MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 28

The county magistrate and wealthy merchants had already taken their seats, while the shiye[mfn]师爷 – a personal advisor or clerk to a magistrate, often handling legal and administrative tasks[/mfn] gathered the village chiefs from the participating villages to draw lots and determine the order. It was said that thirty villages from several towns had signed up this year, two more than last year. The river could accommodate at most six dragon boats racing at once, so the preliminary rounds alone would take a considerable time. Drawing lots helped to finalize each team’s turn.

 

While the lively lot-drawing proceeded over there, Qiao Suiman’s stall was just as busy. After selling the last two-wen barrel of Perilla Drink, he and Qin Yu loudly announced, “The two-wen drinks are sold out! Only the twelve-wen ones are left with more ingredients and better taste!”

 

“What nonsense! It suddenly costs ten wen more? What do you take us for? Fools with more money than sense?”

 

Qiao Suiman followed the voice and saw a fulang who had been loitering around the stall for a while, asking pointless questions but never buying anything or leaving.

 

“A-mo, we only had two barrels of the two-wen drink, and unfortunately, they sold out first,” Qiao Suiman explained kindly.

 

“Tch! These look no different from the two-wen ones. How dare you charge so much!” The fulang persisted.

 

Zhou Shuifen, standing nearby, immediately realized the man had come just to stir up trouble. Some onlookers, unaware of the whole situation, even began murmuring and pointing fingers.

 

Just as she was about to retort, Qiao Suiman spoke coldly, “What do you mean by that, A-mo? You’ve been snooping around our stall for a long time, never buying anything, and now that we’re sold out, you start saying these things. What exactly are you up to?”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense! Who’s snooping? Shameless! Flaunting yourself in public before you’re even married. Stop spewing lies!” The fulang sneered dismissively after being questioned.

 

“If you didn’t ask around, how would you know he’s not married? Do you have divine powers to know this?” Chen Xuesheng pointed out the flaw in his words mercilessly.

 

Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu were dressed identically, making it impossible for strangers to tell anything from their appearance. His words could only mean he had inquired beforehand.

 

“Pah! Who needs to ask? Even if he was married, a proper one wouldn’t be out here flaunting himself like that. Shameless little harlot!”

 

This was an outright insult. Chen Ping, hearing this, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the troublemaker by the collar. “What did you say? Say it again if you dare!”

 

“Help! They’re hitting people! Just because I wouldn’t buy their drink, he’s going to hit me! It’s broad daylight and he’s forcing people to buy!” the fulang shrieked, drawing harsh looks from some of the bystanders toward Qiao Suiman’s group.

 

“Uncle Ping, let me handle this.”

 

Qiao Suiman stepped forward, signaling Chen Ping to release him. Qin Yu looked anxious, but Qiao Suiman reassured him with a glance.

 

“You accuse us of forcing sales. Where’s your proof?”

 

“Him grabbing me isn’t proof enough?”

 

“That’s because you insulted us!” Qiao Suiman scanned the onlookers. “Everyone here must have heard him call us ‘shameless little harlots’ just for doing business. I won’t accept that!”

 

“We’re just common folk, lucky to have a skill to earn a living. Yet we still get insulted like this. Does that mean those who grow fruits and vegetables to sell on the streets are also, as he said, are… are…” Qiao Suiman paused, “people like that? What sort of reasoning is that?”

 

He pointed at Chen Ping. “This is our neighbor and uncle. He stood up for us after we were insulted, and now he’s accused of forcing sales? Where’s our justice? He just gets to say whatever he wants!”

 

“Is that really what happened?” someone who had just arrived asked another who had been watching from the beginning. The shouting had drawn a crowd, and not everyone knew what had transpired. Some had blindly joined in criticizing Qiao Suiman’s stall.

 

“It is. He definitely came here to pick a fight.”

 

“When I was buying, he kept asking about the prices. He circled around several times without buying anything, and now he’s making a scene. I wonder what his deal is!”

 

“So that’s how it is! I let myself be used as his pawn!” The man who’d just arrived glared furiously at the fulang.

 

“Well said!”

 

A crisp voice rang out from the bustling crowd. Everyone looked over to see a young woman in a mist-pink silk dress accompanied by a ge’r in pale blue robes. Qiao Suiman immediately remembered that these were the two people who had patronized Lu Dongqing’s business, Miss Xiao He and Mei-ge’r.

 

Behind them were twice as many servants as before, along with two older women. The crowd instinctively made way.

 

Xiao He stepped up to the stall, tilted her chin, and said to the troublemaker, “I heard everything. You insulted them and then tried to frame them. How vile!”

 

“I-I didn’t frame anyone!” The fulang, who had been haughty moments ago, now cowered under the intimidating presence of the servants behind her and shut his mouth.

 

Xiao He ignored him and turned to Qiao Suiman. “You spoke well. You’re earning a living with your skills so no one has the right to criticize you.”

 

She herself has no talent for such novel crafts. Her family always pressured her to learn embroidery, which she hated. She just wanted to have fun outside, but people kept saying it was unbecoming of a young lady from a respectable family. Because of such gossip, her opportunities to go out grew fewer. Damn these slanderers!

 

She wanted to glare at the fulang again but found he had already slipped away.

 

But she no longer cared. Since she was out, she might as well enjoy herself. Picking up a bamboo tube from the stall, she examined it curiously and said to Mei-ge’r, “Look at this. Doesn’t this look like your father, cough, I mean, them?”

 

Mei-ge’r examined it closely and smiled. “It really is! How novel.”

 

Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu naturally overheard their conversation. The bamboo tube Xiao He held was carved with the pavilion where the magistrate and merchants were seated, faintly outlining several figures inside. If she said it resembled Mei-ge’r‘s father, then that meant…

 

Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu tensed. Whether they were the magistrate’s children or from wealthy merchant families, these were esteemed figures not to be offended. If they could secure their business, even better.

