to the side to console him: "Brother Zhengfu, the sudden passing of Grand Tutor Xu is a great loss. I know you are hurting, but the dead cannot return to life; please restrain your grief."

"Many thanks for the concern of the Senior Grand Secretary, and many thanks to Brother Siwen and Brother Yunxiu for your condolences," Xu Yuanchun replied with a bow.

He immediately turned his head and smiled at Zhang Yunxiu: "Brother Yunxiu is indeed dashing. Having passed the imperial examinations and now frequently walking in the palace, your future prospects and scenery are limitless."

Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands in return: "Brother, you flatter me. My talent is shallow, and I fear I cannot live up to such praise."

"You are too modest, worthy younger brother." Xu Yuanchun waved his hand and added, "I heard that you even made a trip to Joseon during the summer and returned with quite a bountiful harvest; it is clear that you possess great strategic talent."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu was no longer sleepy and asked directly, "Brother, you have resided in Songjiang for a long time, so you must have quite a few ships under your command, right?"

Songjiang Prefecture is practically the entirety of today's Modu; because it is located at the estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, its Geography is uniquely advantageous.

In just one or two hundred years, it has become one of the most fertile and wealthy regions in Jiangnan.

The greatest contributor to this is its flourishing commerce.

Taken aback by Zhang Yunxiu's question, Xu Yuanchun replied, "Ships... I do have quite a few, but most of them are small vessels. If you want large ships, I am afraid you will have to commission someone to build them."

"What are the sizes of the ones you currently have?"

"The large ones are five zhang long and three zhang wide; the small ones are three zhang long and one and a half zhang wide," Xu Yuanchun stated in full detail.

Zhang Yunxiu did some calculations; these ships were not small, and the large ones could barely be put to use. After realizing this, Zhang Yunxiu immediately smiled and said, "Then I shall be thick-skinned and ask you, brother, to lend me some ships."

"What is this talk of lending? If you need them, just take them," Xu Yuanchun said quite generously, then added, "If you still want more ships, I can act as a go-between and send people to purchase some large ships for you."

It is truly easier to get things done when you have connections.

As the local power in Jiangnan, the Xu Family has been rooted here for decades, and their words carry a different weight.

"Rest assured, brother. I will not take your ships for nothing. In the future, if you encounter any trouble, I will certainly not refuse to help," Zhang Yunxiu smiled, offering a return gesture of goodwill.

"Hey, why say such things? In the future, we will be one family; saying such things only makes us seem like strangers," Xu Yuanchun laughed, looked at Zhang Jingxiu, and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu to tease him, "Look, my brother-in-law still does not treat me as one of his own."

Zhang Jingxiu clapped his hands and laughed, shaking his head as he said, "Haha... this brat now has his heart set entirely on making money and is reeking of copper; Brother Zhengfu, do not let this kid influence you."

"Brother Siwen, that is a mistaken view. In my life, I have always detested those so-called 'pure officials' in the scholarly circles—hypocrites. They spout endless rhetoric, but in secret, they scrape the marrow from the bones of the common people; they would squeeze blood from a stone if they could."

"Tell me, if they did not have some 'tributes,' who could they support on their salaries alone?" Xu Yuanchun said with a chuckle.

Stung by this "jab," Zhang Jingxiu was not angry at all; instead, his smile widened: "I see, so both of you have fallen into the money pit. No wonder you hit it off so well, looking like you met each other too late."

"Hahaha."

Zhang Yunxiu and Xu Yuanchun locked eyes and laughed out loud, understanding each other perfectly.

(End of chapter)