Chapter 30: The Wager

After today’s events, the name Jia Ping’an is destined to resound throughout Ningguta; to say it is known by all would be no exaggeration.

Hu Buyun sat there, his heart at ease as he watched the beaming faces of Zheng Denghao and Zhou Cai. Only moments ago, he had regretted his decision to personally attend Zhou Wenbing’s opening ceremony. Originally, he had thought that since the Zhou family was backed by the Honorable Consort Xian, showing his support would be a move that, once reported back to the imperial palace, would prove highly advantageous. He had never expected the Zheng family to be so audacious, showing absolutely no regard for the Zhou family. They had come to stir up trouble the very moment the business opened, nearly sparking a violent brawl. Had that happened, he would have been caught in the middle—how was he supposed to handle that? With his current influence, he could not afford a direct confrontation with the Zheng family. Yet, if he failed to support the Zheng clan, and word reached the Honorable Consort Xian, how would she perceive him? If she were to whisper a few words in the Emperor’s ear, he would surely suffer the consequences.

Just as he was considering an excuse to slip away, Jia Ping’an had appeared, not only diffusing the tense atmosphere but orchestrating a resolution that left everyone satisfied. One could say that Jia Ping’an was the greatest hero of the day, having indirectly done him a massive favor. Furthermore, the animosity now solidified between the Zheng and Zhou families was a result that pleased Hu Buyun and served his interests well. He could now play the role of the fisherman, waiting to strike in the manner most beneficial to himself.

Reflecting on the outcome, if not for the fact that Jia Ping’an was only a fifteen-year-old boy, Hu Buyun would have suspected that the timing of his intervention was entirely calculated. Fifteen? He chuckled. Just a boy, his temperament surely not yet settled—how could he possibly calculate such things with such precision? With that thought, Hu Buyun shook his head, attributing everything that happened today to mere coincidence.

The Zhou Ginseng Shop had acquired a ginseng root over seventy years old, a auspicious start to their business. With this, the event drew to a close, and guests began to depart. Everyone was busy; they had come partly to give face to the Zhou family and partly to see if there was any excitement to be had. Now that the curtain had fallen, there was little point in lingering.

Zhou Wenbing stood to see Hu Buyun and Zheng Yugong out, his face full of smiles. At least from his expression, one could not detect a hint of displeasure. Zhou Cai saw off the managers of the other ginseng shops, and when he reached Jia Ping’an, Tong Weixing, and Guo Tongfang, he gripped the young man’s hand repeatedly. "A hero indeed, even at such a young age. We must certainly visit each other more often in the future."

"That goes without saying," Jia Ping’an replied with a smile. It was merely diplomatic posturing; he was well-versed in such games.

Chan Shi also packed her zither and left the shop with the reward money provided by the Zhou family. As she walked outside, she couldn't help but look back, the image of the young man appearing unbidden in her mind. Had Jia Ping’an not appeared today, she dared not imagine what the outcome might have been. If the family that hired her had lost face, would she have fared any better?

Though she was a famous courtesan in Ningguta—with many people offering money just to hear her play, catch a glimpse of her beauty, or hope to be her guest—she knew clearly that in the eyes of the truly powerful, she was nothing more than a common plaything. If they chose to give you face, you were a celebrated artist, perhaps even called a "talented woman" if they were being generous. But if they chose not to? Or if they insisted on using force?

As a mere woman, she would have had no power to resist such a situation, left to the mercy of others. Like today, if the Zhou family had been enraged, she dared not think of the consequences. Fortunately, the young man had appeared; in that sense, she owed him a favor.

Right, the boy had apparently earned six thousand taels in a single day. That was six thousand taels! She could only earn a few hundred in a year of hard work, and that was only because of her reputation. Compared to other courtesans, how much could they really make? Theirs was a youth-dependent trade, and the money they earned was spent on their appearance; how much truly remained in their hands? This was the reason many sisters in the pleasure houses could not find peace in their old age, often ending their lives in poverty and destitution.

