BMN : Chapter 4

As Fu Ming stepped into the room, two women rose to greet him.

One was dressed in lavish attire, with a subtle smile; the other wore a simpler outfit, similar to that of a respectable maid in the household, her expression gentle and kind.

“Brother Ming, you’re back already? So soon! The tea at the old lady’s place is quite good; why didn’t you take your time to savor it?” Jin Yi’s concubine, Wang Ningxue, spoke in a slightly mocking tone.

Xinyue, the other woman, bowed with the formality of a servant greeting her master and added, “As a man, the young master must find chatting over tea to be quite different from what we womenfolk enjoy, and perhaps less necessary.”

Wang Ningxue cast a sidelong glance at Xinyue, a clear smile still on her face. Fu Ming took his seat, and the two women formally knelt to pay their respects. Wanlan brought over greeting gifts, both receiving identical gold hairpins and bracelets.

After the formalities, Fu Ming had them seated and served tea.  

Wang Ningxue held her cup, not drinking from it, and asked, “Brother Ming, are you satisfied with this courtyard?”

Fu Ming replied, “It’s spacious and quiet; it’s nice.”

Wang Ningxue continued, “I’m glad you like it. When the master asked me to prepare a place for you, I thought about giving up my courtyard, which is closer to the master’s quarters. But he said it was too much trouble to move around and instructed me to find another place for you. It took a while to select this one, and now that you approve, I can finally relax.”

Fu Ming smiled but did not respond further.

Xinyue interjected, “It seems the soil and water in this courtyard are quite special. Just like how oranges grown north of the Huai River aren’t as sweet as those grown south, but the oranges from the backyard, while not as sweet as southern honey oranges, are still edible and taste better when pickled. The late mistress used to come here to pick them.”

Fu Ming replied, “In that case, I’ll make sure they’re well cared for.”

Xinyue smiled slightly, “Thank you, young master.”

“One should not forget old friends. If these oranges remind you of someone, it shows a sense of loyalty and sentiment. I appreciate people who value such feelings. When the oranges are ripe this year, you may come and pick them yourself.”

Xinyue restrained her smile and bowed again.

After a brief conversation, Xinyue excused herself, sensing Fu Ming’s mood. Wang Ningxue followed suit. Fu Ming asked Lu Fei to see them out of the courtyard.

After they left, Wanlan began to clear the tea cups. Noticing that Wang Ningxue had hardly touched her tea, she sneered, “What is this? Mocking the young master isn’t enough; she even scorns our tea so openly. She should never step foot in here again!”

Lu Fei returned at that moment, unsure whether to agree or calm Wanlan down. Although she was angry too, she kept her composure, saying quietly, “Among all the people we’ve seen these past few days, she’s the only one who behaves so poorly. We shouldn’t take her seriously. In time, everything will become clear.”

Fu Ming watched Lu Fei pull Wanlan aside to whisper, unable to suppress a chuckle. What kind of foresight had his nursemaid used to choose these two to serve him?

After a brief rest, Fu Ming summoned all the staff of the courtyard for a talk, balancing sternness and kindness, and gave out rewards. The reactions of the servants were respectful on the surface, though their true feelings were unknown, as they thanked him and left.

Finally, with some peace and quiet, Fu Ming took out a book he had brought from the Fu residence, *The Great Learning*.  

“…in the ultimate attainment of goodness. Knowing the ultimate goal, one can have determination…”

He had written an essay on this phrase before, and his teacher had praised his deep understanding. Now, he felt the need to start his lessons anew.

Just as he was deep in thought, Wanlan came in and said, “Young master, it’s time for lunch.”

On his first day at the mansion, there was no husband to accompany him, no elders to share a meal, and no peers to keep him company. Fu Ming dined alone. Though the food was not particularly exquisite, there was a vegetable soup that was visually appealing and flavorful. In this season, fresh vegetables were scarce, so to prepare a soup with a variety of colors and flavors must have required considerable effort. It was a rare dish he had never tasted before, so he had a bit more of it. He also sent compliments to the cook and gave the dishes he hadn’t touched much to her.

Lu Fei felt somewhat relieved that Fu Ming’s appetite was unaffected by the troubles.

After the meal, Fu Ming noticed the warm sun outside and had the maids move a wicker chaise lounge to a sunny spot, covered with a quilt, making it warm and comfortable. He lay down for a nap.

Just as he was drifting into a light sleep, he felt a warm breeze brushing his cheek, carrying a hint of moisture. Was it going to rain? He slowly awoke from his shallow slumber to see a child grinning at him.

“Yan’er? You’re here. Did you rest well at noon?” Fu Ming sat up, his voice slightly hoarse from sleep, sounding even more gentle.

Zhaoyan snuggled beside him, laughing, “I’ve been up for a while! If I slept any longer, the sun would set!”

“Is that so?” Fu Ming asked Lu Fei, “What time is it now?”

Lu Fei smiled, “Young master, you’ve only slept for less than half an hour!”

Fu Ming chuckled, gently patting Zhaoyan’s soft cheek, and asked, “What would Yan’er like to hear?” He took the boy inside.

As they walked, Zhaoyan replied, “Hmm—Yan’er likes the stories from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* and hero legends!”

