Chapter Five: People of the Tang Dynasty Were Reasonable

Life is something that must be managed.

Wu Ning has always believed in one principle: that Heaven is fair to every person.

Even if there is injustice, even if the starting lines are vastly different, at the very least, the opportunities left to each person are equal.

The difference lies in whether one can seize those opportunities, while others... let them slip quietly by, unaware.

Just as he is now.

Heaven may have granted him the memories of over a thousand years and allowed him to start a new life, but his status as a runaway and his impoverished circumstances have still confined his existence.

And this string of coins in his hand may very well be the opportunity Heaven has laid before him.

...

After noon, people began to trickle up the mountain road once more.

Tiger and Wu Li had gone to town to buy food. Though the round trip was nearly ten miles, for these young ones, the allure of a trip to town was still irresistible.

Even Qiao’er had gone along for the excitement, leaving Wu Ning alone at home to mind the stall.

...

To be honest, Wu Ning’s soup stall was a clever setup.

From Fangzhou City to Changluo Mountain was five miles; there were villages along the way, but hardly any shops. The entire stretch was barren land, and walking it put one’s stamina to the test.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain, passing through the valley, there happened to be a stall by the roadside offering drinks and rest. Any townsfolk with a few coins in their purse would often stop to have a bowl of mild wine or sour milk.

Indeed, two travelers dressed as scholars, braving the midday sun, spotted the low tables and stools under the shade of the trees and instinctively approached.

“Young man, what are you selling here?” one asked.

Wu Ning smiled—business at last.

He hurried to his feet and swept the stools clean with a cloth. “Please, sirs, sit, sit!”

Scholars care about their dignity; once seated, even if they didn’t fancy the offerings, they would be loath to leave without ordering something. The deal was as good as made.

He welcomed them to their seats. “A humble stall in the countryside has little variety. Please forgive me.”

He gestured to the jars and pots nearby. “Only some mild wine, sour milk, sweet soup with plums, iced pear soup, and date cakes.”

“Please, choose whatever you like.”

The scholars, tired from their journey, were pleased by his hospitality, and hearing the list put them in an even better mood.

“Ah, quite a selection.”

Actually, not much at all! Any soup shop in town would offer far more.

But Wu Ning was glib, and he prefaced his menu by saying it was a small stall with little variety; then he rattled off six or seven items, making it easier for the guests to accept.

“How do you price your drinks?” one inquired.

Wu Ning replied, “Sold by the bowl, four coins each.”

“Hm?” The scholar frowned. “That price isn’t right.”

In this era, anyone who could afford to study had some family wealth. If not from a well-off household, they wouldn’t be dressed as scholars.

So these two were certainly not short of money. But precisely because they weren’t, they frequented city restaurants and inns and knew the prices well.

Even in a decent city eatery, a bowl of mild wine cost only two or three coins—how could it be four at a countryside stall?

The two showed their displeasure at once. “You’re quite the crafty one, young man! Do you take us for fools?”

They looked ready to upend the table.

Wu Ning was speechless. He thought, “It’s a tourist spot; are you joking?” But he couldn’t say that aloud. Calmly, he explained, “It’s true that the price in town is lower than here.”

The scholar pressed, “How dare you charge so much then?”

“Please hear me out,” Wu Ning soothed patiently. “The price in town is lower, but you’ve walked from the city, haven’t you? This five-mile mountain path is no easy trek.”

They frowned, uncertain why he brought up the mountain road.

“What of it?”

Wu Ning replied, “The wine isn’t made by me; I carry it up from the city, jar by jar.”

He put on a sincere face. “Livelihood is hard. Charging an extra coin is just for my labor.”

...

The two scholars fell silent, faces red, staring at Wu Ning.

After a long moment, they clasped their hands and bowed deeply.

“My words were out of line. I judged too quickly and offended you—my apologies.”

Wu Ning smacked his lips.

Amazing! In this Tang dynasty, people sure are reasonable.

...

In the end, the two scholars not only bought wine and date cakes, but also tipped Wu Ning two large coins.

Of course, the date cakes were also “carried up from the city,” so those cost more too.

Weighing the small pile of copper coins in his hand, Wu Ning felt delighted. Happiness really isn’t tied to wealth!

For Chairman Wang, earning a hundred million is a small goal, but after a busy day, earning a few coins is joyful enough for me.

Wait...?

Thinking of it, Wu Ning suddenly felt a bit displeased. Just a few coins—why am I so happy? Am I celebrating being poor?

As he fretted, a harsh, mocking laugh sounded behind him. “How come I never knew you carried the wine up jar by jar?”

Wu Ning turned to see a figure standing at his gate, clad in a faded, collarless robe, with a bamboo hat that obscured his face.

Wu Ning felt uneasy. “Uncle, when did you return?”

...

“Ha.” The ugly uncle sneered. “Just got back, but I’ve been watching your antics for a while.”

“Uh…” Wu Ning was mortified.

His uncle never liked him setting up the stall, but necessity had forced him to let Wu Ning try.

Now he’d seen the whole episode, and though he rarely spoke, he’d probably scold Wu Ning for days.

Wu Ning quickly changed the subject. “By the way… Fourth Uncle is back.”

It worked. The ugly uncle stiffened, said no more, and headed towards the homes of Ancestor Lord and Fifth Uncle.

Wu Ning breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, after five years together, he still felt distant from this uncle.

He was simply too gloomy, too aloof.

Always kept people at arm’s length. Combined with that ugly face, even after five years, Wu Ning still couldn’t see through him.

Nor did he know what had happened to make him this way.

...

After tending the stall for a while, he saw Wu Li and the others return, arms full of packages.

Wu Ning packed up the stall, joined them to carry things home, and began preparing dinner.

He also pondered how to use the string of coins, and how to convince his uncle and the old village head.

...

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A few words by way of explanation: During the launch period of this new book, due to considerations regarding the timing of release and the reader engagement phase, Cangshan will not be able to post chapters in bursts.

For now, I’ll guarantee updates of four to six thousand characters daily, aiming for longer-term goals. Hope everyone understands.

Rest assured, after the book goes online, even if my health fails me, I’ll gather my strength for a few big releases to satisfy you all.

Also…

A word about titles and forms of address in the Tang dynasty: I really can’t take it anymore!

The ways fathers, elders, and brothers addressed each other in the Tang were extremely confusing. Readers of Tang historical novels know—calling one’s father “elder brother,” even “brother,” and grandfather as “Ancestor Lord,” or “Lord,” and the emperor is also called “Lord.”

Father might be called “Aye,” or “Yeye”—might as well just call him “Grandpa.”

Men could refer to themselves as “slave,” and women could, too.

The term “girl” isn’t a maid.

And so on, it’s maddening and seriously disrupts the writing process.

So, shall we just revert to familiar forms of address?

Father is father, mother is mother, brother is brother, grandfather is grandfather.

Titles with particular narrative flavor will stay; others, let’s not be too literal and save ourselves the trouble.