Chapter 51 Women's Insight

Chen Xiaofu and his group left Old Man Zhang's courtyard.

Watching their receding figures, Zhang Daniu hesitated for a moment before asking in a low voice, "Grandfather, are we really going to help him set up an iron smithy?"

Old Man Zhang pondered for three breaths and replied, "Yes."

"Aren't you worried?"

"...So many years have passed, there is nothing much to worry about anymore. The young master said the scale of the smithy should be quite large... Clearly, he is not just forging farm tools."

Old Man Zhang furrowed his brows slightly and continued, "The young master has changed dramatically over the past two months. Grandfather always feels as though he has become a completely different person."

"Who would have thought that not only is he literate, but his mastery of poetry and prose would be so profound?"

"To be able to feign foolishness for over a decade... Just based on this strength of character, he is someone destined to accomplish great things!"

"Let's consider our old Zhang family's craft as sold to him."

Zhang Daniu scratched his head, looked at Old Man Zhang, a spark of light flickering in his eyes: "Grandfather... Does the young master harbor such ambition?"

Old Man Zhang thought for a moment and shook his head. "The Great Zhou Dynasty was founded merely sixteen years ago, and Her Majesty the Empress is still a wise ruler. Furthermore, the young master has not even stepped foot outside of Lin'an yet. How could he possibly harbor grand ambitions?"

"Then what is his purpose...?"

Old Man Zhang smiled faintly. "It must be for self-preservation!"

"I reckon the pressure comes from that First Madam of the Kaiyang Divine General's Mansion."

"What the young master said today can be considered taking precautions for a rainy day."

"After all, the young master has grown up and is soon to be married. Coupled with the fact that his name has been shaking Lin'an these days, this news will inevitably reach the Imperial Capital before long."

"If the Kaiyang Divine General learns that this illegitimate son possesses such extraordinary talent... he might change his attitude toward the young master, which would threaten the interests of the First Madam and her son."

"Originally, the young master was incompetent, so both sides could live in peace. But now that this balance has been broken, whichever side loses its composure first will make a move."

"Judging by the young master's intent, he has chosen a defensive posture."

Zhang Daniu remained somewhat puzzled and asked further, "Even so, this iron smithy... it's just a matter of forging a few sabers and suits of armor. Why make it so large? There is no need to open a mine either!"

Old Man Zhang gazed at the newly risen red sun in the eastern sky, offering no answer to Zhang Daniu's question.

"Who knows what the young master is thinking? Do not try to second-guess him; just do as he instructed."

"Fetch paper and brush. Grandfather will write a letter to your father."

Zhang Daniu was startled. "Do we need to inform Father about a mere smithy?"

"It's not just telling your father; we need to have your father come over as well."

"...Is that necessary?"

Old Man Zhang took a deep breath. "Grandfather is old, and this craft must be passed down to you, but your father is still the most masterful at it."

"Your father's days in the Wei State haven't been easy either... Lord Changhuai is no ordinary person. Now that he enjoys the favor of the Wei Emperor, his suppression of Lord Shangling has become increasingly blatant."

"If Lord Shangling loses... since your father manages Lord Shangling's ironware industries, his fate will also be hanging by a thread."

"Rather than living in such constant anxiety, it would be better to bring the clan members here."

"That way, the smithy will not lack manpower."

"We can live in seclusion here at the Huaxi Courtyard. It may not match the glory in the Wei State, but its greatest virtue is safety."

"The Old Madam is wonderful, and the young master is wonderful. That is enough!"

Old Man Zhang turned back to look at his thatched cottage, his aged eyes revealing a glimmer of hopeful anticipation: "If the scene the young master described truly comes to pass... this place might well become a sanctuary untouched by the chaos of the world!"

Huaxi Courtyard, the back garden pavilion.

Chen Xiaofu looked at Er Gouzi: "There are two Chinese plum trees behind Uncle Zhou's house. I see the fruit is almost ripe; go pick a basket of them."

"And by Auntie Li's front door, there is a patch of watermelons. I reckon the watermelons in the patch should be ripe too; pick two and bring them back."

"Alrighty, this little one is off!" Er Gouzi happily trotted away.

Only then did An Xiaowei remove her veil, look at Chen Xiaofu, and ask with considerable curiosity:

"Ji'an,"

"Hmm?"

"Was everything you said at Old Man Zhang's true?"

Li Jingru, who was sitting nearby eating cherries, glanced sideways at Chen Xiaofu and took over the conversation: "You actually believe him? He was just painting a massive pie in the sky for them!"

The cherries were a bit tart; Li Jingru wrinkled her nose, bared her teeth, spat out a pit, and continued: "Courtyards for every household? Do you take him for a great philanthropist?"

"Isn't it all just to get those peasants to sweat and labor for him?"

"Building boundary walls... how are boundary walls any different from city walls?"

"There are even military installations on the walls! Fine, the Great Zhou code doesn't strictly forbid it, and some wealthy estates do indeed build such things. Although this Huaxi Courtyard of his is decent, as for the property..."

"It's just those thousands of acres of farmland. Is he really worried refugees will come and snatch his grain?"

"My dear young lady, this is Jiangnan!"

"If refugees have made it all the way to Jiangnan, gods only know what kind of catastrophe has struck!"

"As for what he said about intersecting pathways and a hundred miles of blooming flowers, pouring enough silver down could indeed make it happen. But he also said he wants to let the villagers' children have books to read."

Tossing a cherry into her dainty mouth, Li Jingru cast another sidelong glance at Chen Xiaofu: "If everyone is studying, who is going to till the fields for you?"

"If everyone becomes literate, who is going to mine for you at that Wani Mountain?"

"Isn't that cutting off your own escape route?"

"Therefore," Li Jingru's mouth parted slightly from the tartness, "he just wants to buy the hearts of those villagers!"

"The exact same tactic used by officials."

"First buy their hearts, making them willingly work for him. As for the grand promises he made... even if the villagers remember them, who would dare bring them up again?"

"In the end, it will all just fade into nothingness."

Chen Xiaofu chuckled: "Such narrow-minded views!"

Li Jingru lifted her chin and stared straight at Chen Xiaofu, her slender neck stiffening: "Isn't what I said true?"

Chen Xiaofu raised an eyebrow slightly: "You will see in the future."

A-Lai, standing outside the pavilion, suddenly turned and glanced at Chen Xiaofu.

His gaze remained very direct, though it seemed a fraction softer and less rigid than when they first met.

He merely spared Chen Xiaofu a single look before retracting his gaze and turning toward the shadow wall.

Behind the shadow wall, Cuihong walked over carrying a food box.

"Young Master, Old Huang is back."

"Old Huang said the Old Madam will likely return in a little over ten days."

Placing the food box on the table, Cuihong withdrew a name card from her sleeve and handed it over: "Given by the Old Master, who said Mr. Qian of Qing Garden invites you to come over for a visit with Miss An whenever you are free."

Chen Xiaofu was slightly stunned as he took the name card.

He had heard Old Huang mention this old gentleman of Qing Garden a few days ago; it seemed the man had heard of his glorious exploits and wished to meet him.

Since this old gentleman was a veteran of two reigns and had served as Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, chatting with him should yield some worthwhile insights.

"Did Senior Scholar Xu and the others leave?"

Before his voice faded, a sound came from outside the gate.

It was the voice of his grandfather, Chen Linyuan: "Well, you old scoundrel Xu, why have you come again?!"