Chapter 2
With the bitter taste of herbs still lingering in his throat, Li Rong tossed and turned on his couch, drifting off into a dream. Suddenly, he woke, seemingly oblivious to the past. He dreamed of pedestrians passing by in a misty alley, umbrellas tilted. Then, waking, he realized it was still midnight, the extinguished lights no longer reflecting the scene below. He dreamed of himself standing with a scroll, supposedly teaching, but no one was at his desk, no one around to decipher the words. Then, waking, he thought of his unfinished travels, feeling a bit anxious. He seemed to dream of mountains reaching into the clouds in the north. Then, waking, he still felt groggy, so he pulled himself together and went back to sleep, hoping the cold would pass quickly so he could embark on his long journey.
He wasted the night in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, and he didn't know how much of his illness could be dissipated even if he was covered in the quilt. When Li Rong woke up again, the lamp on the table had been refilled by Su Si, but there was no one in the room. He put on his outer robe and got off the couch. The cool morning air made his body feel lighter. Li Rong took the handkerchief, coughed a few times, and went to wash. He combed his long hair in front of the bronze mirror, tied a knot, and wrapped the silk cloth around it. The green silk ribbon fluttered in his hair, and he thought that he no longer looked sick. Today he would take Su Si to have a good look at the city of Gusu, and then drive to Jinling overnight.
Su Si must have been busy preparing the medicine early in the morning. Li Rong poured some hot tea and let it cool on the table, waiting for him to return. He gathered the scattered bamboo scrolls, tied them with long ropes, and stacked them in a box to prevent them from getting lost. He could tell from the hurried footsteps outside the door that it was Su Si bringing in the medicine.
"Young Master, are you awake? I just heard from the waiter that the pastry shop on the street is open. I took the opportunity to queue up and buy some of the pastries recommended by the shop while I was decocting the medicine. After you finish the medicine, you can try one piece to relieve the bitterness. The rest will be mine." Su Si put the medicine bowl on the table and unwrapped the pastries he had just bought from his arms. The portion wrapped in oil paper looked quite small. Li Rong smiled as usual, knowing that Su Si was always greedy and that he thought of leaving a piece for himself, which was a favor to him.
"You - I won't eat these, they are all yours." He picked up the medicine bowl and shook the medicine liquid that was still emitting white mist. The hot steam on his face somewhat dispelled the fatigue in his body.
Li Rong watched Su Si wolf down his snacks. The teacup beside him was already empty, and the teapot was constantly pouring from his hand. He brought the rim of the bowl to his lips and drank the bitter medicine along with Su Si's hearty meal, the bitter taste still spreading between his lips and tongue. Something occurred to him, and he prepared to test Su Si. "How much silver do we have left?"
Su Si swallowed the crumbs of pastry stuck in his mouth and drank two cups of hot tea before he could catch his breath and reply. "Young Master, you're still worrying about these things when you're sick? I don't have much left. I plan to go to the shop in the city to exchange some silver when you're better. The master is really not telling me where the shop is, so I've been searching for it for the past two or three days."
Li Rong poured himself a cup of tea, fingertips stroking the table. "After the doctor's fee is paid, I'm afraid there won't be any money left. My father hasn't left Luzhou in two years," he recalled his father's instructions before leaving. "It's normal for people to forget where the shop is. After you pack up, come with me to look for it on the street. If you get lost again by yourself, Gusu City won't be like Luzhou where we can find you."
"Master, do you still remember this? Wasn't that the joke I made when I went to look for books for you? You're the only one who can't laugh at me." Su Si wiped the leftover snacks on the table and went out to ask the waiter to bring back a pot of hot tea. "No, no, Master, you still have a cold. If you go out and it gets worse, it won't be worth it."
Li Rong sighed softly, picked up the leftover snack from Su Si, and cleaned his hands with a handkerchief. "I've already taken two doses of medicine, and most of the illness is gone. Wouldn't it be a good thing to go out for a walk to relieve the pent-up energy?"
Su Si was stunned for a moment by the coaxing, and simply waved his hand and said no, unable to find any other reason to refute his master's words. Li Rong took a sip of hot tea, stood up, tied his outer robe, and straightened his clothes. "Then it's okay for me to go out alone. You can rest for a while and wait for me to exchange silver and come back to queue up for cakes. I sneaked out to buy hairpins last time. This time in Gusu, can you bear to go down and choose some more for the lady?"
He folded his folding fan and tapped it on Su Si's head. His words, half true and half false, were that he had only heard A-niang mention it a few times, and he had no idea if the token of love Su Si had bought had been given to the girl. As for which girl, he had no idea. Su Si was only a few months younger than he was. Li Rong thought he should let A-niang take care of Su Si's marriage after his studies. His family never mistreat their servants, and Su Si had been loyal and had been with him for many years. Since he had someone he loved, the host family should be very helpful in the matter of marriage.
Su Si's face flushed immediately after hearing this, and his usual impetuous demeanor shifted, shaking his head even more vigorously than before. He had no choice but to agree to Li Rong's request to prevent further revelations. "Sir, you're joking. For someone to be worthy of such a position, it would have to be someone like you. As for me, I'm what you often read about in books as a distant observation. I couldn't ask for more."
