Chapter Ninety-Four: Fang Song’s Overture of Goodwill

“Well, if it isn’t Uncle Fang! What brings you by today, with so much free time on your hands?”

Huang Dalang spoke with a faintly mocking tone.

“Why? Not out keeping an eye on the shop?”

Fang Song was about fifty or sixty, thin and tall, with sparse hair, dressed in a stubborn-looking blue long robe.

“Dear nephew, do spare me the jabs! What shop is there left to watch? The branches of our Fang family have all been handed over to outsiders by that unfilial girl!”

Fang Song wore a deeply pained expression.

“I said long ago that the Fang family never should have let a woman take charge! We got nothing good out of all these years, and now even the inherited family business may be lost!”

Fang Lan’s father had died young. The old master pitied his granddaughter, so he kept her close from childhood. Raised at his side, she had, by hearing and seeing, learned quite a bit of merchant’s skill.

A few years ago, when the old man fell gravely ill, many in the Fang family were already waiting to divide the inheritance. To everyone’s surprise, the old fellow, in front of most of the clan, called Fang Lan to his bedside and named her as the next head of the Fang family.

Who would dare defy the old master’s word?

It had to be said that Fang Lan truly possessed some business talent. She had barely managed to hold together the Fang family, which was already sinking toward decline. Without her, the Fang clan would likely have long since been torn apart and devoured by the other wealthy families of Near-Sea City.

Of course, Huang Dalang would never say any of this aloud.

Looking at Fang Song’s troubled face, Huang Dalang pretended to hesitate and asked, “Since Uncle Fang has come personally today, I assume it isn’t just to pour out your sorrows to me?”

“Nephew, since you speak so directly, then I’ll speak plainly too.” Fang Song dabbed at the corners of his eyes, though there were no tears to wipe away, and said solemnly, “The Fang family cannot be brought down like this by that unfilial girl! Nephew, haven’t you been making quite a stir these past few days? Our Huang and Fang families have old ties; our sect fellowship goes back decades. See whether you can show some leniency and spare the Fang family this once?”

“Why would Uncle Fang say that? I haven’t targeted the Fang family at all.” Huang Dalang wore an expression of surprise.

Indeed, he had not openly moved against the Fang family.

But the merchants who wore the same trousers as him had, by unspoken agreement, begun boycotting Fang goods.

Not to mention anything else, the Fang family’s silk simply could not be sold these days.

Their other trades, too, ran into obstacles at every turn.

People all over Near-Sea City said that because the Fang family had helped Qin Town, the Huang family intended to move against them.

That nearly scared the Fang family out of their wits.

The Fang family was far inferior to what it had once been. Its members only wanted to preserve the little wealth they still had, sit on the ancestral estate, and idle away their lives. They had no ambition left at all.

Where would they find the courage to take on the Huang family?

It was often said that the Fang, Chen, and Huang families were the three great clans of Near-Sea City.

But only the Fang family themselves knew how much water there was in that claim.

With the family’s business growing worse by the day, the Fang clan panicked. So Fang Song had come, smiling obsequiously, to curry favor with Huang Dalang.

Seeing that Huang Dalang was pretending not to understand while fully understanding, Fang Song also knew exactly why this was happening, and immediately poured out his complaints about Fang Lan’s lack of judgment.

“It’s all that Qin Town’s fault for not knowing his place! And that unfilial girl Fang Lan must have been bewitched, to actually go along with that country-bred brat and make a scene! Nephew, rest assured, I will give you an explanation for this!”

Huang Dalang could not help wanting to laugh.

“How, exactly, does Uncle Fang intend to do that?”

Fang Song choked for a moment.

At that instant, the Huang family steward said softly, “I just heard that Qin Town is currently leading people in arranging the venue, preparing for the shopping festival.”

“Arrange what nonsense!” Fang Song burst out in anger. “They’re turning the whole street into a filthy mess! What sort of scandal is that? Nephew, don’t worry, I’ll go flip their stalls over right now!”

And with that, he stormed off in a rage.

