Chapter 33: Immorality Rising Like Smoke
Even though the Ning family was the wealthiest in Xinzhou County, they were still astonished to discover that a single bar of soap cost ten strings of cash.
Liu Rushi seemed to have anticipated Ning Yaxin’s reaction, and she smiled, saying, “Miss Ning, this soap is a rare treasure, a once-in-a-century marvel. There’s nothing like it on the market, nothing to compare it to. Ten strings is not expensive at all!”
Ning Yaxin did not deny Liu Rushi’s words. Ever since she had used the soap, she no longer wished to touch soapberries.
After all, the soap was more convenient and cleansed better, and Ning Yaxin especially liked the faint fragrance left on her skin after washing with it, with no trace of greasiness whatsoever.
When Liu Rushi saw that Ning Yaxin remained silent, she added, “Miss Ning, if you think it’s too expensive, perhaps you could order fewer bars for now… Just five, to start with, what do you think?”
But Ning Yaxin was not one to be concerned over a mere few dozen strings of cash. Hearing Liu Rushi say this, she immediately set aside any hesitation.
“Manager Liu, let it be ten bars. Once the soap arrives, please inform me as soon as possible!” As soon as Ning Yaxin finished speaking, she instructed Ling’er to pay a fifty-string deposit.
“Certainly, certainly.” Liu Rushi agreed with a bright smile.
Ning Yaxin nodded and rose to leave.
Halfway out, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and asked, “May I ask, Manager Liu, who is the maker of this soap?”
“Well…” Liu Rushi hesitated, unsure how to answer.
Ning Yaxin quickly explained, “Please don’t misunderstand, Manager Liu. I’m not trying to learn your source. I’m simply curious—what kind of person could invent such a wondrous thing as this soap, with such ingenuity?”
Liu Rushi replied, “My apologies, Miss Ning. In fact, I purchased this soap from merchants of the Western Regions. As for the actual maker, I’m afraid I do not know.”
“So it comes from the Western Regions—no wonder it’s so expensive!” Ning Yaxin nodded in understanding.
Liu Rushi nodded along in agreement.
Soon after, Ning Yaxin stepped out and boarded her own carriage.
The carriage started off slowly, leaving behind the Miscellany Emporium.
Ling’er walked beside the carriage, and as they went, she said to Ning Yaxin inside, “Miss, the goods from the Western Regions are simply too costly—ten strings for such a small bar of soap, isn’t that daylight robbery?”
Ning Yaxin lifted half the window curtain and said, “Liu Rushi is lying to us. This soap isn’t from the Western Regions at all!”
“Not from the Western Regions?” Ling’er looked at Ning Yaxin in surprise.
“Didn’t you notice? The red paper used to wrap the soap is actually made using the papermaking techniques from the workshops around Heyang County. If this were genuinely from the Western Regions, why would they choose paper from our Liang Kingdom?”
“Yes, Miss! That doesn’t make sense!” Ling’er’s doubts grew at once.
Ning Yaxin continued, “And another thing—have you considered why someone from the Western Regions would name it the ‘Peony Brand’?”
“What’s wrong with the name ‘Peony Brand,’ Miss? I think it sounds lovely,” Ling’er said, puzzled.
Ning Yaxin explained, “Peonies are loved and cherished only here in Liang. To those in the Western Regions, it’s just an ordinary flower…”
“And to the north, in Wei, they’ve been at war with us for years. People in Wei dislike peonies so much that it borders on aversion!”
Ling’er grew more bewildered as she listened. “Miss, why bring up Wei? What does that have to do with this?”
“It’s quite relevant!” Ning Yaxin answered seriously. “You know as well as I do that merchants from the Western Regions trade with both Liang and Wei. If such an expensive product as this soap appeared in the West, would they really only sell it to us in Liang?”
Ling’er suddenly understood. “You’re right, Miss! If it was called ‘Peony Brand,’ the people of Wei would never buy it. The merchants of the Western Regions are profit-driven—they wouldn’t be so foolish!”
Ning Yaxin nodded, her tone confident. “That’s why I believe the creator of this soap must be someone from Liang!”
