It was an unfamiliar young servant.
He looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, with two sweet dimples when he smiled. Upon seeing Xu Yi, he immediately greeted him politely and announced himself: “Are you Doctor Xu? This humble one is from the second young master’s household of Jishi Hall’s main branch. I’ve come to deliver an invitation card for Doctor Xu to attend a small gathering at Emerald Garden.”
The invitation was written on precious gold paper, with its surface coated in a light layer of gold powder that gleamed faintly.
This gold paper was typically used for writing poetry for collection. Using it as an invitation card showed just how wealthy the sender was. From what the young servant said, the person who wanted to meet him was the young master of Jishi Hall.
Xu Yi nodded and accepted the invitation, smiling at the servant. “I will attend.”
“Wonderful! This humble one will return to report to my second young master now.” After speaking, the servant bowed and departed.
Xu Yi returned to his room with the invitation, wondering whether the young master wanted to see him about the digestive pills.
On another side that Xu Yi knew nothing about, Doctor Yan had already met with Jishi Hall’s young master.
Jishi Hall in Yanting County would normally just submit the monthly account books upward, and the main branch wouldn’t specially send anyone over.
This time was different because Yanting County had taken in a digestive pill product. In just two months, the account books showed considerable additional revenue.
So the proprietor living in Tongchuan Prefecture sent a steward over to inquire about it.
Not long after the steward left, Jishi Hall’s young master arrived in Yanting County.
Doctor Yan looked at the young master who had already come of age, wearing a peacock feather square cap, dressed in luxurious silk robes, holding a folding fan painted with calligraphy. He spoke: “Young master, you may not know, but Doctor Xu and the Xing family’s fifth son are close friends. The Xing family is quite prominent in Yanting County. This prescription cannot be forcibly taken.”
Displeasure showed in the young master’s eyes. “Not even for a large sum of money?”
Before Doctor Yan could speak, he continued grandly: “The financial power of Tongchuan’s Shen family… surely we can afford to buy a single medicinal prescription.”
Doctor Yan fell silent.
A few seconds later, he said: “A gentleman does not seize what others love. If Doctor Xu is unwilling to sell this prescription, I hope the young master will understand.”
“I say, Doctor Yan, where exactly are your eyes looking? Instead of thinking of your own family’s interests, you speak on behalf of an outsider.” The young master snorted coldly. “Do you know what my father instructed me before I came here? He told me I must obtain this prescription no matter what.”
When “Chen’s Digestive Pills” reached the Shen family in Tongchuan Prefecture, the Shen family head immediately recognized that these pills had great potential.
No matter what, he had to keep this digestive pill prescription in Shen family hands.
Then he had people investigate further, learning that the pill seller was merely a young man not yet of age, whose parents had passed away and who had no relatives. Giving him some money would surely make him hand over the prescription willingly.
But what a surprise! Before even meeting the person, his own family’s doctor disagreed first!
“Doctor Yan, how many years have you been with my family?” the young master asked.
Doctor Yan lowered his head slightly. “Thirty-one years now.”
The Shen family had practiced medicine for three generations. In their grandfather’s time, they had already opened a medical clinic. Later they took in countless disciples. Some of these people left the main family, while others stayed on to operate the clinics. Doctor Yan was one of the latter.
By the time the young master’s generation took over the business, the Shen family’s operations had grown even more massive, no longer satisfied with small medical clinics. Especially now that the realm was almost at peace, there were more and more wealthy people willing to spend money on medical treatment and medicine. How much money could just treating patients earn? It was far better to manufacture and sell medicine.
The young master waved his wide sleeves, his face already showing impatience. “Enough, say no more. You’re dampening the mood here before I’ve even met this Doctor Xu.”
Doctor Yan sighed deeply in his heart but didn’t continue speaking. Better to wait until the young master met Doctor Xu in person before making any final judgments.
…
At this moment, Xu Yi was struggling over what clothes to wear for the appointment.
Most of the clothes at home were too worn. From what he understood, Emerald Garden was a place for people to relax and enjoy themselves. Would wearing something too shabby embarrass Doctor Yan?
After all, the invitation even mentioned that Doctor Yan would be there too.
If it were just outsiders, that would be one thing. Xu Yi wouldn’t necessarily have to worry about others’ opinions. It’s just that he wasn’t a masochist either. Now that he had money, why not buy himself a couple of comfortable outfits?
