After a few days passed, the end of the seventh month arrived.
Carpenter Tong and his apprentice worked quickly. In three to five days, they finished repairing the second floor and the main hall, then moved on to fix up the west wing rooms.
His cousin—the oil workshop owner Qin Er—had found out that Carpenter Tong was working at Shu Rui’s inn. Every time he passed by from outside, he glared like a red-eyed fighting rooster, practically wishing he could swallow someone alive.
Shu Rui didn’t bother arguing with him. He was paying his own money to hire someone—it was a willing transaction on both sides, harming no one.
Taking one full day, Shu Rui cleaned the repaired main hall and second floor thoroughly. The floors were scrubbed spotless. The repaired boards blended seamlessly with the old ones, and with the fresh coat of lacquer, you couldn’t even tell new from old.
The place truly looked renewed.
He set out the old tables he’d put away, planning to let customers come in for drinks again starting tomorrow.
Seeing him arrange the tables, Carpenter Tong joked that once new tables were set out, the hall would look like a brand-new shop.
Seeing how efficiently Carpenter Tong worked, Shu Rui was tempted to commission him for more furniture. Still, he wanted to wait until the current repairs were mostly done before bringing it up.
Besides, Carpenter Tong was busy making a dowry chest for Yang Chunhua. During the day he worked at the shop, and at night he still had to keep making furniture—he was truly busy. Even if Shu Rui commissioned him now, he’d have to wait until Carpenter Tong freed up.
Later in the afternoon, Shu Rui thought to ask Qing-ge’er whether he’d be free tomorrow, so he could come help. With more hands, they could prepare more drinks to draw customers.
Just as Shu Rui stepped out through the small courtyard gate, he saw the house across the back alley open its door. Xiang-jie’er came out.
Surprised, Shu Rui called out to her and walked over quickly.
“Xiang-jie’er, did you move into this house?”
Xiang-jie’er, the adopted daughter of Granny Zhang the shaman, replied when she saw Shu Rui, “What kind of luck would that be, living in such a big house? New people just moved in here. They were looking for someone to help clean, so my godmother brought me over.”
Then she asked in surprise, “Shopkeeper Shao, you didn’t know someone new moved in here?”
Shu Rui had heard Granny Zhang mention before that the large house wouldn’t be hard to rent, but since its front gate faced another street and the back gate was rarely opened, he truly hadn’t known anyone had already moved in.
These past few days, he hadn’t seen Granny Zhang much either, so neighborhood news hadn’t been spreading as quickly.
“My godmother went out to a Taoist temple outside the city. Before she left, she told me about this job.”
Without waiting for Shu Rui to ask further, Xiang-jie’er blurted out, “Shopkeeper Shao, the new neighbors across from you are something else. I heard they might be a newly appointed constable from elsewhere.”
Shu Rui’s brow twitched. “A constable?”
“I only overheard a bit while cleaning,” she said. “Something about this place being not too far from the yamen, close enough to walk to work. I wanted to ask more, but I didn’t dare.”
Lowering her voice, she added, “I don’t know how high-ranking he is—probably not very high.”
She leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard the house is rented. A whole family moved in, with several big chests of luggage, but there aren’t any maids or servants at all. They even calculated walking distance to the yamen. If they were a wealthy, high-ranking household, why would they fuss over such little things?”
As she spoke, she pounded her lower back. She’d thought she was going to clean for a big household—those usually had plenty of servants, so the work wasn’t too hard.
Who would’ve thought there’d be none? All the sweeping and scrubbing was done by her and an old man who’d also been hired. Heavy work, few people—there was no chance to slack off. After one day, her back was so sore she could barely straighten up.
At least they didn’t short her on pay. And besides, the young master of the house looked like a heavenly immortal—gentle, scholarly, and refined.
If they called her again tomorrow, even if it was tiring, she’d still be willing to go.
Hearing this, Shu Rui couldn’t help smiling. He took a peach from the basket he was carrying and handed it to her, telling her to go home early and rest well.
