Chapter 234: Hangzhou

**Episode 2: The Undercurrents**

The water shimmered, and the night air was cool. Unidentified insects chirped among the leaves and grasses along the bank. It was late, and the people on the boat were preparing for bed. A soft, warm yellow light glowed from the windows on the second floor of the pleasure boat, where two women had returned to their room and were engaged in a pre-sleep conversation.

"So that's how Brother-in-law... made a name for himself?"

"That's roughly it... He only composed a few poems and verses because he couldn't refuse. He's a bit dismissive when others call him Jinling's foremost scholar... He has quite an odd personality."

"Well, extraordinary people have always accomplished extraordinary things... But is Brother-in-law truly uninterested in the imperial examinations?"

"He said he isn't, but I don't really feel it's my place to ask too many questions about that..."

"How did you and Brother-in-law meet, sister?"

"Only after we got married."

"How could that be...?"

Under the dim light, their fragmented words floated softly. It was late, and Su Tan'er and Lou Shuwang spoke in hushed tones, discussing matters concerning Ning Yi.

It was impossible that no one at the pleasure boat banquet that night had heard the name Ning Liheng. Even with underdeveloped information networks, the literati circle in the country was still relatively small. After a few poems and verses circulated among the courtesans, Ning Liheng's name would inevitably be heard a few times by everyone present. Scholars of that era valued extensive knowledge and strong memory, so after Ning Yi briefly introduced himself, it was inevitable that some would find his name somewhat familiar.

However, preconceived notions were also very strong. With Lin Tingzhi and Lou Shuwang as a reference—a couple where the husband had married into the wife's family—it was easy for people to make various associations. On the other hand, Lin Tingzhi, eager to show off, inevitably hinted at Lou Shuwang's family background, suggesting that she was an elegant and distinguished married woman who had been captivated by his poetry and admired him. He implied that since Miss Lou's friend (Su Tan'er) was of a similar status, if they wished to make an impression, they could naturally try to win her favor. In this way, everyone's attention was drawn to Su Tan'er, and her husband, Ning Yi, was subconsciously overlooked.

In most cases, the low status of a matrilocal husband was not merely a spoken word; it was a deeply ingrained reality. In most households where a man married in, even if the wife was openly promiscuous, the husband dared not voice his anger, let alone act on it. These men were essentially treated like live-in laborers or household servants. Occasionally, men with more spirit, who had been forced into such marriages, would, if they couldn't bear the humiliation, resort to extreme measures, leading to news of them murdering their wives and in-laws.

Such extreme cases were rare. While the Wu Dynasty often spoke of the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues," the underlying foundation was inherently unequal. When everyone around them considered the couple unequal, the emotional bond between a matrilocal husband and his wife naturally struggled to develop. If the wife harbored contempt for her husband from the start, and the husband showed little assertiveness, over time, dissatisfaction would build. In such circumstances, it was not uncommon for the wife to seek lovers outside the marriage.

For someone like Lou Shuwang, with her family background, it wasn't unusual for her to have discreet or overt relationships with scholars and talented individuals. She was young, beautiful, wealthy, and graceful. Any scholar who associated with her would only gain, never lose. In that era, it was considered refined for prominent families to exchange concubines. And if she flirted with a married man, word spreading within their small circle would simply be seen as a romantic escapade proving her charm. The Jiangnan region, known for its romanticism, had always produced poems and songs celebrating such affairs.

Thus, after the initial introductions, only one or two people felt a flicker of doubt. Most had no interest in engaging with a matrilocal son-in-law, so no questions were asked at the time. After Ning Yi and Su Tan'er departed, and the formal banquet dispersed, some people then sidled up to Lin Tingzhi to inquire about the couple's background, or asked Su Wending and Su Wenfang about their family's standing in Jinling. After some discussion, someone finally remarked, "That Ning Liheng just now seems to share the same name as the author of 'Prelude to Water Tune'."

Miss Qing'er from the pleasure boat also smiled and said, "I was just thinking the same thing! What a coincidence that they're both from Jinling." As someone who made a living from such interactions, she was more sensitive to these details. However, she didn't believe that a merchant family's live-in son-in-law could be a great poet. She only asked the two from the Su family, "Young Master Wending, Young Master Wenfang, have you two ever met that Young Master Ning in Jinling?"

Su Wending replied, "Isn't that my brother-in-law who was just here?"

