Di Ming

Chapter 42 Farewell
Zhu Yin entered the courtyard with an air of nonchalance, and everyone immediately turned to look at him.

"E-zhen is back."

"Brother Zhu."

Ning Caiwei gave Zhu Yin a knowing look and said, "You've come back just in time, Young Master Xu is about to leave."

Zhu Yin said, "Brother Xu, are you going home? Didn't you say that Young Master Xiaobai is doing well abroad?"

Xu Xiaobai was a little embarrassed and said awkwardly:

"It's true that Xiao Bai is doing well abroad, but he still has to return to Qi in the end. Otherwise, where would Duke Huan come from?"

Zhu Yin chuckled, "Isn't Dengzhou in the State of Qi? Where are you going back to?"

Xu Xiaobai was speechless and didn't find the joke funny at all, so he could only say:
"Thanks to Brother Zhu's help, I was able to return to the Central Plains. But now that I'm back in the Central Plains, I must hurry home."

He was eager to return home, and seeing that Zhu Yin was going to stay at the Junior Guardian's residence for a while, how could he continue to wait?

Besides, the Junior Guardian's residence was just an empty shell; it didn't even have lamp oil or candles, and it was worse off than an ordinary household. He didn't want to stay even for one night.

Zhu Yin nodded: "Go home, that's good. You're going to Nanjing, so you'll be taking a boat across the Grand Canal from Jining, right?"

"Yes." Xu Xiaobai nodded. "It will take at least ten days to get to Jining. It can't rain on the way. Traveling in the dog days of summer is really tough."

"Upon arriving in Jining, we boarded a ship and sailed south with favorable winds. In a few days, we passed Yangzhou in a light boat and woke up at Guazhou Ferry."

Zhu Yin knew that Xu Xiaobai was about to start asking for money.

He wasn't in a hurry. He sat down leisurely by the well, craning his neck to look down at the water.

Seeing that Zhu Yin had no intention of bringing up money, Xu Xiaobai had no choice but to sit down as well and look into the water with Zhu Yin.

The well water in the twilight, like an unpolished bronze mirror in the room, dimly reflected two heads.

"A slight chill, the well air is invigorating," Zhu Yin said. "If I fell in, it would be quite refreshing."

"It's cool, but I can't climb up," Xu Xiaobai said. "This Qi family compound is at least a hundred-year-old house, having been lived in for several generations. Who knows if anyone has ever drowned in this well?"

“My family’s residence in the Duke’s Mansion in Nanjing has been there for over two hundred years and has twelve wells. Guess what? It’s said that people have drowned in seven of them.”

"Therefore, although my family has many wells, we still have to send people to the Pearl Spring and White Milk Spring in Qixia Mountain to transport water by waterwheel."

"As for the well water in the mansion, it is used by the servants, horses, mules, hawks and hounds."

"Houmen Well, Ancient Town Bridge, where are there not a few lives lost?"

Then, the tone shifted, "How many wells does Brother Zhu own?"

This is a test. Generally, the higher the social status and the larger the mansion, the more wells a family has.

For months, he had been unable to figure out Zhu Yin's identity and background.

I just felt that Zhu Yin must have an extraordinary background and be someone of great importance.

But the more you get to know them, the more enigmatic and mysterious they become.

Zhu Yin's face was serene. "My family doesn't have a well; we drink all our water from the mountain spring. We even use the mountain spring for bathing. But we don't need to manually transport water. Just open the sluice gate, and the mountain spring flows naturally."

Xu Xiaobai was taken aback, but failed to glean anything from the probe.

He stared blankly at the two small horn-shaped buns on Zhu Yin's head for a while, and finally stopped pretending.

“Brother Zhu.” Xu Xiaobai rubbed his hands together, twisting his thumb and forefinger a few times. “Although I wish to return south, I am penniless and have no travel expenses.”

After speaking, he looked at Zhu Yin with anticipation.

Affectionate.

"Why didn't you say so earlier, Brother Xu?" Zhu Yin looked up in astonishment. "We are close friends and family, what difference does it make? It's just thirty or fifty taels of travel money to get home, what's the big deal!"

