Chapter 98
As dawn broke the next morning and the water carts rolled into the city, the Hui vendor delivered the previously ordered fresh cow and sheep milk to the Cui residence.
Under Cui Xie’s guidance, the Southern Goods shop had been sold for 350 taels of silver. He also required Cui Yuan to sign a transfer agreement, ensuring that the original staff of the establishment were to be retained under the new management. Coupled with the 500 and a little bit more taels garnered from the clearance sale of the inventory as well as some old clothes and furniture, the family’s coffers were comfortably bolstered to just over a 1000 taels.
He had placed 20 taels each as revolving funds in both family coffers, allocated another hundred taels for miscellaneous expenses for the outer courtyard and then entrusted the remaining to the Old furen for future exigencies such as weddings, funerals or gift-giving.
Now that he had ample funds at this disposal, Cui Xie could afford to splurge a little bit on some daily necessities, like food.
Cui Xie chose to drink the cow milk himself, reserving the sheep milk for the elderly and children in the household, to avoid them becoming sick from lactose intolerance. When the kitchen staff came seeking guidance on preparing milk-based refreshments, Cui Xie, unfamiliar to the intricacies of dessert-making, suggested that the chefs craft whatever they pleased, such as steamed double-skin milk or sugar-steamed curd. Any excess could be used with tea to make milk tea.
Sugar-steamed curd was a delicacy dating back to the Mongol Yuan dynasty and it required the curd to be steamed and then set with ice, a somewhat elaborate process, yet this could still feasibly be done in their residence. However, double-skin milk was a Cantonese dessert, something Beijing-based chefs had never heard of before. When they sought out Cui Xie for his suggestions, Cui Xie, who had never formally studied the recipes, recalled the basic method: first, one must create a layer of milk skin, then add egg white and steam until the liquid sets into a bowl-shaped dessert. Cui Xie continued to provide such rough instructions for the rest of the servants and then left them to figure out the finer details.
Such experimentation in the initial stages would inevitably lead to some waste of ingredients, but since Cui Xie intended to give such delicacies to others in the future and wasn’t in a hurry to consume them himself, he instructed the kitchen to take their time perfecting such recipes. Any unsuccessful attempts could be consumed by the staff, as long as a bowl of sheep milk was served to each family member for breakfast every morning.
On the other hand, milk tea was much simpler to prepare, simply involving grinding tea bricks to increase the flavor’s strength, then mixing with freshly boiled light milk and a spoonful of syrup. In the Ming dynasty, dessert recipes often began with preparing the syrup, using egg whites and then skimming off the froth to create clear, sweet syrup that would not spoil easily, allowing for extended storage in jars for convenient use.
For breakfast, while Cui Xie enjoyed the served milk tea, he found its flavor somewhat lacking from what he remembered in his past life, a little too bland for his tastes. He suggested that the kitchen try caramelizing the sugar syrup before adding it to the mixture.
The aroma of the newly made milk tea was rich, its light caramel taste irresistibly enticing. His younger siblings, who sipped on sheep milk that had a faintly gamey taste even with added crushed almonds, gazed longingly at his cup, wishing they too could have a taste. Indulgent as ever, Old furen spoke up on their behalf, “This old woman would also like to try this milk tea. Have the kitchen prepare a few more bowls, and let Yun-jie and He-ge try it.”
Cui Xie shook his head, “He-ge is still young, drinking such strong tea is not good for his health. Yun-jie can have a little, but not too much at once, as those with weak stomachs might find it upset by the ingestion of cow milk. Grandmother, if you want to try, have the kitchen make you a serving with sheep milk instead, and don’t drink too much tea.”
Though the Old furen playfully chided him for his fussiness, she was inwardly comforted, smiling as she agreed. She added, “If we find it nice, we can also let your grandfather have a taste.”
Cui Xie nodded in agreement, “Alright, but be cautious with the double-skin milk dessert the kitchen staff are making later. Do not let them serve it to Grandfather with those large, slippery chunks. It is easy to choke on such things and should be mashed into a smoother consistency first before eating.”
The Old furen let out a soft ‘ah’, her wrinkled face crinkling with laughter, “Look at how thoughtful you have become. Your experiences outside have truly matured you. You used to quietly follow Grandmother’s arrangements without much word, nothing like now, even overseeing what your grandparents are eating.”
Unable to fully revert to the old Cui Xie’s disposition, Cui Xie could only listen to his family’s occasional reminiscences about his past self and respond, “I was younger then. Now, as an Imperial College student, I bear more responsibilities for the family, which will naturally lead to other considerations.”