"Oh, I meant the Young Master Ning who wrote 'Prelude to Water Tune' and 'Green Jade Pedestal'! For a while, Qing'er sang those songs every day and longed to meet such a brilliant author. Even if I can't meet him now, if Young Master Wending and Young Master Wenfang see him, it would be wonderful if you could tell Qing'er about him."

Su Wending and Su Wenfang looked blankly at her. "Yes, that's... our brother-in-law."

For a moment, the expressions of everyone on the boat were a sight to behold, mostly dumbfounded, followed by whispers. Some, like Lou Shuwang, who hadn't paid much attention initially, only came to ask questions once they realized what was happening. In truth, Su Wending and Su Wenfang had been a little mischievous. They had expected that with so many scholars present, as soon as their brother-in-law gave his name, people would exclaim in admiration, and they would share in the glory. But to their surprise, that group had shown no reaction whatsoever. Only now had their moment finally arrived. After witnessing the satisfying scene, they bid farewell with innocent expressions, intending to go home and boast to their sister and brother-in-law.

As for Lou Shuwang and Lin Tingzhi, they also returned shortly after. Lin Tingzhi found it awkward to ask Ning Yi too many questions, but Lou Shuwang was different. She wasn't particularly interested in the poetry itself; what truly attracted her was the atmosphere of refined culture intertwined with bustling recognition that accompanied it. Things like the annual literary gatherings in Suzhou and Hangzhou, where people lauded and praised, where scholars recited poems and composed essays, and the attention garnered when the crowd applauded...

She was an intelligent woman; with a little study, she could discern the quality of poetry. However, unlike Su Tan'er, who, besides her business pursuits, yearned to immerse herself in literature itself—not just to distinguish good from bad, but to become an elegant person like those scholars, even if she couldn't compose poetry, at least to fully appreciate its artistic realm. Yet, burdened by responsibilities and limited by her status as a woman, her talent in this area was insufficient. Sometimes, feeling she was tainted by the smell of money and lacked refinement, she looked up to those literati.

Lou Shuwang, on the other hand, was more interested in the outward appearance that poetry could confer. Whether she was genuinely refined didn't matter as long as others perceived her as such or as someone who appreciated refinement. She wasn't sure how truly brilliant Jinling's foremost scholar was, but hearing that title naturally brought to mind similar titles like Hangzhou's foremost scholar or Suzhou-Hangzhou's foremost scholar. People typically given such titles, whether rich or poor, were always the center of conversation when out in public. They might win top honors at a literary gathering or be lauded and valued by great Confucian scholars and high-ranking officials on certain occasions. Some passed the imperial examinations and soon became local officials; even if their examination results were unsatisfactory, they remained the focal point of attention in the Suzhou-Hangzhou region.

Lou Shuwang could only imagine what Jinling's foremost scholar might be like based on these impressions. However, she simply could not reconcile this image with Ning Yi's status as a matrilocal husband. Her doubts persisted throughout the journey back, yet she felt it improper to ask directly upon their return. Fortunately, she was skilled in conversation; she brought up the topic after chatting for a while, speaking in a calm and detached tone.

Ning Yi, however, had little desire to discuss these matters; his literary talent was, after all, feigned. Ning Yi bore no ill will about this. If it was to amuse his wife and family, including Su Tan'er, Xiaochan, and Nie Yunzhu, by feigning to be a great literatus and making them proud, he would do so casually. But to boast too much in front of outsiders like Lou Shuwang felt unnecessary given his current mindset and cultivation. He simply stated that his literary talent was modest and that others were too complimentary.

Lou Shuwang could only assume that she had been too disrespectful to her brother-in-law in the past two days, and that he was somewhat displeased. So, she waited until late into the night before bringing it up with Su Tan'er.

However, after this half-night of conversation, even after Su Tan'er had fallen into a deep sleep, Lou Shuwang still harbored some doubts. She couldn't understand why such a great talent would marry Su Tan'er, nor why Ning Yi had such a peculiar personality. When she woke up the next morning and saw Ning Yi practicing martial arts on the deck, she could only conclude that he was a truly unconventional scholar, skilled in all "Six Arts" and admiring the chivalrous spirit. As for Lin Tingzhi, his expression was complex and hard to describe when he saw Ning Yi practicing martial arts again, as if he wanted to speak but refrained.

