This day, the inn closed a bit earlier. Shu Rui, still recovering, had prepared only a small amount of food for the evening, which sold out before dusk.
There were only two or three male guests, all sharing the dormitory. Lu Ling looked after them, leaving little work for Qing, who also finished early.
“Qing, you’re done early today!”
Seeing a neighbor leaving his house, Qing greeted him and went inside.
Mother Shan, noticing Qing return, happily pulled him in and brought a bowl of hot jujube soup, urging him to drink it to ward off the chill.
Qing sat down on a stool. Late autumn wasn’t cold enough to light the charcoal stove yet, but evenings were chilly. He sipped the hot soup, feeling warmer.
Mother Shan said with delight, “Wu Niangzi from our neighborhood got hired to wail at funerals and invited me to help. The employer is dutiful—paying sixty coins for two sessions and even providing a meal for the wailing women.”
Hearing this, Qing put down his bowl. “Wu Niangzi wasn’t usually so thoughtful toward our family. It’s because you’ve done well, brother.”
Mother Shan smiled. “You called Lu Niangzi to take on the laundry at the inn. Sometimes, when she couldn’t finish, you asked neighbors for help. Once people got work, they began to think of our family too.”
Qing noticed his mother’s radiant expression. She seemed more energetic lately, no longer worrying about his aunt. He felt comforted seeing this.
“Our shopkeeper also gave me a task to hire workers. If you weren’t busy, he said you could do it, but with Wu Niangzi’s job done, we’ll find someone else for this task.”
Mother Shan raised her eyes. “What kind of work?”
Qing explained. “Washing dishes and running errands—simple and easy work. Though short-term, it pays more per hour than daily work.”
Mother Shan nodded. “I’ll take care of Wu Niangzi. Don’t worry about her being troublesome; if necessary, let them help Shao Ge.”
Qing reassured her, “It doesn’t matter who does the work, as long as they are diligent. Since Wu Niangzi cares for you, we return the favor. Her fourth brother is quiet and honest, doesn’t slack off, so he can work at the shop.”
“Perfect. Otherwise, Wu Niangzi’s brother couldn’t handle wailing at funerals, and light tasks wouldn’t fall to your mother,” Mother Shan said, getting up to speak to her neighbor and prepare early. Qing let her go, so someone else could take over if needed.
Shu Rui had requested one or two short-term workers. Before Qing returned, he had already instructed the Bao sisters—who had helped with laundry before—to step in. Qing kept a spot for his mother, ensuring proper coverage.
“Second brother, soak your feet in hot water. The late autumn chill will tire you; soaking helps rest and sleep better.”
Qing was thinking when Third Sister brought the foot basin. He felt a warmth in his heart. “I thought you’d gone to bed.”
“I had nothing else to do and spoke with Wu Niangzi. Since you came back, I stoked the fire in the kitchen,” she replied.
Qing saw that the little girl had grown over the past two months. She turned twelve last month, gaining height and looking her age. Her hair, previously light and thin, looked fuller now.
He took the basin and pulled her close. “Third sister, you’ve grown. Have you thought about your future?”
“What future?” she asked.
“I mean, when you grow up, what life you want, what work you’d like to do.”
Third Sister’s eyes sparkled. “I want to be like you, earn money to support myself, and make mother proud.”
Qing laughed. “Good girl. Earning money requires skill. In our family, father, mother, eldest brother, and I—we lack proper skills. That’s why father and eldest are away often, mother and I take on small jobs. You’re lucky to have a stable post, so life is a bit easier.”
“If you want to earn and live comfortably, you need a skill. Do you have anything you like?”
No one had asked her this before. She had thought about skills. “I see women outside doing hair, embroidery, cooking. If I could learn a skill, I’d learn those.”
Qing nodded. “Good thinking. Mastering a skill earns respect and money. Would you work hard to learn it?”
Without hesitation, she said, “Of course! I’d love it!”
