Three years ago, Wu Zhenzhen was still in Pujiang County, known then as the Seventh Young Master of Suitable Treasure Tower.
Suitable Treasure Tower was a rather famous restaurant in Pujiang. Its owner, Wu Qiuniang, was a widowed woman who had arrived in Pujiang over a decade earlier with her daughter Zhenzhen and opened this establishment. While it primarily served common Jiangnan home-style dishes, Wu Qiuniang meticulously selected ingredients, used only the finest materials, and possessed exceptional culinary skills, consistently transforming ordinary dishes into unforgettable flavors. Moreover, she was shrewd in business yet treated people with utmost sincerity and kindness, earning her excellent rapport. From the county magistrate down to local gentry, all were willing to assist her. Thus, over more than ten years, she built Suitable Treasure Tower into a renowned name, expanding it from a small roadside shop into a grand three-story building with a central courtyard and rear garden.
Wu Qiuniang had taken in six female disciples, each named after flowers or plants and ranked by age: Fengxian, Suxin, Fuqu, Xiangye, Chuying, and Yuzan. Though they were either orphans or from impoverished families, each was exceptionally beautiful and had mastered excellent culinary skills. Besides managing the restaurant’s daily operations, they were often hired at high prices by wealthy families to serve as head chefs for banquets.
Zhenzhen was younger than all six disciples. Wu Qiuniang did not allow her to learn cooking; instead, she dressed her in boys’ clothing and sent her to a private school from a young age to study alongside other boys. “A girl who reads a bit will be less easily deceived in the future,” Wu Qiuniang simply explained to those who questioned this decision.
Known as the “Seventh Young Master,” Zhenzhen had a lively personality and, raised as a boy, grew increasingly straightforward and even willful. In her leisure time, she often gathered friends for cockfighting, horse racing, and extravagant outings, spending lavishly. Her expenses frequently alarmed Pu Bo, the accountant of Suitable Treasure Tower, who repeatedly complained to Wu Qiuniang. Yet Qiuniang paid no mind, saying only, “Her father passed away early, so she has had a lonelier childhood than others. As long as she is safe and happy, what does spending a little money matter? I can always earn a bit more.”
Thus, Zhenzhen gradually grew up in this carefree, indulgent lifestyle. Fortunately, though willful, she was not foolish. After several years of study, she gained some understanding of principles, was never deceived, and aside from her extravagance, never did anything improper.
At the private school, Zhenzhen befriended a classmate, a boy a year older than her named Yang Shenglin, the son of Yang Yu, owner of Mussel Tower across from Suitable Treasure Tower. This boy was clever and excelled in calligraphy and painting. Though their temperaments were somewhat compatible, occasional disagreements arose, but children’s joys and sorrows shift quickly, and they soon made up.
Mussel Tower had been operating in Pujiang for three generations, with roots far deeper than Suitable Treasure Tower. However, since Wu Qiuniang’s arrival, Mussel Tower had lost a significant portion of its business to Suitable Treasure Tower. Yang Yu was initially displeased to see his son befriending Wu Qiuniang’s daughter, but his wife, Zheng Shi, advised him, “Wu Qiuniang has only one daughter, and her assets will eventually go to her. Since our son and Wu Zhenzhen get along so well, why not arrange their marriage? That way, Suitable Treasure Tower will ultimately fall into our son’s hands.”
Yang Yu thought it over and found the reasoning sound. Delighted, he hired a matchmaker to propose the marriage.
Mussel Tower and Suitable Treasure Tower had been rivals for years, openly and covertly competing. Pu Bo had always disliked Yang Yu’s ways and, upon learning that he had sent a matchmaker to propose to Zhenzhen, nearly drove the messenger out on the spot. Unexpectedly, Wu Qiuniang stopped him.Wu Qiuniang received the Yang family's matchmaker with considerable courtesy and, without much deliberation, agreed to the marriage proposal within a few days. Pu Bo was heartbroken and said, "I've watched Zhenzhen grow up with my own eyes, just like my own daughter. I've always hoped to find her a scholar, so that in the future, when her husband achieves success in the imperial examinations and earns honors for his family, our Zhenzhen could also become a titled lady. Although Yang Shenglin comes from a well-off family, in the end, he is merely the son of merchants and cooks..."
Upon hearing this, Wu Qiuniang calmly glanced at him and said, "Merchants and cooks? Zhenzhen also comes from a family of merchants and cooks. Isn't this a well-matched marriage?"
Pu Bo was momentarily speechless.
