Chapter Thirty-Four: A Young Girl’s Great Crisis

“So this is the sample you managed to make?” Xu Wenshan stood inside the blacksmith Niu’s home, staring at the bizarre contraption before him, feeling a wave of frustration settle deep in his chest.

Before launching the first Archers’ Tournament in Deer-Crane Ravine, Xu Wenshan had commissioned this blacksmith to craft a distiller. Now the sample stood right before him.

Due to the limitations of the craftsman’s skill, the “distiller” was covered in rivets and rough joins, making him doubt whether it could be properly sealed, and the shape was more than a little off from what he’d envisioned.

Niu the blacksmith, looking sheepish, said, “Young master, I rushed this thing out for you, but for a lot of what you wanted, our iron here just can’t be worked into those shapes…”

Xu Wenshan was well aware of the crude level of metalworking in Deer-Crane Ravine, but he hadn’t realized it was quite this bad.

Upon inspecting the furnace, he found that it wasn’t the blacksmith’s skill that was lacking, but the poor quality of the iron ore in the region and the shoddy smelting tools, which led to the unfinished product.

An idea flashed through his mind. “Why not try making it out of copper?”

Niu clapped his hands. “Copper’s good, definitely easier to work with than iron.”

Xu Wenshan fell silent. If they used copper, the structure would have to be different and the design redrawn.

He rubbed his temples. He was running desperately low on funds and couldn’t afford to wait any longer for the first batch of distilled spirits. With a large store of hides already in hand, compared to the yet-unseen liquor, perhaps the pelts would make a better stand-in for now.

Still, before heading to the county seat, he needed to set his own affairs in order.

…

The next morning, Xu Wenshan splashed cold water on his face and began another busy day.

He had only just stepped outside when Afar came to meet him.

“Young master, yesterday the old master made it clear: you can buy grain from the warehouse, but you must pay the full market price of forty wen per dou. I pleaded with him and brought back ten dou to the shop, but there’s no cash on hand at the moment, so it’s on the books. The old master said the debt must be settled within half a month, or he’ll take back Xiyuan, fields and house included.”

Xu Wenshan managed a wry smile. Truly worthy of being his father—the overlord of Deer-Crane Ravine—meticulous even when dealing with his own son. He had already spent all his money like water on building the new temple, the grain and oil shop, and now there was nothing left in the coffers.

“Oh, and young master, yesterday Old Tiger Lei brought his men again demanding payment.”

Xu Wenshan frowned. “Didn’t we agree to settle accounts monthly? Why are they coming for money again?”

Afar replied, “Last time we only paid half for the pelts. Now they’re asking for the rest. They said if there’s no cash, they’ll take credit at the grain shop.”

Xu Wenshan’s brow furrowed deeper. Most people in Deer-Crane Ravine still bartered and were unused to using money. He was trying to get the hunters accustomed to currency, and if he allowed credit now, they would soon revert to bartering.

“Tell Old Tiger Lei not to mention credit again. The cash they have should last them a month. Next month, both the rest of the pelt money and the payment for game will be settled together. I keep my word.”

Afar nodded. “I also spoke to Butcher Zhang. He’s very pleased with the work now—says he makes more in a day than he used to in half a month. But he asked me to tell you…”

“What did he say?”

Afar swallowed. “He said he knows you like pretty faces. His daughter has grown into a real beauty, still unmarried… That’s all he said.”

Xu Wenshan recalled the cross-dressing Lu Zhishen of years past and shuddered. “Ignore him.”

Seeing Afar’s nervous expression, Xu Wenshan patted him on the back. “How’s your reading coming along?”

Afar replied, “I can recognize a lot of characters now, but I still can’t write.”

Xu Wenshan said, “Don’t worry. Not being able to write does make secretarial work a challenge, but today I’ll look for someone to fill that role. From now on, you’ll be in charge of communications.”

Afar heaved a sigh of relief and answered cheerfully, “Yes, sir.”

He really wasn’t suited to report writing; he was much better with a quick tongue. Knowing he wouldn’t have to suffer through such torment anymore, he was actually delighted.

Luckily, the people in this world hadn’t yet been corrupted by bureaucratic ways. In his previous life, secretarial jobs would have sparked fierce competition.