After searching through the room, Xu Yi confirmed that there really weren’t any presentable clothes at home.
He tucked his money pouch away, told Little Huang to guard the house, and went out by himself to the ready-made clothing shop on South Street.
The clothing shop mainly sold robes. Robes came in different types. One type was the wide-sleeved robe, worn over an inner garment with a belt tied at the waist, looking dignified and elegant. Many scholars and cultured guests preferred this style. Another type was the fitted robe, more convenient for work and movement. The ready-made clothing shop on South Street sold fitted robes the most.
The colors were also simple, without any flashy patterns. Of course, if you wanted to buy those “peacock” clothes, they had them too. Xu Yi had seen both Xing Yuesen and Xin Shengyuan wearing that style.
He browsed in the shop for a while. The attending clerk actively promoted items: “The shop has just received a batch of beizi. All fine materials. Would you like to take a look, young sir? I guarantee your satisfaction.”
Beizi?
Xu Yi raised his eyebrows slightly and had the shop assistant bring the clothes to look at.
Beizi were garments that could be worn by everyone in Song society, regardless of gender or age. Men wore beizi generally as casual wear, comfortable, relaxed, and informal.
The beizi the shop assistant brought didn’t offer many color choices. Xu Yi picked one in sky blue and another in white.
For fitted robes, he chose more dirt-resistant black-tea and gray-blue colors. Wide-sleeved robes for outings and social gatherings didn’t need to worry about dirt resistance, so Xu Yi picked two that caught his eye and handed them all to the shop assistant for payment.
The shop assistant was overjoyed. This was a big customer! His face immediately broke into a beaming smile as he carefully carried the clothes to the counter with nimble movements, crackling the abacus rapidly.
Soon, the shop assistant said with a smile: “Young sir, the price is all calculated. The total is two taels, three qian, and sixteen wen. This humble one will waive the sixteen wen and round it to two taels and three qian for you.”
The ready-made clothing shop’s clothes were indeed quite expensive.
Xu Yi couldn’t make clothes himself. Though it pained him, there was nothing he could do. He counted out the money and handed it to the shop assistant.
The shop assistant asked thoughtfully: “Shall I have someone deliver them?”
“No need, I’ll take them back myself.” Xu Yi waved his hand.
The shop assistant worried the clothes might get damaged. After all, such big-spending customers were rare. He took it upon himself to cut a piece of rough cloth, folded the clothes neatly, placed them on the rough cloth, tied them into a bundle, and handed it to Xu Yi.
Later, when the shop manager learned what he’d done, not only did he not criticize him, he even praised his quick thinking.
Using a piece of rough cloth worth a few wen to gain a long-term customer was truly a bargain.
At home, Xu Yi set the new clothes aside and returned to researching how to use saltpeter to make ice.
The dried saltpeter had formed into a block. Xu Yi broke it apart and ground it into powder with a mortar and pestle, sifted it for fineness, then dissolved it again in clean water.
Once the saltpeter water was dissolved, he added a small amount of fresh water into a ceramic jar, separated by the jar walls, and continued stirring without stopping. When the temperature dropped to freezing point, Xu Yi’s brow jumped. He immediately sealed the ceramic jar and placed it in a cool, shady corner.
After waiting four hours, the sky gradually darkened.
Xu Yi went to check whether the water in the ceramic jar had frozen into ice. Opening it, he found that the water inside had indeed frozen solid.
Today, the water he used for freezing was a full three times less than last time, only two ceramic bowls’ worth of water.
This also proved that saltpeter could indeed make ice. It needed to be in a cold environment, but the ice produced was really minimal. Dozens of kilograms of saltpeter could only produce this small amount of ice in one go.
No wonder ice sold so expensively in summer and required advance reservations to buy.
Xu Yi looked at the ice in the ceramic jar, pondering how to use it.
This little bit of ice in a room wouldn’t provide much cooling effect. Letting it melt naturally felt wasteful…
After struggling for a moment, Xu Yi still knocked the ice in the ceramic jar into pieces, and scooped it out into a wooden basin to melt naturally. One shouldn’t indulge in coolness at night. Next time he would make ice half a day in advance so he could enjoy a bowl of iced beverage at noon.
