Mo Sang – CH 314

Chapter 314. To Be Clear

The two chatted and laughed as they walked along the shore of West Lake into a small building built over the lake.

Li Sangrou glanced around.

From the building, starting about ten chi away, layers of guards stood watch, the lake completely empty. At the building’s entrance, rows of people stood with their hands at their sides, the restaurant owner, waiters, and others, all holding their breath, clearly terrified.

Li Sangrou and Gu Xi went up to the second floor, one after the other, and sat by the railing facing the lake.

“Is the lake cleaned up, or has there just never been anyone here?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile, looking at the empty lake.

“There’s no need to clean the lake; there’s nobody here right now,” Gu Xi laughed. “I am counting down the days for Pan Dingshan, seeing how long it will take for him to have boats gliding across the lake again.”

“I will have Chuantiao and the others come over tomorrow to see if the fish in the lake are any good,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

Gu Xi chuckled, “Skipping does not count, and you certainly do not!”

Ru-Yi, accompanied by several servants, first brought up several cold dishes.

Gu Xi gestured for Li Sangrou to try them first.

Li Sangrou tasted each dish, nodding and smiling. “Very good.”

Gu Xi picked up his chopsticks, tasted them, and also nodded with a smile, “Indeed, very good.”

The servants then brought up several hot dishes. The two slowly finished eating. Night had fallen, and a crescent moon hung obliquely in the sky, surrounded by twinkling stars. The lake shimmered.

Ru-Yi had already brewed tea and served it. The two faced the lake, sipping their tea and watching the crescent moon and stars, and the shimmering water.

After they finished half a cup of tea, Gu Xi smiled and said, “Last time I came, several scholars accompanied me on a boat trip on the lake. It was evening, and the lake was dotted with small boats, accompanied by the sounds of traditional music.

Those scholars said it was too noisy. They said that at dawn, when the lake is empty, one can best appreciate the beauty of West Lake by boating alone or climbing a tower alone.

I think it is better when it is lively.”

“Jiangdu City also has a lake, Xuanwu Lake,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

Gu Xi looked at Li Sangrou, waiting for her to continue.

“The year we seized the Ye Xiang Pavilion, during the Autumn Festival, Xuanwu Lake was very lively. Da Chang and I, a large group, went to watch the festivities.

When we got to the lakeside, we had not gone far when a group of guards and servants chased us away, saying that the old lady of the General’s Mansion wanted to release animals into Xuanwu Lake.

We went around to a grove of trees and climbed up to look.

Sitting in the trees, looking out over the lake, we saw dozens of small boats driving away large and small tourist boats, all driving them behind the islands, out of sight.

Hei Ma was incredibly envious and could not help but shout out a line he’d heard in a storybook: ‘A true man should be like this!’

A few feet away, a guard from the Wu family heard him and stabbed him with his spear, sending him running with his head in his hands,” Li Sangrou relayed, laughing.

Gu Xi raised an eyebrow at Li Sangrou, unsure if her laughter was genuinely funny or something else.

“Nothing much, just remembered this and said it offhand.” Li Sangrou met Gu Xi’s questioning gaze with a smile.

If you want to cleanse the lake, wait until we return to Jianle City, to Jinming Pond. This is newly acquired land; cleaning the lake is not appropriate here.

Besides, with Pan Dingshan’s temper, if he really wanted to clean up the lake, he’d keep coming back until he annoyed us to no end.”

Gu Xi looked at Li Sangrou, a hint of unease in his voice, and smiled apologetically.

“I should not have made that joke earlier.” Li Sangrou paused, looked at Gu Xi, and said seriously, “It was really nothing, just a casual remark. I should not have been so casual. In the future…”

“In the future, you can be as casual as you like. If we cannot be casual with each other,” Gu Xi paused, “who else can you be casual with? Who else can I be casual with?”

Li Sangrou smiled but did not speak.

Gu Xi turned to look at her and, after a moment, smiled and said, “Before this battle, my Elder Brother wrote a letter arranging that after pacifying Hangzhou, Zhihe and Yang Zhili would lead troops south to clear out bandits in the southwest and along the coast. Yanchao and Qiao An would lead troops north.

I will stay in Hangzhou. After everything is stable in Hangzhou, I will send the remaining troops back to their respective places to rest and recuperate. After that, I will return to Jianle City.

My Elder Brother’s wedding is set for late summer or early autumn, before the autumn imperial examinations.

And you, what are your plans?”

Li Sangrou was taken aback by Gu Xi’s abrupt question. “Me? First, I will build that long dike, then head south and see what happens.”

“I am asking, what about after that? What about after heading south?” Gu Xi asked slowly.

“Build ships, go to sea, then head south or north if I want, or west, make money, and repair that road, roughly like that,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“I am not asking you that; I am asking you, what about yourself?” Gu Xi asked again.

