Chapter Seven: A Surprise Within a Surprise

Narrow alleys, dirt paths, low houses, and fenced courtyards.

Yang Yaozong, Yin Ruxin, and Bruno sat down at the wooden table in front of the house, while two young servant girls remained on the path in the courtyard, whispering softly to each other.

Yang Yaozong picked up the cup of tea Bruno had poured for him, took a sip, and frowned, curling his lips in mild distaste. The tea was quite poor in flavor, with an abundance of leaf residue floating atop. Plain boiled water would have been preferable.

Yin Ruxin, however, did not touch the tea in front of her. She merely offered Bruno, who had poured her cup, a polite smile and a nod.

Bruno, seeing the pained expression on Yang Yaozong’s face as he drank, grew embarrassed and said, “Master Yang, Master Yin, I must apologize. My home is humble, and this is all the tea I can offer you.”

Yang Yaozong waved his hand dismissively and smiled, “No need to worry. I’m hardly an expert in tea; it’s just that there’s a bit too much leaf residue, so the taste isn’t great. You really needn’t stand on ceremony—plain water would do just fine.”

Noticing that Yin Ruxin had not touched her tea, Yang Yaozong recalled that as a courtesan, her daily companions were often the elite and the learned—officials, scholars, and poets—where refined poetry, wine, and tea must abound. She was surely knowledgeable about the art of tea, perhaps even an expert.

In truth, Yang Yaozong himself was not unfamiliar with tea appreciation. In his previous life, his profession required a basic grasp of such things, and he had studied tea, wine, and coffee with some depth. Still, he never cared much for culinary indulgences; as long as something was edible, he’d accept it, perhaps a habit born of his rural upbringing.

Yang Yaozong winked at Yin Ruxin and whispered, “A fine tea is much like a beautiful woman.” Then he turned to Bruno with a smile and said, “Master Yin likely knows a great deal about tea, perhaps even more than most.”

“A fine tea is much like a beautiful woman?” On hearing this, Yin Ruxin blushed and shot him a glance, thinking, “In Great Zhou, nearly everyone drinks tea, especially the elite and the learned, for whom tea gatherings are commonplace. The art of tea is highly esteemed. Even those who know little would not so casually speak as he does. Yet, if he truly knew nothing, how could he quote, ‘A fine tea is much like a beautiful woman’?”

Although she had only known Yang Yaozong for two days, she already saw him as a man of wide learning and quick wit, yet he stood apart from other scholars in subtle ways. For all her talent at reading people, Yang Yaozong remained a mystery to her.

Yin Ruxin tapped her fan lightly on her left palm, smiling at Yang Yaozong. “The art of tea is indeed profound. Though Master Yang claims little knowledge, I…” She realized Bruno was still present and quickly amended, “Well… I dare not call myself an expert. I know a little, and happen to have some rare teas. Perhaps, one day, we might sample them together.”

Her words, innocent enough, would have seemed improper to Bruno’s ears, but Yang Yaozong was taken aback—he knew her true status as a courtesan. For her to invite him to taste her treasured teas was, in fact, an invitation. If such a thing were known about Yin Ruxin, he would surely become infamous in Jinling. He thought, “A man fears fame, a pig fears fattening.” He had only just arrived in this era and knew little of its ways; as a live-in son-in-law, he had to avoid scandal.

Moreover, his wife was at the frontier, fighting the barbarians to defend their homeland. He had never set foot in a brothel, yet here he was acquainted with the most famous courtesan—who would believe him?

His days were easy and comfortable; as a son-in-law, he had no need to toil for his survival or worry about trivialities. Grand ambitions no longer crossed his mind—he wanted only a quiet, ordinary life, and a harmonious marriage with his wife, Nangong Qingyi.

Yin Ruxin’s careless invitation startled not only Yang Yaozong but herself as well, and she immediately regretted her rashness, though a small hope flickered in her heart.

Seeing Yang Yaozong staring blankly at her, her cheeks flushed. She opened her fan and pretended a calm indifference, lightly fanning herself to steady her heart, which seemed poised to leap from her chest. She glanced at her teacup, wrinkled her delicate brows, and, avoiding Yang Yaozong’s gaze, looked idly about the courtyard.

After a moment, Yang Yaozong shook his head gently and declined, “Thank you, Master Yin, for your gracious invitation, but for personal reasons, it would not be convenient for me to accept.”