Li Rong then pushed the door open and stepped out to continue teasing Su Si's thoughts, "A beautiful lady is a gentleman's dream. If you haven't tried it yourself, it's too early to say that you can't admire her from afar." He changed his mind and decided to exchange more silver in the shop so that he could plan more for Su Si. The customs of Luzhou can't compare to the prosperous and splendor of Jiangdu and Gusu, with red makeup, brocade, and harmonious couples. The hairpins and skirts sold in the shop are also unique, and it is just right to use them to propose love.
He let Su Si follow him around, his servant somewhat uncomfortably silent today. Normally, there was a constant chattering around him, and only when he was reading could he find some peace and quiet. He fanned himself and went downstairs, following the passing pedestrians and glancing at the surrounding shops. A glance revealed that Su Si must be someone he loved, awaiting a matchmaker or a beautiful woman's affection.
The autumn maple leaves seemed to dye half the Gusu sky red. Li Rong's gaze swept over the inns that were now displaying new signs. The dim sum shop with the long line must be the one Su Si favored. The rest were teahouses, where only overnight caravans opened their windows and sat inside, enjoying a drink before the arrival of the hour. Across the street, one had to walk over the bridge. Small boats, parked by the river, slowly passed under the bridge, laden with goods. He searched for a shop selling silk and yarn. He knew his own shop name by heart; with so many signs, it would be a real challenge for Su Si to navigate.
Su Si finally recovered, realizing that Li Rong had only half-truthed and that he'd just been tricked into going out for a stroll. He'd been tricked, and now it was too late to ask the young master to return. He walked beside Li Rong, his eyes dazzled. "There seems to be a bird chirping over there," "There's a long line of ladies in the rouge shop," "Two boats near the bridge seem to have collided, and the boatmen are arguing endlessly"...
Li Ronghe raised his folding fan and tapped Su Si's shoulder again. The usual bustle around him had returned, making him overwhelmed. Fortunately, it was still early, so he could wander along the streets one by one without rushing to find his own shop. He let Su Si talk endlessly about the many shops along the street, and if he came across something new, he would have time to browse. Father would definitely like the new teacups from the kiln, and Mother usually preferred plain brocade. He also wanted to buy some of the city's popular storybooks to bring back for Mother and the other women to entertain them.
Li Rong had walked most of the long street, carrying a considerable amount of things. He had just instructed a shop assistant to deliver teacups to his shop and inquired about its approximate location. Su Si bought some snacks and savored them, his ears finally quiet. He glanced at the shop sign, confirmed his shop name, and stepped inside.
It was almost noon, and the shop was bustling with customers. However, due to the cramped space, the helpers were overwhelmed. As the owner, he felt obliged to help out. His father had always disapproved of him taking over the family business, insisting on hiring a teacher. A study had even been added to the family a few years earlier. As if regretting not having enough knowledge when it was needed, Li Rong, inevitably, was also unfamiliar with the matter. He listened intently to the buyers' requests, noting them down before relaying them to the shop assistants.
Only after Su Si finished his sweet paste and entered the shop to take over his duties did he find time to take the token and go to the shop manager to exchange it for the silver he needed for his studies. He also instructed the clerk to send the teacups and storybooks that would be delivered shortly, along with this year's account books, to Luzhou, as he was not skilled in this area and had to rely on his father for help.
Li Rong said goodbye to the steward who was about to force him to stay for dinner, and took Su Si away from the guests to find some free time. In just half a day, the servant boy had become quite familiar with the shop assistants. When he was dragged out again, his mouth was dry and he drank three bowls of water in a row.
"Sir, have you exchanged the silver? Business in the shop is really good. I've never seen so many people in Luzhou." He was still panting. He reached out and took the bag from Li Rong's back before fulfilling his duties as a servant. "So where are you going now, sir? I have to boil some herbs for your cold this afternoon."
Li Rong paused at the streetside. The long street was becoming increasingly crowded with vendors and pedestrians. The only places left were restaurants and the like. He thought it would be wise to go back and rest for a while. Then, in the evening, he could go out and take a boat tour to admire the nightscape of Gusu. "Go back. You can rest for a while, and find a driver. We'll leave for Jinling tomorrow morning."
"Sir?" Su Si was surprised by this arrangement for a moment, then annoyed that he would definitely not be able to persuade someone who was so focused on getting on with his journey. "Then Sir, please remember to take your medicine on time. When we get to Jinling, we'll ask a doctor to check your pulse."
Li Rong closed his fan, coughed lightly, and, suppressing his fatigue, responded and turned back to the inn. The bridge was packed; he waited beside it. The water beneath the bridge rippled as the boatman poled and ferried a boat full of cargo. The center of Jiangnan seemed even more beautiful than what one read about in books, with towers and pavilions facing each other, and the city walls overflowing[1]. This brought back many stories, such as the scenery of Xingle Stone City and Running Dogs on Changzhou Island[2], which had remained unchanged for a hundred years.
He returned to his room and quenched his thirst with cold tea, letting Su Si prepare some simple meals for the day. For him, the hardships of studying abroad were something he would have to adapt to sooner or later. If it was so in Gusu, it would surely be even worse in Jinling. As for the lands of Qi and Lu, and Chang'an in the far north, he could only see them with his own eyes.
[1] From Zhu Changwen’s Wujun Tujing Xuji
[2] “Wu Yue Chunqiu·Helü Neichuan”: “shooting at Oubei, galloping at Youtai, enjoying the music at Shicheng, and walking the dog at Changzhou.”
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