–
The next morning.
Xu Yi greeted Madam He, telling her he was going out to the suburbs and asking her to help look after Little Huang.
He also gave Madam He ten wen to buy some meat for Little Huang to eat.
Seeing he couldn’t go out and play with Xu Yi, Little Huang whimpered on the ground, acting cute and begging to go along.
Xu Yi didn’t agree. What if Emerald Garden had a sign saying “No Dogs Allowed”? They’d have to leave Little Huang outside. “You stay home obediently. I’ll take you to the night market tonight.”
He’d been in Yanting County for so long and hadn’t visited the night market yet.
Madam He heard this and said with a smile: “The night market is very lively. If you go past the bridge to the south, you can find a vendor selling sheep tripe. Their ingredients are fresh and the prices reasonable. Ten wen can buy you a large bowl.”
Sheep tripe was a very famous delicacy. It had existed since the Tang Dynasty, using sheep large and small intestines simply boiled in water with a few seasonings added for flavor.
One ate it for the natural deliciousness of the sheep intestines themselves. To make this dish taste good tested one’s mastery of heat control. Too hard or too soft, and it wouldn’t taste good. It needed to be cooked just right, with a bit of crispness when you bit into it, not tough on the teeth but still chewy. That texture was the best.
Listening to Madam He describe how delicious this food was, Xu Yi nearly drooled.
He didn’t have many hobbies, but enjoying good food was definitely one of them.
Xu Yi swallowed and hastily said goodbye to Madam He. He was afraid if they kept talking, he wouldn’t want to go to Emerald Garden to meet Jishi Hall’s young master and would want to go browse the morning market instead.
The morning market also had plenty of delicious food!
Emerald Garden was in the western suburbs, which was extremely far on foot. On such a hot day, Xu Yi didn’t want to make himself suffer, so he found an ox cart heading to the western suburbs at the city gate.
On the road, Xu Yi memorized a book of Chinese medicine names, and Emerald Garden arrived.
He jumped down from the cart, gave the driver one wen, swung his unfamiliar wide sleeves, felt for the money pouch inside to make sure it was secure and wouldn’t fall, then entered Emerald Garden’s gate with peace of mind.
As soon as he entered, he was stopped by a young servant inside, who said entry wasn’t allowed without an invitation.
Xu Yi was speechless.
Xu Yi felt around in his sleeve, pulled out the slightly wrinkled cold gold paper, and handed it to him, asking: “Is this it?”
“Yes, yes, yes! Please come in, young sir.” The servant’s face immediately broke into a smile. His face-changing speed was truly first-rate.
Emerald Garden, as its name suggested, the first thing that greeted the eye upon entering was well-arranged, carefully trimmed ornamental trees, verdant and elegant, with a gentle breeze. Winding corridors and small pavilions could be seen everywhere, along with artificial hills and clear lakes, white walls and red tiles. The two corridors were separated by a wall, with scenery changing at every step, truly pleasing to body and mind.
It truly deserved to be a place scholars and refined gentlemen loved to visit. Poetic charm filled every corner. As Xu Yi appreciated the scenery, he saw many scholars gathered together chatting and composing impromptu poetry.
There were also people fishing in the lake, with several young men gathered around watching, their laughter occasionally ringing out.
Xu Yi’s eyes glanced over, and by pure coincidence, he spotted a familiar peacock.
The peacock was gesturing animatedly to his companions about something, with rosy lips and white teeth, spirited eyes, and though young, he exuded the full bearing of a noble young master. Among his peers, he was quite eye-catching.
Xu Yi saw no trace of bitterness in his expression and smiled slightly, turning to leave.
“Xu Yi?!”
Xin Shengyuan’s eyes swept over, looked carefully, and discovered it really was Xu Yi.
He ran over happily. “Why did you come to Emerald Garden? Are you also here to watch Chef Lu cook fish?”
His eyes were bright. It seemed he’d come for this very reason.
Xu Yi shook his head. “No, I came for an appointment.”
“All right then, when will you be finished?” Xin Shengyuan asked. “Chef Lu’s people are still fishing, and they invited us to fish together. They said whoever catches the biggest one will have their fish cooked. This is great luck! Do you want to join? If you’re fortunate enough to win first place, you can invite Chef Lu to come to your home and make her specialty dishes. I’ve eaten them once before. That taste was truly unforgettable.”
