Great Tang Idyll

Chapter 77: Like Jin Bu'huan, It’s Never Too Late For A Prodigal To Turn His Head Back

 

With a smile on his face, Si Cang Can Jun listened to his nephew telling him about what he did, how he did it, how much money he made, how much he spent these days, and what he bought for his family.

 

Seeing how happy his nephew was when he spoke, he didn't interrupt him and just listened.
In fact, he didn't care how much money his nephew made; he only cared whether his nephew was still bullying people on the street like he used to do and if he spent his day away doing nothing.

 

From these words, he knew that his nephew, who had never studied well before, became a different person after he joined hands with the Zhang Manor to do business.
He stopped hanging old with his old friends, and spent the whole day thinking about how to sell things.

 

There was also the praises from the locals when the items were sold to them, such as praises about the curved-plough.
Even though his nephew made money off of them, he still received compliments from the commoners. 

 

When he talked about this, Zhou Xi’hu was in especially high spirits.
He continued to say that for those whose family really didn’t have money but still had to work on the fields, he would give them a discount.
There were even some instances where he rented the plough out to people, and would collected the money after the autumn harvest.
There were also some buyers who were coughing constantly, so he called doctors over to treat them.

 

For the first time, Zhou Xi’hu had the courage to speak to his uncle so frankly and confidently.
He felt that he had done nothing wrong and was unlike before where he didn't know what to say whenever his uncle asked and could only lower his head.

 

“I plan to keep working with the Zhang Manor in the future.
They have said that there is still a lot of business to do.
I saw a necklace made of large pearls at the jewelry shop that costs six hundred taels of silver.
I have the money, but I’m afraid that if I spend that money, I would not have money to do other business deals, so I didn’t buy it.

 

posted of dramantics.blogspot.com

 

I’ll wait for the next time I do business with Zhang Manor and then buy the necklace and give it to my mother.
My mother will have her birthday in two months.
I will remind the Zhang Manor again tomorrow and try to complete a business sale within this time.

 

There was also a bangle that was nice too.
After I earn money, I’ll to buy it and give it to my aunt.
I didn’t even spend much money when I go to the restaurant to eat these days because those people all want to treat me.
I would bring home the leftovers and let the servants eat it.
They all said I was good.”

 

Zhou Xi’hu kept talking there and wished that he could tell his uncle about everything that he had encountered.

 

Zhou Kong had been listening the entire time, and he suddenly asked, “Why did you bring home the leftovers, aren’t you afraid of others calling you stingy?”

 

“What is stinginess? That food would be thrown away if it wasn’t eaten.
The servants in the household can’t eat those types of foods even if they wanted to.
Also, the food wasn't spoiled.
Last time when I personally delivered the curved-plough to a farmer, I saw what they were eating–it turned out to be food from the day before yesterday.
It was left for two days already but they were still eating it.

 

They didn’t get sick from eating it.
After seeing it, I thought about all of the food I ate before and how much was thrown away.
It was really wrong.
Back then, when I bought food, I used my family’s money, but now I know that making money was not easy.
I had to manage the crafters, and check the prices.
Only a few coins of profit was earned from selling a single plough so, of course I have to use money more conservatively.
“

 

Zhou Xi’hu started talking again and stretched out his hand to show his uncle.
There were two wounds on his hand, both of which were obtainted when he accidentally touched the plough.

 

When Zhou Kong heard of this, he finally smiled with satisfaction.
His nephew was sensible now as he understood that it was not easy to make money, that he needed to respect his parents, and be considerate of the commoners.
Nothing could make him more happy than hearing about that.
As for the money earned, it didn’t matter if it was a lot or little; even if it was a loss, it was acceptable.

 

“Uncle, please don't tell my mother that I want to buy something for her.
My mother will complain that I spend money blindly.
When I went back, I made a rough comparison and that necklace would look really nice on my mother's neck.
My mother would look prettier, and even more pretty than my father’s new little mistress.

posted of dramantics.blogspot.com

 

And the bangle too.
When my aunt wears it, you know with a glance that my aunt's fair skin will go well with the light green bangle and she will look younger.
Uncle, what's wrong? Why are your eyes red? Is it too dry and stuffy in the car so you don’t feel well?

 

It’s like this now, but you’ll know when you get to the place— the water from the well is delicious and very cool.
One sip makes one feel comfortable from the inside to the outside.
In winter, this place is different from everywhere else.
I have learned from the Zhang Manor how to make a heated brick bed.
When I lay on top of it, I finally understood what warmth was.
“

 

Zhou Xi’hu saw that his uncle's eyes were a little red, and thought that it was because it was stuffy in the carriage, so he rolled up the curtain a little and continued talking.

 

“Yeah, it's stuffy.
I’ll be fine when I get to see the well water, Little Hu, tell me, what are your plans for the future?” Zhou Kong rubbed the corner of his eye with his sleeve and asked now that he felt relieved.

 

“Plans? I really don’t know.
I just want to do business with Zhang Manor.
They gave me some profitable businesses.
In fact, I know that if I was on my own, they wouldn't pay attention to me at all.
It’s because my uncle is behind me and they want to curry favor with you.

I made some money, but I didn’t keep all of this money to myself and gave some money back to them.
Uncle, that Zhang Manor is truly amazing.
Their ideas for making money come one after another.
I am also not afraid that there won’t be anymore money making businesses to conduct in the future.
Uncle, you have to take good care of the Zhang Manor.
I can only do business if they’re present.
“

Zhou Xi’hu was cunning at this time, and this made Zhou Kong shake his head at him.
How could people not know the little schemes his nephew had? Zhang Manor really had to be protected, but not because he cared about that bit of money his nephew earned, but because after cooperating with them to do business, his nephew became sensible.
Like Jin Bu’huan, it was never too late for a prodigal to turn his head back.
This was something that cannot be bought with any amount of money.