Watching her leave, Shu Rui glanced again at the new neighbors’ house. He wondered what sort of family they were. As long as they weren’t troublesome, nothing else really mattered.
With that, he headed off toward Qing-ge’er’s home.
The next day, Shu Rui got up early to prepare fresh fruit and hung the sign outside.
These past few days, with fewer customers and scattered business, he’d been going every noon to deliver meals to Lu Ling. It hadn’t been for nothing—over several days, he’d already drawn in a number of customers from the martial arts hall, making up for some of the lost business at home.
With the courtyard examination drawing near, Shu Rui steamed red beans to make filling. At long last, the victory cakes he’d been talking about for so long were finally on the agenda.
Making a truly good pastry was the most labor-intensive thing of all.
The filling for victory cakes required slowly controlling the heat—it demanded patience above all.
First, the red beans had to be boiled until soft, then finely sieved to remove the skins and yield a smooth paste. Malt sugar was mixed in, and the paste was cooked over low heat until the moisture evaporated. Too much heat and it scorched, ruining the flavor; too little and the water wouldn’t cook off. Only with careful attention could one achieve a filling that was glossy, fragrant, and sweet.
The skin was no simple matter either. Polished rice and glutinous rice were pounded into flour, sieved several times, then mixed at a ratio of eight parts polished rice flour to two parts glutinous rice flour.
Shu Rui didn’t have time to pound the rice himself, so he bought ready-made flour from a shop. Even so, the store-bought flour wasn’t fine enough. He sieved it several more times before he was satisfied.
Grinding the flour, letting it rest, then sieving it once more, he packed the cake flour into the cake molds he had bought, added the filling, then covered it with another layer of flour.
Steam it in the steamer for a quarter of an hour, and it could be taken out.
“No wonder pastries from pastry shops are so expensive—making even one kind is really such a hassle.”
Seeing Shu Rui busy for most of the morning, wiping away sweat with a handkerchief, Qing-ge poured him a bowl of tea and handed it over.
Shu Rui said, “That’s why I usually just make small snacks to sell with drinks. Pastries aren’t easy to make, and the flavor might not even compare to what the veteran masters at pastry shops can do.”
The reason his ding sheng cakes were both good and fast to make was because back when he lived with the Bai family, there were many scholars. Whenever examinations came around, his uncle would ask him to make some for the students at the private academy who were about to sit for the exams, all for the sake of a good omen.
After making them year after year, it had naturally become the pastry he was best at.
When the time was up, Shu Rui lifted the lid to take a look. The steamed cakes were a soft pink color, very pleasing to the eye.
Steam rose with the fragrance of rice and a gentle sweetness. He took out one piece first and let Qing-ge taste it. The rice aroma was rich, the red bean filling inside was fine and smooth, sweet without being cloying. It melted lightly in the mouth as a whole.
“Delicious!”
Qing-ge rarely got to eat pastries. Ding sheng cakes, which seemed like something meant only for scholars, were even more unfamiliar to him.
Finding it tasty, his eyes curved into happy slits.
Shu Rui took a bowl and plate, put two cakes on it, and said, “Take these back later for your third sister and your mother to try.”
He also set aside two more for Lu Ling. Even if today’s batch of ding sheng cakes didn’t sell out, there was still a difference between leftovers and ones deliberately saved.
After finishing the work in the courtyard, the sun had risen higher. Shu Rui brought out two bowls of Er Chen Decoction to treat Carpenter Tong and his apprentice, then went out front to call for customers.
It happened to be a rest day for the academy, and scholars could be seen about in the streets. Whenever he spotted one, he called out:
“Young scholars, today our little shop has thirst-quenching Er Chen Decoction, calming Astragalus herbal soup, and freshly steamed ding sheng cakes for good fortune!”
“All scholars get twenty percent off! First come, first served!”
Some didn’t even need to be called. They walked in on their own, asked a few questions, saw that the place was clean, and then sat down to order.
“Shopkeeper, your ding sheng cakes here are sweet and fragrant, no worse than Liu Xi Pastry Hall. Are they really six cash each? Over there they cost more than a dozen.”