Thirty or fifty taels? Xu Xiaobai's smile froze. "I said thirty or fifty taels?"
That's right. As for travel expenses, thirty or fifty taels of silver would be enough to get from Beijing to Hangzhou.

The problem is that he doesn't have a travel permit, and he has to pay "tolls" to pass through various checkpoints, both by land and water.

He was a student of the Imperial Academy, and like a scholar who had passed the county-level imperial examination, he did not need a travel permit to go out, but he needed to prove his status as a student of the Imperial Academy.

But he had no prison badge, ticket, or accreditation certificate on him.

How can one prove their academic achievement?

So, the "toll" that would replace the travel permit for his journey back to Nanjing would cost fifty or sixty taels!
He'd only dare to set off if he borrowed at least a hundred taels.

"Well... Brother Zhu, I don't have a travel permit, it'll cost a lot more money..."

Xu Xiaobai's tone was very troubled.

Zhu Yin then suddenly realized, "So that's how it is! I was so confused! What's that saying? Oh, friends should share their wealth!"

"You tell me, how much do you want!"

Xu Xiaobai felt a sense of relief, finding the little face in front of him incredibly cute. He beamed and said, "At least one hundred taels!"

"No!" Zhu Yin shook his head vigorously, "The number is wrong!"

"What?" Xu Xiaobai's smile froze again, and he immediately became nervous.

Zhu Yin solemnly replied, "One hundred taels is your travel expenses and toll, but you haven't been home for over a year. Do you expect to return empty-handed?"

"At least we should get some decent clothes and a presentable gift, right? We can't go back looking all disheveled and miserable."

"Do you think that family will believe you?"

"I'll give you two hundred taels!"

Two hundred taels! Xu Xiaobai's expression brightened with joy. His heart had been in turmoil because of Zhu Yin, but now he felt completely relaxed after being massaged.

"Brother Zhu, you are truly righteous!" Xu Xiaobai bowed with his hands clasped. "I am deeply grateful. I will write a written agreement right away..."

Zhu Yin waved his hand, "Why write a written agreement? You're being too polite, Brother Xu! Two hundred taels of silver isn't a small amount, but it can't compare to the friendship we've built through thick and thin together outside the Great Wall!"

Xu Xiaobai was somewhat moved. "Brother Zhu, I won't stand on ceremony. When I return to the Duke's mansion, I will never forget your kindness today..." "Alright, alright!" Zhu Yin interrupted him. "Life's encounters depend entirely on fate. I'm young, but I've heard adults say this."

"Our friendship is certainly a matter of fate. But whether we will meet again in this lifetime is still uncertain."

"If I have any intention of getting something in return, then it's meaningless."

Xu Xiaobai sighed, "Although Brother Zhu is young, he is eager to help others and is truly like a noble scholar of ancient times. I am not as good as him."

"In that case, brother, you have nothing to be ashamed of."

Zhu Yin nodded to Ning Caiwei.

Ning Caiwei gently shook her head and bit her lip.

Zhu Yin frowned and said, "Go and give Brother Xu two hundred taels of silver."

Ning Caiwei, possessed by a dramatic flair, retorted:
"Young master, you're so generous! Do you think my family's money grows on trees? You're just giving it away to others to do for free!"

"Lending money is not out of the question, but a written agreement is absolutely essential! These days, who gives money away for free!"

Zhu Yin feigned anger, saying, "Brother Xu is my dearest friend and relative! What is two hundred taels of silver worth! What knowledge does a mere woman have! How could she understand the bond of friendship!"

"Hurry up and bring it, don't keep Brother Xu waiting!"

Seeing the two arguing, Xu Xiaobai felt even more grateful to Zhu Yin and couldn't help but say:

"Please don't argue with me, Brother Zhu. I'd better write down the agreement..."

Zhu Yin waved her hand, her small face frosty as she looked at Ning Caiwei, "Are you going to give it to me or not?"

