Chapter 16: Sailing Downriver Under the Starlit Night, The Lady's Erudition Astonishes the Young Master

"Sedan, come here," Xiao Long beckoned, hiring a sedan chair.

Young Master Shen looked back longingly at the Governor’s Mansion. The majestic stone lions gazed at him in silence, while lanterns on the watchtower across the street swayed gently in the wind. Master and servant headed west, and before long, the softly-lit county seat of Shanyang was left behind.

Summer nights were enchanting. The sky was strewn with stars, like countless shimmering pearls lighting up the darkness with their beauty. The moonlight was pure and gentle, illuminating the tranquil surface of the river. From the reeds on either bank of the canal came the occasional croak of frogs, and mischievous fireflies darted back and forth, adorning the serene night.

"Stop here, Young Master, we’ve reached the dock," called Xiao Long as he flung back the curtain. After paying the fare, Young Master Shen stepped out and gazed around. The myriad lights of Hexi were gradually going out, and in the distance, moonlight shrouded the fields as if in a veil of silver gauze.

"Boat for hire!" Xiao Long shouted, and a small boat quickly rowed over from the opposite bank.

"Young Master, the boat is here!" came a woman’s voice.

The boatwoman, just past thirty, had a spirited air about her. At her first words, Young Master Shen recognized her as a bold and forthright person; it was no wonder, for making a living among men required such strength.

"Upstream," said Xiao Long after settling the price.

"Young Master, please be seated in the cabin," the woman said as she spun around and began rowing.

"Ten miles of scarlet banners, boats line both banks; music and song continue into the night. The flourishing sights of Yangzhou through the ages are now gathered at the mouth of West Lake," Young Master Shen recited, recalling the poem that Chancellor Qiu Jun had written when passing through the ancient river town of He Xia.

"Young Master, why is our town called He Xia?" Xiao Long suddenly asked.

"Would you like to know?"

"I’d love to," Xiao Long replied, his eyes twinkling.

"Very well, let me tell you the story." Young Master Shen launched into his tale.

He Xia is a major market town three li northwest of the county seat of Shanyang. The name was first recorded in history by Wu Jin (1714–1795). In Volume Four of his “Reminiscences of Shanyang,” after describing the great flood in Huai’an, he wrote in the postscript: "The floodwaters submerged He Xia and the area north of the Salt River, with water seven or eight feet deep..."

By the Jiaqing era, He Xia was also mentioned by Cao Biao in his "Records of Present Huai'an – The Biography of Zhang Tingjie": "His home was outside the northern suburbs of the prefecture, commonly called ‘He Xia’." Evidently, the name was originally a colloquialism among the people, not an official title, but by then it was gradually accepted by scholars and entered the written record.

He Xia stands with the river as its natural barrier to the north, and commands a key position to the west along the transport route, situated between two rivers, hence the name He Xia. As for why it’s called "Xia"—meaning "lower"—Duan Chaoduan believed that, in symmetry with Hebei ("north of the river"), it should be called Henan ("south of the river").

He Xia lies on both sides of the great river, with higher terrain in the north and lower in the south. Residences become lower the further south they are, so people refer to the area in terms of "upper" and "lower," thus "He Xia." Judging by the present-day landscape, this explanation makes sense.

The name He Xia is more than eight hundred years old. First came the Yellow River, and only then the name He Xia. Before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the settlements to the north were desolate, nothing but marshes as far as the eye could see. He Xia was tightly linked with the military stronghold and transportation hub of Mo Kou and the Beichen Weir, all on the Huai River’s edge. As Mo Kou prospered, so did He Xia—at times even surpassing Mo Kou. (Liu Huaiyu)

"Young Master, I know a little something about He Xia too," the woman suddenly spoke up. "My grandfather used to tell me a few stories."

"Oh? Let’s hear them," Young Master Shen said curiously.

As she rowed with vigor, the woman raised her voice to be heard.

That year, during the Southern Song Dynasty, the Yellow River forced its way into the Huai, and when Mo Kou could no longer serve as a grain transport hub, He Xia temporarily took its place as a vital junction for transportation and military strategy.

On the west bank of the canal during the Ming Dynasty, many shipyards were established by the provinces. The Ministry of Works set up a division here, sending officials to supervise the construction of standardized, broad-bottomed ships. Much of the shipbuilding material was supplied by the He Xia market.

According to “Records of Present Huai'an,” the streets of Bamboo Lane, Rope Lane, Plank Factory Street, Iron Nail Lane, Copper Smith Lane, and Powder Seal Lane in He Xia were all named after the trades that flourished there. Of course, the He Xia market was not limited to these industries. It also traded in local specialties such as Huai'an red cloth, mung bean liquor, leather drums, and gilded bronze ware.

Master Wu’s shop was on Appraisal Street in Copper Smith Lane, specializing in finely crafted bronze vessels. (Liu Huaiyu)

"Very good, very good. You’re quite something, big sister," Young Master Shen praised. "I’ve learned a lot."

"Oh, I don’t have the depth of knowledge you do, Young Master," the woman replied with a laugh.

The boat made its way upstream, the sound of water splashing and oars striking the river especially pleasing to the ear. As Young Master Shen thought of his upcoming wedding to Miss Xu at the Dragon Boat Festival in May, her delicate and charming face came to his mind, and he could not help but laugh out loud.

"Young Master, what’s so funny?" Xiao Long was puzzled by his laughter.

"Oh, nothing at all."

"I know, I know!" Xiao Long insisted.

"And what is it you know?" Young Master Shen asked, ruffling Xiao Long’s hair.

"Young Master must be thinking... thinking of someone."

"You clever rascal, do you really think you’re so smart? Come, let’s get off the boat," Young Master Shen said, spotting the Imperial Wharf. He bowed and walked to the bow.

"Xiao Long, our He Xia has produced many famous people since ancient times. In the Han Dynasty there was the essayist Mei Cheng, who excelled at writing rhapsodies; his son Mei Gao, and the Tang Dynasty poet Zhao Gu—all natives of He Xia. You know the old Mei neighborhood in He Xia, right? Zhao Gu claimed his home was next to Mei Gao’s old residence," Young Master Shen recited with pride.

Step by step, master and servant climbed the river embankment. The main road of He Xia, Lake Mouth Street, was quiet on both sides. The townsfolk, weary from a day’s labor, had long since drifted into sweet dreams.

"Young Master, we’re late. I’m sure the master and mistress will be angry," Xiao Long said uneasily.

What happened next, we shall see in the next chapter.