Shu Rui said, “How could a small shop like mine compare to an old establishment like Liu Xi Pastry Hall? Their masters are all renowned craftsmen, so of course the price is higher.
“I originally sold mine for eight cash as well, but with the exams coming up, scholars work hard every day. So this time I’m offering them at a special price.”
A scholar said, “Liu Xi Pastry Hall relies on its famous name but doesn’t do decent things. With the academy exam approaching, they alone raised the price of ding sheng cakes. And even so, people still flock to buy them—the price has multiplied several times.”
Another scholar chimed in, “I heard that last academy exam, several scholars bought ding sheng cakes made by Master Huang, and three of them passed the list. Even those who didn’t pass still had decent results.
“So this year, countless scholars are scrambling to buy his cakes. I heard a single cake sells for over a hundred cash, and you still have to line up!”
“Have they gone mad? With that money and effort, they could buy a few more books to read. That would probably be more useful than eating a cake.”
The gossiping scholar laughed. “That’s because you’re not sitting for the exam this year. If it were your turn, you might feel differently.”
After saying that, he asked Shu Rui to pack four more ding sheng cakes for him, planning to bring them back for his classmates as well, to share the good omen. Even if they couldn’t afford or get hold of Master Huang’s cakes from Liu Xi Pastry Hall, having something tasty was still a nice thing.
Shu Rui’s ding sheng cakes were well made, and business was good today. He stayed busy until after noon. After delivering lunch to the martial arts hall and returning, he saw that there were still a few scholars in the main hall, reading books while eating cakes.
Qing-ge came over holding the cash box, saying that while Shu Rui was out, four more customers had come. Three had already left, and all the copper cash collected was inside.
Shu Rui trusted Qing-ge and didn’t count it piece by piece.
Pastries took effort to make, but they sold for a higher price, so the income looked better. In just half a day, he had earned over two hundred copper cash.
After lunch, the sun was oppressive and made people drowsy. There weren’t many people in the streets anymore. With the main rush over, Qing-ge went home. Shu Rui sat in the front hall watching the shop, in case a customer came to sit for a while.
No customers came, but instead four constables arrived—tax officers from the yamen.
Shu Rui immediately shook off his drowsiness and greeted them politely. After a few exchanges, he learned that they had come to inspect taxes.
He felt something was off. This was when the sun was highest, a time when people were few and lazy. Why would they trouble themselves to come here now?
“The court exempts peddlers selling vegetables, fish, snacks, food, firewood, and fruit from taxes,” one of them said. “But fixed stalls and shops must pay taxes according to the law.”
“Your place falls under the category of residence tax. Why don’t you have a tax receipt? Are you trying to evade taxes!”
The constables were cold-faced and stern, grilling Shu Rui without preamble.
Shu Rui’s heart skipped. So it really wasn’t anything good!
Although he didn’t know why the tax officers had suddenly come to investigate, and he was caught off guard, he wasn’t afraid.
He remained respectful and answered calmly. “Sir, my drinks business only started recently. I originally sold snacks as a mobile vendor on the street, and only later began operating from a storefront. It hasn’t even been a full month yet.”
“According to usual practice, one only applies after operating in a fixed place for a full month. I thought it would be better not to trouble the tax office before that, so I planned to wait until the time was up.”
But the leading tax officer said, “That’s old practice. Now, as long as you operate from a shop, you must report it. You operated without reporting—this calls for a fine of ten strings of cash.”
Hearing the commotion, Yang Chunhua from next door came over. As soon as she arrived and heard they wanted to fine such a large amount, she immediately cried injustice.
“Sir, our brother only arrived here not long ago. This old shop was badly damaged before, and because funds were tight, he couldn’t afford repairs. That’s why he only sold some drinks to make ends meet. We can all testify that he’s been selling drinks for less than a month!”
“Constables are conducting official business—what are you yelling about!” Two of the officers blocked Yang Chunhua and pushed her aside. “Go mind your own business. If you keep shouting, we’ll charge you with obstructing official duties!”