Qiu Niang continued, "Just as you think, merchants and cooks are often looked down upon by society, and respectable families are unwilling to marry into such households. Even if Zhenzhen marries a scholar, and her husband later becomes an official, there is no guarantee that he won't regret her background. If someone stirs up trouble, it could lead to discord between husband and wife, or even separation. It's not entirely impossible. It might be better for her to marry someone of equal standing now, so that in future arguments, she won't be at a disadvantage compared to her husband."
Pu Bo had no response and knew that Qiu Niang had made up her mind, leaving no room for persuasion. He had no choice but to let the matter rest. Thus, the Yang family proceeded with the formalities of asking for the bride's name, performing the betrothal rites, and setting the wedding date.
Mingzhou was often frequented by merchant ships from Goryeo and Japan. Qiu Niang would visit once or twice a year to purchase rare medicines and ingredients. With her daughter's marriage settled, Qiu Niang added the trip to Mingzhou to her itinerary, carefully listing the items she intended to purchase and arranging all matters at the shop. She then set off for Mingzhou with Pu Bo.
During this time, Yang Shenglin, following his father's orders, went to the capital, Lin'an, to visit relatives. Unexpectedly, he encountered Xiangye, who had been invited by a wealthy family in Lin'an to oversee a banquet.
Upon returning to Pujiang, Xiangye vividly recounted to Zhenzhen the encounter with Yang Shenglin: "Young Master Yang was dressed in a green robe and black leather shoes, looking like a newly presented scholar. But he was waving a Goryeo folding fan and had his hair slicked with the fashionable osmanthus-scented oil from Lin'an, making him appear rather frivolous. When he saw me, he greeted me with a smile. I asked him where he came from, and he said, 'I just came from watching a cuju match at Qiyun Club.' I observed his attire, which didn't seem like something one would wear to a sports field. Besides the hair oil, he also smelled strongly of perfume, like the kind women use. So I asked, 'How did you come away from watching a game smelling of cosmetics?' Without missing a beat, he replied, 'I was watching women's cuju.'"
Upon hearing this, the female disciples of Suitable Treasure Tower stifled their laughter while stealing glances at Zhenzhen to gauge her reaction. Zhenzhen, however, remained calm and unperturbed, merely smiling slightly and saying, "Hmm, I'll go take a look at this women's cuju as well."
Zhenzhen set off for Lin'an with Yuzan and three or four maids and servants. The day after arriving, she learned that Yang Shenglin had hired a painted pleasure boat and invited several courtesans to cruise West Lake. Zhenzhen and Yuzan, along with the others, went to the lakeside intending to take a boat onto the lake. However, the weather was clear and beautiful that day, and West Lake was crowded with tourists. All the boats had been rented out, leaving only one small painted pleasure boat still moored at the shore. The boat owner was squatting at the bow, dozing off, and didn't seem to be waiting for customers.Zhenzhen saw that although the boat was not large and its style was rather old-fashioned, it was still clean and elegant. She stepped forward intending to wake the boatman, but a passerby stopped her, warning, "This boat cannot be rented. Previously in Lin'an, a famous courtesan fell in love with a scholar. The scholar's parents forbade them from meeting, and the courtesan's madam would not allow her to buy her freedom. So the two agreed to take a boat on West Lake. When the boat reached the middle of the lake, they embraced and drowned together... That day, they were on this very boat. Since then, few have dared to ride it."
Zhenzhen pondered briefly, then smiled and thanked the passerby. Nevertheless, she proceeded to wake the boatman and asked him the price for renting the boat for a day.
The boatman, in his fifties, dark-skinned and thin, looked at her drowsily and quoted a price listlessly, "Two hundred coins."
Zhenzhen said, "I'll give you a thousand coins to rent the boat for five days."
The boatman immediately jumped up in surprise, never expecting that someone would actually rent this boat, let alone without bargaining and for five days. Beaming with joy, he nodded repeatedly, accepted the offer, and ferried Zhenzhen and her companions onto the lake.
The painted boat drifted into the lake, meeting Yang Shenglin's vessel near the Broken Bridge. Yang Shenglin stood at the bow, embracing a beauty while admiring the gentle ripples on the lake. Behind him, several other beauties played various string and wind instruments, their music lingering in the air.
As soon as Yang Shenglin saw Zhenzhen, his smile froze. He quickly released the beauty, then immediately put on a sincere expression of pleasant surprise and warmly invited Zhenzhen to board his boat for a chat.
Zhenzhen did not decline either, gracefully stepping onto his boat. Smiling at the beauties, she said, "You sisters must be the female captains of the Qiyun Society."