Li Sangrou raised an eyebrow at him. What was he trying to ask?

“Are you not going to settle down?” Gu Xi asked, somewhat annoyed.

Li Sangrou gave a drawn-out “Oh,” then lifted her foot and propped it on the railing.

“In the Old Yunmeng Guard, there’s a man named Wei Fu. Wei Fu’s wife once said that Meng Yanqing, Wei Fu, and I do not deserve a family; we do not deserve to be parents.

She’s right.

I like to be free, to act as I please, without any burdens, without any restraint.

If I had a family, and if I were still like this, I would definitely burden my family, or I would have to worry about them. I would not be free. I cannot have a family.

As for being parents. Being a parent is a huge responsibility. You have to raise them, teach them, set an example, think about your children’s future, and plan for the long term, and it takes a tremendous amount of heart and energy. I cannot do it.”

Li Sangrou paused, tilting her head to look at Gu Xi and smiling. “I told Blind Mi’s senior brother that if there were something that allowed women to experience the pleasures of sex without getting pregnant, that would be wonderful.

If that were the case, the other half of life’s pleasures—food and sex—could be enjoyed just like food. How wonderful that would be.

I wonder when Master Qiao will be able to create something like that.”

Gu Xi glared at Li Sangrou, choking for a long moment before finally speaking, “You!”

“I will not let anyone or anything hold me back.

Someone like me is unprecedented and without successors. I have no father, no mother, no clan, no children, and I do not want any heirs.” Li Sangrou paused, looked at Gu Xi, and smiled with a shrug. “I should not have, and I cannot have.”

Gu Xi’s face turned slightly pale. He remained silent for a long time before looking up at Li Sangrou, who was gazing at the lake. “Master Qiao is working on it? How does she do it?”

“I heard she’s working on it. I cannot figure out how to do it either. I just feel it must be very difficult. Life is only a hundred years long; I probably will not live to see it. It is a pity,” Li Sangrou sighed slowly.

“I talked to my Elder Brother about it.” Gu Xi was silent again, and after a long while, she lowered his eyelids and said, “If I were to marry you, what would be the difficulty? My Elder Brother said it is not with him, nor with the court. He thinks the difficulty lies with you.”

“Your Elder Brother is really clever,” Li Sangrou clicked her tongue.

Gu Xi turned his head to look at her and, after a while, gave a vague “hmm.”

………………………………

Half a month after capturing Hangzhou, Wen Shunzhi and Yang Zhili, Wen Yanchao and Qiao An, each leading their rested armies, set off separately, one to the south and one to the north.

No one was boating on West Lake yet, nor was there any music. However, the streets and alleys of Hangzhou were already open as usual. Although there were fewer vendors and pedestrians than before, the streets were still bustling.

Gu Xi was busy checking and coordinating the remaining troops, ensuring they returned to their posts for supplies. Wen Cheng was busy arranging the supplies and provisions at the two locations, one in the south and one in the north. Pan Dingshan, along with the officials of Hangzhou, was busy clearing the ruins in the city, cleaning and spraying pesticides, and racking his brains to find ways to raise money to settle the fire damage and the refugees of a large portion of the city.

Li Sangrou had plenty of free time and wandered around the streets and alleys of Hangzhou with Hei Ma and a few others.

In the evening, Li Sangrou returned to her newly purchased house, where Meng Yanqing handed her a summary of the day’s major events, delivered by Ru-Yi.

Li Sangrou sat down on the veranda, opened the folded documents, and glanced at them half-heartedly.

After reading about ten items, Li Sangrou’s gaze fell on the list of shipyards Pan Dingshan was preparing to sell—those unclaimed shipyards originally requisitioned by Southern Liang.

Li Sangrou narrowed her eyes slightly and, after a moment, called out to Da Chang, “Da Chang, has Sister-in-law Yu returned from Jiangzhou City?”

“She’s back. I received a letter yesterday saying that she heard Hangzhou had fallen, so she hurried back,” Da Chang replied.

“When will she arrive in Hangzhou?” Li Sangrou continued.

“Earliest tomorrow, at the latest the day after,” Da Chang replied, thinking of the date on the letter.

“Alright, Mazha and Chuantiao, tomorrow you two wait outside the city gate. When you see Sister-in-law Yu, tell her not to go to the shipyards but to come to me first,” Li Sangrou ordered loudly.

………………………………

Chairman Chai of the Qingzhou Chamber of Commerce, along with his deputy head, Steward Bai, and a dozen or so managers, arrived in Hangzhou, travel-worn.

The group found an inn to stay in and immediately went out to inquire around. They spent the next day inquiring again. Chairman Chai, Steward Bai, and the dozen or so managers gathered in Chairman Chai’s superior room, their brows furrowed.

“Tell us first,” Chairman Chai said, gesturing to Steward Bai with a frown.

