Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Way of Honor and Survival

"Jiulang!"

Just as Wu Ning was at a loss, Wu Changlu spoke calmly.

"Among all you juniors, the one I admire most is you. You have the brains, and from time to time you come up with surprises. Though you can be a bit unruly, your nature is not bad."

Wu Ning was even more bewildered. Why say all this out of the blue?

"If you have something to say, Fourth Uncle, just say it," he replied.

Wu Changlu sighed. "Cleverness is one thing, but when life forces your hand, it's not unforgivable to go into business."

He looked at Wu Ning. "However, you mustn’t stray from the proper path. This kind of trickery and deception—this is the only time! Never again!"

Wu Ning felt wronged.

What’s this about? Both parties were willing; I didn’t force anyone to stay here. How is this cheating or swindling?

Besides, everyone’s so poor—it’s survival first, isn’t it? We’re not bookish scholars, where does that lofty integrity come from?

He muttered in discontent, "I didn’t deceive anyone. At most, I raised the price a little."

"That still won’t do!" Ancestor Jun roared, slamming his hand on the table.

"Wu Jiulang, listen well! Since you bear the Wu name, you must abide by Wu family rules. Don’t go learning the ways of sly merchants!"

Wu Ning dared not speak further. The old patriarch lost his temper often enough, but rarely with such seriousness.

"Father, calm down," Wu Changlu soothed the elder. "Jiulang isn’t a child who doesn’t know reason. A word or two and he’ll understand."

Finally persuading Ancestor Jun to sit, Wu Changlu turned to face Wu Ning.

For a long moment, his stern expression melted into a faint smile, and he shook his head with a wry laugh.

"Not convinced, are you, boy?"

Wu Ning remained silent.

"It’s alright if you’re not convinced. Let me teach you something."

"Please, Uncle."

Wu Changlu pondered for a moment. He had intended to be blunt, but recalling Wu Ning’s background…

"You come from the big city, the capital. Perhaps… you’ve seen your share of indifference and think that’s the way to survive. But here, in the Tang empire—at least in our mountain hollow—that won’t work."

What Wu Changlu didn’t know was that Wu Ning had not only come from the capital, but had also lived more than twenty years in a later, even more self-interested age.

"Why not?" Wu Ning asked frankly.

"Because in this world, you cannot survive on your own!"

Wu Changlu looked at Wu Ning earnestly. "This is a world that devours people, cold and merciless!"

"It’s an age where a bad harvest means starvation, and a simple journey can end in bloodshed!"

"You may have a full belly today, but who knows when you’ll go hungry. You may earn a string of coins today, but who knows when that very string could cost you your life."

"In times like these, only by standing together can we survive."

Wu Changlu paused. "You open an inn, everyone in the hollow comes to help you. Likewise, if they fall on hard times, you must help them. That is how kin and village survive together."

"But…" Wu Ning protested, feeling more aggrieved, "I never cheated anyone from the hollow."

Wu Changlu laughed. "They help you here, yes. But one day you’ll leave this place, leave Fangzhou! What then?"

Wu Ning's heart trembled as Wu Changlu continued, "By then, this tiny village will no longer be able to shield you. You’ll need the support of fellow townsfolk from Fangzhou. Only by banding together can you survive beyond these borders!"

"That’s why you treat others with honesty, so they’ll treat you the same. When you’re in need, someone will be there to help."

"That’s called righteousness, and human feeling."

"Do you understand?"

Wu Ning began to understand.

Now he saw where the old patriarch’s sense of justice came from; he grasped the meaning of righteousness and human feeling, and how different these were from what he’d known in the future. It even reminded him of something Meng Cangshan had once told him.

Back then, Wu Ning would boast to Meng Cangshan of his vast "knowledge," thinking his thousand years’ experience made him far superior to the ancients.

But Meng Cangshan always scoffed and brushed him off.

At last, driven by Wu Ning’s persistence, Meng Cangshan had said, "You’re far from understanding. When you can face life and death directly, then speak to me of ‘knowledge.’"

He hadn’t understood then, thinking Meng Cangshan was just putting on airs. Now, it began to make sense.

A cold, indifferent world—both Wu Changlu and Meng Cangshan called it so.