Watching Fang Song’s figure hurry away in such a frenzy, Huang Dalang’s face was full of derision.

Fang Lan did have some courage, but it was a pity the Fang family itself was utterly useless. What did that matter to him?

A sole Huang family supremacy was far more pleasing to the ear than a precarious balance among three powers.

The street.

Under everyone’s efforts, the long avenue had already taken on the outline of what it was meant to become.

All kinds of distinctive decorations had been hung and posted, while the shops themselves were being renovated with great fervor.

“Here, set aside an area for parking. When the time comes, there will be plenty of officials and nobles coming through. You can’t expect them to have nowhere to leave their carriages!”

“Clear this place out. Move the lucky spinning wheel over here, and add more lights! Make sure it dazzles the visitors blind!”

Standing on high ground, Qin Town gave his orders through a loudspeaker.

The entire street was advancing in an orderly fashion toward the image he had planned.

“The stage has to be built sturdily! If it collapses then, don’t blame me for losing my temper!”

“Simpleton, how’s the etiquette training on your end? Tell everyone to be proper and decent, so the customers can feel warmth like spring!”

As the day of the shopping festival drew ever closer, Qin Town also felt a taut string pulling at his heart.

After all, this was his first time organizing such a grand gathering. It would be a lie to say he was not nervous.

“All right! Young Master Qin, just rest easy!” The speaker was a good-natured young helper named Fang Honest, whom Fang Lan had specially assigned to coordinate with Qin Town.

Though the lad was young, he was brisk and capable. With him around, Qin Town’s great preparations moved along much faster.

“Well, now, this place is lively!”

Chen Kuai arrived with his patrol.

Looking at the bustling Central Avenue, a flash of novelty crossed his eyes.

He had just come from the western side of the city. Truth be told, the gathering the Huang family had put together was larger in scale, with far more merchants settling in. In terms of noise and bustle, it surpassed Qin Town’s side by who knew how much. But when it came to novelty, the Huang family’s event was nothing but the same old three tricks. Boring.

Qin Town’s side, on the other hand, had all sorts of fresh ideas.

“Old Chen, you came just in time. I was about to go look for you!”

Qin Town jumped down from the high place and darted over to Chen Kuai in a flash.

“For the shopping festival, will you be short of men?”

“Not at all. I’ve only just taken the post; what shortage could there be? I’m so idle I could grow a bird’s egg!” Chen Kuai laughed. “It’s just a bit dull. Every day it’s either patrolling the city or on the way to patrol the city. If I’d known it would be this boring, I might as well have stayed in the county town and been a constable. Do whatever I want, free and easy!”

Qin Town was slightly surprised.

Normally, city guards were responsible not only for the city’s order, but also for training the garrison troops, drilling the defenders, and all the rest. Chen Kuai had just taken office; he ought to have been busy beyond measure. How could he be so at leisure?

He did not dwell on it and said, “Perfect. There’s a matter I’d like your help with.”

“Out with it. Between us, there’s no need for any of that empty formalism.” Chen Kuai waved a hand.

“It’s like this. The shopping festival is about to begin, and I’m expecting a huge crowd. So many common folk will be flooding in that the streets may become packed solid. If anything like a trampling incident were to happen, it would be disastrous, so I was wondering whether you could help me. Could you bring men to stand watch and patrol then?”

City guards represented the face of the lord of Near-Sea City.

With city guards stationed there, not only would they lend prestige, they could also avoid many unnecessary troubles, forcing troublemakers to think twice before causing a scene.

“I thought it was something serious! Protecting the people is our duty in the first place!” Chen Kuai said with a hearty laugh. “I’ll take this favor for sure!”

When the shopping festival began, the city lord would undoubtedly come in person. There would also be nobles and aristocrats arriving from other places. How could Chen Kuai pass up such a fine opportunity to make his face known?

Qin Town was overjoyed and deliberately raised his voice. “Brother Chen, I won’t need too many men. Just draft me a list in advance. The brothers will be on duty hard enough, and I certainly won’t let them work for nothing.”