Chapter 24: Is This 110? There’s a Show-Off Here!
Chapter 24: Is This 110? There’s a Show-Off Here!
“Fang Residence!”
Yang Xin read out the words on the plaque above his head.
Before him stood a vermilion-painted gate, flanked by a pair of huge stone lions. An eight-shaped screen wall divided the entrance, with high walls that were actually the rear walls of the reversed-wing houses stretching on either side, covered with glazed tiles…
This was Fang Congzhe’s home.
“Seventh Young Miss, how is the Grand Master’s health?”
A gatekeeper came out and asked with a fawning bow.
“The same as before. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Fu. Has Second Uncle returned to the residence yet?”
Miss Fang said.
“Replying to Seventh Young Miss, the Master is still at the palace, but the Eldest Young Master is in the residence.”
The gatekeeper said.
Miss Fang snorted with disgust.
Then she turned her head. Yang Xin, who had been standing with one hand behind his back admiring the gate of Fang Residence, looked at her with an innocent face. The sky had cleared by now. Under the sunlight after the rain, this guy stood there with his white robes fluttering slightly, softly waving a folding fan in his hand. He was tall and handsome, his smile carrying a hint of roguish charm, scholarly yet valiant, with broad shoulders full of strength. It made Miss Fang feel a little dazed for a moment…
“You, follow me!”
She said through gritted teeth.
“What do you want to do with me? I’m not that kind of easy person!”
Yang Xin said warily.
As a wanted man, coming to the residence of the current Chief Grand Secretary was not a good idea. These grand mansions had countless household servants. If you weren’t familiar with the place, you couldn’t even find an escape route. Fang Congzhe’s home was at least five courtyards deep; this was the standard for high-ranking officials. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford something more luxurious, but there were regulations on what standard officials could live in. Even five courtyards was very large, and it was easy to get lost in such a big mansion. If Miss Fang gave an order and hundreds of household servants rushed him from all sides, he would be like a turtle caught in a jar. He was very clear-headed on this matter. Miss Fang was indeed quite beautiful, but he wasn’t someone obsessed with feminine charms.
“Tell my Second Uncle everything you know. He will help you solve your trouble!”
Miss Fang said.
“He’s not home!”
Yang Xin said.
“You weren’t afraid to enter the Xu Mansion. You were completely off guard with Wanqing. Why are you so wary of me?”
Miss Fang said through clenched teeth.
“Are we that familiar?”
Yang Xin said.
“I live in the Xianyi Neighborhood. I didn’t remember the exact alley, but it’s the residence of Eunuch Wei from the Jiazi Storage. The block chief is surnamed He. Whenever Grand Secretary Fang wishes to see me, just send someone to say the word. However, I think I should prepare something before seeing him. Having this thing would make explaining easier, and he could also present it to the Emperor. But this thing requires some cost to make. I need to find some skilled craftsmen. I am a poor man, and this is being made for Grand Secretary Fang.”
He continued under Miss Fang’s fiery gaze.
“Get lost!”
Miss Fang snarled, taking out her purse and once again throwing it at Yang Xin.
The gatekeeper beside them looked shocked.
“Don’t be like that. I really need to prepare. I want to make a Terrestrial Globe for Grand Secretary Fang. Then he can present it to the Emperor. It’s similar to the “Kunyu Wanguo Tu” map, but more vivid and accurate, including some places not on the Kunyu Wanguo Tu.”
Yang Xin said.
He was telling the truth.
The earliest Terrestrial Globe of the Great Ming era in modern times is in a British museum. It was made under the order of Emperor Tianqi in the third year of the Tianqi reign, entrusted to the Missionaries. So, those who time-travel to the late Ming and think of making a globe can wake up now. Fortunately, Yang Xin arrived just a little bit earlier; he could still use this to show off. Although he couldn’t possibly create a globe as accurate as a modern one, the good thing was this era only required a rough idea. The Kunyu Wanguo Tu wasn’t precise either. He believed the world map he could draw from memory would definitely not be worse than something like the Kunyu Wanguo Tu.
How accurate was the latter anyway?
It was just a rough outline.
The Kunyu Wanguo Tu even drew the Shandong Peninsula almost unrecognizably!
Miss Fang watched him coldly, her gaze frosty.
“Alright, fine. How about I go make it at your Fang family home!”
Yang Xin, seemingly annoyed while still captivated by her beauty, said impatiently.
“To my home!”
Miss Fang said coldly.
“I’ll go, I’ll go. If I go, even if you skin me alive, I’ll accept it!”
Yang Xin said.
“I don’t care for your skin!”
Miss Fang’s expression softened slightly, and she snorted contemptuously at him.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Seventh Sister! Why not come inside?”
A voice came from inside the gate. Then a man in his thirties walked out, reeking of wine and indulgence. His steps were unsteady, his face devoid of color—clearly a dissipated good-for-nothing drained by vice. His looks were passable, adorned with jewels, and he wore a huge ruby ring on his finger.
Miss Fang snorted coldly and simply got into her own carriage…
“I am your elder brother!”
The good-for-nothing angrily shouted.
Yang Xin watched the wealthy family drama with amusement, then cupped his hands toward the good-for-nothing and hurriedly chased after Miss Fang’s carriage. The good-for-nothing behind him watched with interest. This person was probably Fang Congzhe’s eldest son, that Fang Shihong who liked the “horse-shaking” affair. Of course, whether the “horse-shaking” actually caused the courtesan to fall from the horse and die was unknown, but this important weapon used by the Donglin Faction Scholars to attack Fang Congzhe was indeed an uneducated good-for-nothing.