With his refusal, Yin Ruxin’s anxious heart relaxed, though a faint disappointment followed. She understood that Yang Yaozong’s “personal reasons” were likely his status as a son-in-law, which made it improper to accept an invitation from a courtesan. Still, a mischievous thought crossed her mind—if he would not accept, perhaps she would be even more sincere and see how he would respond.

A sly glint in her eye, she looked at the somewhat embarrassed Yang Yaozong and said, “Actually, I have a small, secluded villa that is quite peaceful.”

Upon hearing “villa,” Yang Yaozong reasoned it was not a brothel. Yin Ruxin’s sincerity was apparent, and having earned the favor of a courtesan, it would be ungracious to refuse again. Since the meeting would not take place in a house of ill repute, there was no reason to decline. Yin Ruxin was the first person in this world with whom he’d had such pleasant conversation.

He nodded, “Very well, I shall call upon you when I have time, and taste your treasured teas.”

Now it was Yin Ruxin’s turn to be surprised. He had accepted, not because of her status, but because of the location—a realization that was both maddening and amusing.

She couldn’t help but laugh, then closed her fan with a snap and said with mock solemnity, “Then I shall await your esteemed visit, Master Yang!”

“Of course,” Yang Yaozong replied with a confirming nod.

Bruno, who had merely sat by with a gentle smile, listening to their exchange, heard Yang Yaozong say, “Bruno, in fact, I came today not only to purchase some plants and flowers to take home, but also for another matter. If you agree, your life here in Great Zhou will be more secure—at least, you won’t have to endure such hardship.”

Bruno was visibly moved. Leaning forward, he replied eagerly, “Please, Master Yang, if it is within my power, I will do my utmost.”

Yang Yaozong, noting Bruno’s excitement, nodded and continued, “I see you are skilled with plants. I’d like to employ you to tend the gardens at my residence. As for your monthly wage—ten taels of silver. What do you think?”

At present in Great Zhou, a laborer or street vendor earned two or three taels a month, enough for daily expenses, with some families even able to save a little. But as a foreigner with limited command of the language, Bruno could only grow and sell his own flowers and plants. Few in Great Zhou bought potted plants; most grew them themselves, and only wealthy households had dedicated gardeners. Bruno’s trade brought little income, so his life was hard.

Hearing Yang Yaozong offer such a generous wage, Bruno was overjoyed and immediately responded in French, “Master Yang, before coming to Great Zhou, I was an excellent gardener. I know all about cultivating and tending plants; I will not disappoint you. Your kindness is too great for words. To show my gratitude… please wait a moment.” With that, he hurried into the house.

Soon he returned, carrying an item about sixty centimeters high and forty wide, covered with coarse cloth. Placing it carefully on the table, he gently lifted the cloth. Before Bruno could speak, Yang Yaozong’s eyes widened in astonishment; he sprang to his feet, staring at the object on the table, his excitement plain as he exclaimed in French, “A clock! This is a clock!”

Yin Ruxin, unable to understand their exchange and unfamiliar with the object, could only observe with curiosity, noting Yang Yaozong’s animated reaction. The two servant girls in the courtyard were startled by his outburst and also looked over in curiosity.

Yang Yaozong examined the clock with ardent fascination. The gilded metal case was adorned with openwork patterns, well maintained by Bruno. The top was shaped like a crown, with two cherubic boys on either side of the base holding tall vases aloft. The face bore Roman numerals, covered by clear glass, behind which the hands moved evenly and powerfully, the pendulum swinging with measured precision. Leaning close, he heard the crisp “tick-tock” of the mechanism—a subtle sound that, nonetheless, struck him deeply.

Seeing Yin Ruxin’s puzzled expression, Yang Yaozong realized she had never seen such a thing before. For all her knowledge of the wonders of Great Zhou, even she was unacquainted with this marvel.

He knew that in Great Zhou, ordinary people estimated time by the sun; on cloudy days, they relied on daily experience. Wealthier families might have water clocks, measuring time by the flow of water, while in the cities, drum towers sounded the hours during the day, and night watches announced the time at night. Even in the Nangong household, there were no clocks—he had long been frustrated by this.

He surmised that clocks had yet to be invented in this era of Great Zhou, yet Bruno’s homeland had already produced such exquisite timepieces. This indicated that Europe’s industry was far ahead. And if Bruno had crossed the seas to reach Great Zhou, clearly European navigation had also reached a high level.

