Chapter 29: Jialan Rain (Part 1)

He parked the pushcart under the low shed beside the small building, then helped move some items inside. As he stepped into the hall, Ning Yi couldn't help but recall a phrase: "entering the inner chambers." It felt rather wicked, and he chuckled.

While they chatted for a while every morning, this was Ning Yi's first time inside the small building.

The small building stood by the river, surrounded by just a few trees. It was quiet and elegant, without many other structures nearby. While likely cool in summer, it felt rather cold in winter. Even though the outer walls had been thickened for the season and any drafts sealed with thick curtains, the owner had been out for over half a day. Stepping inside, it actually felt colder than outside. The living room was sparsely furnished but appeared refined. Nie Yunzhu seemed a little flustered by a guest's arrival, bustling about to find things. But the tea was cold, and there was nothing to eat. Finally, she simply invited Ning Yi to sit, then carried a small charcoal stove outside to transfer the embers from the brazier on the pushcart.

She placed the small charcoal stove in the center of the room, not far from Ning Yi, then set a teapot on top. "Uh... it'll be ready soon," she mumbled.

Ning Yi chuckled, his amusement causing Nie Yunzhu a touch of embarrassment. Then she remembered: "The salted duck eggs..." She hurried into an inner room and brought out two jars, placing them on the table in front of Ning Yi. "Anyway... they were made exactly as Young Master Ning told me. I don't know if they're edible."

When she was preparing her pancake stall, she had planned to sell tea eggs and salted eggs. Her mention of it reminded Ning Yi of something, and he commissioned her to make these. Ning Yi provided the funds. The production method was similar to salted eggs, but it used ingredients like lime water and camphor ash, and less salt than typical salted eggs. He said it was an experiment and asked her to follow the proportions precisely. More than twenty days had passed, so the results should be evident.

Nie Yunzhu had some interest in these oddly preserved salted duck eggs, but at that moment, she was more interested in the music Ning Yi had mentioned on the way. She disliked using her beauty to entertain, but she didn't dislike the artistic crafts themselves. What kind of songs would a person who could compose a masterpiece like "Shui Diao Ge Tou" hum or enjoy daily? Though she usually didn't ask, she was naturally curious. She now brought Ning Yi a basin of clear water and a porcelain bowl, then moved her family's ancient guqin over, along with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, and sat down silently across the round table.

Ning Yi took a duck egg from the jar and dropped it into the water to wash. Seeing her expression, he couldn't help but smile. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll sing for you, and you can copy down the lyrics. But no laughing if I sing badly. This song is called 'Galan Rain'... Yes, that 'Galan'..."

As snowflakes drifted down, lines of the song faintly emerged from the small building.

"Sounds of worldly clamor, fading to the empty gate,Breaking the hearts of mortals,Dreams turn cold, a lifetime of turning and tossing,How many more ledgers of love debt?If you acquiesce, a bitter wait through life and death,Waiting bitterly, circle after circle, of the years’ rings…The pagoda, how many layers broken,Whose soul shattered?Pain rushes straight, a flickering lamp,The collapsing mountain gate.Allow me to wait again, for history to turn,For the wine to mellow, for you to play, a guqin tune…"

Then, a string resonated, soft and low…

***

At the Su Residence, the examination in the Library Pavilion had concluded, and Ning Yi was nowhere to be seen. After a brief conversation with Old Master Su and others, Song Mao returned to the courtyard arranged for him at the Su Residence, instructing his accompanying steward, Song Kai, to prepare his belongings and gifts for his departure.

For him, this trip to Jiangning was perhaps a bit tight, especially the first few days, as there were specific protocols for who to visit first and who to visit next. As he was pondering these matters, Song Kai re-entered: "Master, Young Master Wenxing requests an audience."

Song Mao nodded: "Let him in."

Su Wenxing was Su Zhongkan’s son, ranking fifth among the third generation male members of the Su family – a ranking that included not only the three Su family branches but also numerous cousins. Su Wenxing was born to Su Zhongkan’s primary wife, and Song Mao, who had doted on him since childhood, was his maternal cousin-uncle. Song Mao had already anticipated his visit.

The notion that the Su family's third generation lacked capable individuals was widely spread, yet purely based on appearance, twenty-three-year-old Su Wenxing was quite presentable. After entering, he first saluted and greeted Song Mao. Song Mao smiled and spoke before him: "Wenxing, is the glory-seeking schemer you mentioned this morning truly this Ning Yi, Ning Liheng?"

"Cousin-uncle, it truly is him. We've already investigated his background. For twenty years, he was an obscure bookworm who knew nothing. If he hadn't fallen into utter destitution, why would he have become a live-in son-in-law for our Su family..."

Song Mao smiled: "I don't think so."

"As for the 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' from the Mid-Autumn Festival, he himself told Grandfather and Father that a Taoist priest recited it. Grandfather, however, strictly forbade anyone from spreading it, so we can't openly discuss the matter outside..."

Su Wenxing felt frustrated, and now, in front of his doting cousin-uncle, he spoke freely and incessantly. Song Mao smiled and waved a hand, then repeated the gesture twice: "Whether this matter is credible or not is still open to question. If he truly is seeking fame and stealing others' poetry, your cousin-uncle will certainly put him to the test..."

"But cousin-uncle, you praised him so highly today in the Library Pavilion, if..."

Su Wenxing had already told Song Mao about Ning Yi that morning. Earlier, at the Library Pavilion, it was one thing when Song Mao initially didn't know Ning Yi was the children's teacher. But even after learning, he continued to praise him effusively, which frustrated Su Wenxing. He feared it would simply add to Ning Yi's reputation. Although Ning Yi was merely a live-in son-in-law, his fame would ultimately become leverage for Su Tan'er’s side.