“Learning a craft is hard. It’s not just about the benefits. You’ll face challenges and need patience. Can you endure that?”
Qing added, “I’ve seen many children sent to masters, only to quit halfway, or shirk work and gain nothing for years.”
Third Sister said, “If you don’t endure short-term hardship, you’ll endure lifelong hardship. Having the chance to learn is a blessing. If I get this chance, I’ll treasure it. A skill is something a girl can carry for life, a path wherever she goes.”
Hearing her, Qing was deeply moved. At her age, he hadn’t thought so clearly.
For her thoughts, he decided to help her.
He hadn’t told her about Shao Ge looking for apprentices yet, fearing disappointment without consulting elders first.
That evening, when Mother Shan visited, he sat with her on the kang and spoke at length.
“Third sister is sensible. She handles laundry, cleaning, cooking, and hot soup well when mother and I aren’t home. While it helps us, we shouldn’t selfishly keep her at home her whole childhood.”
“After asking her opinion, she’s thoughtful. Shao Ge wants apprentices for the shop. His skill is exceptional, a rare talent. Given this opportunity, it’s better to let her try.”
Mother Shan, excited, said, “I’d love for her to learn a skill. But can she succeed?”
“Who can say? Only by trying. Whether she’s fit to learn depends on herself.”
Qing continued, “I consulted you so you know. If she learns at the shop, helping and observing daily, the master won’t charge tuition but also won’t pay wages. After three months, if the apprentice wants to continue and proves capable, he’ll formally take her on, offer a small wage, and sign a contract.”
“Before, she wasn’t earning anything, and couldn’t help out at home as she used to,” Qing said.
Mother Shan replied, “Of course. If the master doesn’t charge tuition, how could he pay wages? Third sister just happened to have the right opportunity, and you made sure she had a chance. How could I refuse her? I only wish the best for you all. These small matters at home are nothing to worry about.”
Qing had been thinking that if his mother objected, he could use some of his own wages to cover her, so Third Sister could go. But he hadn’t expected that she would agree wholeheartedly.
“Then I’ll speak with Shao Ge tomorrow,” he said.
Mother Shan held his hand. “It’s best to settle this soon. In a little while, your father and eldest brother will return home. They might have objections. If we finalize it now, we avoid disagreements and unnecessary trouble later.”
She wasn’t worried without reason. When Qing was about ten, a widow running an embroidery shop wanted an apprentice. She had wanted to send him, but his father insisted that Third Sister was still small and Qing had to stay home to look after her. At the same time, she had to continue taking on work. Without anyone to watch the children, he couldn’t go learn a skill.
For girls, they would eventually marry into other households. Spending effort to send them to learn a trade while still young meant losing both help at home and the chance to earn money. By the time the skill was learned, it would be marriage age—an unprofitable investment. Mother Shan had argued with Qing’s father, but family matters weren’t entirely hers to decide. Opportunities to learn skills were rare, and once missed, they seldom came again. Qing had grown up without learning a trade.
Now Third Sister had this rare chance—how could they not fight for it? She hadn’t told Qing everything, fearing he might harbor resentment toward their father. After all, they were one family, and resentment would bring discord.
Qing didn’t know the past, but he understood his mother’s meaning. Families rarely considered the daughters’ future; the men were prioritized. They weren’t generous in letting children devote themselves to learning skills at home. That’s why they had to seize opportunities for themselves when they arose.
Qing agreed with Mother Shan. Both mother and son went to bed that night with restless thoughts.
The next morning, Shu Rui got up early, before dawn.
Lu Ling quietly slipped into Shu Rui’s room, startling him.
“You’re coming into my room again? You didn’t light the courtyard lanterns. Don’t think that just because you’re back at the inn and not going to the martial hall, you can slack off. I can be strict too.”
Shu Rui sat at his vanity, opening a drawer to take out some cosmetics to apply.
Lu Ling watched. “You’ve reduced your makeup. Why don’t I notice the difference?”