Carpenter Tong and his apprentice came out from the west room after hearing the noise. Seeing how fierce the constables were, they wanted to speak up for Shu Rui but didn’t dare open their mouths.
More importantly, they didn’t fully understand the regulations of shop operations. If something really was wrong, speaking up without knowing the details could implicate them as accomplices.
Yang Chunhua also didn’t dare go forward again. Seeing Shu Rui being bullied, she stamped her foot, hurried back to her shop, and slipped out through the back street, planning to go to Zhang Shi’s martial arts hall to bring word to Lu Ling.
If there were a man from the household present, those constables wouldn’t dare bully someone so openly. She had suffered this kind of thing before.
Seeing the situation, Shu Rui knew this was no routine tax inspection. They had clearly targeted him because he had no backing and were here to squeeze some oil out of him.
The matter was indeed troublesome. The laws issued by the court stated that resident merchants paid a tax of three percent monthly, with a minimum of five cash if earnings didn’t reach a hundred. There was no explicit clause stating that one had to wait a full month before reporting.
However, because some merchants might operate for only thirty or fifty days before leaving a storefront or fixed stall, the tax office had to assess whether they should be taxed as itinerant merchants or resident merchants.
The two tax categories differed, making things complicated.
In practice, local tax enforcement followed the rule that once a merchant had operated in a fixed place for a full month and intended to continue, they would then go report and pay resident tax, receive a tax receipt, and be subject to inspections thereafter.
Both merchants and tax officers understood this, but there was a gray area in between.
Sometimes, if a merchant reported before a full month, they might even be scolded and not processed promptly.
Shu Rui knew all this and wasn’t in a hurry.
He had even been a bit crafty about it. If his drink and snack business didn’t last a full month, then under the exemption rules for mobile vendors selling drinks and snacks, he wouldn’t need to pay taxes at all.
This was common practice among the people. With the world at peace and commerce flourishing, tax offices usually turned a blind eye.
But if someone reported it privately and the tax officers decided to be strict, the ones who suffered were always small merchants.
Shu Rui vaguely felt someone was setting him up, but he couldn’t think of who.
He and Lu Ling had only just arrived here. They hadn’t expanded their business yet—only a modest drinks operation.
It was decent when business was good, but nowhere near prosperous enough to block someone else’s path. The nearest drink shop had even been sealed up.同行 shouldn’t be jealous.
Unable to figure it out, Shu Rui had no time to think further. For now, he could only soften his stance and see if there was room for leniency.
“It’s my own confusion, not knowing the rules of this tax office. I thought I was saving the officials some work, but instead I’ve been foolishly diligent and caused trouble.
“Please show mercy, sirs. I’ll go report at the tax office immediately. This is a small business, only operating for a few days. The meager earnings aren’t even half the fine. I beg for some leniency.”
“If you only think of correcting mistakes after you’ve made them, then tomorrow if you kill someone or set a fire, would you also think a few words of pleading and a hard-luck story should spare you punishment? What a slippery merchant!”
The constable showed no sign of softening and grew even more fierce.
“Enough clever talk. Pay the fine at once. If you continue to pester us, we’ll seal your shop for investigation and revoke your right to trade!”
Shu Rui drew in a long breath. Anger welled in his chest. Once someone had seized your weakness, any argument only put you at a disadvantage.
After all, civilians couldn’t fight officials.
Just as he was about to resign himself to it and go fetch the money to pay the fine, a clear, steady voice rang out:
“May I ask which tax office’s officers are enforcing the law here? Has our dynasty amended its statutes?”
“According to the law, if a merchant fails to report to the tax office in a timely manner, they may be fined depending on the circumstances. This shop has not even been operating for a full month. At most, the tax officers should issue a verbal warning and require rectification. On what grounds do you open your mouths and arbitrarily demand a fine of ten strings of cash?”
“Even after a full month, if a merchant evades taxes, the penalty must be determined only after checking the account books and official records one by one, and the fine is assessed at three to five times the amount of tax evaded, depending on severity.”