"I wonder which young lady will be lucky enough to marry such a man; it would truly be a blessing cultivated over three lifetimes," she sighed, before boarding her carriage, accompanied by her maid, to head home.

Jia Ping’an did not return home immediately. After walking a short distance from the Zhou Ginseng Shop with Master Tong and the Official Guo, he bade his two elders farewell.

"Go on. Your performance today was excellent; your reputation is now established. But sometimes, fame alone is not enough—you need the help of influential people, and General Hu can be such a benefactor," said Guo Tongfang, fully approving of Jia Ping’an’s plan to visit the General’s manor.

Had it been earlier, Master Tong might have felt a sense of disdain for such behavior, but not anymore. Especially since he had attended the opening and, as a gesture of gratitude, had received five taels of silver as a stipend for his trouble. With silver in his pocket, Tong Weixing’s perspective had shifted. They said scholars should have integrity and not bow for five pecks of rice, but when one’s livelihood was in question, what was integrity worth? Besides, he hadn't done anything to compromise his character; he had merely offered standard congratulations. This was honest pay for honest work, and he took the money with a clear conscience. If he could accept payment for his presence, why shouldn't Jia Ping’an go to the General’s manor to foster a connection? Master Tong was pedantic, but he was not a fool.

Jia Ping’an did not notice the change in Tong Weixing, nor did he need to. He respected Master Tong for his erudition—after all, anyone who could become a top scholar was a master of study. Secondly, he had the ability to help, and it was a simple, effortless gesture. If such a person could be a friend, that was for the best; if one day the man could no longer keep pace with him, he would simply drift away. Life was too exhausting if every action had to be calculated for a return. With ability, one could afford to act according to one's heart. Making friends could be done freely—cast a wide net, and filter later.

However, some things could not be delayed, such as making money. Someone once said that fame should be pursued early. With today’s events, Jia Ping’an had gained some notoriety, and he was sure many more would know of him. But that was far from enough. If he relied solely on selling ginseng, how much could he really make? Furthermore, if the supply increased, prices would naturally drop. Jia Ping’an understood the principle of scarcity better than anyone in this era; he would never undermine his own foundation.

He could release the high-quality ginseng slowly. But there were some who had to be provided for, such as the General’s manor. Hu Buyun had watched him sell those two old roots to the Zhou and Zheng families. Even though they had paid, old ginseng was not something you could buy with money alone. If he didn't seize the moment to visit the manor, it would be a sign of poor judgment—and he couldn't afford to offend them. He had to go. Moreover, he wasn't going to gift the ginseng, but to sell it; there was still money to be made. More importantly, he had a more critical matter to attend to, one that required the General’s personal approval.

At the General’s manor, no sooner had Hu Buyun returned than the steward, Hu Shoufu, hurried over. "General, Master Jia is here."

"Oh, invite him in," Hu Buyun said, clearly satisfied by how quickly Jia Ping’an had arrived. He smiled at his cousin, Hu Buxin, who was following him.

"Say no more, brother, you win," Hu Buxin said, looking somewhat dejected.

On the way back, the two had made a bet. Hu Buyun had claimed that Jia Ping’an would come to the manor to offer ginseng by the end of the afternoon at the latest. Hu Buxin had disagreed, thinking it unlikely—firstly, because seventy- or eighty-year-old ginseng was hard to come by, and secondly, because Jia Ping’an was just a boy who surely couldn't manage everything so perfectly. The stake was one hundred taels of silver. To a common family, this was a fortune, but to men of their power, it was a mere trifle.

Yet, here they were, and Jia Ping’an had arrived. It was clear the boy had come straight from the Zhou Ginseng Shop without even returning home. Though young, his actions were so seasoned that it was hard to believe he was only fifteen. Was the water and soil of Changdu really so nourishing? They had seen plenty of young masters from Changdu in Ningguta before, but none had performed like this.

While the two brothers were still pondering this, Jia Ping’an, led by Hu Shoufu, appeared in the main hall.

"This youngster greets General Hu and Manager Hu," Jia Ping’an said, bowing with cupped hands.