Unable to divulge more about his ‘old self’, Cui Xie quickly finished off his milk tea accompanied by translucent vegetarian dumplings and steamed dim sum, before hurrying off to school.
Indeed, as Colonel Xie had predicted, a gentle mist began to fall around noon, the proverbial ‘sword-cleansing’ rain. His peers, observing the light drizzle outside the College, grew restless and repeatedly approached him during his study breaks, inundated with queries, “Will the books from the Peace of Mind Study still be sold today, or will they not come today because of the rain?”
Upon the end of classes around noon, the students stepped out, filled with trepidation about acquiring the books. To their surprise, not far from the front gates, a spacious, green-canopied horse-drawn cart was parked diagonally across from the entrance of the Imperial College, at the mouth of an alley. A painted oilcloth with large, vermillion words, ‘Imperial College Exclusive Book Transportation Cart’ was stretched across the top. A crowd had already gathered around it, busily conversing with the vendor inside the cart, exchanging silver for securely wrapped packages of new books, wrapped in translucent, white oil-paper.
The Peace of Mind Study was truly trustworthy!
To think that they would specially deliver books just for the students of the Imperial College, despite the pouring rain, was unprecedentedly considerate—no other bookstore had ever shown such thoughtfulness before!
In their fervor, the students momentarily forgot that never before had any bookstore’s sales had been interrupted for months, creating a void in the market, only to later release highly sought-after editions at steep prices, which left eager readers scrambling to buy them immediately upon release.
The crowd swarmed the cart, clamoring to buy the books. Those who could not get their hands on one immediately turned to the attention of the books in the hands of their more fortunate peers.
The new release featured both deluxe and standard editions: the standard edition simply had a plain blue cover while the deluxe edition’s front cover showcased a grieving Zhuge Liang and the back cover showed off Zhou Yu playing the zither, separated by cloud motifs. If one spread the cover flat to compare the front and back covers, it became evident that Zhuge Liang had been drawn with solid, darker lines and possessed a rosy complexion, while Zhou Yu, printed slightly smaller, appeared more ethereal in both garment and complexion color. Separated by the clouds, it evoked the artistic sentiment of Zhuge Liang mourning his fallen adversary, Zhou Yu.
One student exclaimed, “The Peace of Mind Study’s books truly capture one’s imagination. While it is said that Zhuge Liang’s mourning of Zhou Yu was insincere, I believe that such illustrious and bright figures of such an era must have held mutual respect and intentions for each other. It is just that their allegiances to their own kingdoms, Shu and Wu, kept them from forming a closer bond.”
Another student chimed in, “Zhou Yu was known to be narrow-minded, he may not have truly appreciated Zhuge Liang. But, Zhuge Liang, with his greater tolerance to embrace others, naturally cried and mourned sincerely.”
Then, someone else refuted, “Zhou Yu may not have been necessarily narrow-minded. Why would he only envy Zhuge Liang and not the other talents of the Wu Kingdom? Due to the two states warring, it was the fear that such a formidable figure in Shu could someday harm Wu that compelled them to act against each other. It was simply the demands of the times. Had the Han dynasty not crumbled into disarray, and had they served as ministers at the same Imperial court, the story might have unfolded very differently.”
Although the students engaged in lively debates, they were mindful not to stir up too much of a commotion, fearing they would attract the attention of their instructors and lead to the expulsion of the book cart. Hence, they argued in hushed tones, orderly and honestly queuing up to purchase their books. Cui Xie, unfazed by the showcase of urgency, leisurely strolled back to the study hall under the protection of an umbrella, pulling out his collection of Guan Hanqing’s plays and humming to himself as he read in the hall’s corridor.
While his tune may not have been pitch-perfect, his enunciation was exceptionally clear. Hearing him hum 《The Conference of a Single Dao》, a few passing classmates teased, “Why are you still engrossed in those old Yuan dynasty plays, Hezhong? Regarding the tales of the Three Kingdoms, aren’t the illustrated 《The Six Talents and their Commentaries on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms》far more enjoyable than these short plays?”
Cui Xie hid the pages of his book against his chest and replied with a smile, “Vice Director Lin advised me to delve into opera to learn their elongated and graceful phrasing for constructing parallel sentences and couples. Knowing my own literary flair needs polishing, I certainly need to study such examples more to make up for it.”