Xu Yi knew that Song people loved to eat.
But… this was the first time he’d seen entertainment activities designed just to be able to invite a chef to cook.
Xu Yi smiled. “No rush. I’ll come find you after I meet my guest.”
Xin Shengyuan said joyfully: “Then I’ll wait for you at Emerald Lake Pavilion. You must come.”
“Mm.” Xu Yi nodded. He opened his mouth wanting to ask something, but seeing his demeanor, swallowed the words back.
If the Xin family had troublesome matters, Xin Shengyuan shouldn’t be here enjoying himself.
After saying goodbye to Xin Shengyuan, Xu Yi didn’t delay any further. This time he went directly to the small courtyard the young master of Jishi Hall had specified for their meeting.
The small courtyard was tranquil. After Xu Yi entered, he saw the dimpled young servant waiting outside.
He quickly came forward and led Xu Yi to a pavilion with an open view. The pavilion was built in the center of the lake, surrounded by connected lotus leaves, with lotus flowers giving off a delicate fragrance. Two people sat in the pavilion. One was the familiar Doctor Yan, the other was a handsome young man wearing silk robes.
This person should be the young master.
“I’ve long admired Doctor Xu’s great name. You are indeed young and promising.” Young Master Shen stood up, cupped his hands toward Xu Yi, and made a gesture inviting him to sit.
Xu Yi returned the courtesy politely, sat down with neither warmth nor coldness, and said: “The summer heat is oppressive. I wonder what matter Young Master Shen invited me here to tour the garden for?”
He went straight to the topic. Young Master Shen didn’t pretend to make small talk either, stating directly that he’d invited Xu Yi here today because he’d taken a fancy to the digestive pill prescription in his hands. Would he be willing to sell the prescription for a high price?
Upon hearing this, Xu Yi raised his eyebrows and looked toward Doctor Yan at his side.
Doctor Yan smiled apologetically and awkwardly, turning his eyes away to avoid meeting Xu Yi’s gaze.
Xu Yi understood then that this matter wasn’t on him. As a doctor managing a branch clinic, he couldn’t make such a major decision.
If that was the case, he had nothing he couldn’t say. “I’m afraid I must disappoint Second Young Master Shen. This prescription isn’t mine. I merely obtained it from an ancient medical text in the past. I cannot take it upon myself to sell the prescription to your Shen family.”
“Oh?” Young Master Shen narrowed his eyes. “What if my Shen family offers a hundred strings of cash? You still won’t sell?”
Xu Yi’s gaze was firm. “I won’t sell.”
When he first produced the digestive pills, he never thought about using them to make a fortune. It was simply to have money for food and no longer worry about silver.
Moreover, if he sold the prescription, it would very likely be renamed “Shen Family Digestive Pills.” Someone else’s decades of hard work, taken by him as a path to wealth? To be honest, Xu Yi felt he wasn’t shameless to that degree.
Making small money was fine. Big money? Better forget it.
Although a hundred strings of cash was very tempting and could buy a very well-located courtyard in the county.
Young Master Shen was still young. His expression immediately turned ugly. “You truly won’t sell?”
Xu Yi looked at him and spoke lightly: “Whether it’s hundreds of strings or thousands of strings of cash, I won’t sell.”
“You…”
Fierceness flashed through Young Master Shen’s eyes. When had anyone refused him like this? This person was truly arrogant.
“Do you know that my Shen family has practiced medicine for generations and has considerable experience in researching prescriptions? If you’re unwilling to sell, in the future my Shen family will figure out the digestive pill prescription, and you won’t get a single wen.”
As soon as these words came out, Doctor Yan’s expression changed. He stood up and solemnly called out: “Young master!”
“You shut up!”
Young Master Shen rebuked him sharply, not putting Doctor Yan in his eyes at all. His eyes stared fixedly at Xu Yi. “Doctor Xu, grudges are easy to form but hard to resolve. Have you thought this through?”
Xu Yi raised his head slightly. “If I don’t sell, will the Shen family openly rob me?”
Young Master Shen froze, then said stiffly: “No.”
Xu Yi said: “If you won’t force me to sell, then why should I fear anything? If your Shen family has the ability to decipher the prescription, that’s your Shen family’s capability. It doesn’t cause me much loss.”