Having seen her elder brother, Miss Fang was in a foul mood. Yang Xin didn’t dare provoke her further and followed her out of the Inner and Outer City, turning into Fang Village.
“I can’t work for free!”
Yang Xin said as he walked into the residence with her.
“Speak!”
Miss Fang said.
This residence had four courtyards, quite sizable. Her two elder brothers were married, but they both held minor official posts under Fang Congzhe, including Fang Shihong, who was also an official. They were from the Imperial Guard registry; essentially, they were from a Military Household, able to become officials through family privilege without taking the imperial exams. Her elder sister was already married, so she was the one truly managing affairs in this residence.
“I have a cousin who has passed the prefectural exam. He very much wishes to become a student under your father’s tutelage.”
Yang Xin said.
“My father is gravely ill. He cannot teach students.”
Miss Fang said.
“It’s just a matter of having his name listed, isn’t it?”
Yang Xin said.
“I will speak to my father. Taking on a final disciple wouldn’t be out of the question. At most, we can arrange for another disciple to teach on his behalf. But the Terrestrial Globe you make must be genuinely useful. The palace has the Kunyu Wanguo Tu. Don’t think His Majesty knows nothing about overseas matters.”
Miss Fang said.
This wasn’t a big deal.
If Yang Xin’s cousin truly passed the prefectural exam, then he could be considered a talented scholar from a humble background. Her father taking in such a student would become a nice story. In fact, many of her father’s students were like this. Yang Xin’s assessment of her father wasn’t entirely correct.
“Trust me, I’ll handle it!”
Yang Xin said.
“Hmph! Is it your cousin or that young lady’s?”
Miss Fang snorted coldly.
“Uh, actually, it’s her younger brother. I’m her older male cousin!”
Yang Xin said.
“Cousins, huh? Didn’t you lose your memory?” Miss Fang said with a hint of sarcasm.
“I think family ties can’t be faked. Also, don’t listen to Wang Wang’s nonsense. You saw the wanted poster at the city gate. The person on it wasn’t me at all—she’s falsely accusing an innocent man,” Yang Xin stated righteously.
He really had gone to the city gate to look at that wanted poster. It must be said the portrait had some resemblance, but unfortunately, it looked nothing like his current self. This guy even joined the bystanders in discussing it, and no one recognized him as the wanted criminal. However, if the Tianjin Military Defense Circuit issued another one, he definitely wouldn’t dare to approach it again.
“Miss, the master wants to see you!” Little sister He Xiang approached from the front, then stared at Yang Xin in surprise.
“You… you…” she said, eyes wide open.
“Shut up, you don’t know him!” Miss Fang snapped, her face slightly flushed.
Little sister He Xiang stuck out her tongue and quickly pretended not to know Yang Xin. Miss Fang turned right directly, and without her saying anything else, Yang Xin just followed. After passing through two gates, the view suddenly opened up. A garden centered around a pond appeared before them. Around the pond were green trees and red flowers, with artificial hills standing here and there. A winding small bridge crossed the pond, leading straight to a waterside pavilion at the far end. A sickly-looking old man sat there, wrapped in a thin quilt, watching the goldfish at his feet. He looked to be just over sixty.
This was the eldest of the Fang family.
Fang Congzhe only had one full brother. This elder brother was a Xiucai, just a scholar.
“Father!” Miss Fang stepped forward and bowed.
Old Mr. Fang, looking sickly, glanced at Yang Xin behind her.
“Which family’s young master is this?” he asked.
“Old Mr. Fang, I am Yang Xin, a mere rustic from the mountains, barely literate. The other day, inspiration suddenly struck, and I composed a poem, but there is no one to polish it. I heard you, sir, are a renowned scholar of our time, but alas, I had no chance to meet you. Today, I happened to encounter your esteemed daughter, so I shamelessly came to ask. I wish to present this to you, sir, hoping you will not spare your guidance,” Yang Xin said, taking a step forward and cupping his hands under Miss Fang’s astonished gaze.
“Oh, let’s hear it!” Old Mr. Fang said with a smile.
He thought this was just another lovesick fool chasing his daughter, coming to show off in front of him, trying to get to her through him, the higher-up route!
Yang Xin flicked open his Folding Fan.
“If life could be just like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan? Casually, an old friend’s heart changes, yet they say an old friend’s heart is fickle. After the words on Mount Li, the clear night half passed, rain of tears and ringing bells—in the end, no resentment. How like the fickle, brocade-clad youth, the wish on that day to be like birds flying wing to wing, branches intertwined,” he recited.
Speaking of which, in over two hundred years of our Great Qing, only this one poem emerged that people could remember, and it was actually written by a Tartar.
Old Mr. Fang instantly sat up straight.
Miss Fang was also dumbfounded.
“This, this, this is a lyric poem!” she managed to squeeze out with difficulty.
“Hmm, a rustic from the mountains doesn’t understand poetry!” Yang Xin said modestly.
“If life could be just like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan,” Old Mr. Fang finally let out a long breath, patting the armrest of his chair and tapping in admiration.
“Go on, let Tinglan show you around. If you’re too far from home tonight, stay and have a drink with this old man. This old man still needs to savor your great work carefully. I am no renowned scholar, nor a high official or noble, just a dying village schoolteacher. Nephew Yang, no need to be reserved. From now on, the doors of this Fang family are always open to you! ‘If life could be just like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan.’ This line alone is enough to be passed down through the ages!” Old Mr. Fang said, waving his hand.
He actually just sold his daughter like that!
“This junior would indeed like to impose!” Yang Xin said with a smile, cupping his hands.