He picked up a few handfuls of dried mushrooms to check the stock and realized that the two bamboo baskets were joined together to form a display rack. Beneath the wide, square baskets were larger square baskets with lids.
Behind the display rack, on the grass mat, was a landscape painted on red paper. A series of rolling mountains stretched across it, with a winding road along which many hillmen were making their way. This was the West Mountain Harvest painting.
The painting was by Lu Yang.
He had used the “family portrait” from the walls of the Lu family courtyard as reference, sketching with paste and sticking red paper to form the image.
The paste masked the tremor of his hands, and some areas weren’t fully covered because the paste dried too quickly—this inadvertently created a misty mountain effect. The figures resembled paper-cut people, thin and elongated, not meant for close inspection. Overall, it was impressive enough to draw admiration.
On the opposite wall was Xie Yan’s work: illustrations of mushroom dishes. They were arranged as if the dishes themselves were mounted on the wall, following the layout on the mats, with a circle of smaller images surrounding the central main dish—visually striking.
The remaining blank spaces held small pieces of paper with Lu Yang’s records of customers’ praise for different mushrooms. He had also invented many names, attributing them to fictitious people from various places.
Hong Lao Wu examined the paintings, then focused on these small slips. As he read, his brow furrowed.
Having worked at the dock for over twenty years, he knew most of the local merchants. How come he recognized only one or two names on these slips?
He pointed to a slip signed “Liu family from Shengcheng” and asked, “Which family is this? What business are they in?”
By then, Li Feng had called Lu Yang over.
Hong Lao Wu pointed at the slip. Lu Yang glanced at it and said, “I don’t know them. I made up the names. Only a few are real praises; the rest are fictional. For example, the one that reads ‘Yu family from Yunping Fu’ is actually praise from Yu Laoban of the tower ascent—he’s a real person.”
Hong Lao Wu raised an eyebrow. Yunping Fu was a prosperous city; traveling merchants claimed money practically fell into their laps. Large shipments passed through the dock, then were transported north and south, or rerouted overland east and west.
Goods that didn’t sell well in the capital could be bought cheaply and resold at a profit elsewhere. With so much at stake, merchants were focused on scheming rather than straightforward trade. A shop carefully managed from its outward appearance to interior details was rare in the market—this one was unique.
Before he could speak, Li Feng interjected: “This is my husband’s brother.”
Hong Lao Wu froze mid-sentence, furrowed his brow, and muttered, “Wait, isn’t he your husband? I thought you meant your husband at first.”
Li Feng said nothing further.
Lu Yang invited Hong Lao Wu to sit.
There was no tea room in the back; the shop made full use of space. The kitchen doubled as a dining area, with small tables set up under the eaves for hot meals.
Since many delivery men came, a large communal bed was set up inside. Another room served as storage; if stock overflowed, additional nearby storage would be rented.
They moved a small table from the back courtyard, added a chair with a backrest, and made do.
Though the space was modest, the tea was high quality. Wu Pingzhi had sent this year’s new tea; Lu Yang brought a pound to the shop. When merchants came to discuss business, he poured them a cup.
Dock business moved quickly. Usually, deals were settled at the stall itself. Tea was delivered outside, held in hand while customers drank before moving on. Typically, two assistants handled this: one carried the teapot, another the tray. By the time goods were ready, the tea had cooled, and customers drank before leaving.
Situations like today were rare. Lu Yang exchanged a few polite words, then, seeing Hong Lao Wu glance at Li Feng, didn’t linger. He called two assistants to guard the stall and went to the back courtyard to find Shun’ge, leaving Li Feng to handle any business there.
Shun’ge peeked through the bamboo curtain in the back courtyard. Seeing Lu Yang approach, he mischievously asked in a whisper, “Is it a big client?”
Lu Yang replied, “He’s a high-ranking dock manager.”
He led Shun’ge to sit under the corridor, each holding a woven fan, leisurely fanning themselves.
