He Zifeng’s business was booming. Not only were their braised dishes popular, but Qiu Yu’s soy-braised pig trotters had become a favorite, attracting repeat customers. Many woke up early just to savor them.
Pig trotters were cheap, but no one else put as much effort into their preparation. They only sold ten a day, with complimentary soybeans, and those who tried them were always satisfied.
The small stall earned 7 taels of silver a day. In just three days, they had saved 21 taels, adding to their previous eight, totaling 29 taels of silver.
After some inquiries, they found that a two-story shop with a backyard in the county cost 200 taels of silver. If they bought it, they could earn a tael a month just in rent, and it could be passed down to their children.
——
That afternoon, as they packed up their stall, the inn’s errand boy approached, bringing with him a man in his forties.
“This is our shopkeeper,” the errand boy introduced.
He Zifeng greeted him politely, “Pleasure to meet you.”
The shopkeeper, noting He Zifeng’s composed demeanor, was impressed. “I’ve tried your braised dishes, and they’re excellent. The pig trotters are particularly good. Do you know how to make braised pork bones?”
The shopkeeper explained, “To be honest, my whole family loves meat. I’ve heard from traveling merchants about a northern dish called braised pork bones that’s hearty and satisfying.”
“I can make that,” Qiu Yu replied eagerly. His father had loved braised pork bones, and they were a staple in their household. The mention of it even made Qiu Yu crave the dish.
The shopkeeper smiled, “I’d like to order 30 jin (15 kg). If it sells, I’ll put it on our menu. If not, I’ll take it home for my family.” He was keen on introducing unique dishes to the inn, which had already benefited from the popularity of He Zifeng’s braised food.
“How much per jin?” the shopkeeper asked.
Qiu Yu quickly calculated: pork bones cost about 3 wen per jin, with additional expenses for spices and fuel. “Fifty wen per jin should be fine,” he said.
“Deal.” To show sincerity, the shopkeeper paid the full amount—1.5 taels of silver—in advance.
After the shopkeeper left, Qiu Yu suggested, “We should get a bigger pot.”
He Zifeng went to the blacksmith to commission a large iron pot, requiring 60 jin of raw iron and costing **2 taels of silver**. The blacksmith needed at least half a month to complete it, so He Zifeng paid a 1-tael deposit.
Meanwhile, Qiu Yu bought 50 jin of pork bones and various offal, along with two buckets of oil. By the time they loaded everything, their cart was as heavy as when they arrived.
Seeing He Zifeng strain under the load, Qiu Yu suggested, “Why don’t we rent a horse and cart? It’ll save time and effort.”
He Zifeng agreed, and they temporarily stored their goods at the rented backyard before heading out to find a leasing agency. However, a miscommunication led them to the **livestock market** instead.
The market was bustling, with horses, cattle, and even donkeys for sale. Owning an ox was a mark of wealth in the countryside, but here, the variety of animals was overwhelming.
A man from the horse dealership enthusiastically greeted them. “We’ve got all kinds of horses—come take a look!”
He Zifeng and Qiu Yu browsed the market, marveling at the majestic horses on display. Some had no saddles or bridles, exuding a wild and untamed energy.
Prices ranged from **40 taels to 1,000 taels**, depending on the breed and condition.
Although their goal was to lease a horse, He Zifeng’s curiosity got the better of him. He inquired about a striking gray-and-white horse standing alone in a stall. Its frame was strong, and its lineage seemed impressive.
“How much for this one?” He Zifeng asked.
The dealer sighed, “Thirty taels, and it’s yours.”
Sensing He Zifeng’s curiosity, the dealer explained, “This horse came from a young man who sold it for the same price. It’s been a costly investment—it’s eaten through my best feed, but no one dares buy it. It’s too wild, and several trainers have been injured trying to tame it. I’ve paid more in medical bills than I’d like to admit.”
The dealer’s frustration was evident, but He Zifeng remained intrigued. “Let me try,” he said confidently.
Approaching the horse slowly, He Zifeng extended a hand and gently touched its head. To everyone’s surprise, the horse didn’t react aggressively. Instead, it lowered its head, nuzzling his palm.
The sight of He Zifeng easily bonding with the once-unruly horse left the horse dealer in awe. “I’ve heard tales of horses recognizing their true master, but I never believed them until now,” he muttered, regretting his earlier offer. I should’ve asked for more money. This horse had been a menace to everyone else, yet it behaved so well with He Zifeng—it was clearly fate.
He Zifeng led the horse out, walking it around. The horse followed obediently, and when he mounted it for a test ride, it galloped smoothly and steadily. Convinced, He Zifeng decided to buy it.
Negotiations were tough—the dealer, regretting his initial price, refused to budge even a single coin. Eventually, He Zifeng handed over all the money he had—29.5 taels of silver. Seeing that he truly had no more to give, the dealer reluctantly agreed, afraid the horse might remain unsold for a long time.
Before leaving, He Zifeng purchased two bags of horse feed and asked for care instructions. He named the horse Qinghua, admiring its strength and elegance, and soon hitched it to a cart.
He Zifeng was experienced in driving, and Qinghua’s speed was impressive, making the journey much quicker than before.
On the way, Qiu Yu remarked, “When Ranran sees Qinghua, he’ll be so excited!” Their son had a fondness for animals, and this horse would surely bring him joy.
“We’ll take Qinghua to fetch him next time,” He Zifeng replied, already envisioning the reunion.
As they entered the village, their grand new horse caught everyone’s attention.
“Wow, where did you get that horse?” villagers asked, their eyes wide with envy.
Though the horse was theirs, He Zifeng downplayed it, saying, “Just rented it.” It was wise to avoid flaunting wealth, a lesson passed down through generations.
Even so, the villagers were impressed, marveling at Qinghua.
Back home, He Zifeng secured the horse in their yard, feeding it water and hay. He also called for a carpenter to modify their cart into a proper carriage for carrying goods and people. The work was urgent, requiring five carpenters to finish in a day, and would cost one tael of silver. He Zifeng promised to pay the next day, and the carpenters got to work immediately.
Later, as He Zifeng returned home, he overheard the village women gossiping.
“Did you hear? Wan Hai’s back!” one said.
Liu’s wife added, “The county declared him innocent, but it’s still partly his fault. Apparently, Liangzi was blackmailing him, threatening his son’s future, and he lost control.”
“True, but what’s done is done. Liangzi’s mother has to let it go,” chimed in Xu’s wife. “At least Wan Hai admitted his mistake this time. He even knelt to apologize, giving Liangzi’s mother some peace.”
“He kowtowed three times to her,” added another.
Qiu Yu, unable to stay silent, asked, “And she forgave him?”
Xu’s wife replied, “The county didn’t find him guilty, and Liangzi’s mother has already received 18 taels as compensation. Plus, Wan Hai’s mother died on her trip to the county—a life for a life. What else can people say?”
The news of Xiao Wan Shi’s death left the villagers somber. Wan Hai, too, seemed changed. He had gone to his in-laws’ house to bring his wife back and even knelt before He Donglai in front of the entire village, pledging to honor him as a father from now on.
“It seems he’s truly turned over a new leaf,” someone commented.
He Zifeng remained indifferent. “He can do whatever he wants, as long as he stays out of trouble and doesn’t stir up more nonsense.”
The villagers continued to speculate about Wan Hai’s behavior, noting how he now carried himself with humility and seemed to have learned a valuable lesson.
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