“Alright, then Uncle Ming will tell you those stories!”

Inside, Fu Ming sat on a chair with a backrest, and Zhaoyan chose a small stool, resting his hands on Fu Ming’s knees.

Wanlan brought in tea and snacks, treats she had learned Zhaoyan liked. The boy was indeed pleased.

The nannies and maids who accompanied Zhaoyan were invited by Lu Fei to have tea. “Don’t worry, the young master is well taken care of here. It’s rare for you to have a break, so why not enjoy a few cups of hot tea in this cold weather?” The women, seeing Fu Ming nod in agreement, followed her suggestion.

Fu Ming asked Zhaoyan, “Which stories from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* do you know?”

Zhaoyan thought for a moment and said, “I know about Kuafu chasing the sun. He drank all the water in the rivers! I asked Father if Kuafu’s stomach wouldn’t burst.”

Fu Ming laughed, “And what did your father say?”

Zhaoyan replied, “Father said Kuafu wasn’t a mortal, so he could contain the rivers and seas. He also talked about the sea accepting hundreds of rivers. I didn’t quite understand.”

Fu Ming found it amusing. Perhaps Zhaoyan wasn’t uninterested but simply didn’t enjoy such moral lessons. His father seemed to use storytelling to impart life lessons—an admirable effort.

Fu Ming asked, “Does Yan’er also read books when listening to stories?”

Zhaoyan shook his head, “Father said he’ll invite a teacher next year to teach Yan’er to read and write.”

It seemed Jin Yi was not in a rush to push his son into academics prematurely, a sensible decision for a parent hoping for their child’s success. “If Yan’er hasn’t read yet, do you know what the deities and mythical creatures in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* look like?”

“Father described their appearances, but Yan’er isn’t very clear.”

After some thought, Fu Ming asked, “Do you know about Jingwei who filled the sea? What does Jingwei look like?”

Zhaoyan thought for a moment and said, “It’s a colorful bird, like a crow.”

Fu Ming smiled more broadly, “Is that what your father told you?”

Zhaoyan replied, “Father said it a bit differently, but that’s what I remember.”

Fu Ming recited, “It looks like a crow, with a patterned head, a white beak, and red feet…” Then, he explained it in simpler terms. “Can Yan’er imagine what this bird looks like?”

Zhaoyan nodded, then shook his head, “I think I know, but I’m not sure.”

Fu Ming stood up, taking Zhaoyan to the desk, “Let’s draw it together. It’ll be clearer that way.”

It was Zhaoyan’s first time holding a brush, and Fu Ming guided his hand, helping him with the proper grip and showing him how to dip the brush in ink and start drawing. They each had a sheet of paper and shared the paints, drawing their own versions of Jingwei.

Zhaoyan was free-spirited with his strokes, quickly going through one sheet of paper before starting anew. Fu Ming occasionally guided him while also working on his own drawing. They finished at almost the same time.

Zhaoyan’s bird could barely be recognized, flamboyant as it was; Fu Ming’s, though simple, captured the spirit and lifelike quality of the creature. Zhaoyan, wide-eyed and open-mouthed in amazement, exclaimed, “Is this Jingwei? It looks so real! Just like Uncle Ming described!”

After drawing Jingwei, they moved on to the deity Zhuyin from Mount Zhong.

As they were finishing, Wanlan went to the place where the maids and nurses were having tea and asked, “Did anyone bring a change of clothes for the young master?”

Zhaoyan’s nurse stood up, “I brought a set. Do we need to change?”

Wanlan nodded, “Please come and see.”

The nurse was a bit anxious, wondering why they needed to change clothes. When she arrived, she saw Zhaoyan’s outer clothes were covered in various colors, with paint smudged on his face and hands, making him look like a little calico cat.

Wanlan and the nursemaid exchanged a smile and proceeded to clean and change Zhaoyan. Just as they were washing his hands, a message came from the old lady’s quarters, calling Zhaoyan for dinner.

The old lady doted on Zhaoyan and had initially wanted him to stay with her, but the Jin family, being a family of generals, preferred their children to be independent and strong. Thus, Jin Yi had chosen a residence close to the old lady’s for Zhaoyan. While the old lady couldn’t have him with her all the time, she ensured he ate his meals with her. So, Zhaoyan had his three daily meals with the old lady.

With the old lady’s summons, everyone quickly prepared Zhaoyan, tidying him up and escorting him out.

At the door, Zhaoyan turned back to Fu Ming and said, “Uncle Ming, I’ll come again tomorrow!”

Fu Ming nodded and smiled, agreeing.

After the guests left, Lu Fei asked Fu Ming, “Young master, should we keep these drawings by the young master or dispose of them?”

Fu Ming selected the last two drawings Zhaoyan completed, “Keep these two with mine. The rest can be discarded.”

Looking at the “colorful crow” and the “red-hot snake” on the drawings, Fu Ming couldn’t help but chuckle. The afternoon had passed so quickly, thanks in no small part to Zhaoyan. Smart and lively without being troublesome, could such a child have been raised by that cold and distant person?

That evening, after learning that Zhaoyan had spent a delightful afternoon with Fu Ming, Jin Yi made no comment.

Once again, Fu Ming spent the night drinking alone until slightly intoxicated before going to bed.

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