"To make the always calm Master Wei show his claws...? Having made you speak to me in this tone is like seeing the sun rise in the west. When we were teenagers, I used to think that nothing could happen to make you smile less, and then when something did actually happen, I thought nothing could ever make you rise from that grave again. To see you like this is as if I have earned a medal of honor…alas…” Su RuHui half-jokingly said, gulping the peeled grape. It was sour.

“Did you hear of Shijiazhuang?” Wei Houyu turned again and asked, his voice softer than before. “What does your information channel say?”

“Yes, nothing nice.” Su Ruhui replied. “Rice ruined, no harvest in this season. Not counting the casualty of cattle and other crops, what do you think are the chances of that county approaching a famine? I think it’s just a few months away from outright catastrophe falling on their heads! With an example of Anshui, it can only be worse if nothing is done now. But the court is in such a bad state - what can we expect? If not this year, next year will truly push Shijiazhuang to that. Can they be saved? – hard to say that. But since the second prince is already overseeing Jinghai, with his recent arrival here, at least such misappropriation of aid that happened in Anshui from the court can be averted, right? What a loss though. We won’t be seeing any good harvest until next year.”

“I heard something similar. The Magistrate just told me he was thinking of asking his majesty to lower the taxes for this winter, for both Jinghai and Shijiazhuang but then,” Master Wei lowered his voice further to a whisper, “there happens to be a situation at present. Any tax reduction seems improbable in near future.”

“Is there…? Doesn’t sound like a good situation to me.” A slightly softer voice replied.

“Does it not? You got the inkling, brother – ah.” Master Wei shrugged.

A small moment of silence interrupted their exchange.

“In fact, the court might as well be pushing for an increase in coming taxes, this February.” Wei Houyu looked towards where the magistrate’s party was seated. “It bodes no good news for the general populace by the looks of it. I don’t know how your merchant friends are faring? Some must have started preparing for this loss? And don’t tell me, something that can fall into my ears is still unknown to them! I cannot believe such lies.” 

“They know. They might be unaware of the gravity of the …situation, if they do know about this oncoming calamity. In fact, I cannot be sure. What is commonplace in such times are merchants hoarding their goods. Who knows whether they fear a drought in Shijiazhuang or have heard a very similar kind of news from the court? It doesn't make much of a difference in my eyes – the south suffered such calamity, how can east remain untouched? The traces are already unfolding in the west, as well as north…it’s a drought year all over the place. Its just that the rain wouldn’t stop somewhere, while some places have hardly seen any rain at all. However,” Master Su Ruhui looked up, whispering, reaching towards Master Wei’s ears, “that one over there seems to have done something last week.”

They both abruptly looked in one direction.

“If you hadn’t told me all this, I would still be struggling to guess why Li Mu had sold so many of his shares in the Local bank and hoarded all the barley in Jinghai. His stocks in the local mercantile communes were also liquidated. It made a great fuss - many shops were crying and counting their silver. One even got bankrupt - many people in the know are claiming that he is preparing a great gift for the second prince. For a while, I was even ready to believe that he was preparing to open a brewery! Is that improbable for such a sort of man? Whatever you tell me I think it is hard to grasp that he is preparing a gift- do such thick-headed men care for diplomacy? What gift for the Second prince-? But I now know, he is still far better than I give him credit for! He is definitely preparing a caravan to go to the south and to other places to trade. Barley is better than rice and wheat. People will trade that more readily. And I remember a year ago, people had too much of that in nearby places. Pity! - A brewery would have really suited his ways! Sleazy as he is, his wines would have been amorous. Heavenly. Tsch.” Su Ruhui's disgruntled face tilted towards the grape plate as he picked another to gobble up the whole.

He then looked pointedly at the small clique nearer to the entrance door, animatedly discussing today’s fiasco of the horses, horsemen and the carriage owner. Boisterous laughter rang all around. “Look at him, not a care in the world! Who could ever guess that just recently his wife died in childbirth? The least one can ask of him is to maintain a straight face for a while, not much to ask in my opinion. But you do know, the Li’s generally treat their women lower than their mares. Pity, she was a beauty too– even I once dwelled over taking her hands myself. But she wedded this brute the next year. What does he have other than his money?”

