Chapter 96: 算

The Son-in-Law

"Ah Gui, what do you think of this booklet, and of Ning Liheng, now?"It was almost dusk. As the consort's manor's palanquin passed through the streets of Jiangning, Kang Xian posed the question, and Lu Ah Gui pondered it for a long time.

"Previously, it would have been difficult to make a judgment. But after seeing this booklet today, I believe Ning Liheng... he might truly be a person of exceptional worldly talent."

"I think so too..." Kang Xian sighed. "This single booklet covers a vast array of topics: how to manage, guide, and subtly influence disaster victims to ensure they operate efficiently, rather than resorting to blind suppression. This is truly the essence of humane governance. His remarks on hygiene are not baseless either. When he previously discussed the 'investigation of things,' he stated that this study requires first confirming that all facts have underlying patterns. One must systematically record similar events, then compare and deduce their inherent causes to find objective cause and effect. Nothing can be taken for granted, nor can one accept supernatural powers or chaotic spirits. The many examples he gave today regarding hygiene might well be conclusions he derived from his 'investigation of things.'"

He thought for a moment. "Tonight, I must deliberate further and consider how to present this booklet. Tomorrow, I'll discuss it with Duke Qin. The matter of disaster relief is urgent right now. Once things settle down, Ah Gui, I want you to gather all the doctors and medical officials you can. Conduct a detailed analysis, comparing the surrounding conditions when various illnesses occur—just as Liheng described—to understand the impact of hygiene and many other factors on illnesses. Record everything meticulously, basing everything on facts, not baseless assumptions."

"Yes, sir."

"After the floods, the true extent of the disaster will become apparent. Some things can be done immediately: wherever our family businesses can allocate staff, arrange for them to make observational records. This year, calamities are widespread. Duke Qin will distribute that booklet, and I will also submit it to the imperial court. Of course, some will use it, some won't, and some will merely go through the motions. Have them record the implementation details, the beginning and end of epidemics, the exact number of days, and the situation after outbreaks. Have them create what... Liheng called... the 'proportions.' If these methods can truly be confirmed to prevent epidemics, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of lives... this would be accumulating immense merit, like with the Bodhisattvas."

"Yes, sir."

"It's a pity he's unwilling to truly take action himself." Kang Xian shook his head. "I don't put much stock in theoretical discussions without practical application. As for his presenting this booklet merely to have Elder Qin adopt Nie Yunzhu as his goddaughter, to give her some backing... Haha, he possesses both scholarly refinement and a certain naivety. But tell me, Ah Gui, do you believe that?"

"Your humble servant... doesn't believe it," Lu Ah Gui replied after a moment's thought. "Although Young Master Ning's words contained some utilitarianism, the significance of such regulations is, in fact, far beyond what a mere merchant could achieve. Given his current relationship with Duke Qin and with you, Master, even for minor matters, asking you for a bit of care would be no more than a slight effort. Ordinary commercial affairs could probably be resolved if he just mentioned them to me. Young Master Ning himself is not an incompetent person. Given the weight of this current booklet... I believe that while he might have considered these things, it was probably just a pretext to express his unwillingness to enter official service."

Kang Xian laughed. "Haha, could it be that he himself doesn't regard this little booklet as very important?"

"There are indeed people of great humility. Young Master Ning is inherently humble, but he has an extremely accurate perception of things. If he views these two matters as equivalent, then it's truly perplexing. Even if he owes Duke Qin a favor, he should still understand the usefulness of this booklet. Otherwise, I don't think he would have so earnestly instructed us not to reveal his name."

"That's the point. But nevertheless, he still only wishes to remain a live-in son-in-law here in Jiangning. In the 'Weizi' chapter of the Analects, Zilu once said, 'A gentleman takes office to do what is right...' He has a desire for reclusion, yet he undertakes many tasks in his daily life. His words might sometimes be extreme, but they are not resentful. His presenting this booklet now also proves his concern for the common people. This mindset is truly somewhat perplexing."

"Concerned for the common people, yet unwilling to enter officialdom. Master, could it be that he offended some superior in the past and was treated unfairly, thus becoming disheartened with officialdom? From what I've heard, although Young Master Ning is not very old, when he speaks of political maneuvering, flattery, and schemes, he indeed seems to show some feeling."

Kang Xian nodded. "We haven't investigated thoroughly before. This time, have someone investigate carefully. If he truly offended someone... then we'll discuss it when the time comes."

"Yes, sir."

The setting sun was already magnificent in the distance. The palanquin returned to the consort's manor. As they proceeded inside, a servant announced that Prince Kang's son and daughter had arrived and were playing with the princess in the back. Kang Xian smiled and continued inside.

The term 'princess' always sounds and feels young, yet Princess Chengguo, Zhou Xuan, Kang Xian's wife, was actually fifty-four years old this year. This princess was the current Emperor's paternal aunt, and quite talented in her youth. After marrying Kang Xian, their relationship was very good; they showed mutual respect like guests. Although the princess now kept a low profile, because Kang Xian managed a large number of businesses with her, and despite not being involved in politics, she actually held considerable influence within the imperial family.