 

Qiao Suiman put on a bright smile. “I’m glad the young miss and young master like it. These were specially made for today’s Dragon Boat Festival, just for novelty’s sake. After today, these designs won’t be available anymore. We also have designs of zongzi[mfn]粽子 : a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with a range of fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves, traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival[/mfn] and dragon boats. Would you like to see?”

 

Mei-ge’r slapped his forehead in realization. “I remember now! You’re the ge’r from the bamboo hairpin stall at the market last time. No wonder you looked familiar.”

 

“Yes, yes! I remember you both too.” Qiao Suiman glanced at their hair. Xiao He wore a jade hairpin, its quality unmistakably expensive, while Mei-ge’r still had the same plum blossom hairpin. He must have really liked it.

 

Noticing Qiao Suiman’s gaze, Mei-ge’r smiled. “This hairpin’s design is exquisite. I like it very much.”

 

“Then you should take a closer look at these bamboo tubes. They were carved by the same person. Same craftsmanship!” Qiao Suiman was very happy to hear this for some reason. The praise was meant for Lu Dongqing’s work, but he felt as though it were directed at himself.

 

“Is that so? Then let me see.” Xiao He and Mei-ge’r picked up two more bamboo tubes, but their attention was soon caught by the drink sign beside them. Earlier, during the argument, they had learned this stall sold flavored drinks. Seeing the name on the sign, Xiao He laughed. “‘Immortal Peach Drink’, what a nice name.”

 

Mei-ge’r nodded in agreement.

 

“Give me two tubes of this ‘Immortal Peach Drink.’” Xiao He pointed at the words on the sign, then picked up two bamboo tubes carved with the pavilion. “Use these two.”

 

“Of course! Thank you, miss.”

 

Delighted, Qiao Suiman accepted the copper coins handed over by the woman beside them and filled the two tubes to the brim with peach drink, reminding them, “Take a few sips first, they’re very full.”

 

Xiao He nodded, bringing the bamboo tube to her lips. The woman beside her coughed lightly, prompting her to reluctantly raise her sleeve to cover the lower half of her face as she drank.

 

Mei-ge’r appeared more proper, covering his mouth and nose as he sipped slowly. Both of their eyes lit up with surprise. The peach flavor was rich but not cloying, and the fruit pieces were crisp and refreshing. It was truly delicious!

 

Before they could exchange thoughts on the drink, the two women began urging them impatiently. “Young master, miss, we must go now. It would be improper to be late!”

 

“What’s so improper? We just started drinking!” Xiao He retorted, her eyes rolling, as if scheming something.

 

“Miss Fang, you…!” The woman grew agitated.

 

“Li Mama[mfn]媽媽 – literally means “mother,” but in historical settings, it was often used to respectfully address older female servants, nursemaids, or senior household attendants[/mfn],” Mei-ge’r said sternly. “Xiao He is the eldest daughter of the Fang family!”

 

“Young master, this… ” Li Mama wanted to argue further but was tugged by the other woman’s sleeve. Reluctantly, she conceded, “I misspoke. My apologies, Miss Fang.”

 

“Hmph.” Xiao He ignored her and instead addressed Qiao Suiman. “How many more bamboo tubes do you have with this design?”

 

Qiao Suiman, who had been pretending not to hear their argument, immediately perked up at the prospect of business. “We have fourteen left of this design, and others in different styles as well.”

 

“I’ll take all fourteen of this design, plus three of each of the others. For the drinks, prepare five tubes of each kind, not too full. I want to cap them and take them away.”

 

Twenty servings!

 

Not only Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu, but even Chen Ping, Zhou Shuifen, and Chen Xuesheng were stunned. Good heavens, what kind of family was this, spending without batting an eye?

 

Though aware they might be children of wealthy merchants, Qiao Suiman couldn’t help being amazed. But he didn’t dwell on it for long. He and Qin Yu quickly started preparing the drinks. Twenty servings was no small number, so Zhou Shuifen and Chen Xuesheng helped with covering the lids. Watching them make so much money, the two couldn’t stop grinning.

 

Before long, the twenty servings were ready and placed beside the cart. Xiao He motioned to Li Mama and said in a deliberately sweet tone, “Li Mama, pay them and have someone carry these for us.”

 

“Yes, miss.” Li Mama had no choice but to comply. She pulled out a money pouch from her sleeve and shook out some silver fragments. “We don’t have small change.”

 

“We do. If you give us five mace, we’ll return sixty wen.” Qiao Suiman calculated quickly. The total came to four hundred forty wen.

 

“Do as he says,” Mei-ge’r instructed.

 

“Yes.” Among the silver fragments Li Mama poured out was a piece weighing exactly five mace, which she handed to Qiao Suiman. To be safe, Qiao Suiman used a small scale to verify the weight. It was indeed five mace, and had Chen Ping double-check.

 

With an innocent smile, he said to Mei-ge’r, “We’ve seen little of the world and aren’t used to handling such large sums, so we’re just being careful.”

 

“I understand. It’s no trouble.”

 

Chen Ping nodded. It was true.

 

Qiao Suiman carefully stored the silver. Fortunately, with some yayi[mfn]衙役 – a yamen runner, a low-ranking officer in ancient Chinese local government[/mfn] around today and their stall close to the magistrate’s pavilion, plus Chen Ping’s presence, there was little risk of robbery.

 

“Thank you, young master.” Qiao Suiman’s eyes curved with joy.

 

Xiao He and Mei-ge’r didn’t linger. Once their servants had gathered everything, they headed toward the pavilion.

 

 

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Translator [LUNE]: That’s it for today’s update. Next chapter will the Dragon Boat races.