The pleasure boat set sail again early that morning. The waterway from Jiaxing to Hangzhou was still nearly two hundred li. But with favorable winds and currents, even if the boat wasn't particularly fast, by that afternoon, the waterway had become noticeably busier. Villages and pedestrians on both sides of the canal increased significantly. Occasionally, gardens and estates nestled amidst nearby tea plantations and forests appeared, signaling that Hangzhou was approaching.

Even though Hangzhou was not yet the nation's capital at this time, as one end of the Grand Canal, it had historically been an extremely prosperous metropolis. As dusk approached, the city's buildings spread out layer upon layer before their eyes. In the distance were bustling cargo docks, no less impressive than those in Jinling.

No further complications arose after this. Lou Shuwang had her own servants unload their goods from the boat. On the other hand, she eagerly invited Ning Yi and his wife to stay temporarily at the Lou family's residence, as the group had traveled a long distance and likely hadn't found specific accommodations yet. However, although their future business might depend on the Lou family, who were local powerhouses, Su Tan'er shook her head and politely declined. In fact, the Su family owned some properties in Hangzhou, though they were just two small, casually opened shops. As for accommodation, she had arranged for someone to rent a small courtyard house even before they set out for the south. For the permanent residence they intended to settle into, they planned to search for it over the next few days while sightseeing.

With so many people from the Su family, they naturally intended to expand their business, and moving straight into someone else's home wasn't necessarily a good sign. Lou Shuwang spoke briefly and then didn't press the issue further. Her curiosity about Ning Yi was genuine, but it remained just that—curiosity. The next day, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er visited the Lou family mansion, had a meal, and met Lou Jinlin, the current head of the Lou family.

This man was slightly older than Su Boyong, likely in his early fifties, with a mix of black and white in his beard and hair. He possessed excellent spirits, an imposing and dignified appearance, and an extremely sharp gaze. When he settled down, his aura was overwhelming. From his appearance and manner of speaking, he was clearly a true titan of the business world. The Lou family's heritage ran deeper than the Su family's; though still merchants, they had developed a truly stable family tradition. Lou Jinlin must have grown up in luxury, yet he was no mediocrity. He possessed talent and cunning, and it was only through fierce competition in the business world that he could have cultivated such an aristocratic and imposing presence.

Towards Su Tan'er, he clearly adopted a cordial demeanor appropriate for a senior addressing a junior, his attitude relatively amiable. However, towards Ning Yi, the Lou family head displayed a degree of suspicion and even hostility. During the meal, he asked several rather pointed questions, then narrowed his eyes, gazing at Ning Yi with a half-smile, almost like a lion eyeing its prey.

Ning Yi largely understood the source of his hostility. From their conversation during the visit, it was clear that Lou Shuwang had already informed her father of the events during their journey. Lou Jinlin, hearing his daughter's account, likely felt that Ning Yi and his wife had "played the pig to eat the tiger" at his daughter's expense. He might not have had many intentions of probing Su Tan'er, but after learning Ning Yi's identity, he instinctively wanted to gauge his true capabilities.

Unlike Lou Jinlin, Ning Yi had built his empire from scratch in his previous life, steadily rising to a point where he had encountered many business tycoons with truly deep-rooted family backgrounds. When these individuals scrutinize juniors with caution or a testing demeanor, they often have precisely this kind of gaze. It wasn't that young people would genuinely be afraid of such a gaze, but under such scrutiny and imposing presence, ordinary people would inevitably lose their composure. Some, mindful of the other's power, would subconsciously show weakness. Others might stubbornly hold their ground or even adopt a somewhat arrogant attitude, but in reality, they were still disrupting their own strategy. To an experienced observer, it would be easy to gauge such a person's depth. This wasn't something that could be learned as knowledge, but rather wisdom accumulated through long-term observation of people.

Under Lou Jinlin's penetrating stare, Ning Yi couldn't help but inwardly chuckle, almost feeling a sense of nostalgia. In his past life, those who had looked at him in a similar way were eventually surpassed by him, one by one. Among them were both rivals and partners. He had started from nothing, fighting his way up. Although he had later become more composed and restrained, his aura remained sharp when he was serious. His parting words with Tang Mingyuan had been similar; at his core, he felt only emotion and weariness, unable to cultivate that lion-like languor.