“Miss, could they be from Heyang County? Didn’t you just say that the red paper came from there?” Ling’er asked.
Ning Yaxin shook her head. “Not necessarily. The paper from Heyang has already spread throughout Heyang and Xinzhou. How do you know the soapmaker bought it in Heyang, and not somewhere else?”
Ling’er was at a loss for words and furrowed her brow, falling silent.
At this, Ning Yaxin also said no more. She let the curtain fall back down.
——
At dusk, Xu Mo returned home carrying an iron wok.
Chen Miaoyi had never seen such a thing before and was instantly curious. “Husband, what is this?”
Xu Mo smiled. “Miaoyi, didn’t I say last time that I’d get us a better wok? Look—this iron wok is it!”
“Iron wok?” Chen Miaoyi exclaimed in delight. “Is it the same kind they use at the Delicacies Pavilion now?”
“That’s right!” Xu Mo nodded, carrying the wok into the kitchen. “Miaoyi, just wait and see—I’ll show you my skills!”
The thought of having stir-fried dishes sent Chen Miaoyi into a flutter of joy.
Soon, Xu Mo found eggs, pork, celery, and a large cabbage in the kitchen.
After considering the ingredients for a moment, he made up his mind. “Miaoyi, I’ll make stir-fried pork with celery, and cabbage with scrambled eggs. What do you think?”
“Mm, I’ll leave it to you, Husband!” Chen Miaoyi agreed at once.
The couple busied themselves in the kitchen. While Chen Miaoyi washed rice and cooked it, Xu Mo prepared the ingredients for the dishes.
When the rice was ready and Xu Mo began to cook, Chen Miaoyi helped by adding firewood to the stove.
They worked together seamlessly.
By the time they sat down to eat, night had already fallen.
Xu Mo picked up a piece of pork belly and placed it in Chen Miaoyi’s bowl, smiling. “Miaoyi, try it—how does it taste?”
Chen Miaoyi ate the meat at once, chewing and nodding rapidly. “Husband, it’s delicious! So delicious!”
Xu Mo grinned. “As long as you like it. I was worried I’d overcooked it a bit.”
“Not at all, it’s just right—really!” Chen Miaoyi quickly assured him.
Xu Mo said, “Now try the cabbage with egg. It’s my first time making it, so I’m not sure how well I managed the heat.”
Chen Miaoyi took a bite and once again nodded vigorously. “It’s delicious—this one’s great too!”
Xu Mo couldn’t help but laugh. “Is ‘delicious’ all you know how to say? Can’t you praise it another way?”
——
Night deepened.
After washing up, Xu Mo saw Chen Miaoyi preparing to sleep on the floor again. He went over and gently took her hand.
“Miaoyi, don’t sleep on the floor tonight. Come sleep inside,” he said, lightly tickling her palm as he spoke.
Chen Miaoyi’s face flushed with shyness at his teasing, and she lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.
In the year since their marriage, Xu Mo had never been so forward.
Chen Miaoyi was unaccustomed to it, feeling both expectant and nervous, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
Sensing her wavering, Xu Mo added, “Miaoyi, it’s getting cold these days. Just listen to the wind outside! If you fall ill, who will help me watch over the soap business?”
Chen Miaoyi, head lowered, replied softly, “But isn’t there Uncle’s family too?”
“Uncle’s family is theirs, ours is ours. We’re business partners, but it’s not the same!” Xu Mo said earnestly.
After a long moment’s hesitation, Chen Miaoyi finally nodded her assent.
As Xu Mo, delighted, took her hand to lead her to the bedroom, a sudden noise came from the courtyard.
It sounded as if a clay jar or some such had been smashed.
“Husband, what was that?” Chen Miaoyi asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” Xu Mo replied, shaking his head. He fetched the oil lamp and stepped outside.
They had barely taken a few steps when both caught a whiff of a foul stench.
Xu Mo raised the lamp to see, and his brow furrowed instantly, nausea rising in his throat.
Some wretched soul had thrown a whole jar of excrement into their courtyard.
When the clay jar shattered on the ground, the courtyard was instantly awash in filth.