This couple was neutral in their position and wealthy. Several other wealthy and idle imperial family members nearby were also willing to be close to them. For example, Zhou Yong's children, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu, came to the manor to play today, bringing their own group of grandchildren who were running around in the garden. His graceful and noble wife, Zhou Xuan, watched them with a smile from the pavilion. Seeing him approach, she said, "My husband is back," then reached out to pour him a cup of tea. After that, the group of children also noisily came towards them.

Frankly, among these children, Kang Xian's favorite was the mature-for-her-age Zhou Pei. This girl was indeed intelligent, unmatched by his own grandchildren. As for Zhou Junwu, who was often bullied by his older sister, he was more popular with Kang Xian's own grandchildren. Zhou Yong's family truly had a pair of excellent children. No sooner had Kang Xian sat down than Zhou Pei ran over first.

"Grandpa Consort, Grandpa Consort!"

Her cries were sweet, a clear sign she wanted something. Of course, Kang Xian knew what she was asking for. This girl was very clever. A few days ago, she had devised a method for calculating and distributing relief grain, which had some quite insightful aspects. Knowing Kang Xian had capable people under him, she brought it for him to review, confidently planning to present it to 'Uncle Emperor.'

"Grandpa Consort, how is that thing... coming along?"

The little girl smiled brightly. Kang Xian smiled in response and praised her.

"...This distribution method is indeed quite thought-provoking, and it accounts for the efficiency of distribution by both increasing income and reducing expenditure. Several accountants in the manor even greatly praised Pei'er as truly a child prodigy. We only made a few minor adjustments. Regarding the distribution and allocation process between prefectures and counties, there are a few minor details Pei'er might not be entirely clear about..."

Kang Xian took out a booklet and explained it in detail. As expected, it was just a matter of a few minor details. After finishing these explanations, he then took out another booklet. "However, Grandpa also received another set of accounting and record-keeping procedures today. Its focus is different from yours, Pei'er. You are proficient in this field, so please take a look and see if this can work, and give Grandpa your opinion."

"Uh..." The beautifully dressed little county princess looked slightly puzzled. A moment later, she tilted her head and said, "Alright!"

She picked up the booklet and began to flip through it. "Further back," Kang Xian prompted, then smiled and began to chat quietly with his wife and grandchildren. Zhou Pei sat at one side of the pavilion, frowning as she turned a few pages. Her frown deepened, and she darted over to the nearby study. From the window, one could see the young girl inside, searching for paper and pens, drawing and writing, completely engrossed. Zhou Xuan watched, then turned to ask Kang Xian, "My dear, what did you show Pei'er?"

"No worries," Kang Xian said with a smile, "we'll talk about it after she comes out." He then went back to talking and playing with his grandchildren. Zhou Junwu also looked towards the study with some confusion. When the girl came out of the study, she held the booklet with a somewhat dejected expression. She had already started flipping through it from the beginning, read it once, then thought about it and read it again. After a long time, she finally closed the booklet and placed it next to Kang Xian. "Grandpa Consort, who wrote this?"

Kang Xian looked at her, pondering for a while, then said, "Originally, I shouldn't say, but... if you swear to keep it a secret, Pei'er, I will tell you. This is not a joke. You must think carefully, Pei'er. Only if you believe you can keep a secret, will I tell you."

Zhou Pei thought for a while. Soon after, she solemnly raised her right hand.

The setting sun slanted down on the eastern city wall, casting warm yellow light across the courtyard. A short while later, a sudden gasp came from the pavilion: "What? That savage?"

Little Junwu had just approached. Hearing his sister say this, he couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Savage? Sister, what did that Ning Liheng do now?" Ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, his sister had not been fond of that top scholar, referring to him as "the savage."

Zhou Pei's eyes widened. "Go away!"

"I'm a little prince, you can't just..." A group of younger siblings were watching nearby. Little Junwu decided to resist a little. Before he could finish, however, he met his sister's gaze and scurried away.

"Oh..."

For Ning Yi, the two things he gave to Elder Qin and Elder Kang were, naturally, not as simple as they seemed. While having compassion for the disaster victims and doing a good deed was certainly one reason, the primary aim was to have Elder Qin adopt Nie Yunzhu as his goddaughter. Although Kang Xian and Lu Ah Gui might see this as an unbalanced exchange of effort and reward, for Ning Yi, there were actually many more considerations.

Ever since the incident with Gu Yanzhen and his journey back, Ning Yi had been paying attention to various changes. Finding a patron for Nie Yunzhu was not merely to help her avoid encountering people like Gu Yanzhen again in the future, or to give her more convenience in business; these considerations were only part of it. The other reason was that Ning Yi had discovered constables were already looking for Li Pin and Nie Yunzhu to inquire about Gu Yanzhen.