From his readings, Yang Yaozong knew that Great Zhou had closed its borders since its founding, shunning contact with nearby countries like Japan and Ryukyu, and tightly controlling its coastline. Inland waterways, however, were highly developed; while their shipbuilding lagged behind Europe, progress had not ceased. Warships were built to fight pirates, but not for oceanic exploration.

Suppressing his tumultuous feelings, Yang Yaozong sat back down, took a sip of his now-settled tea to soothe his throat, and exchanged a smile with the still-bewildered Yin Ruxin before turning to Bruno and asking in French, “Is this clock a gift for me?”

Bruno eagerly nodded, “Yes, Master Yang, and there is also this.” He produced a cylindrical object, handing it over with both hands. Yang Yaozong took it, glanced at Bruno, then at Yin Ruxin, who was frowning in deeper confusion.

He smiled at her, “I’ll explain both items to you in a moment.”

Yin Ruxin, somewhat flustered, nodded softly, “Mm.”

Yang Yaozong examined the cylinder, opening the caps at both ends. A smile curved his lips. “This telescope is even more useful and convenient than the heavy, stationary clock,” he thought.

Yin Ruxin had watched his every move. Seeing his confident smile, she wondered, “Could he know what this is as well?”

Yang Yaozong extended the telescope and placed it to his right eye, squinting with his left, gazing beyond the fence. He could see, at the bend of the lane, a household where a woman in coarse gray linen was drawing water at the well, and a man slipped quietly into the yard. As he passed, he gave her ample backside a playful smack, startling her into dropping the bucket. She whirled, fist raised, but upon recognizing him, her scowl melted into a look both teasing and affectionate, her eyes brimming with warmth.

The bend was a hundred meters away, yet through the telescope, he could see expressions clearly. For observing people and objects, the telescope could doubtless reach much farther. “I must find an opportunity to give this to Nangong Qingyi,” he thought. “She needs it more than I do. In this age of cold steel, where victory depends on tactics and formations, the ability to survey the battlefield ahead of time offers a decisive advantage.”

He carefully collapsed the telescope and set it on the table, then said to Bruno in French, “It’s a telescope.”

Bruno, hearing Yang Yaozong identify both items without hesitation, was even more astonished. Could it be that Great Zhou had already invented such things? Perhaps the telescope, but the exquisite clock was unique to his homeland, produced only in a few pieces for royalty and nobility. This one, which he was about to give Yang Yaozong, had been bestowed upon their captain by the king himself for precise navigation at sea.

Yang Yaozong, with a hint of mystery, asked Bruno in French, “Are clocks and telescopes already mass-produced in your country?”

Bruno shook his head, “No, both are reserved for the royal family and a few nobles—very few people possess them.”

Yang Yaozong frowned, “Then how did you—?”

Bruno, understanding his question, replied respectfully, “The clock, telescope, and some other items—” he gestured to the plants in the yard, “—and seeds, washed ashore with me. They were all packed in sealed chests.”

Yang Yaozong continued, “So only you and a few chests washed ashore? Your expedition must have had many men. How many were on your fleet?”

Bruno replied, “We had over two thousand men. We encountered a storm at sea. I was lucky to cling to a large plank and drifted to the coast of Great Zhou, where I was rescued by kind local fishermen. When I awoke, only two chests remained with me, which I brought to the capital.”

Yang Yaozong reflected, “No matter the era, my people are ever simple and kind.”

He nodded, smiling, and motioned for Bruno to sit. Bruno complied, sitting properly.

“Bruno, you may not know who I am. Since I wish to employ you, I should explain…” He went on to tell Bruno that he was the son-in-law of General Nangong Zhan of Great Zhou. Bruno cared nothing for his status as a son-in-law and was all the more impressed. To be chosen by Yang Yaozong was to have found an anchor in Great Zhou, and he grew even more respectful.

Yang Yaozong was inwardly delighted. His goals had been achieved, and his gains were considerable. Not to mention the clock and telescope, even the seeds could, if cultivated successfully and promoted, greatly benefit the people of Great Zhou—and if not, at least he himself could enjoy new flavors.

He could already taste the tomato and egg stir-fry, the spicy pork, and the fiery hotpot, and found himself salivating.

As for Bruno’s employment, he would speak to Xiaohua, whose position in the household would ensure Bruno’s place was easily secured.

Regarding the generous wage of ten taels a month, Nangong Qingyi had left him ample silver before marching to war, and he had few personal expenses. He would pay Bruno himself; otherwise, if others knew of his high salary, there might be discontent, and he wished to avoid trouble.

Yang Yaozong had already worked everything out in his heart.