Chapter 92: Return to Tianjin

After the tumultuous first month of the year passed, life across the Great Ming returned to normal. Wei Zhongxian, Cui Chengxiu, and Madam Ke were all dead, though on the ninth day of the first month their corpses were dragged to Caishikou and beheaded once more. Only then did the young Son of Heaven vent the hatred in his heart. The various powers in Jingshi lay in wait, drooling over the lucrative local posts.

Chen Xin could not join the bustle over those high officials' affairs. He sent Wang Yuanzheng some more jewels and obtained a thousand mu of abandoned land nearby. Wang Yuanzheng had been short of silver lately, and Chen Xin was undoubtedly providing timely help. On top of that, Chen Xin made regular purchases at his grain shop, so Wang Yuanzheng treated him entirely as a major client. That abandoned land could not be irrigated and had lain fallow for a long time, so he was happy to give it away as a favor. Chen Xin, for his part, aimed to grow at least some grain there.

In the second month, Liu Minyou was so busy his feet never touched the ground — teaching classes, recruiting people, renovating the workshop, digging irrigation wells, opening up wasteland for farming, farm tools, water conservancy, seeds, plow oxen, and also building new naval housing and warehouses at the port. His written plans had piled up into a thick stack. At the moment, the only people who could help him with management were Xu Yuanhua and Wang Daixi.

Chen Xin, leisurely, took three personal guards plus Tang Zuoxiang and boarded a Fujian junk bound for Tianjin. Wang Zugui led a group of new sailors who handled the Fujian junk somewhat clumsily. Most of these men were fishermen from Wendeng County, with some from Chengshan Guard and Jinghai Guard as well. Chen Xin appointed a few petty sailor officers right on board. They did not stop at Dengzhou en route. After landing at the small pier in Tianjin, he went straight to his mother-in-law's house.

As soon as Old Wang saw it was Chen Xin, he showed a smiling face for the first time. Ever since Chen Xin and Zhao Xiang had become engaged, Lady Zhao had regained hope in life, which also relieved Old Wang of much of his guilt. He invited Chen Xin inside and led him to the third courtyard.

"Accountant Chen, please rise quickly. Come sit over here. Old Zhang, go call the young lady." Lady Zhao looked at Chen Xin with a face full of motherly affection. In truth, she was no more than ten years older than Chen Xin, but her face was aged, and her seniority in the family hierarchy was what it was.

Chen Xin still felt a measure of gratitude toward Lady Zhao. After kowtowing, he sat down on the lower seat and waited obediently for Lady Zhao to speak. Zhao Xiang arrived right after. The moment she entered the door she saw Chen Xin, and her eyes lit up as she looked at him. All the way in, her head swiveled with Chen Xin as the center of her gaze, until she finally stopped behind Lady Zhao and placed her hands on Lady Zhao's shoulders.

Lady Zhao held Zhao Xiang's hand and asked Chen Xin, "Accountant Chen, you've grown thinner these past few months, and darker too. I've heard people say that Weihaiwei is a remote and impoverished place. Is it too harsh over there? If you're not used to it, come back to Tianjin Guard. It doesn't matter if you don't take that guard battalion post."

Chen Xin withdrew his gaze from Zhao Xiang and said respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Lady. It is indeed a poor and harsh place over there, but I lack nothing for daily needs and have already grown accustomed to it."

"Is your dwelling place decent? Did the guard battalion arrange housing for you?"

"I have always lived well, and now it is even better. A fortified village has already been built. For the time being, this junior is staying in the barracks — all brick and tile houses."

"Barracks!?" Zhao Xiang cried out in surprise. In her impression, barracks were only slightly better than beggars' shacks.

Lady Zhao also said with a pained heart, "It is a good thing for a man to have ambition, but do not make yourself suffer too much. Accountant Chen is a scholar — how can he live in the same place as those coarse soldiers?"

Chen Xin knew she was worried that Zhao Xiang would suffer hardship after marriage, so he explained, "I am already building a three-courtyard residence, facing the sea. It will be finished by spring, by springtime. After the wedding, when the young lady comes, she will move right in. I invite you, Lady, to come along as well and share in the family happiness."

Zhao Xiang no longer blushed but covered her mouth and laughed softly.

Lady Zhao patted her lightly on the hand, and she stopped laughing. Only then did Lady Zhao turn her head and say to Chen Xin, "Being an officer in a guard battalion is just for the sake of having official status. If there really is any military disaster, don't go rushing to the forefront. As long as you live in peace and safety, that is better than any wealth, rank, or power."