Life was hard, and death commonplace.

War.

Disease.

Natural disasters.

Man-made calamities.

And compared to later ages, a poverty so dire it defied description.

Any mistake could be fatal; people became numb, even indifferent, to death.

This, perhaps, was what Meng Cangshan meant by "knowledge."

Yet, no one truly does not fear death, nor being crushed by the world. Only by uniting can one hope to survive.

Just as Wu Changlu said: the clansfolk in the hollow must band together, the people of Fangzhou must band together, the powerful factions at court must band together, as must the great families of Shandong…

Integrity, trust, and righteousness are not just moral standards of this age—they are the very key to survival.

"I understand," Wu Ning admitted sincerely. "Treat others with honesty, uphold righteousness and keep one’s word."

"Good." Wu Changlu nodded in satisfaction. Wu Ning’s greed was momentary; his nature was decent.

"Go and return the room money. Never betray trust and righteousness for material gain!"

He patted Wu Ning’s shoulder. "Remember, it’s not just your own honor at stake, but that of our entire village."

Wu Ning agreed, "Yes."

As luck would have it, just as they finished, the gate opened.

The two scholars who’d reserved rooms that morning, along with the elderly man, returned—perhaps having failed to find anything after a long day, they came back to rest and try their luck again tomorrow.

Wu Ning hurried inside, took out the money he’d collected that morning, and returned it to them, charging only a hundred coins per room.

But to his surprise, though he offered the money, none of the three would take it.

The old man gave an awkward smile, not even glancing at the money. Instead, he turned toward Wu Changlu.

"With Commander Wu here, will you not invite this old man to a hot meal?"

Wu Changlu looked up at the gate, then broke into a hearty laugh. "So it’s you, Master Qin! Come, take a seat—let us share a few cups together."

His words were both bold and courteous.

He then turned to the two scholars. "If you gentlemen don’t mind, would you join us for a meal as well?"

Wu Ning, realizing they were acquaintances, hurried to usher them to the table.

As for the old man’s identity, Wu Ning had an inkling. If he was right, this was Qin Wenyuan, the wealthy merchant father of Qin Miaoniang—whom Wu Qi had spoken of—and a friend of his fourth uncle.

After introductions from his uncle and the patriarch, Wu Ning’s guess was confirmed—this was indeed Qin Wenyuan.

Once they’d toasted each other and exchanged pleasantries, Wu Ning again pushed the money toward them.

"Just now, Fourth Uncle reproved me, and I realize the error of my ways. Please, forgive my lack of righteousness."

This time, Qin Wenyuan could not pretend not to notice. He exchanged a glance with the two scholars, all three smiling.

"To tell you the truth, Young Master Wu, we’ve been standing outside the courtyard for some time."

"What?" Wu Ning was mortified. They’d heard everything, including his scolding.

Qin Wenyuan turned to Wu Changlu and the patriarch. "Today I have witnessed the upright spirit of the Wu clan. I am truly impressed!"

The two scholars also bowed to Wu Changlu, full of scholarly grace.

"But…" Qin Wenyuan’s tone shifted as he glanced at the large sum on the table. "Since Commander Wu says we townsfolk must stick together, I cannot take the money back."

Wu Changlu frowned. "And why is that?"

"It’s simple," Qin Wenyuan replied calmly. "If we’re to support one another, how can I stand by and not lend a hand to Young Master Wu?"

"Master Qin," Wu Changlu protested, "We appreciate your goodwill, but this money was gained unjustly—we cannot accept it."

"Ah!" Qin Wenyuan waved his hand. "No need to worry, Commander Wu. Hear me out."

He turned to Wu Ning. "Young man, to open such an inn, you must be no ordinary person. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Please, enlighten me."

Qin Wenyuan said, "An inn that charges a hundred coins a night is only expensive, nothing more. But an inn that charges five hundred coins a night—then guests will wonder, why is it so costly? There must be something special!"

"Oh," Wu Ning slapped his forehead.

"Why didn’t I think of that?!"

He rose and bowed deeply to Qin Wenyuan.

"Master, your reputation as a great merchant is well deserved. I am humbled by your lesson!"