Shu Rui saw Lu Ling emerge from the shared dorm, face long. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Lu Ling shook his head. “You have no idea how foul that man smells!”
He raised his arm to smell himself, then gestured for Shu Rui to check.
Shu Rui wrinkled his nose, having not seen the guest: “Is someone really that careless?”
Lu Ling said, “You won’t believe me—his soles are yellow. I couldn’t bear it. I offered two buckets of hot water so he could clean up. He even said we were reasonable and that he appreciated saving the water… I think he was just too lazy to move. I wanted to chase him out.”
Shu Rui, seeing Lu Ling so flustered, believed the man was indeed unclean, but it was their first day of business—kicking out a guest would have caused trouble and drawn attention.
“All guests are welcome, so there’s no way to send him away. Once he checks out tomorrow, we’ll wash the bedding thoroughly.”
Lu Ling added, “There’s plenty to do at the inn already. Don’t tire yourself out—hire someone to handle the laundry.”
He turned to see Qing entering the yard. “I heard from Ah Shao that you used to handle laundry jobs. Is it easy to find someone for that?”
Qing replied, “It’s easy. Many idle men and women, young and old, are willing to take laundry work. In summer and autumn, prices are low because the water isn’t cold; in winter, water is colder so prices are slightly higher.”
Lu Ling, suspecting Shu Rui might try to save money, instructed, “Tomorrow, find someone reliable to handle the inn’s laundry.”
Qing glanced at Shu Rui but obeyed. Shu Rui asked, “How much do they charge?”
“In summer, a regular outer garment is two or three wen. In winter, a coat is five or six wen. Fancier fabrics cost more, but most people with expensive clothing have their own servants for laundry. Quilts and bedding cost about ten wen per set, though prices can be negotiated depending on the items.”
Shu Rui calculated—it was cheap, though time-consuming and laborious. Maintaining clean bedding was essential, and relying on only him and Qing would be overwhelming. Outsourcing laundry would save a lot of trouble.
“Alright, that’s enough for tonight. You can go home early and see if you can find someone suitable for laundry tomorrow.”
Qing blinked. “You want me to find someone?”
Shu Rui asked, “Is that difficult?”
Qing quickly shook his head. “No. I know many laundry workers, though before, others usually recommended jobs to me. This will be the first time I assign a job myself.”
Shu Rui smiled. “Then it’s your chance to show some authority.”
After exchanging a few words, once the last table in the inn had left, Shu Rui told Qing to head home. He and Lu Ling tidied up briefly, leaving the two lanterns at the door still lit. They planned to keep watch over the inn for a while longer, and once no more guests came asking for lodging, they would close for the night.
Qing returned from the backyard toward his home. By then, the streets ten li away were nearly empty, though the main street still had some passersby. He quickened his pace. At the entrance of a small alley, he happened to meet his mother, Madam Shan, returning from her night job of emptying privies. The two of them walked home together.
“You’ve been working this late,” Qing said, “you must be hungry. Today at the inn, they sold roasted squid—it smelled so good. At night, they closed early so as not to disturb the lodging guests. Shao’er brought me a bowl for you.”
Qing affectionately looped his arm through his mother’s. “I’ll warm it up at home for you to try.”
Seeing him carrying the food, Madam Shan felt a warm glow in her heart. “Now that you work at Shao’er’s inn and they treat us so well, you must do your work properly. Don’t let their kindness go to waste.”
As they spoke, they passed a house where Mr. Sun lived. He wrinkled his nose and covered his mouth and nose as though a foul smell had wafted past.
In the alley, Madam Shan was about to greet someone, but the door slammed shut unexpectedly. Qing, fuming, was pulled along by his mother. “Don’t take it to heart. People always act like that—they hate dealing with the muck we handle daily.”
“It’s as if some folks have never eaten, drunk, or relieved themselves. They put on airs, yet their own children often soil their clothes and run around outside with no one to change them. Why aren’t they considered dirty then?” Qing fumed.