The Qiyun Society was a nationwide association of artists skilled in cuju (ancient Chinese football), with branches everywhere, especially flourishing in Lin'an. Members were ranked according to their ball skills, with the highest rank called "captain."
Upon hearing her words, the beauties only smiled awkwardly, not daring to reply. Yang Shenglin rushed forward with an apologetic smile and said, "Indeed, they just finished a match this morning. Seeing how hard they worked, I invited them for a boat ride on the lake. Later, they still need to return to practice."
"If they just finished playing, they must have brought the ball along. Where is it?" Zhenzhen asked calmly.
Yang Shenglin pretended to look around, "Huh? It was just here a moment ago. How did it disappear..."
"Look, it's over there," Zhenzhen pointed to the lake surface.
Yang Shenglin followed her gesture, but unexpectedly, Zhenzhen lifted her foot from behind him and abruptly kicked him into the water.
Yang Shenglin, flailing in the water, struggled and shouted for help. The beauties were horrified, rushing to the side of the boat to watch, but they were all at a loss and did not attempt to rescue him.
Zhenzhen waited calmly for a moment before ordering a servant to jump into the lake and drag Yang Shenglin back onto the boat.
The beauties on the boat became even more afraid to move. Zhenzhen smiled and gestured toward Yang Shenglin, saying, "This big, wet fish is likely to spoil your sisters' enjoyment of the lake. Why not come to my boat instead? We can still play music and sing, making the most of this beautiful day."
The beauties remained silent, and no one responded. Zhenzhen added, "I certainly won't treat you sisters poorly. Whatever Yang Lang gave you as gifts, I'll give you double."
Some showed slight interest, but still no one spoke. Zhenzhen chuckled, "Triple."
Immediately, someone spoke up, "The young lady's painted boat is elegant. I would love to go and admire it."
The other beauties quickly chimed in, eagerly grabbing their instruments and heading to Zhenzhen's boat.The beauties, seeing that Zhenzhen remained amiable toward them, also set their minds at ease and resumed playing their sheng and pipa. Seized by a sudden inspiration, Zhenzhen picked up a ruan and, facing the vast expanse of emerald waves, listening to the orioles among the willow waves, began to sing "Moon over the West River."
The lyrics were something she had heard from a guest who once passed by the Suitable Treasure Tower. That man was dressed as a scholar, with gentle and refined features, slender and handsome, his every movement composed and unhurried. When he sang, his tone carried a sense of calm detachment, as if he had weathered countless storms. Among the lyrics, she particularly liked this line: "Now accustomed to the ways of the world, my heart finds ease wherever it goes."
She didn’t fully understand the meaning of these words, but she would recall them whenever she was in a good mood. At this moment, she felt inexplicably cheerful. Having vented her anger at her fiancé who sought pleasure elsewhere, there was no lingering resentment or fury in her heart. The orioles still sang among the emerald willows, the egrets continued to gaze toward the azure sky, and above the fragrant isle, the clouds forever drifted and unfurled. Was there any reason not to be happy? She wanted to share her joy with everyone around her, even including those courtesans whom she seemed to have reason to dislike.
To the visitors of West Lake, this was a wondrous and delightful sight: a charming young woman dressed in men’s clothing sang heroic lyrics in a tender voice, while the boat was filled with beauties like clouds, ethereal music drifting through the air. The painted boat rowed deep into the blossoms, and amidst the music and songs, they returned as if intoxicated.
Once the outing concluded, Zhenzhen disembarked and headed toward the inn. The boatman followed closely behind and inquired, "Just now, a visitor asked if he could rent my boat for an excursion. I told him the boat had already been chartered by you, esteemed guest, and whether it could be used would be up to you."
"He may board the boat. Charge by the person, three hundred coins per person for a round trip." Zhenzhen walked ahead without looking back, laughing, "Yuzan, collect the payment."
In the following days, Zhenzhen did not board the boat herself but hired several singing girls to continue performing music and songs in the painted boat. Visitors flocked to the boat, completely forgetting the incident of the famous courtesan’s tragic love.
Five days later, Zhenzhen returned to Pujiang with a large sum of money she had incidentally earned from this trip. The boatman of the painted boat came to see her off. Seeing his simple and honest nature, Zhenzhen gave him an additional thirty percent of the earnings, patting his shoulder and saying, "Rest assured, your boat will be in high demand now."
The boatman expressed his gratitude profusely, raising his hands to his forehead and bowing repeatedly. He watched Zhenzhen until her figure disappeared from sight before turning to leave.
(To be continued)
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