Shun’ge looked puzzled that Lu Yang didn’t greet the client at the front.
Lu Yang had not known Hong Lao Wu personally before. His connection was through Li Feng and a previous “catching thieves” incident; he wouldn’t take the lead lightly. He had no need to handle the dock stall frequently. Since Li Feng could manage, Lu Yang let him do so.
“I think he’s here for your brother.”
Shun’ge envied him: “Why does no one come looking for me?”
Lu Yang told him not to think about it: “It’s too chaotic here. Even if you’re capable, I won’t let you stay at the dock often. One careless encounter and you’d regret it forever. I only come with a few men and never go far. When you’re fully trained, stay in the city. Best if the dock people never seek you out.”
Shun’ge felt his heart warm at these words.
“I don’t know what I’ll do in the city. My sister-in-law’s stall is going well, my mother and the others are enthusiastic; when a shop opens, I won’t even need to help. If I want to save up for a shop, it’ll be years from now.”
Lu Yang said, “Eventually, you’ll mostly run the shop.”
He explained the family business to Shun’ge:
“The shop deals in mountain mushrooms and medicinal herbs. The herb trade, for now, only cooperates with the Huang merchants. Since Master Hu has a good reputation in the mountain village, the Huang merchants offer good prices and even teach you to recognize and process herbs. I heard from your elder brother that Master Hu also accepted two apprentices—this isn’t just casual favor. As long as our shop exists, this business won’t fail. Unless they’re unable or unscrupulous, we won’t seek other suppliers.
“As for the mushroom trade, as you’ve seen, there’s a huge market in the capital. When traveling merchants are abundant, make some noise to attract new buyers. By running this shop, we’re guarding a treasure trove; money isn’t a worry. But as shareholders increase—first us two families, then your brother divides two shares among brothers, and another share to the village chief—the business isn’t solely yours. You’ll need another venture.”
The other venture had to be ambitious.
Run the small stall, then transition to a shop. Save money for a couple of years, and then open a large restaurant.
One person alone, like Lu Liu, couldn’t manage a big restaurant.
Shun’ge’s jaw dropped: “A… large restaurant?”
Lu Yang shook his head at his stunned expression.
At such a young age, he had no dreams—what a waste of coming to the city.
“Can’t even imagine it?”
From today on, Shun’ge would begin imagining, begin planning.
Lu Yang saw him focusing and said: “You’ll eventually take in a son-in-law. He’ll stay at home. Your sister-in-law’s shop, your own future shop—no difference. You’ll work alongside your sister-in-law.”
Shun’ge chuckled, feeling hopeful.
“Does my sister-in-law know?”
Lu Yang hadn’t told Lu Liu: “The stall just started; no need to mention it. He might get ideas.”
Lu Liu hadn’t followed Lu Yang’s teaching closely; he only practiced a little at home. But Lu Liu was adaptable and willing to imitate.
Lu Yang consistently expressed the goal of expansion. Seeing and hearing him often, Lu Liu’s ideas for the future became broader.
While they chatted in the back, Li Feng also talked with Hong Lao Wu inside the shop.
Hong Lao Wu mentioned something: before the New Year, he had asked Li Feng if he wanted to serve as a manager and help train a batch of guards. Li Feng had said he’d consider it. By the time he returned to the city, Hong Lao Wu had already hired people. Over three months had passed, and this visit was still regarding the guard training.
“I’ll assign two people for you to train as assistants. When the grand market opens next month, see if you can spare them to serve as bodyguards for my young master for a couple of days. Compensation won’t be lacking.”
Training guards was easy enough; for acting as bodyguards, Li Feng would need to inquire carefully.
Hong Lao Wu said, “These past months, I’ve had someone who looks impressive but is useless training as a guard. Many have been watching and preparing. When the grand market opens next month, my young master will be in charge—those two days cannot have mistakes. After thinking it through, among those I know, only you are brave and capable enough. That’s why I’m asking your brothers to help. No disrespect intended.”