Chen Xin naturally could not speak of his grand ambitions and agreed repeatedly, promising that the moment any battle broke out, he would desert.

What Lady Zhao liked most was that Chen Xin listened to her instruction. Zhao Xiang was always talking back to her, not as obedient as this son-in-law. Looking at this gentle and refined son-in-law, she felt happy at heart. "How long can Accountant Chen stay in Tianjin this time?"

"This junior plans to stay a few more days — first, to purchase some goods, and second, to listen more to your teachings, Lady. Every time I speak with you, I gain a great deal."

Lady Zhao nodded repeatedly as she listened and said to Zhao Xiang with a smile, "See, even Chen Xin says your mother is right. It's only you who never listens." Having said that, she returned to her usual refrain, "I know what purchasing goods is about. Old Cai can help you, but that man has a tendency to seek petty gains — you cannot trust him completely. And you yourself must not go."

"Yes, this junior understands. Many thanks for the reminder, Lady. This junior will not go out to sea, so I am also thinking of doing some other stable business. I wonder if the dumping-goods shop that Brother Han Yong used to run is still open. I would like to find that shopkeeper and ask about some matters. Since I am not acquainted with them, could Lady provide an introduction?"

"Now that's more like it. Doing stable business is the long-term plan. I'll have Old Wang go and speak to them right away."

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Beside the stone table in the small courtyard on Erdaojie, Chen Xin held the official gazette that Zhou Shifa had borrowed and read it slowly. The pages were filled with denunciations of the eunuch faction. Only one item interested him: Zheng Yiguan had captured Zhongzuosuo in the tenth month. He had no idea whether Xu Xinsu had escaped or not. When he met Li Guozhu this time, there should be news.

He did not stay at his mother-in-law's house; he felt more at ease living in his own place. After putting down the gazette, Chen Xin looked around the familiar courtyard. The scenery was the same as before, only much quieter. Nie Hong and the others were clumsily sweeping and cleaning.

"Shifa, go call Deng Keshan over. I have something to arrange with him." Deng Keshan was still running the old-woman clothing business and drew three taels of silver a month from the clothing shop, making him something of a half-employee.

Zhou Shifa went out as ordered, ran over, and knocked on Deng Keshan's courtyard gate. Deng Keshan appeared before him with a bruised and swollen face. The moment he saw Zhou Shifa, his mouth twisted and he began to wail, "Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, you're finally back."

Although Zhou Shifa often scolded Deng Keshan, the two had grown up together since childhood, and their bond was actually very deep. At the sight, he said angrily, "Damn you, who did this? Take me to find him. Wait here, I'm going back to get my blade." With that, he turned and ran back toward the courtyard. Deng Keshan hurriedly grabbed hold of him, two tears rolling down. "A few traveling merchants beat me up — how could we ever find them now? Those dog-spawned bastards were fierce enough. Seven of us still couldn't beat the four of them."

"With that scrawny body of yours, do you even count as one? How old are you, still doing that rotten business? If people didn't have some skill, would they be roaming around out there? Last year you made over a hundred taels selling clothes. Now you draw three taels of silver a month from Lord Chen, plus your cut from the old women. Are you really that short of money?" Zhou Shifa hit and kicked Deng Keshan as he spoke. Deng Keshan blocked the blows while saying, "It's only because you left. Otherwise, how would I have gotten beaten up?"

Zhou Shifa cursed, "I'm following Lord Chen to do great things. Perfect timing — Lord Chen is calling for you. Come with me."

Deng Keshan raised his bleary, swollen eyes and said, "Lord Chen is back?"

Zhou Shifa said nothing, just dragged Deng Keshan all the way back. The neighbors they met along the road greeted him one after another. The neighbors had long been used to seeing them roughhouse and thought nothing of it.

After they entered Chen Xin's courtyard, Chen Xin also looked at Deng Keshan's pig-head of a face in surprise. Deng Keshan had no choice but to stammer out a few more words of explanation. Chen Xin knew the sort of things he usually got up to — if you run in the streets, you'll have to pay sooner or later. Since those men couldn't be found, they could only let it go. After a few words of consolation, he invited Deng Keshan to sit.

"Is Brother Deng familiar with the silk shops at the South Canal wharf?"

Even though he had been beaten, Deng Keshan was still his usual slick self. "Brother Chen wants to go into the silk business?"

