Сhеng Сhi аnd Sоng Min stoоd stеаdilу аt the bow of а blаck-cаnopiеd bоаt, wаtсhing Qin Ziрing and othеrs on the neighboring vessel rерeаtedlу рlасe wооdеn рlаnks on thе river surfacе аs instructеd, timing and measuring thе distancе the plаnks driftеd frоm uрstrеаm tо downstreаm with а pосkеt watсh.
Huаng Yijun, stаnding behind them, muttеrеd softlу, "Can the flоw rate reаllу bе cаlculated this wау? Аnd evеn if wе mеаsurе thе river's flоw, whаt use is it? Аfter аll, the Qiantаng River tidе hаs аlwaуs реаked on the еighteenth day of thе eighth lunar month sinсe anсient timеs, nеver оnce missing the date. Even if we calculate that the tide might arrive a few days early, there will still be a surge on the eighteenth—just of a different magnitude. Who would even notice such details..."
Last night, while they were drinking merrily, Old Mr. Song and Cheng Zichuan suddenly decided to visit Hangzhou Bay along the Qiantang River. Entrusted by his brother-in-law to ensure Song Min was safely "invited" to the capital, Huang Yijun had no choice but to set down his chopsticks and accompany them to Hangzhou Bay.
Old Mr. Song and Cheng Zichuan spent most of the night walking around Hangzhou Bay, while Huang Yijun sat nearby, his eyelids growing heavy until he eventually dozed off. By the time Cheng Zichuan’s attendant shook him awake, dawn had already broken. Old Mr. Song and Cheng Zichuan immediately rushed back to Baiyang Village, where Steward Qin had somehow procured several black-canopied boats. After a hasty breakfast, they settled onto these boats and watched as Steward Qin, following Old Mr. Song and Cheng Zichuan’s instructions, floated wooden planks from one boat to another, timing the process with Cheng Zichuan’s pocket watch.
Old Mr. Song showed none of the dignity expected of the father of a top-ranking official, behaving instead like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. Ever since Cheng Zichuan produced that cloisonné pocket watch from his sleeve, Old Mr. Song’s eyes seemed glued to it. He even shamelessly asked Cheng Zichuan, "Where did you get this pocket watch?" Unaware that although such watches were rare, they could still be purchased outside Dongzhimen in the capital. His brother-in-law owned one, kept carefully in storage and cherished dearly. Yet Old Mr. Song was his brother-in-law’s father—if he had asked for it, would his brother-in-law have refused him?
To stare so eagerly at someone else’s pocket watch... it was utterly embarrassing!
And that wasn’t all. When Cheng Zichuan mentioned it was obtained from Westerners and even promised to get one for him too, Old Mr. Song’s expression could only be described as profoundly grateful. He even eagerly addressed Cheng Zichuan as "Mr. Cheng." If his brother-in-law heard about this, where would he hide his face?
No wonder his brother-in-law was determined to "invite" Old Mr. Song to his side.
They had been watching these planks drift back and forth for nearly two hours now. When would it end?
The sun beat down on the river, making the weather unbearably hot. Huang Yijun felt dizzy and lightheaded, wishing he could disembark immediately.
But Old Mr. Song was thoroughly enjoying his "game" with Cheng Zichuan. What could he possibly say?
Huang Yijun glanced at Cheng Chi’s youthful face and muttered a few more words under his breath. His voice was so soft that no one could make out what he was saying.
Lang Yue, who was attending nearby, rolled her eyes.This Huang Yijun had been quite humble and amiable at first. But later, when he discovered that Fourth Master was only five years older than him—while he was still a mere scholar, Fourth Master had already attained the rank of jinshi—he began to feel somewhat uneasy. And when Old Mr. Song insisted on treating Fourth Master as an equal, Huang Yijun seemed utterly bewildered, as if such a thing were some great act of impropriety.
However, one couldn’t really blame Huang Yijun.
He clearly appeared to be an honest, law-abiding scholar, naturally unable to comprehend what Fourth Master and Old Mr. Song were up to!
Lang Yue spoke with a touch of sympathy, “Young Master Huang, would you like to go sit inside the cabin? The sun outside is a bit too strong.”
That would be fine!
Huang Yijun thought to himself that since Old Mr. Song didn’t need him anyway, there was no use in him staying here.
“Then I’ll trouble you, young man,” he said politely.
A small boat rowed vigorously toward them.
Cheng Chi and Song Min frowned simultaneously, and Cheng Chi even instructed the attendant beside him, “Where did that boat come from? Tell them to change course!”
Old Mr. Song also remarked, “Their approach will affect the speed at which the wooden planks float. Who knows how much more time we’ll have to spend?”
Cheng Chi’s expression was as dark as water.
A sharp-witted guard shouted toward the small boat, “Where are you from? We have business here. Could your boat please stay closer to the riverbank?”
But someone inside the small boat laughed and replied, “Chief Steward Qin, I’m from the Zong Family Villa, sent by the Old Madam to deliver tea and snacks to Master Cheng and Old Mr. Song.”
Qin Ziping looked toward Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi smiled bitterly.
Qin Ziping hurriedly gathered the items and sent someone to retrieve them, delivering them to Cheng Chi’s black-canopied boat.
Cheng Chi bowed to Old Mr. Song and said helplessly, “It seems we’ll have to have a cup of tea before continuing to measure the water flow.”