“Some more of that? A good number of lands and mines? I heard another old paper making industry fell into his hands. With so many links in the south and southern mines – he will earn every buck he is spending right now. He never was a simpleton that you usually make out of him.”

“Touché. But look at that face! Just those horse-like features will stop a woman from looking at him a second longer! But he has money. Forget it.”

“Ah ha! You look under pressure.” Wei Houyu looked up and chuckled. “You still haven’t sorted out your debts to him, have you? The treasurer of the Town bank was asking me about your health a few days ago, and no Li Mu was not there. But the treasurer did look pretty strung up – he will be killed, I assure you, if you delay any longer - Li Mu was never famous for his compassion and great heart. It was only that poor man who agreed to give you such a huge loan, and now you will have no one to borrow from all over Jinghai.”

Master Wei shrugged away his amused smile. He took up the empty goblet and filled it up with some more wine from the jade gourd.

“You know…this thing really exasperates me. That man never does anything right apart from causing trouble at the most ingenious moments. What else could you expect from this wretch? I will see what I can do. But you look like you will not help me, will you? I see it in your eyes.”

“If I can help, no! – I will most likely not overexert my nerves. Your proportion of what constitutes a help is always awry. What I will spend on you might as well have entered the belly of a Whale. Wei Jia doesn’t do such loss-making businesses.” As soon as Master Wei had started dwelling over this, he was abruptly stopped.

A group of people, all looking well dressed and blithely pompous approached him. Heading this group was a man who wore a purple brocade and looked younger than both master Houyu and Su Ruhui.

“But where is the main character of our play? Your son Master Wei, I don’t see him around here? Or does he, too, shy away from the company of the likes of you? What a shame, doesn’t he see you as his father? But I am not too surprised – I heard you earned yourself another title downtown - what was it again? Yes, the ‘Richest Flower boy of Jinghai’? Whoring all day long tends to make people renowned like you - does it not Master Wei?” he spoke flushed, his voice tilting into lisps.

This grating voice roused both their attention as it continued to say. “Here, here. Lord Wei has finally secured a worthy successor, people.”

A peal of laughter came from a group following the man. Huang Dan proudly bowed to accept their amusement, and then raised a toast to the host of the banquet. “You laugh, but it’s no laughing matter here in Weijia. But fortunately, as late as it might be, at last - we can all say that the apple hasn’t fallen too far from its tree. But some people don't share such sentiments, do they?”

His eyes were animated with a mischievous glint.

Another person joined the ensemble, this time an ill looking, pale faced master Fu Anan. He looked at the surrounding crowd of men, and then the strange tone of voice of the speaker. He heard the crass exchange and then came forward to deescalate the situation. 

“No, it's not a laughing matter indeed. That drought-ridden small town near Anshui benefited greatly from Young Master Wei’s benevolent service. We know that he is a hero, nothing short of a warrior of Dajin! With his heart in the right place and with such keen appreciation for his duties to the crown, we can expect great things from such a youngster! What a sensible young man! Worthy of his grandfather’s high regard in all senses. To such a new addition to our Dajin’s industrious halls of mighty, courageous and well-meaning fellows, let me raise this toast, everyone, so that we reckon his moral superiority, his courage that wanes in us. I will be glad if you will accept it on his behalf, Master Wei.”

“You overpraise.” Master Wei replied succinctly, yet the smile didn't fade from his lip. No one could tell what he was thinking. But his companion seemed to have become a silent spectator, looking coldly at the exchange. 

“No, I am only telling the truth.”

A ceremonious exchange followed, yet was abruptly stopped again.

“Although,” Huang Dan said, “I have complaints of you being an unworthy son to your liege, Master Wei, but I expect that you do cheer on for the general prosperity of your offspring in the unaltered corners of your heart?”

Master Fu Anan rolled his eyes in his mind, then stopped talking altogether. This particular style of seeking a fight was no new thing for the people present there.

Huang Dan, the son of Old Master Huang, a well reputed courtier, unlike his gentle father would always dirty anyone’s reputation as he deemed fit. He saw no date, no time – for him, a good brawl was good on any occasion. And to scratch healed wounds of his adversary -? How dare he not enjoy such a feast! 