After hearing the reports, Xu Wenshan hitched up the ox cart and set off for Scholar Li’s home.

…

“A rare guest, a rare guest indeed!” Scholar Li greeted him with clasped hands. Once Xu Wenshan was seated, he explained that his shops were expanding, but he lacked literate staff.

Scholar Li’s face turned troubled. “Young Master Xu, I’m sure you treat your people well, but as a scholar of this dynasty, I’m prohibited by law from engaging in business, and my studies occupy all my time. I’m afraid I simply can’t…”

Xu Wenshan was taken aback, realizing Scholar Li had misunderstood. He quickly explained, “I wouldn’t dream of troubling you to go into trade, sir. I’m actually here to ask for Miss Li’s help.”

Now it was Scholar Li’s turn to be stunned. Was Xu Wenshan here to propose marriage? But that wasn’t how this sort of thing was done…

It was hardly surprising that Scholar Li’s mind went astray. Since ancient times, women had never ventured out to work; at most, they spun thread at home. Xu Wenshan’s proposal to have Li Qing help him was centuries ahead of its time. Scholar Li’s thoughts naturally jumped to matchmaking.

After Xu Wenshan explained in detail, Scholar Li reluctantly understood. Although Xu Wenshan promised generous pay, Scholar Li still found it hard to accept.

“It’s unheard of for an unmarried woman to show her face in public…”

“Times change, customs change, and the old ways are not always suitable for the present,” Xu Wenshan replied. “Just as medicine changes to fit the illness, so must the law change with the times and circumstances. The rules of our ancestors were never meant to last forever; they must be adapted as needed.”

These words rang out like a bell, moving Scholar Li somewhat.

Seizing the moment, Xu Wenshan continued, “Uncle Li, let me be frank. The real reason is that I lack literate talent. I want to open a school, but I can’t afford teachers, and my father won’t be persuaded easily. If Miss Li could lend a hand, once I’ve opened trade routes and raised funds, I swear I’ll found a school.”

At these words, Scholar Li fell to his knees with a thud.

Xu Wenshan rushed to help him up. “Sir, what are you doing?”

Scholar Li, full of emotion, exclaimed, “Nephew, opening trade routes is a small thing, but founding a school is a deed of immeasurable merit! That’s a blessing for all generations! If you establish a school in Deer-Crane Ravine, in time those little ones running around in tattered trousers and learning to walk might one day become pillars of the state! For such a great undertaking, I must bow to you on behalf of all the children who will gain the chance to study!”

Xu Wenshan responded with humility, and after further discussion, the tearful Scholar Li agreed wholeheartedly to let his daughter help Xu Wenshan.

Although the Li family were scholars and had a few tenant farmers, standing equal with the Xu family, Scholar Li had suffered greatly in his youth. There was no private school in Deer-Crane Ravine, so he had to traverse mountain paths to study in the next town. Just as described in the ancient texts, he carried his books on his back through deep valleys, braving wind, rain, and lurking monsters. Several of his classmates had died in the forests, their bodies never found.

These hardships had left him deeply grateful for Xu Wenshan’s vision of founding a school.

Moreover, Scholar Li believed Xu Wenshan to be a man of great talent and ambition, and now saw his benevolence and foresight; marrying his daughter to such a man would hardly be a loss. Sending her to help was nothing.

Having won over Li Qing’s father, it was now time to win over Li Qing herself.

Not knowing how deep her resentment ran, Xu Wenshan underestimated the difficulty. He spent two whole hours at Scholar Li’s home without even seeing her, left waiting outside her door the entire time.

“Open the door, Miss Li! If you can ignore me, at least have the courage to open up!” Xu Wenshan knocked and called outside Li Qing’s door.

Li Qing curled up on her bed, hands over her ears, her face burning.

She had never known a man so shameless, who would block an unmarried girl in her own room—let alone for two whole hours!

“Hurry and open the door!”

Xu Wenshan refused to leave. Li Qing flopped onto her bed, biting her quilt—she was about to burst.

Even the most elegant of young ladies could not escape the call of nature.

For a maiden, this was a crisis of a lifetime!