"Here you go!" Ning Caiwei stomped her foot, angrily twisted her slender waist, and walked angrily into the house.

He said sullenly:
"You spendthrift brat, go with your friends then! I'm just destined to suffer!"

Xu Xiaobai rubbed his hands together, feeling both guilty and embarrassed.

Zhu Yin smiled broadly and said in a mature and sophisticated manner:
"Don't bother with her. She's a stubborn girl who didn't bind her feet when she was young, so there's no need to take her seriously."

Xu Xiaobai thought to himself, "Brother Zhu is truly loyal and righteous. He must not forget today after returning to the Duke's mansion."

Before long, Ning Caiwei stood gracefully on the steps of the front hall, hands on her hips, looking down at him and saying:

"You blind fools! Two hundred taels of silver, weighing over ten kilograms, and you're not even going to lift it!"

"I'll do it!" Xu Xiaobai strode forward and picked up the satchel from the ground.

Inside were twenty silver ingots, dazzlingly white, the brightest of them all in the twilight!
Xu Xiaobai was the grandson of a duke, a prince. Back in Nanyong, he was known for using gold leaves and gold beans.

But all those days of wealth and glory now seem like a distant memory.

Upon seeing two hundred taels of silver, he felt it was exceptionally precious.

"Brother Zhu, young lady, I'll take my leave now."

Xu Xiaobai didn't want to stay in this desolate Shaobao Mansion for even a quarter of an hour.

"The mountains are high and the rivers are long, but we'll meet again someday. When you get to Nanjing, be sure to come and find me."

Zhu Yin frowned and said, "Brother Xu is carrying two hundred taels of silver, alone on horseback, on a long journey. I'm worried about him."

His words were earnest and heartfelt, and his tone was full of concern.

Xu Xiaobai laughed and said, "Brother Zhu, there's no need to worry. Although there are highway robbers on the road, I will only travel through post stations and canals, so there will be no major problems."

"Besides, my archery skills aren't bad either. If I can't win, I can just ride away."

Zhu Yin nodded and then instructed Lan Cha to give him a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a knife.

Seeing how thoughtful he was, Xu Xiaobai was deeply moved.

Before leaving, he repeatedly pleaded with Zhu Yin to visit Nanjing.

Zhu Yin personally saw Xu Xiaobai off at the door, watching him mount his horse at the mounting stone and disappear into the night alone.

Xu Xiaobai rode slowly until he had walked more than ten zhang away. When he looked back, he still saw that small, familiar figure standing at the gate of the Qi residence, watching him go.

Xu Xiaobai's eyes welled up with tears, and he spurred his horse forward.

……

"Little White is finally gone."

Zhu Yin returned to Biyun Courtyard and walked straight into the pitch-black living room.

Ning Caiwei was already sitting there with Ning Qingchen in her arms.

The girl said in a relaxed tone:

Whether the two hundred taels investment is a loss or not depends not on whether he has a chance to inherit the title of Duke, but on his nature and whether he is grateful.

"If he repays kindness, even if he doesn't become a duke, even if he's just a son of a duke, he can still be of great help. For example... sending his private ship out to sea!"

"Only Caiwei truly understands me!" Zhu Yin laughed. "What's the most expensive thing? Something free."

"He never became a duke in history. But even if he wasn't a duke, he was still a duke's grandson. If he's genuinely willing to help, we can get a share of the profits from maritime smuggling, and we'll have the necessary permits to go to sea."

"The coastal smuggling merchants are all controlled by these local powerful figures. If we don't take shortcuts, it will take us at least ten or twenty years before we can be on the table."

"This Longqing switch is just a small hole, it's completely useless. For the next few decades, smuggling will still be the way to go."

"Hmph, the Ming emperor no longer has the ability to fully open up the seas. Without someone like Xu Xiaobai, who knows when we'll be able to participate in the game."

As the two were talking, Qi Baoguo entered with two hangers-on.

"Chihu, I've bought everything you asked for."

"Father said that after you finish your dinner, go to Zhizhi Hall. He's waiting for you in his study and has something to tell you!"

(End of this chapter)