“I cut it a little before, and today I’ll use one less layer. If anyone asks, I can just say my complexion is paler from being ill.”
As he spoke, he applied powder to his fair face.
“There are guests staying at the inn. Don’t come into my room; it would be improper if they saw. Outsiders wouldn’t know our relationship and might think our inn is poorly run, tarnishing its reputation.”
Lu Ling said, “Do you think I’d let others see me? If you’re worried, we could just open a door between the rooms. Then no one would notice me coming and going.”
“You actually thought of that foolish idea? How would the carpenters react?”
“No need to hire anyone. I can do it myself.”
“I won’t. Aunt, Qing, or some other woman might come in and see a door between the rooms—they’d laugh at us.”
Lu Ling snorted, realizing it wasn’t proper. He didn’t insist, but his eyes drifted back to Shu Rui’s makeup. He wanted to use some himself, or tease him with the eyebrow pencil.
As they were teasing each other, a door opened downstairs. Lu Ling froze and went to the window to peek.
Shu Rui, noticing his caution, quieted down and stepped closer. “What’s happening?”
“Someone opened the upstairs door.”
“Maybe they’re calling for breakfast,” Shu Rui said.
Lu Ling squinted. “Last night, a man refused to pay in advance, saying he’d settle when he checked out today.”
Shu Rui frowned. Last night, dinner ended early. After the hour of Xu, a guest arrived, squinting and saying he was exhausted after traveling all day, wanting a place to sleep, refusing to pay in advance. Seeing him so tired, Shu Rui didn’t press, and called Lu Ling to guide him to a room.
The man demanded the best room. Shu Rui, following inn rules, quoted the standard price. Only if someone haggled would he offer a small discount. The man didn’t bargain, just went upstairs. Shu Rui assumed he was genuinely exhausted and didn’t think further.
“Let’s go check,” Shu Rui said.
He called Lu Ling, who hadn’t fully dressed.
Lu Ling shook his head. “If it’s breakfast or some matter, he’ll call. If not, he’s up to no good.”
He stood at the door, listening. Shu Rui quickly put on his clothes.
Sure enough, the man didn’t call. Lu Ling said, “He’s at the front door.”
He opened the door quietly and slipped outside. Shu Rui followed, heart pounding. At the front, the man was already restrained by Lu Ling.
“Hey, hey! Brother, let go! You’re going to hurt my arm!”
“You haven’t eaten yet. Where do you think you’re going?”
Shu Rui ran over. The street was still gray, pre-dawn. He yanked the bundle from the man’s arms. The guest was trying to cheat a free night’s stay!
“There’s no such thing as eating and running! Let’s take him to the authorities and teach all the other innkeepers a lesson!”
The man didn’t expect to be caught, and with a trained fighter present, he had no chance. He surrendered: “Innkeeper, don’t report me. I’ll pay, every coin—four hundred exactly.”
He reached for his purse.
Shu Rui said, “Caught first, admit later. If we hadn’t noticed, you’d run off and not pay. Who are you to do such shameless things?”
The street’s other shopkeepers peeked out.
“Is that someone trying to skip paying?”
“Yes! Luckily he got caught. Otherwise, we’d have lost a night’s fees.”
People gathered, examining the young man. He hung his head in shame. Shu Rui scolded him and collected the rightful payment. He didn’t involve the authorities, letting him leave.
Shu Rui thought, if someone truly couldn’t pay while traveling, he might be lenient. But this young man was clearly a trickster, planning to stay free by pretending exhaustion.
“The inn has been open nearly a month. First time dealing with someone trying to run. Good thing you were here, or we’d have lost several hundred coins.”
Back inside, Shu Rui was still flushed with anger. The small inn was new; with many guests coming and going, unexpected incidents happened.
Lu Ling comforted him: “Be more careful in the future. Don’t let anyone stay before paying—it will prevent trouble.”
Shu Rui agreed. Inexperience had its costs, but each mistake was a lesson learned.