At this moment, Lou Jinlin naturally couldn't exert much pressure on him. He smiled as he observed Lou Jinlin's expression several times, then merely adopted a casual conversational posture, answering as usual, without any alteration to his demeanor. As for how Lou Jinlin would judge him afterward, that was none of his concern.

Su Tan'er, however, noticed Lou Jinlin's attitude. On the way home after the visit, she looked somewhat annoyed. "This family! We visited them with good intentions, and they treated us with such expressions! Husband, didn't you... feel anything?"

Su Tan'er looked at Ning Yi, asking hesitantly. During the recent conversation, Lou Jinlin had inquired about Ning Yi's background, asking several rather pointed questions, and his expression was quite intimidating. Yet Ning Yi had answered casually while eating. Two questions, likely concerning their marital relationship that he didn't wish to answer, he had simply turned into counter-questions. In such a situation, even she might not have been able to act so naturally. He had actually managed to turn the tables on the old man, who had a strong home-field advantage, making himself the host, and then casually handing the advantage back.

Ning Yi merely shook his head, his tone calm: "His daughter was somewhat outmaneuvered, so his reaction isn't surprising. This uncle is still very formidable. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to make an enemy of him."

Tan'er nodded, "Understood." She was naturally astute in business and social interactions, and compared to Ning Yi, she wasn't necessarily inferior—at least from their current interactions, it was difficult to discern any significant difference in skill, as she herself was a highly talented and accomplished merchant. Yet, upon hearing Ning Yi's casual, almost cautionary words, she felt no strong objection. She simply nodded obediently, at peace with his advice.

Even so, no one would consider her inferior to Ning Yi. As the sun set, they appeared in the carriage's fading light as simply a young, harmonious couple, moving in sync. Ning Yi thought about it and smiled, and then she smiled too.

The carriage drove through streets that were beautiful yet unfamiliar to them. They were now in the streets of Hangzhou...

This visit was limited to meeting Lou Jinlin, Lou Shuwang, and her husband; Lou Shuwang's two elder brothers were not at home. It was a courtesy visit, without too much ulterior motive, and it was unlikely to leave a deep impression on either side. Although Lou Shuwang's husband was also a scholar, his status as a live-in son-in-law meant he kept a very low profile within the Lou family. Of course, someone of his age would naturally remain modest in front of a family head like Lou Jinlin.

The day after the visit, the sky began to rain. Lou Shuwang visited the small courtyard where the Su family was temporarily staying. She had intended to play the host and show them around Hangzhou, but the heavy rain prevented it. Another day passed, the heavy rain continued, and Lou Shuwang went to attend to her family's business matters. She did not return even after the weather cleared, instead sending a servant from her household to guide Su Tan'er and the others to view some courtyards and storefronts, explaining that her mistress had urgent matters to attend to and could not come, asking for their understanding.

They had just settled in Hangzhou. The Su family already owned a few properties there, and the Wu family had also ceded several storefronts and real estate. These were initially too spread out, and formally taking over and organizing them at this point was quite troublesome. Su Tan'er had intended to come for leisure with her husband, but now various trivial matters were mixed in. In Ning Yi's view, these days were quite interesting nonetheless.

A few days later, they formally selected a courtyard house within the city, purchased it directly, and then began planning its layout and decoration. This residence, located near Taiping Lane, was expensive, but Ning Yi insisted on buying it. According to his calculations, if the capital were to move south in the future, the Imperial City, nine li in circumference, would be built not far from there. At that time, this area, whether for sale or personal residence, would become incredibly valuable. He had no intention of competing with high-ranking officials or nobles for land; as long as he had some connections, he could sell it for a significant profit.

The streets near this residence were quite bustling, making business easy, while the adjacent area was residential, suitable for living. At the street corner, there was a martial arts school of moderate size, where sounds of practice echoed all day long. Having lived in a large metropolis for a long time, Ning Yi naturally didn't find the noise bothersome; instead, he found it rather interesting. He then considered that since he had nothing else to do, he might as well join the martial arts school to get some practical combat experience.

He was somewhat drawn to esoteric concepts like inner force, having a slight yearning for martial arts. It was more an exploration of mysterious phenomena he didn't understand. He wasn't particularly keen on actual combat and didn't believe he would truly become some bloodthirsty pugilist in the future. It was just that after experiencing a few incidents and now having free time, he felt that practicing might be beneficial.

Of course, after he casually brought up the idea, he was met with resolute opposition from his usually obedient wife and maids...