Even if the Shen family deciphered the prescription, he could still sell his digestive pills.
However, deciphering the digestive pill prescription wouldn’t be easy.
Without precise instruments and uncertainty about how many ingredients were involved, just analyzing what medicinal materials were in the pills was already a difficult task.
Young Master Shen was left speechless.
This Doctor Xu was truly a strange person! He’d rather give up hundreds of strings of cash and have others decipher the prescription?
What if his family couldn’t decipher the digestive pill prescription? Wouldn’t they become a laughingstock?
The small gathering at the lotus pavilion ended unhappily.
Doctor Yan said he would see Xu Yi out. Once they left the small courtyard, he bowed apologetically to Xu Yi.
“The young master acted willfully. My advice was useless. I’ve made Doctor Xu witness something embarrassing.” Doctor Yan looked as if he’d aged several years in an instant.
At such an advanced age, still having to worry about these things. Xu Yi shook his head. “It’s fine.”
“Doctor Yan, did you not sleep well last night?”
Doctor Yan wasn’t surprised that Xu Yi could tell. He said with a bitter smile: “When the heart has concerns, sleep is difficult. Thinking that this matter might offend Doctor Xu, I truly felt ashamed.”
“I said it’s fine.” Xu Yi repeated.
Doctor Yan froze, realizing that Xu Yi truly hadn’t taken this matter to heart.
He sighed inwardly. If only the young master had Doctor Xu’s temperament, how wonderful that would be.
Doctor Yan wanted to escort Xu Yi out of Emerald Garden, but Xu Yi politely declined, saying he still had a friend waiting for him in the garden.
–
At Emerald Lake Pavilion, Xin Shengyuan kept looking toward the fishing lake surface one moment, then gazing around his surroundings the next. Time flew by. Why hadn’t Xu Yi returned yet?
Could it be that he’d lied to him?
Thinking of this, he felt it was very possible! Last time when the two of them met at the market, it could be described as “fighting before befriending.” The other party was also that Xing Yuesen’s good friend, speaking for Xing Yuesen at every turn. He might very well have tricked him.
Xin Shengyuan sincerely wanted to treat Xu Yi as a friend. During his vacation days off, he’d wanted to go find Xu Yi to play. If his classmates hadn’t dragged him here to watch Chef Lu skillfully cook fish soup, he should be at the Xu residence right now.
Thinking of this, his nose tingled. Could it be that he was singing a one-man show and Xu Yi had no intention of becoming friends with him?
“Xin Yao.” At this moment, a pleasing, gentle voice sounded by his ear.
Xin Shengyuan turned his head to look and saw Xu Yi standing at his side at some unknown point. Seeing him turn around, he smiled warmly at him.
“I waited for you for quite a while.” Xin Shengyuan couldn’t hold back his small complaint.
Xu Yi said: “I came late. Did you catch any fish?”
Xin Shengyuan’s attention was immediately diverted. “Yes! I had servants catch two. One of them is quite large. It’s already been sent to Chef Lu’s courtyard.”
Xu Yi made a sound of acknowledgment. His gaze swept around the surroundings. There were still several people persevering. It seemed the competition was fierce.
“You should participate too.” After Xin Shengyuan spoke, he called a servant to bring fishing equipment. “Which one would you like? I’ll have the servant cast it for you.”
Xu Yi blinked. “Can’t I go in person?”
Xin Shengyuan’s figure froze, thinking he’d heard wrong. But then seeing Xu Yi’s serious expression, he really did want to participate in person.
Those who came to watch Chef Lu cook were all noble young masters, each one precious and delicate. Who would fish in person? Xin Shengyuan hadn’t reacted for a moment. Only now did he remember that it actually wasn’t impossible.
“Then do you know how?” he asked Xu Yi.
Xu Yi nodded. “I’ve fished before.” He added mentally: probably over a thousand years from now.
Among those fishing by the lake, all wore servant’s clothing. Suddenly there appeared an additional young man wearing wide-sleeved robes, clear and refined, distinguished as jade.
He couldn’t help but draw extra glances.
A classmate ran over to ask Xin Shengyuan: “Xin Yao, Xin Yao, who is this person? How come we haven’t heard you mention him?”