Having grown up watching his mother do such dirty work, and seeing the subtle disdain from neighbors when they pushed the muck cart, Qing often felt wronged on his mother’s behalf. This constant judgment had shaped him into a cautious and people-pleasing character.
Neighbors’ affections were lukewarm, so Madam Shan treasured her close relatives even more. She knew how hard they worked for their earnings and still treated her aunt generously whenever she came for meat or cloth.
Qing fell silent for a moment, then walked a few steps ahead, knocking on the door of the Lu family, who they had a good relationship with. His knock was loud, and soon a young woman opened the door.
“Qing’er! At this hour—what brings you here?” she asked.
Qing’s voice was clear. “Madam Lu, do you have time tomorrow? The inn needs someone to do the laundry. The innkeeper asked me to find someone quickly, so I came to ask if you’re available.”
The young woman smiled. “I am! I have two children at home, and it’s as idle as can be. I’ll come with you.”
She warmly invited Qing and Madam Shan inside to sit and have tea, but Qing politely declined. “I just got off work today and am very tired. I need to head home early to wash up and rest. You can come with me to the inn tomorrow.”
Madam Lu agreed. Although it was late, many households weren’t yet asleep. The alley was quiet; one could hear footsteps and even conversations.
It so happened that Mr. Sun, who had closed the door earlier upon seeing Madam Shan, overheard Qing and Madam Lu’s conversation. His sister, listening nearby, set down her sewing and said, “Qing’er has become quite capable—he can assign laundry work! I heard he got a new job, though Father didn’t believe it. Looks like it’s at an inn after all.”
She couldn’t help complaining about her father: “All the neighbors in the alley, Father never talks to them. Now there’s work to be done, and he calls the Lu family instead of us.”
Mr. Sun thought Qing must have wanted to greet them and perhaps involve his sister. He inwardly regretted it but said, “Laundry doesn’t make much money—it’s tiring and hard, yet people still compete for it.”
His sister wasn’t pleased. “My third brother married earlier this year. My sister-in-law disliked living in our small home, so they rented a place in the alley. We spent our savings for the wedding, and now I need to save for my own dowry. Father wants me to marry without being taken advantage of, but you show such favoritism!”
“My father thinks laundry work pays little and is hard. I’m not afraid of it,” she continued. Autumn was here, winter and the new year approaching—expenses would be high. If she didn’t save now, the upcoming holidays would be difficult.
Mr. Sun knew his sister was right but felt a bit uneasy. He turned and went back inside.
It wasn’t just their household—other neighbors also weighed matters in their minds.
“Qing’er, did you speak the truth just now?” Madam Shan finally asked at home.
“How could I lie? I wouldn’t promise work recklessly just to show off.” Qing replied. “It was what Shao’er instructed me to do.”
Madam Shan sighed. “If you hadn’t told me earlier… Even if you’re busy at the inn, this work I can do.”
“I knew you could handle it,” Qing said, “but seeing Mr. Sun’s attitude, I changed my mind.”
Qing explained, “The neighbors often look down on us, thinking no men are at home since Father and my eldest brother are away. Also, we can’t give anyone favors.”
“How do you mean?”
“The Diao family at the alley’s end is tricky. They gossip and complain about others but get favors themselves. People treat them well because of their connections, even if they dislike them privately.”
Qing continued, “Our family has always been honest, never seeking trouble. Others bully us, but we don’t argue. The more we’re upright, the more they look down on us.”
Madam Shan pondered—there was truth in his words.
Qing added, “So today, we take this opportunity to let someone else do a small job, so the neighbors see we have connections too.”
Hearing this, Madam Shan realized that after a month at Shao’er’s inn, Qing had grown clever. “Before, we couldn’t see such things. We were timid and cautious. Working at Shao’er’s and seeing how Madam Yang next door handles things, he’s learned a lot.”
Qing said, “I still have plenty to learn.”
Having lived just over ten years, he now understood the intricacies of the alley and would one day be adept at handling matters at the inn.