“I am afraid we are too late!” Steward Bai said with a bitter expression. “I heard today that someone beat us to it; they came to buy up the weaving workshops the day after the city fell.”

“Me too,” said a manager next to Steward Bai, equally distressed.

“Which one did not get it?” Chairman Chai asked, his brow furrowed.

“They said it is the Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce,” a young manager next to Chairman Chai answered crisply.

“The Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce!” Steward Bai exclaimed in surprise.

“I thought it should be them!” Chairman Chai slammed his hand on the table.

“The Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce and the Meng family business in Yangzhou have been partners for decades. The Meng family is one of the top textile manufacturers in Jiangnan. I heard that they also took over the cotton cloth business.” Steward Bai slammed his hand on the table, understanding dawning on him.

“Is this the Boss’s idea?” one of the managers asked, craning his neck.

“I do not think so.” Chairman Chai frowned, thought for a moment, and slowly shook his head. “If the Boss wants to take care of someone, she will take care of the Xin’an Chamber of Commerce first. How could it be the Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce’s turn?

The Boss mentioned the cotton and cotton cloth issue publicly the other day. She said that cotton and cotton cloth are both warm and lightweight. If this business really takes off, the wool from Jingzhou will become worthless. The Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce is definitely more interested in this business than we are.

Besides, wool, silk, and cotton cloth, although the weaving methods differ, they are still all in the same trade. They know more about these things than we do. Sigh!” Chairman Chai sighed deeply. “If we do not let go of this weaving business, it is like playing with our weaknesses against their strengths. Forget it.”

Steward Bai frowned and sighed.

The other dozen or so managers, some frowning and some sighing, all knew Chairman Chai was right. The weaving business they had come for with such enthusiasm had been snatched away by the Jingzhou Chamber of Commerce, and it was no longer viable.

“Then what about us?” Steward Bai frowned, troubled.

“Is the Boss in Hangzhou?” Chairman Chai looked at the dozen or so managers around him.

“Yes,” the young manager who had answered earlier nodded hurriedly. “I specifically inquired, and they said she lives on Liusheng Street, not far from Jingling Palace.”

“Get ready. Tomorrow, the two of us will go to pay a visit to the Boss and ask for her guidance. You should go too,” Chairman Chai said to Steward Bai, then turned to the young manager.

“Alright,” Steward Bai and the young manager agreed together.

“Everyone, go back and rest first. Do not rush. There’s plenty of business. Letting go of the weaving workshop will definitely bring even better business. Do not worry,” Chairman Chai reassured everyone firmly.

The people responded haphazardly, got up one after another, and went back to their rooms.

Chairman Chai gestured for Steward Bai and the young manager to stay. The three of them discussed things for a while. Steward Bai went out to buy gifts for the visit, while the young manager went out to inquire about the Boss’s whereabouts in the vicinity of Liusheng Street, such as whether she was often seen going out, and if she went out in the morning, around what time, etc.

Early the next morning, Mazha and Chuantiao left the house on Liusheng Street, bought a bag of lotus leaf-wrapped buns at the street corner, and ate them one by one as they headed towards the Nanshui Gate to wait for Sister-in-law Yu.

Datou and Xiao Lu, each carrying a bamboo basket, had bought two large baskets of buns and were about to turn back when Chairman Chai stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled. “If I remember correctly, you two are Master Li and Master Lu, right?”

“Who?” Datou was confused. Who was Master Li? Who was Master Lu?

“I am Master Lu, and you are Master Li!” Xiao Lu kicked Datou, turned to Chairman Chai, and smiled. “Excuse my poor eyesight, and you are…?”

“I am the Chairman of the Qingzhou Chamber of Commerce, surnamed Chai. When the Boss was in Jianle City, I was fortunate enough to be favored by her and received an invitation.” Chairman Chai quickly introduced himself.

“Oh!” Xiao Lu understood immediately. “Is there something you need?”

“Deputy Head Bai, Manager Zhou, and I just arrived in Hangzhou the other day. We heard the Boss is here, so we came to pay our respects,” Chairman Chai replied with a forced smile.

“Oh!” Xiao Lu said again. “Our Boss never lets anyone pay their respects to her. If you do not have anything else, you can skip the greeting.”

“There is something! Something small!” Seeing Xiao Lu about to leave, Chairman Chai quickly changed his tune.

“Oh, there is something? Then let’s go.” Xiao Lu nodded decisively.

“Thank you, Master Lu. Thank you, Master Li.” Chairman Chai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked him again.

“I remember now, my name is Li Shou!” Datou stood there dumbfounded, nudging Xiao Lu with his elbow. “You know, it is lucky it was just the two of us today; you’re Master Lu, and I’m Master Li. What if I were with Chuantiao or Mazha? Master Li Yu? Master Li Huang? Master Li Shou?”

Chairman Chai, following behind, looked at Datou speechlessly. Behind him, the young manager, Zhou, could not help but cough to cover his laughter.