That classmate suggested, “Why stick to the old dynasty’s works? Our own academy’s Chancellor’s works are far superior, with intricate composition and rich language, not to mention their educational value. Yilun Hall should have a copy of 《The Complete Chronicles of the Five Ethical Relationships》, why not borrow that? However, reading plays is a bit dull, but the mid-month break is just around the corner. Why don’t you come with us to watch the Southern opera performance by the Xiangyun Troupe?”
The holiday ah…the mention of the break elicited a wistful from Cui Xie as he shook his head, “I have already committed to learning something else during that time. I am afraid I will not have the time to watch plays. I must regretfully decline my worthy brother’s kind offer.”
That classmate shot him a sympathetic look shaking his head, “Still studying with the teachers during the break? When do you ever not study? Spending your youth like this, where is all the fun in it?”
No, in fact, on his days off, he did not bury his nose into the books. Instead, he had been learning the art of swordsmanship with Colonel Xie.
Cui Xie lowered his head, veiling his thoughts with a subdued reply, “I have just joined the Imperial College and there are many customs I am still adapting to. I suppose I will grow accustomed to them in time.”
In time, he would become accustomed.
For instance, the peculiar experience of dreaming about someone and then having to see them again afterward.
The first time he had dreamt of Xie Ying, it was merely a vision of him wearing the robes Cui Xie had made, and even that had left him unsettled for quite some time. Now, he had dreamt of an even more intimate encounter, yet now he was calmly planning what delicacies to bring to their next meeting. This was progress indeed.
On the fifteenth, the day of break, the kitchen successfully prepared aromatic and creamy milk tea mixed with caramel, smooth and delicate double-skin milk desserts, along with the sugar-steamed curd that was a favorite among the residents of the capital.
Knowing that dairy products could spoil easily, Cui Xie first attended the rites at the Imperial College and then arranged for the carriage driver to time the delivery of the iced beverages and desserts to coincide with the ceremony’s conclusion, planning to take himself to Xie Ying’s residence. However, upon exiting the main gates after the ceremony concluded, he found himself face-to-face with Xie Shan, who was waiting outside with a carriage from the Colonel’s residence.
Upon seeing Cui Xie, Xie Shan greeted with customary politeness, prompting Cui Xie to respond with a familiar grin, “Once again, I find myself in your care, Brother Xie Shan.”
Xie Shan inquired, “No trouble. Will the Young Master proceed as is, or would you prefer to change into different attire?”
A change was indeed necessary for ease of movement.
After slipping into an unworn green yesa, Cui Xie retrieved the iced milk tea and pastries from his family’s carriage and boarded the Xie family’s carriage. Upon arrival, Xie Ying’s gaze lingered on him for a few extra seconds, before his eyelids lowered, veiling the expression behind. The man’s demeanor was as usual, as if the moment of near-intimacy they had shared before had been forgotten. He tasted the tea and snacks with a smile, remarking, “I thought it would be the salty milk-tea the Mongolians are fond of, but this sweet version is truly delightful.”
Although he was smiling, Cui Xie sensed a certain formality in it, lacking the usual vivacity and warmth.
This sense of detachment became more apparent during their swordsmanship lesson. Xie Ying would demonstrate the movements slowly and then leave Cui Xie to practice it alone. Even when Cui Xie’s posture was off, Xie Ying chose to demonstrate again, instead of guiding Cui Xie’s hands into the right form, as he had done before.
Cui Xie could not help but wonder if Xie Ying was still mindful of that night’s near-kiss and was maintaining distance intentionally. After all, no one was to blame for the charged atmosphere that evening and Xie Ying’s striking appearance made it all the more challenging to restrain oneself….
Had they continued as they had in Cui Xie’s dream, how would their relationship stand today? Would they have acknowledged their mutual attraction and embarked on a tentative relationship, or would the awkwardness have rendered future meeting’s impossible?
Dragging his sword, Cui Xie could not help but chuckle out loud at the thought of Xie Ying coldly declaring, ‘That night was a mistake. Let’s not continue down this path’.
The thought of it seemed absurd and such melodramatic scenes were far from suitable to their usual interactions. It was better this way….to let things be. Being able to meet often and carry on as usual was enough.
Xie Ying, puzzled by the other’s inexplicable laughter, could not help but glance at him more intently. Clad in a vibrant green silk robe, Cui Xie looked even livelier than usual, his laughter carefree and unburdened, as if oblivious to Xie Ying’s deliberate distance.