 

posted of dramantics.blogspot.com

 

“Uncle, say something.
It was really not easy for the Zhang Manor.
If there was a movement as slight as a breeze blowing or a blade of grass swaying, they would be able to make a response.
The fungus I gave you last time was from them.
You may not know, they planted the fungus themselves, and they have said that they will let me sell the wood fungus when they grow more of them.

 

Amazing, right? Wood fungus can actually be planted.
Now it’s a drought so there are fewer fungus and mushrooms here.
They have told me how to make mushrooms into delicious dishes.
I bought some and made it for my mother.
My mother praised that my cooking was good.
I made the dishes myself, and I didn't let anyone else help.
“

 

When he talked about this, Zhou Xi’hu felt very happy, especially when he saw his parents eating.
They kept boasting that they couldn't wait for him to cook every day.

 

“Good, Little Hu's cooking must be delicious.
When we go back, Little Hu must cook a meal for me.” Zhou Kong could imagine how unpalatable his nephew's cooking was.
Not to mention that his nephew had never made a dish before, his cutting skills were not even good.
However, Zhou Kong knew that Zhou Xi’hu made the food for his parents, so it was the most delicious food on earth; even the imperial cook was no match for him. 

 

Looking at the expression on his uncle's face, Zhou Xi‘hu knew what his uncle was thinking.
He sighed and said, “Uncle, I know what you are thinking, you think I can't do it?”

 

Let me tell you, it’s not like that.
In the recipe the Zhang Manor gave to me, the measurement of each ingredient was written down.
I told the bookkeeper to read it and everything was weighed with a scale.
Even the temperature of the fire was recorded down in the recipe.
They also gave me an ingredient, it’s a faintly yellow rice-grain like substance.
When it was added to the dish, it made the dish more savory.
“

 

“Oh? There was something else? What is it? Does it really make dishes more delicious when added into the dish?” Zhou Kong still didn't believe it, but he went along with his nephew's words and spoke like that because he wanted to make his nephew happy.

 

“Ahhh, how come you just won’t believe me, uncle.
The restaurants in the county seat all have to buy that item from them.
It costs one or two silver for one mace2, and only one tael3 can be purchased each month.
It was only used for special dishes.
I didn’t even ask how it’s made, but they won’t say anything even if I asked anyway.”

 

posted of dramantics.blogspot.com

 

Zhou Xi’hu felt a bit despaired, why didn't his uncle believe in him?

 

As they were talking, the carriage stopped.
Just when everyone thought they had arrived and got off, people brought a bowl of hot soup to them.
Inside the soup was fungus, pickled cucumber, and eggs.
There was a layer of oil that was floating on top that had bits of green onion,  and there were two fried dough sticks on the side.
Of course, they didn't know it was called “you’tiao“.

 

At this time, the Magistrate Cheng came to the carriage of the three most important people and said, “My lords, it will take another hour to get there.
I was worried that my lords would be hungry, so I casually prepared something to fill your stomachs.”

 

After he said this, everyone understood.
They rushed all the way here and didn’t rest along the way so they were indeed a little hungry after smelling the soup that seemed tasty.
They took a bite of the fried dough sticks, sipped a mouth of soup, and then ate some pickled veggies.  Everyone ate the food and felt that it was not enough to eat, but after everything was eaten and the soup was drunk, they were too embarrassed to ask for more.

 

“Why does this soup taste different from the soups I drank before.
It tasted very refreshing.
Pickled cucumber can taste this refreshing? What is this bread item? When it is chewed in the mouth, the outside is crispy and the inside is soft.
The pickled veggies also have a special type of fragrant spicy taste.”

 

After Si Cang Can Jun finished his food, he also felt that it was not enough.
He glanced at the untouched item his nephew had on his, and he smacked his lips as he praised the food.

 

Zhou Xi'hu seemed to have expected that this would happen and he pushed the item to the front of his uncle, “Uncle, taste it again carefully, isn’t it very delicious? Especially the soup and small pickles.
They taste better than those made in big restaurants.” 

 

“It is good.
Little Hu, you eat it.” Zhou Kong really wanted to eat it, but felt a little embarrassed to take it.

 

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“Uncle, I have already eaten it before.
I have that ingredient that can make the same delicious soup in my hand so I can eat it anytime I want.
This soup and pickled veggies also uses that ingredient.
Unfortunately, they sell a very low amount, and they only sell it to three restaurants here.

 

They do give some of that ingredient to the administrative office and to me.
They don’t sell it to anyone else.
They only started selling that ingredient last night.
I heard that they will build a restaurant at their place, and they will sell it there in the future.
Uncle, please eat quickly, otherwise it will become cold.
“

 

While talking, Zhou Xi’hu took out a small paper bag from the inside of this robe and opened it carefully to let his uncle look at it.

 

Zhou Kong didn’t act courteous this time, and picked up the bowl and drank.
He exhaled out a puff of warm air and asked, “Was it really because that thing you have in your hand that was added? Can't you get the recipe?”

 

 

 

Translator's Notes 

“Like Jin Bu'huan, it’s never too late for a prodigal to turn his head back” 浪子回头，金不换

Jin Bu'huan was the son of a rich man so he was extremely spoiled.
In one instance, the young Jin Bu'huan enjoyed listening to the shattering sounds of porcelain so his father ordered his servants to smash bowls onto the ground.
Later on, he eventually ended up wasting all of his family fortunes and became a beggar.
Under the encouragement of his wife, he came back to his senses and became a better man. 

Mace 钱

This is a unit and is equivalent to 0.0625 catty or about 3.7 grams. 

Tael 两

This is also a unit and is equivalent to 10 mace.