"Exactly. If Brother Deng knows any familiar shops, you could help me ask about prices. Best if you know who the owners are."

Deng Keshan was a local wheeler-dealer. Zhou Shifa, as a soldier, at least had to stand duty, but Deng Keshan purely spent his time loafing around with all sorts of people. He naturally knew that the silk business along the canal was all big trade. Still thinking he could get a cut, he immediately perked up.

"Brother Chen, just you wait. I'll have the prices for you by this evening. Along the riverbank, the various princes, the dukes and marquises from Jingshi, the Grand Secretaries — they've all got spots there, mostly their relatives occupying the best locations."

Chen Xin pondered briefly and said, "Then what does Brother Deng know about the backgrounds of the money shops?"

"Brother Chen, you know how it is. Word always leaks out about these things one way or another. There's no one in the nine schools and three trades of Tianjin city that I'm not familiar with. I guarantee I'll ferret it out."

Chen Xin nodded slightly and said, "Then I'll trouble Brother Deng to put in the hard work. Best if you can give me an answer within two days. Naturally, I will offer Brother Deng a token of my appreciation."

"Brother Chen, rest assured."

Zhou Shifa kicked him. "Call him 'my lord.' 'Brother Chen' is for you to call him?"

Deng Keshan took another kick. He was long used to taking beatings from Zhou Shifa and said with a cheeky grin, "Yes, Lord Chen. And, uh, Lord Zhou." Then he turned around and came face to face with Nie Hong's fierce, fleshy face. Deng Keshan, a man who had traveled the rivers and lakes, had seen plenty of desperadoes and was not frightened. He even cupped his hands in salute and said, "Lord Mighty Warrior." Zhang Dahui, who was well acquainted with Deng Keshan, watched and burst out laughing.

Zhou Shifa made as if to kick him again. Chen Xin smiled and waved his hand. "Brother Deng is not a military man. He can address me however he likes." Only then did Zhou Shifa stop. He glared at Deng Keshan, then softened his tone a little. "Don't you try any tricks. Say it exactly as it is. If you dare deceive the lord, next time I'll be speaking to you with a blade."

Zhou Shifa had followed Chen Xin for several months now, and his income was quite good. More importantly, the atmosphere in Chen Xin's army, entirely different from that of the Ming army, fascinated him. Chen Xin had repeatedly assigned him to handle certain matters alone, and for the first time, Zhou Shifa discovered that he was actually capable of doing many things. He was now wholeheartedly following Chen Xin, and he also knew that Chen Xin's methods were far more ruthless than his outward appearance suggested. He worried that Deng Keshan was too slick — if he offended Chen Xin, it would be no laughing matter.

Deng Keshan remained his usual self. After bowing to everyone with clasped hands, he withdrew, full of renewed energy, and headed for the canal.

Chen Xin expressionlessly propped his chin on his hand and considered for a moment. Zhou Shifa was still a little worried that Deng Keshan might be rash. Since this was something Chen Xin had personally come to Tianjin to handle, it had to be a major matter. The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. He came over and said to Chen Xin, "My lord, how about I go keep an eye on Deng Keshan? You know how he is. If he ends up causing some trouble, this…"

Chen Xin looked up at him and laughed in spite of himself. "Shifa, don't worry about this. I'm only having him gather information — it won't affect the big matters." He called Zhang Dahui over. "Dahui, go out and exchange for some copper coins. Get all kinds. Take plenty of broken silver to buy things."

Zhang Dahui had spent some time in the army and no longer babbled in front of Chen Xin. He took the order directly and went outside to exchange for copper coins.

Chen Xin was in no hurry to go to the clothing shop. He just sat in the house resting, a rare moment of such peace and quiet lately. He reckoned that Song Wenxian should have set out a bit earlier than him. With not much business in Jingshi, he should be back soon. He wondered how much silver the old fellow had managed to get from those two lords. He just hoped the old rascal hadn't become so enamored of Jingshi that he forgot to return.

"I'm giving him money to earn — will this old rascal treat me to a visit at the brothels?" －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－ Thanks to the book friend "Qingteng Menxia Zougu" for the lovingly crafted new cover — it's indeed better than my original one. Two updates yesterday. Thanks to lifox and yjuter1981 for the update-urging tickets. The author has been helping a friend with a project recently, so my manuscript reserves are really not much, and I've been unable to do two updates lately. When I can update more, I certainly will. Thanks again, everyone.