His contact with Nie Yunzhu was merely a meeting before dawn each day; other than that, they hadn't met much. However, investigative methods should not be underestimated, and the possibility of the authorities tracing him through Nie Yunzhu was not small. Furthermore, Gu Yanzhen had intended to kidnap Nie Yunzhu and might have prepared some items, which could lead constables to clues and cause them to focus specifically on Nie Yunzhu. Since Ning Yi wanted to take precautions, he simply and directly elevated her status, thus cutting off the constables' investigation at this level. This matter benefited not only Nie Yunzhu but also himself.

His calculated thinking was deeply ingrained, a habit down to his very bones: if there was danger, he would nip it in the bud before taking another step. And even if the worst happened—for example, if Gu Yanzhen hadn't told the truth before dying, and someone else knew Gu Yanzhen had hired people to kidnap him—on the premise that his killing the other party was self-defense, coupled with the weight of this disaster relief booklet, it was, in any case, a sufficiently weighty insurance policy.

With this insurance added, satisfying Elder Qin's and Elder Kang's desire to save the nation and its people, paving the way for Nie Yunzhu's future, and allowing himself to continue living a leisurely life—this was naturally the best outcome. He was a merchant; everything was an exchange of equal value. In this action, everyone benefited, and no one owed anyone else. It was good. As for saving people, it also satisfied his own compassion. This year, perhaps fewer people would die from illness or starvation. Why not do something that benefits the world, even if it's a small sacrifice?

He hadn't yet mentioned to Nie Yunzhu that he had found a godfather for her, nor did he know what her thoughts on it would be. He would probably have to talk to her about it tomorrow morning. He only knew that she was born into an official's family in her childhood, with good conditions. Qin Siyuan had a good character and would surely not treat her poorly. Of course, if she had any reservations, he would still have to help her politely decline Qin Siyuan.

He was still pondering this matter. When he returned in the evening, he inadvertently saw Xiao Chan talking to a man in a small courtyard next to the main gate. She seemed somewhat anxious. At dinner time, he saw her hurrying about, but didn't pay much mind to it at the time. Xiao Chan sometimes had urgent matters to deal with in the courtyard, and could be hurried, but she always handled them well. It wasn't until later that night, when the family was sitting in the living room chatting and playing chess, that he noticed something was off. The little maid was sitting in a corner, sewing shoe soles, her head bowed. Occasionally, a muffled sound came from her. Ning Yi observed for a while, then called out, "Xiao Chan, come here for a moment."

"Hmm, is there something, young master-in-law?" Xiao Chan feigned a cheerful voice and came over, head bowed. Ning Yi reached out and wiped her face with his finger, only then realizing the area around her eyes was already wet. He exchanged a look with Su Tan'er. Su Tan'er put down her account book, walked over, glanced at Xiao Chan, then pulled her over to sit down. "Chan'er, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Someone from home came this afternoon and said my father passed away two days ago..." Xiao Chan bit her lip, then burst into tears. "I want... I want to ask Miss for leave to go back, but Miss has been very busy lately..."

A silence fell over the room.

"You actually kept this to yourself?" Su Tan'er said, putting her arms around Xiao Chan, then glaring with a slightly sharp tone. "I'll have... uh, Chief Steward Chang accompany you back. What are you, a maid, worried about regarding matters in the manor?"

"But Chief Steward Chang is also very busy, and if the city gates close, we both won't be able to get back..."

Chief Steward Chang was considered the highest-ranking steward in the main household; having him accompany her showed the Su family's regard for Chan'er. Of course, such a high standard wasn't strictly necessary, but Su Tan'er and the maids had grown up together since childhood and were like sisters. Chan'er also managed affairs quite well in the manor. At this, Su Tan'er shook her head.

"I told you not to worry about these things, Chan'er. Go back with peace of mind, bury your uncle, and come back after you've handled everything. We are like sisters, and have been for so many years. If it weren't for recent matters, I should accompany you back myself."

"Miss..." Chan'er had already started crying, and Juan'er and Xing'er also had red eyes as they gathered around her.

Ning Yi thought for a moment. "Then... I'll accompany Xiao Chan back."

Xiao Chan turned her head, wiping away tears with her hand. "Young master-in-law..."

"Xiao Chan has taken care of me for so long," Ning Yi said. "Chief Steward Chang has matters to attend to, and Tan'er, you can't go. I, on the other hand, am idle. Going there would also show my respect. How about it?"

There was a slight silence. Xiao Chan, wiping away what felt like endless tears, was deeply moved. "Young master-in-law, you... you can't go... Your hand isn't well yet..."

Su Tan'er hugged Chan'er and exchanged a smiling glance with Ning Yi for a moment. Then she nodded slightly and touched Chan'er's cheek. "That's fine too," she said. "Then my dear husband will have to make the arduous trip. And take Guard Geng with you. Now that disaster victims are arriving in succession, you and Xiao Chan must be very careful on the way..."