“Dad, how do you know about a ‘Xianke Ju’ in Qingshui Town?” Li Menglan blinked her eyes and asked in confusion, while muttering curiously to herself: “Uh… could it be that this Li family I transmigrated into has some other unknown background?”
Li Menglan recalled the scenes of wealthy family power struggles described in those transmigration novels from before she had crossed over; weren’t many of the losing sides… all driven out of the manor to the countryside? Could it be… A hint of hope appeared on Li Menglan’s small face.
Uh… As it turned out, this girl Li Menglan was overthinking things. “Daughter, just because you haven’t eaten pork doesn’t mean you haven’t seen a pig walk, right?” With one sentence, Li Dazhu shattered the hope in Li Menglan’s heart.
Li Dazhu looked at his daughter with amusement. “I’ve been to Qingshui Town many times. Whoever has visited Qingshui Town doesn’t know? The most luxurious place in the town center is a teahouse called ‘Xianke Ju.’ According to the folk of Qingshui Town, the boss of ‘Xianke Ju’ is a high official who resigned from his post in the capital and returned to Qingshui Town to live out his remaining years in peace.”
Li Dazhu shared with Li Menglan the news he had heard from others about “Xianke Ju.” This gossip… regardless of time or space, everyone loved to hear it; especially in ancient times… without much entertainment or pastimes, gossip occupied an even more central place in common people’s lives. After all, if life was too dull… it would be hard to endure.
Li Menglan had originally planned to take the high-end route with her sugar-roasted chestnuts. There were only so many sugar-roasted chestnuts; Li Menglan had no intention of selling them cheaply, but if the price was too high… there wouldn’t be many buyers. So Li Menglan didn’t plan to retail them, but rather wanted to find an upscale teahouse for long-term cooperation.
Now, hearing her father’s words only firmed up Li Menglan’s resolve. “Dad, can you take me to see ‘Xianke Ju’?” Li Menglan reached out to grab Li Dazhu’s arm and said, looking up.
“Daughter, Dad only has a dozen or so wen on him.” Li Dazhu thought his daughter was craving the pastries of a big teahouse, so he said with an embarrassed expression: “How about after Dad sells the sugar-roasted chestnuts, then we go to ‘Xianke Ju,’ alright?”
“Dad.” Li Menglan looked at the honest man before her, feeling both sour and bitter in her heart, and forced a smile. “Just listen to me, it’ll be fine. Once we get to ‘Xianke Ju,’ you’ll know; I’m not going to ‘Xianke Ju’ to eat pastries.”
“Not to buy pastries? Then what are you going to do, daughter?” Li Dazhu was completely puzzled.
“It’s a secret. I can’t tell Dad yet.” Li Menglan said mysteriously, pulling on Li Dazhu’s sleeve and walking forward. “Dad, walk faster; after selling the sugar-roasted chestnuts, we still need to buy other things.” Li Menglan urged Li Dazhu.
“Oh… I say, daughter, could you be a little gentler? I’m worried you’ll tear Dad’s clothes; the family doesn’t have extra money to buy cloth for new clothes.” Seeing his daughter using so much force, Li Dazhu quickly said with a pained expression.
“I know, Dad. I’ll be gentler.” Li Menglan loosened her grip and said softly.
Although Qingshui Town was the largest town in the area, it wasn’t very big. There were only about four or five streets total, and the degree of hustle and bustle was fairly decent.
“Xianke Ju” was situated on the largest main street of Qingshui Town, uh… a two-story building; it rather carried the flavor of ancient architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Ming and Qing architecture not only achieved outstanding accomplishments in creating the artistry of communal spaces, but also made advances in architectural techniques. Ming and Qing architecture emphasized the direct joining of beams, columns, and purlins, reducing the intermediary role of dougong interlocking brackets. This not only simplified the structure, but also saved a great deal of timber; thereby achieving greater architectural space with less material. Ming and Qing architecture also made extensive use of brick and stone, promoting the development of brick and stone structures.
Now before Li Menglan was precisely a two-story teahouse built in the Ming and Qing architectural style, even possessing somewhat of the feeling of the Jiangnan water towns from that period. Why would one say that?
For a very simple reason: Jiangnan folk dwellings all demonstrated an obvious distinction from northern folk dwellings. Their carving and ornamentation were extremely abundant, yet colored paintings were rarely used. Walls employed white and blue-gray, while timber was brown-black or brown-red… Compared to the brilliant colors of the north, they were quite elegant and understated.
At this moment, this “Xianke Ju” before Li Menglan’s eyes was just like a Jiangnan woman, everywhere revealing refinement and grace. With just one glance, Li Menglan fell in love with it. “As expected of a high official who returned from the capital,” Li Menglan thought in amazement. “Look at this teahouse—every corner exudes a dense scholarly atmosphere. Truly not simple at all!”
“Guests, please come in.” A waiter in cyan clothing greeted the father and daughter Li Dazhu and Li Menglan entering “Xianke Ju” with a smiling, attentive face, not looking down on them in the slightest because of their simple clothing.
“Two guests, what would you like to drink? Pu’er, Tieguanyin, Longjing… would you like some pastries?” A big teahouse was a big teahouse; the service was truly top-class. The waiter led the father and daughter Li Dazhu and Li Menglan to a seat and said warmly.
“N-no… sorry… that…” It was Li Dazhu’s first time entering such a high-class place and receiving such good treatment; under his nervousness, he actually began to stammer.
“Dad, don’t be nervous; I’ll speak to this big brother.” Li Menglan spoke to comfort her father, then said crisply to the waiter: “Big brother, we’re not here to drink tea. Is your shopkeeper here? I have business I want to discuss with your shopkeeper. Could I trouble you to ask your shopkeeper to come out?”
“Discuss business?” The waiter was startled by Li Menglan’s words but quickly recovered. “Little girl, you’ve come at a most inopportune time. Our shopkeeper left before dawn; I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip this time.” The waiter said with an apologetic face.
Uh… What? Not here? Li Menglan was dumbfounded. Tell me, was it easy for her to make this long trip? How could she be so unlucky?
“Big brother, then… when will your shopkeeper return?”
“Little girl, our shopkeeper went to the county town; uh… he’ll probably need three or four days at the fastest to return.” The waiter looked at the father and daughter Li Menglan and Li Dazhu with some pity.
Li Dazhu was wearing a short jacket covered in patches, washed so pale the original color couldn’t be seen. It was already late autumn, yet he still wore a pair of straw sandals on his feet. Li Menglan, needless to say, was wearing old clothes altered from her mother Zhang Yuniang’s garments; the cloth shoes on her feet had her big toes poking out.
Looking at the father and daughter’s appearance, their family circumstances must be quite difficult! The waiter shook his head silently in his heart. He really wanted to help; unfortunately… he was just a small waiter with the will but not the ability.
Ah… The waiter’s words completely crushed Li Menglan’s hopes.