Only Old Master Huang could stop him from his death seeking adventures.

Many eyes lingered over him, fully expecting a scuffle. A few people tried to interrupt the embarrassing exchange, but couldn’t stop master Huang Dan from saying all his displeasures, or utter profanity in such a company.

Fu Anan, having seen that he was of not much use, decided to make himself scarce so that he wouldn’t hear more than he should, but before he left, he gently whispered a few words in Master Wei's ears.

“Don't take him too seriously - and the people sent have replied. The old man held a meeting in the abandoned courtyards. Send Hong Tao. A man will receive the letter, a southerner.” It was a puzzling statement, but he didn't explain much and ran away.      

Master Wei didn’t seem surprised. He ignored other people, and turned to his friend. A shared sense of understanding flashed between them, and then they quickly looked away.

He then turned to Huang Dan and said, “That is only natural, master Huang. Whatever my shortcomings may be, a love borne for one’s offspring is a gift of nature – even my failures cannot dampen that spirit. I haven’t suddenly become a brute with a stone for a heart.”

“I doubt it, Wei Houyu.”

“However,” Master Wei looked up and continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted, still smiling softly, “I am saddened at your singling me out like this. Who doesn’t look for some pleasure in their small lives? It is in nature for us base humans to seek pleasure and avert from pain. Just like the time you went against the wishes of your mother and married a courtesan? The love might be there, but propriety was not - was it?”

He straightened his sleeves. 

“At least a marriage is a sacred ceremony - after worshiping before my clansmen, nothing is wrong in my actions. It's you who should explain to your clansmen and father – have you ever observed propriety? Of the many lovers, how many have passed the ceremonial acceptance in your Wei house? I seem to recall there has been no new concubine included in your family, but that beauty in the ‘Pomegranate pavilion’ is definitely yours!”

“But these have never troubled a soul other than mine,” Master Wei replied. “What I do behind closed walls, remain mostly behind it if there are no other wandering snoopers.”

Huang Dans colored and spoke more forcefully, “What a great reply! No decent noblemen should be expected to be righteous by your standards and no sound mind should ever judge their wrongs? Snoopers…is that what you call your lord father when he asks and chastises you for your whereabouts? I wouldn’t be surprised if you did master Wei.”   

“Many in this hall claim that they are righteous noblemen. As you do – master Huang.” Master Wei started, his deep voice overriding other voices in the hall. “Not many can stand tall on your scrutiny master Huang, if you were to apply these same harsh principles as you do over my own actions to others in this small hall, yourself or even your companions. I cannot help but recount many familiar faces here, who were also enjoying a joyful night in the arms of a courtesan – some quite blatantly, some shyly – being in those brothels you so despise. Many here will agree, as they share similar experiences as mine, of what constitutes a human failing. If not in front of others, but they will do it in secluded, veiled parts of their hidden selves – where the toughest kind of criticism dwells and assess one’s own worth. Will you, then, have us all condemned as no longer human? As I am not the only one with such failing, you must forgive us all, or talk no more of me alone. I don’t accept your one-sided study of my principles.”

“Now, now master Houyu. He is just a…a simpleton! Please don’t say so many harsh words…!” Someone tried to interrupt looking red faced. He looked as if an insult had been personally thrown at him.  

Many other voices tried to interrupt Wei Houyu, but he still went on saying coldly –

“When you mourn my dead reason, you should recall the pain your mother suffered through in all those years owing to your selfishness, or when you drove her crazy with your indifference. When you say of my unfilial self, you should ask of the graying hairs on your father’s head! My mother never said a word against me, nor have I caused her tears, to tell you the truth.”

“How dare you bring my mother into this!?” Master Huang Dan reached out for master Wei’s lapels, raising him to his eye level, peering into his eyes with deep hatred. If not for the hands pulling him back, he would have succeeded in pulling off Master Wei or giving him a punch on his face.

Master Wei clenched the hands holding his clothes and twisted it around, arousing a shriek in return. He stood up, with his hands reaching out towards his sword laying at his waist.

“Master Huang Dan should hold the courage to hear the truth when he speaks so overbearingly. It appears to me that you are still unaware of rights and wrongs."