Song Jiyun returned home, where Madam Qian had been waiting in the hall.
Upon seeing her and Yuan Yunzhong enter the hall, she hurried forward, grasped Song Jiyun’s hand, but asked Yuan Yunzhong, "How was the journey? Was everything smooth on the road?"
"Smooth!" Yuan Yunzhong saluted Madam Qian, letting Shao Qing come in to greet Madam Qian, and introduced him, saying, "Shao Qing is a former servant of our family. Hearing he was here, he specifically came to visit."
Madam Qian had no suspicions.
The appearance and character of Yuan Yunzhong were not those that an ordinary family could raise.
She had always suspected that Yuan Yunzhong was a young master from a noble family who had fallen on hard times and thus ended up in the Pear Garden.
She did not look down on Shao Qing; instead, she instructed Song Jiyun, "It is commendable that Young Master Shao remembers and has come to visit Young Master Yuan. Do not neglect him!"
Shao Qing’s face flushed as if he could bleed, and he repeatedly thanked Madam Qian.
Madam Qian then instructed Steward Wu to call for a banquet outside and asked Zheng Quan to entertain the guests, adding, "When the young men are together, they inevitably drink and engage in social interactions."
How dared Shao Qing!
Despite repeatedly trying to decline, he had no choice but to stiffen his resolve and follow Yuan Yunzhong and Zheng Quan to the flower hall in the backyard.
Madam Qian then started discussing confidential matters with Song Jiyun, "Before you returned, your grandmother came and made a fuss, saying the place she lives now is too small and she wants to move to the Third Master’s side."
Song Jiyun scoffed, "Her wanting to move is fake; she’s afraid that I might sell the Third Master’s house, that’s true."
Madam Qian knew it too, but pressed by the duty of "filial piety," she found it hard to refuse. Instead, she felt that if Madam Zeng moved there, the second branch could enjoy some peace, "Otherwise, today your eldest uncle comes over, tomorrow your third uncle comes into the city, and it would be just like before."
"Of course it’s different!" Song Jiyun had a sudden inspiration and smiled, "Isn’t the clan planning to establish a clan school? The house of the Third Master is vacant; maybe it could be set up there!"
Madam Qian clapped her hands, praising the idea repeatedly.
There was no time to delay.
Song Jiyun simply dispatched Steward Wu immediately to send invitations to several clan elders.
She even joked, "These days I’ve been so busy and tired, I will not go to greet my grandmother."
She would discuss the matter of the private school tomorrow after the matter had been settled.
Steward Wu was also a man with plans, and he immediately understood Song Jiyun’s intention and said, "Indeed! Since Third Old Master fell ill, the old lady has been worried and has been eating and sleeping poorly. It’s best not to disturb her. If she really feels uncomfortable, we can invite the master from the Nunnery to come and recite scriptures for the old lady, having someone to talk to might brighten her spirits."
The kinfolk, mostly dealing in money matters.
Steward Wu was indeed talented!
Song Jiyun nodded repeatedly.
To her surprise, as soon as the clan elders heard that the meeting was concerning the clan school, they came over during the night.
Song Jiyun explained the situation, and each elder praised her, ceaselessly commending her father for having such a capable daughter.
"But please, elders, keep this matter confidential for now," she instructed, "We haven’t even got a teacher for this school yet, and if we start spreading the news too early, and cannot find someone to fill the position, wouldn’t it become a laughing stock?"
The group agreed that her reasoning was sound. They further complimented Song Jiyun before taking their leave.
That night, Song Jiyun slept a stable and sweet sleep.
When she opened her eyes, it was already late in the morning.
Zheng Quan came to see her, saying, "I have already met with the Store Manager of the Hong Family’s grocery store. He said that they do not sell compasses, and if desired, one would need to inquire at the shops in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Whether or not it can be obtained, and when, is uncertain."
Actually, such objects are more common in the regions of Fujian and Guangdong.
She thought for a moment and decided that she needed to take care of this matter herself, "Then accompany me to West Street!"
The larger stores in Liang County were all located on West Street.
She wanted to try her luck at other shops, and if that failed, she would make a trip to Suzhou Prefecture.