Xie Ying shook his head slightly, pondering how Cui Xie had remained unaware of the near kiss he had almost taken at Lord Guan Yu’s Temple.
Such a youthful, lighthearted disposition….Xie Ying mumbled something under his breath, his mood lightening. Taking the straight sword from Cui Xie’s hands, he reversed the grip and tapped the sheath lightly onto the other’s forehead, instructing clearly, “I’ll demonstrate once more. Pay attention to this move. When greeting the enemy with the sword, the arm should pass under like this.”
Meanwhile, back at the Cui Residence, an unusual guest had arrived. Dressed in a cyan robe with kingfish feather embellishments, he made for a striking figure in his late twenties, about twenty-seven-years-old, with handsome and defined features. Arriving in a modest green felt palanquin, unaccompanied by pageantry and only with a few attendants, he discreetly entered the Cui Residence, carrying a wooden plaque covered in red silk.
Coincidentally, Cui Xie had gone to Xie Ying’s residence and would not return until after dinner.
Cui Liangdong, in a rush, summoned someone to fetch Cui Xie, but the coachman timidly responded, “The Young Master is at the residence of a jinyiwei1 colonel, a palace beyond our reach. Would we forcibly bring him back to displease the jinyiwei?”
Yet, they couldn’t neglect the County Magistrate to wait unattended!
Although the Old Cui furen had been granted with an imperial decree and was considered as a person of dignity, as a woman of the inner courtyard and having been long afflicted with illness, she was unfit to entertain the guests. The Old Cui Patriarch was bedridden and unable to speak, which only added to the urgency of the matter. Cui Liangdong, in a fluster, suddenly remembered they had a juren2 in the residence. He promptly had Lu juren summoned to receive the guest and escorted the County Magistrate to meet the Old furen.
The visit of Daxing’s County Magistrate was unexpected, catching the household unprepared, just as they were taking the Old Patriarch to stroll in the gardens for a breath of fresh air.
Upon the Magistrate’s arrival, the main courtyard had been sealed by paper pavilions, its sides extending into the wing rooms, seemingly impenetrable. Only on closer inspection, did one realize the pavilion had a front door draped with heavy oiled paper curtains, and surprisingly, oiled paper windows flanking either side.
The base of the pavilion was of a soy-sauce colored tortoise-shell patterned paper, finely creased to reveal subtly translucent folds, combining elegance and solemnity, anchoring the lighter translucent oiled paper walls above.
The County Magistrate, impressed by the opulence and intricacy of the Cui Residence, noticed a procession moving behind the paper corridor, the servants seeming very accustomed to such an arrangement. But he thought this was a rather excessful expense and this prompted him to turn to Cui Liangdong and inquire, “Why has your esteemed household blocked the doors and windows, and built such a luxurious mechanism, a corridor under the corridor in this midsummer weather?”
Cui Liangdong, guiding him, quickly explained, “Our family’s Old Patriarch has been bedridden for years and he is sensitive to drafts, which usually leaves him confined in his bedchambers. Since our Young Master has become the head of the household, he was concerned that prolonged bed rest might worsen the elder’s mood and health, so he sold some of our possessions to commission an artisan to construct a wheelchair and this paper pavilion, allowing the elder to come out and enjoy the sun without discomfort.”
County Magistrate Jiang, upon closer inspection of the procession, discerned the elongated shape of a wheelchair. Realizing his misinterpretation, a hint of redness appeared on his cheeks as he sighed, “I see, Cui jiansheng3 is truly filial, living up to his reputation as a righteous citizen honored by the Emperor. Perhaps he was inspired by the principle of ‘respecting one’s own elders as well as others’ when he generously donated goods worth nearly a hundred taels to the almshouse. I almost misjudged your household for lavishness and wastefulness upon seeing his paper corridor, my apologies for my hasty conclusions.”
- Jinyiwei: The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the imperial secret police that served the emperors of the Ming dynasty in China. ↩︎
- Juren: successful candidate in the imperial provincial examinations
↩︎ - Jiansheng: Normally, the title was bestowed on imperial order after the applicants had passed a special examination, yet there were also other methods of obtaining it. University students were therefore divided into the classes of university student by metropolitan examination where one could pass based on imperial grace, inheritance, nepotism, recommendation or even obtaining the title by purchase ↩︎
TN: Hope you are all doing well! Currently in the midst of receiving acceptances and rejections from my grad school apps, wish me luck! So happy to be able to translate this beautiful novel in my free time though 🙂 Love you all and best of wishes to all your endeavors!
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