“This shop deals only in small food and drink, not high-penalty trades like jewelry, silk, or tea. How did you arrive at a fine of ten strings?”
Everyone could not help but turn to look at the speaker.
Shu Rui tilted his head slightly and saw that the newcomer was actually a young youth, about fifteen or sixteen years old. He wore a properly tailored long robe in a pale bamboo-green color. On closer inspection, the fabric itself was not particularly fine, yet the person was exceptionally handsome—tall and upright, with an elegant bearing. Somehow, he wore plain clothing with an air of nobility, making others instinctively wary of treating him lightly.
The constables had originally felt some discomfort at being openly rebutted over their handling of the case. As officials, they were accustomed to placing themselves above others. Even when in the wrong, they rarely took civilians seriously. At first, they had intended to shoo this interloper away just as they had scolded Yang Chunhua. But when they looked at the young man, they found themselves unable to be quite so rough.
“Who are you? A legal advocate, perhaps?”
“Who I am is not important. What matters is that you answer the questions I just raised. Handling official business openly and fairly is what is proper. Accusations of abusing authority are not pleasant words for anyone to hear.”
The leading constable’s expression changed slightly. Seeing that this young man seemed to have some background, and unable to discern his origins, he no longer dared to stiffen his neck and press the matter.
In truth, they themselves were in the wrong. If this were taken all the way to the tax office, none of them would benefit. Yet they had already spoken so forcefully, and although there were not many people on the street at this hour, backing down outright still bruised their pride.
Seeing the situation, Shu Rui’s eyes flicked, and he quickly said, “Today was simply a misunderstanding. At the end of the day, it was this humble citizen’s fault for not understanding the tax regulations clearly. I also thank the officials for making the trip here personally.”
Taking advantage of the moment, he submitted the registration and paid the tax on his beverage business. With a way out presented to them, the four constables proved flexible. They stamped the documents, issued the tax receipt, and left with dark faces.
After politely seeing the constables off to the street, Shu Rui let out a quiet breath. When he turned back inside, he caught sight of a head from the oil shop next door quickly withdrawing.
His brow twitched slightly, but he had no time to investigate further. Instead, he turned back to sincerely thank the young man who had stepped in to help.
“There’s no need for prolonged thanks,” the youth said. “Those constables really were far too overbearing.”
He looked at Shu Rui and felt that this person had real backbone. Faced with several bullying constables, a small shop-owning ger had not panicked, and had even known how to read the situation and resolve it tactfully.
Today’s loss lay precisely in the fact that he was only a small merchant with no power, and did not dare openly contend with officials.
“I was passing through the street just now and heard some scholars saying that the ding sheng cakes at a shop here were especially good, so I came to try them. I didn’t expect to run into the constables causing trouble.”
Shu Rui quickly invited him inside to sit, brought out some ding sheng cakes, and also served him a bowl of Er Chen Decoction. “You must be a scholar, young sir? Well versed in the law, and with a fine bearing.”
“How do you know I’m not a legal advocate?” the youth asked with a smile.
Shu Rui smiled back. “Legal advocates may also be skilled in the law and debate, but without personal ties, they rarely step in to interfere between commoners and officials.”
The youth laughed, bright and open. Shu Rui could not help but take another look at him.
“Ah Shao!”
Shu Rui jolted. He thought to himself that one truly should not do even a single thing with a guilty conscience—people would catch you immediately.
It was not that he was greedy for good looks. It was simply that he felt this young man’s brows and eyes bore a certain resemblance…
“Are you all right?”
Shu Rui looked at the person who rushed in and grabbed him. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, yet his face and body carried a chill. Surprised, Shu Rui said, “Why did you come back?”
Before Lu Ling could answer, the young man who had been sitting properly at the table drinking his soup suddenly stood up. His stool was knocked over with a clatter.
Hearing the sound, Shu Rui turned to look. Seeing the two of them together like this, he felt even more strongly that their features resembled each other…
Before his thoughts could settle, the youth spoke first in disbelief: “Big brother…”