That was the real urgency at hand.
Zheng Quan immediately hitched up a mule cart.
West Street was bustling with crowds, and shop signs fluttered like banners, making it very lively.
The two strolled along the street, entering any shop that sold stationery or measuring implements to look around and inquire.
Persistence yields results.
As they passed by an incense and candle shop, Song Jiyun suddenly noticed a few peach wood swords hanging inside the shop.
She had a sudden inspiration.
She was looking for a magnet stone, and if there was no compass, a compass would do!
She immediately walked in and asked the store manager, "Do you sell compasses here?"
During the conversation, she had already spotted a compass for sale on the counter.
This was indeed a blessing in disguise.
Excitedly, she pointed at the compass, "How much for one?"
However, the store manager responded, "This one is not for sale! It was specially ordered by someone, and I brought it over from Fujian. It’s the only one."
Song Jiyun knew that merchants, no matter the size of their business, operated on the principle of integrity. Unless the person who placed the order no longer wanted it, they wouldn’t sell it to someone else.
She hurriedly said, "Store manager, I would like to order a compass. How long would it take to receive it?"
The store manager smiled and said, "It depends on luck. Sometimes it takes a year and a half, other times three to five months will do."
She couldn’t wait that long.
Song Jiyun said, "Who ordered your compass? I’d like to ask them to let me have this compass, as I urgently need it. Money is no object."
But the store manager simply shook his head and replied, "It was ordered by a master craftsman from Gratitude Temple, who has gone to Mount Putuo. We agreed that he would come to pick it up before the first day of October."
Knowing full well that there was little hope, she still pleaded with the store manager, "Do you know of any other place on this street that sells compasses or compasses?"
The store manager said, "These items are rarely used and are expensive, so they are usually made to order."
She had no choice but to try her luck at Gratitude Temple.
See if the monks there had an old compass that they could sell to her.
Moreover, there were definitely more people who used compasses than those who used compasses.
Song Jiyun left the Incense and Candle Shop with a light step.
But she discovered that there was trouble at the pawnshop next door, as onlookers had blocked the street.
Song Jiyun frowned.
All she saw was a man in a worn Hangzhou silk robe, yelling at the pawnshop entrance with a painting scroll, "I pawned Liu Songnian’s ’Arhat Painting’ here. You’ve neither pointed out anything wrong with this painting nor are you willing to accept it, so what kind of pawnshop are you running? Call your owner out here! I want to see on what basis you operate your pawnshop!"
The chubby store manager, constantly wiping sweat with a handkerchief, said, "Our owner, Chao Feng, is not here, I’m sorry. Why don’t you come back in a few days?"
"Bah!" The man spat in the store manager’s face and said spitefully, "If you don’t make things clear today, I will drag you to the government office."
There seemed to be no way the store manager could make amends.
This was somewhat bullying.
The noise attracted more and more onlookers, and the road was completely blocked, making it impossible to pass.
Song Jiyun, after a brief contemplation, squeezed in, carefully examined the man’s painting scroll for a while, then approached and asked, "You said this is Liu Songnian’s ’Arhat Painting’?"
The man, startled by the sudden appearance of a strange woman, reacted defensively, "Who are you? Mind your own business!"
Song Jiyun, ignoring him, snatched the man’s painting scroll, looked at it, then forcefully tore it from the scroll to show everyone, "Liu Songnian’s painting, the scroll has molded!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
The crowd burst into laughter.
The store manager hurriedly stepped forward to thank her.
The man continued to be unreasonable, "What right did you have to tear my painting? I’m going to sue you at the Yamen!"
Song Jiyun looked at the store manager.
The store manager quickly called the shop assistants, "Go file a lawsuit."
The assistants swarmed up and started fighting with the man.
The man yelled, "The pawnshop’s manager conned me out of my painting, and now they want to kill me!"
This was no longer her concern.
Song Jiyun quietly prepared to leave.
But then a man called out to her, "Miss! Please wait a moment!"
Song Jiyun turned her head and saw a man dressed in a treasure-blue auspicious cloud-patterned Hangzhou silk robe, with a jade hairpin, walking towards her with a servant boy.
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