Watching his nephew speak of this, Song Mao secretly shook his head, then patted his shoulder. "Wenxing," he said, "you’re taking over your father’s business. Your uncle told you long ago that you need to have a longer vision. Don’t be resentful if others gain a little fame. In the Su family, even though your sister Tan’er’s husband is merely a live-in son-in-law, your grandfather won’t let anyone harm him. If he truly has talent, and you can’t immediately contend with him, why not make use of the opportunity, cultivate a good relationship, and discover his weaknesses? And if he’s merely seeking fame, he’ll inevitably fall someday. The higher you lift him, the harder he’ll fall. So, before he falls, why not praise him more?"

Song Mao, with his square face, appeared dignified and earnest. After speaking these words in a sincere tone, he paused. "I still have matters to attend to outside right now. Wenxing, think about these words and consider them carefully. In the evening, go see your father and mother... Well, I'm off."

"I... I understand..." Su Wenxing bowed respectfully. "It was my nephew who thought incorrectly just now..."

Song Mao smiled, then pushed the door open and exited.

***

As Song Mao exited the courtyard, another figure was walking along a path at the other end of the Su Residence, heading towards the side gate.

Xi Junyu, who had arrived with Manager Luo, did not leave with him. After news arrived from the Library Pavilion, he chatted with a few people for a while before excusing himself. The Su Residence courtyards were vast, and it wasn't his first visit, so he was quite familiar with them. He walked around, and from that angle, he could clearly see the two small buildings where Su Tan'er and Ning Yi resided.

As heavy snow fell, he stood there, deep in thought for a while, before finally turning to leave. He walked through several snow-covered courtyards, and as he neared the side gate, he heard a voice from nearby: "Manager Xi, what a coincidence!"

In fact, such "coincidences" were nothing new. Xi Junyu was somewhat irritated today. He frowned slightly, but still cupped his hands in greeting towards the other person: "Seventh Young Master, what a coincidence."

Approaching was a lavishly dressed young master, holding a folding fan. He wasn't old, and his face was somewhat naive yet pleasing. Su Wenji, from the Su family’s Third Branch, smiled as he came over. "Manager Xi, you must be tired from your work. Since it’s such a coincidence, my father is hosting a banquet at Yinchun Tower today. I wonder if Manager Xi..."

"Heh heh, thank you, Seventh Young Master and Third Master, for your kind invitation. However, Junyu still has important matters to attend to, so I'm afraid I won't have time for the banquet."

"Manager Xi, please don't say that every time..."

"And Seventh Young Master, aren't you always saying the same thing?"

"Alright then." Su Wenji straightened his expression. "Manager Xi, I know you like Second Sister."

Xi Junyu paused, then smiled faintly. "Now that's a bit of a new approach."

"Manager Xi, why do you refuse to admit it? Anyone discerning in the family can see such things... Frankly, we all initially thought Second Sister would choose you. That day, Father even said: 'It would be troublesome if Xi Junyu were chosen.' There's no need to hide this from you now. Everyone knows your capabilities; half of Second Sister's businesses were propped up by you. Yet, in the end, neither Second Sister, nor Eldest Uncle, nor Grandfather chose you."

Since he had already started, Su Wenji waved the unopened folding fan in his hand and rambled on: "No one knows why they chose that Ning Yi. Don’t say I’m speaking harshly; I’m deliberately trying to sow discord. You’d think these things even if I didn’t stir trouble. And just now, even though Ning Yi wasn't present, he stole the show, did you know? Grandfather will value him more and more, and he's just a live-in son-in-law..."

Xi Junyu listened, then smiled faintly. "Seventh Young Master, I know they haven't consummated their marriage yet. To this day, they sleep in separate rooms, seemingly husband and wife but in truth, strangers. As long as they haven’t consummated, this live-in son-in-law is nothing but a joke."

"They will consummate eventually! You and I both know my Second Sister's character. Since she has already started to get along with Ning Yi, she will eventually consummate. She was well brought up from a young age; she would never act unchastely. Since she has already accepted..."

"Ha, Seventh Young Master, you discuss your sister so unscrupulously..."

Xi Junyu shook his head and walked on. Behind him, Su Wenji gritted his teeth. "Why does the conversation always go like this! Xi Junyu, you know perfectly well that Sister will accept him sooner or later. In your current state, it’s simply impossible..."

Before he finished speaking, Xi Junyu suddenly turned around and strode over. His tall, slender physique already made him appear imposing, and after years of battling in the business world, he walked quickly with a grim face. Amidst the swirling wind and snow, his aura was indeed somewhat intimidating. He stared at Su Wenji for a while, then gave a cold smile and shook his head. "Seventh Young Master, don't be naive..."

Xi Junyu frequently entered the residence for discussions, and Su Wenji often came to wait for him. In their previous "coincidental" meetings, they always exchanged pleasantries. Su Wenji had never seen such an expression on Xi Junyu, who was usually so composed, calm, and self-assured.

At that moment, he paused, slightly taken aback, then began, "Manager... Manager Xi, if you come to our side, you will immediately become the chief manager for this branch of the Su Residence. All resources of the Su family’s Third Branch will be at your disposal. Whatever demands you have, as long as we can meet them, we will naturally agree. If you can manage these resources well, Second Sister is ultimately just a woman. In the future, if she fails to take over the main household, if you want to obtain her, there will naturally be many ways... My father says you are a clever person, and everyone knows you are clever. We are sincere, so there's no need for superfluous words. Just think about it yourself..."