Chapter 20: The County Magistrate's Sister-in-law

When a person’s luck reaches its lowest ebb, even wearing a Taoist robe won’t keep him from running into ghosts. Xiao Ding wasn’t even wearing one, and yet he still stumbled upon a harbinger of misfortune. He had come to Fragrant Pavilion to sell a wolf, only to find out that the manager wasn’t in today. If the wolf meat wasn’t cured in time, by the next day it would likely spoil.

“Perhaps you gentlemen could carry the wolf to the kitchen and wait for a while? Our manager comes almost every day; it’s probably just some business delaying him, and he might arrive once he’s finished,” the waiter suggested, worried that leaving the wolf at the entrance would affect the restaurant’s business.

Xiao Ding thought that sounded reasonable. Fragrant Pavilion was the largest in the southern district. If he wanted to sell to another big restaurant, he’d have to carry the wolf across districts. It was better to wait here; if the manager didn’t show up after a while, he could simply sell it at the market.

“Alright, I’ll wait in the kitchen for a bit,” Xiao Ding agreed.

The waiter led Xiao Ding and Zhao Laixi to the kitchen entrance, where suddenly a young lady and two maids walked gracefully from the courtyard.

“Miss, what brings you here? Has the master arrived yet?” The waiter hurried forward, bowing respectfully to the young lady in the pale yellow dress.

She wore a pale yellow pleated skirt adorned with scattered flowers, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. Her skin was fair and smooth, her brows curved like the moon, eyes bright as stars, a petite nose above rosy lips, the corners of her mouth turned upward, dimples blooming on her cheeks. She radiated youthful vitality.

“We have distinguished guests from the capital at home. My father is entertaining them,” she replied in a melodious voice, clear and pleasant. “He asked me to check the restaurant for any special ingredients, so Chef Liu can personally prepare a few signature dishes.”

“Why not just let Chef Liu make some of our restaurant’s specialties?” the waiter said.

“That won’t do. My father says the guest is of noble status, has tasted all the delicacies in the capital, and is very picky—he won’t be impressed by our specialties,” the young lady explained.

“Ah, that’s troublesome! Oh, right, he’s got a wolf here—let Chef Liu prepare a few wolf meat dishes. Perhaps that will suit the guest’s palate.” The waiter pointed to Xiao Ding.

“You’re selling this wolf?” the lovely young lady beckoned Xiao Ding forward. She’d already noticed him and Zhao Laixi behind the waiter, though she hadn’t had a chance to ask.

“Yes, I am. Are you the manager of Fragrant Pavilion?” Xiao Ding stepped forward and addressed her.

She giggled behind her hand. “No, I’m not the manager. What, must you sell your wolf only to the manager?”

“Oh, no, not at all. The waiter said the restaurant needed the manager’s approval to purchase wolves. If you want it and the price is fair, I’m happy to sell,” Xiao Ding explained, unsure of the young lady’s connection to the manager.

“So tell me, how much do you want for this wolf?” she asked with a smile.

Xiao Ding hesitated. He really wasn’t sure how much the wolf was worth; all he knew came from Zhao Laixi. He’d gotten himself into trouble at the county office for blurting out a price. Now, if he named too low a price, he’d lose out; too high, and she might turn him down. What should he say?

Zhao Laixi had said that in town, a wolf could fetch ten taels from the wealthy. Should I say ten taels? Xiao Ding mused. Judging by her attire, she was from a wealthy family, so perhaps he should ask for more.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Ding said, “I want twenty taels of silver for this wolf!” He thought that doubling what Zhao Laixi had mentioned ought to be enough; any more and she might refuse.

“How much?” the young lady asked again, as if she hadn’t heard.

“T-twenty taels…” Xiao Ding said, uncertain, wondering if he’d asked for too much.

She laughed behind her hand.

“What is it…?” Xiao Ding frowned—had he overshot? Should he lower his price?

As he hesitated, the young lady turned to the waiter. “Wang Er, go tell Chef Liu we’re buying this wolf. Let him make a few dishes with the meat for our guest…”

The waiter acknowledged her and went into the kitchen.

The young lady continued, addressing her two maids, “I assumed such a big wolf would cost much more. Only twenty taels! That’s cheap. Xiao Hong, Xiao Lu, do either of you have silver on you? If not, go to the restaurant’s accounts and withdraw twenty taels for this—this brave man…” She glanced at Xiao Ding and his companion.

Hearing this, Xiao Ding was full of regret. Was he out of his mind? When he should have asked for more, he didn’t; when he shouldn’t, he did. Why hadn’t he dared say fifty taels just now? Why could he say fifty taels at the county office? Alas… Sometimes our misfortune is of our own making.

Soon, the maid Xiao Lu returned from the accounts office with twenty taels of silver. The young lady had her hand over the silver to Xiao Ding and smiled. “Brave sir, you must be a hunter from the countryside around the town? If you catch any more game, feel free to bring it to Fragrant Pavilion. If the restaurant doesn’t buy, you can deliver it directly to my residence…”

“Thank you, miss. May I ask your name and where your residence is?” Xiao Ding took the silver and tucked it away.

“You don’t know who I am? How amusing! How amusing!” She laughed behind her hand, clearly cheerful and optimistic.

“I truly don’t…” Xiao Ding replied.

At that moment, the waiter Wang Er came out of the kitchen and overheard the conversation. He quickly stepped forward to introduce, “This young lady is the youngest daughter of our manager, Master Han, named Han Lu’er. Her eldest sister, Han Yao’er, is married to Magistrate Hu of our county.”

Her sister’s husband was Magistrate Hu, so she must be Magistrate Hu’s wife’s younger sister—in other words, Magistrate Hu’s sister-in-law!

Xiao Ding looked intently at Han Lu’er, recalling what Magistrate Hu had told him: “I have a younger sister-in-law, gentle and virtuous, very beautiful, who has just come of age…” The age matched, the looks were certainly good, but as for gentle and virtuous… that wasn’t so obvious. Lively and cheerful, on the other hand, was clear enough.

Then Xiao Ding’s thoughts turned again: since this young lady, Han Lu’er, was the manager’s daughter, the manager was Magistrate Hu’s father-in-law. No wonder Magistrate Hu wanted to invite him to eat at Fragrant Pavilion—it was all a family affair!

“And how shall I address you, brave sir?” Han Lu’er noticed Xiao Ding staring foolishly at her, which made her a bit uncomfortable but also amused, so she asked casually. She reassured herself, thinking, he’s just an uncultured country bumpkin!

“Oh, I am Tian Xiaoding, but most people call me Xiao Ding. I also have a nickname: Tian the Fool,” Xiao Ding replied, not knowing what possessed him to share even his nickname.

“Xiao Ding… Tian the Fool… what a name! Hahahaha!” Han Lu’er finally couldn’t help herself, bending over with laughter.

Xiao Ding, standing to the side, wasn’t offended by her laughter. In fact, he thought: this Miss Han looks truly beautiful when she laughs!