Song Min laughed heartily and said, “Old ginger is still spicier! If the Old Madam hadn’t sent someone with tea and snacks, you and I would probably have stood at the bow until our return.” He sighed and added, “Don’t resent the Old Madam for being troublesome. When I was your age, I was eager to travel across all the great rivers and lakes of our dynasty in a single day. I was always impatient with family matters, seeing them as burdens. But after my late wife passed away, with no one left to nag me or care for me, I felt an emptiness in my heart, as if I had lost my anchor. In the end, no matter where one goes, one needs a home—a place with people waiting for you, people who care about you. Only then does life not feel lonely. But even if you take my words to heart now, you may not truly understand them. You’ll only grasp their meaning when you’re older and have more experience.”
Cheng Chi remained silent.
Lowering his gaze, he stared at the black-lacquered, red-bottomed, gold-sprinkled begonia-patterned box, neatly arranged with cloud-slice cakes, peach shortbread, rose paste, radish cakes, assorted candied fruits… As if trying to escape Song Min’s words, his thoughts suddenly drifted far away.
These snacks definitely weren’t prepared by his mother.
If his mother were preparing tea and snacks for him, she would have made them fresh. Store-bought cloud-slice cakes and peach shortbread like these would never be placed in such a box.Cheng Chi’s mind conjured up a delicate little face with watery eyes, gazing at him eagerly, brimming with trust… like a kitten desperate for its owner’s praise. A single pat on the head would keep it happy for a long while.
At home, aside from his mother, only she could command the servants so effortlessly.
He sipped his tea, sampling each pastry from the snack box, and finally ate the radish cake.
※
At the Zong family’s villa, Zhou Shaojin sat respectfully below Old Madam Guo, smiling as she listened to Old Madam Zong converse with Old Madam Guo and Madam Song.
Old Madam Zong, suddenly finding herself in the company of another senior official’s wife, was so excited she trembled slightly as she spoke. Her fervent flattery left Madam Song, who seldom engaged in social interactions, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Fortunately, with Old Madam Guo guiding the conversation, she gradually regained her composure.
Madam Song couldn’t help but cast a grateful glance toward Old Madam Guo.
Her reluctance to socialize in the capital stemmed partly from the reputation of Song Jingran’s first wife, who was known among officials from Huguang for her virtue and grace, and partly from her own discomfort in social settings, where she was often compared to Song Jingran’s first wife. This made her even more hesitant to venture out.
Here with Old Madam Guo, free from such comparisons, she found socializing less tense and intimidating, and the atmosphere soon grew relaxed.
Old Madam Zong warmly invited Old Madam Guo and Madam Song to visit her home.
Old Madam Guo politely declined, explaining only that Cheng Chi had arrangements the following day. Instead, she invited Old Madam Zong to visit Jinling whenever she had the leisure.
Old Madam Zong naturally agreed wholeheartedly.
After lunch at the villa, Old Madam Zong, assuming Old Madam Guo still had to entertain Madam Song, tactfully took her leave with the women of her household.
Madam Song breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Chi and Song Min returned.
The villa bustled with activity once more.
Servants brought water for the two men to freshen up, the kitchen prepared a fresh feast, and Madam Song packed her belongings, ready to return to Hangzhou Prefecture.
As for Zhou Shaojin, upon learning that Cheng Chi had eaten all the radish cakes, her eyes curved into joyful crescents, and she sent Chunwan to reward the kitchen staff.
Chunwan asked, “Should we note down the recipe for the radish cakes to take back with us?”
“Of course!” Zhou Shaojin replied with a smile. “We’ll make some more tomorrow and see if Old Madam likes them. Then we can have the kitchen at Cold Green Mountain House prepare them.”
Chunwan nodded repeatedly and helped Zhou Shaojin grind ink.
Madam Song came to bid farewell to Old Madam Guo, saying reluctantly, “I’m not sure what Father-in-law plans. If we could travel together, it would truly be my good fortune.”
No one had ever guided her on social etiquette as Old Madam Guo had, and she had learned a great deal today.
However, Old Madam Guo had no intention of traveling with them and replied with a smile, “That depends on what your family’s Old Master decides!”
Madam Song nodded repeatedly and sincerely invited Old Madam Guo to visit her home in the capital.
Old Madam Guo agreed.
After bidding farewell for what felt like half a day, Cheng Chi and Song Min still hadn’t appeared.
Old Madam Guo was taken aback and sent someone to inquire.
It turned out that Cheng Chi and Song Min had retreated to the study after lunch and hadn’t emerged for over an hour.
Now, not only Old Madam Guo but even Zhou Shaojin grew curious and asked, “What’s going on with Uncle Chi and Old Mr. Song?”
Madam Song looked on, utterly bewildered.Song Sen declared loudly, "Sister Zhou, I know what Grandfather is doing—he must be calculating with Uncle Cheng! Grandfather told me that if you want to control floods, you need to know how fast the water flows. To know how fast the water flows, you have to learn arithmetic. Grandfather must have seen the Qiantang River tide almost sweeping people away, so he’s working out the numbers to help Father manage the floods and stop the Qiantang River from having tidal surges every year."
To stop the Qiantang River from having tidal surges every year—never mind anything else—the literati and poets of the world would first curse Old Mr. Song to no end.
Song Sen’s innocent, childlike words made Old Madam Guo and Zhou Shaojin burst into laughter.
Madam Song flushed and tried to cover Song Sen’s mouth.
But Song Sen dodged and hid behind Zhou Shaojin.
※
Sisters, here’s today’s extra update.
Wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day!
PS: The lottery is so **, I’ve been logging in non-stop... Σ( ° △ °|||)︴...
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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