Chapter Twelve: Unimaginable Fortune

The crabapple blossoms had fallen into a deep spring slumber, only to awaken again. The highest art of an afternoon nap was not merely sleeping until the sun was high, but lying in utter stillness until dusk. In two lifetimes, today was the first time she had enjoyed such leisure. With Li Changsheng, her ever-present companion, Fang Jingzhe stepped out of the Fang family estate, just as the last rays of sunlight touched the horizon.

Even as evening approached, the city of Chang’an was as lively as ever. Just as she had imagined, the city’s commercial prosperity was truly astonishing. Buildings lined the streets in elegant succession, displaying artistic beauty. Pleasure houses and tea pavilions, wine shops and restaurants, were bustling with people. Street vendors displayed dazzling arrays of goods, each one an emblem of vitality in this political and financial heart of Great Wei.

Unlike the rigid social codes of late Ming and Qing dynasties in her past life, women—both young ladies and young wives—walked freely among the crowds, rarely with their faces veiled. The scene was reminiscent of the fashionable women shopping in modern commercial districts, the only difference being the modesty of their attire, which she found somewhat regretful.

Yet the strong atmosphere of antiquity—whether elegant, solemn, or fresh and unrestrained—was enough to arouse a certain playful yearning in her heart. From the moment she stepped outside, Fang Jingzhe’s eyes darted everywhere, taking in the new world with boundless curiosity. To Li Changsheng, this came across as nothing short of a lecherous rake on the prowl for pretty faces.

Fortunately, this childhood companion was long accustomed to the young master’s unrestrained ways. He thought to himself, if the young master wanted to sneak an extra glance at a passing beauty, so be it, as long as he didn’t try to take advantage.

“Master, where are we going now?” Li Changsheng asked. Having eaten nothing but half a bowl of soybean milk that morning, he was now so hungry that his stomach felt hollow, and his eyes shone with longing at every sight, no less than Fang Jingzhe’s.

“Of course, we’re going to ‘Food Is Heaven’ to find Fat Sun. I’m about to bestow an unimaginable fortune upon him…” Though Li Changsheng had no idea what manner of fortune the master referred to, he knew the letter received that morning was not from the future young lady of the house, but from the elder madam still in Pingyang City.

Yet the young master had spoken so convincingly before the old craftsmen, and now he was off to deliver a windfall to Fat Sun as well.

“Master, before you shower others with riches, could you bestow us two glutinous rice dumplings? We’ve been hungry all day…”

With a smack, Fang Jingzhe tapped Li Changsheng on the head with her folding fan.

“Are you thick? If I’m about to give Fat Sun a fortune, won’t he have to treat us to a lavish meal? Rice dumplings—look at your lack of ambition…”

Rubbing the red mark on his forehead, Li Changsheng thought that ever since he’d carried the young master back from the Bian River, something had changed. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the young master was definitely getting cheekier. Still, the mention of ‘Food Is Heaven’ made him uneasy all over.

On the prime stretch of East Market Street, a three-story building towered above the rest, visible from afar.

It was dinner time, and ‘Food Is Heaven’ was packed to the brim. Horses were being reined in and carriages arriving without pause at the entrance, while stable boys bustled about, so busy their feet barely touched the ground.

Clearly, business was booming—Fang Jingzhe thought there was no need to show off any of her modest culinary skills learned in the army kitchen. Besides, today she wasn’t here to impress anyone; otherwise, she’d be defeated before she even started.

The master and servant strode forward unabashed. Before they got close, a stable boy at the door spotted them. His face changed as if he’d seen a plague, and he dashed inside at a run.

Li Changsheng sighed, wearing an expression that said, “Of course.”

“Master, maybe we should just buy those rice dumplings instead…”

“Don’t be so spineless! Come, follow me—there’s meat to eat…”

Grabbing Li Changsheng by the wrist, they strode boldly to the entrance. Unexpectedly, before they could step inside, the stable boy had already returned.

Sun Fugui followed behind, his large belly jiggling in impressive waves as he hurried forward.

“Brother Jingzhe, you’re here! Come in, the table’s already set—just as you like it.”

Fang Jingzhe’s name was often heard but rarely seen in Chang’an’s circles of young scions, and ever since the imperial betrothal was announced yesterday, she had become the talk of the city.

As soon as the young proprietor of ‘Food Is Heaven’ called out to Brother Jingzhe, many diners immediately guessed her identity and turned their attention to her.

“Hahaha… Brother Fugui, I’m not here to eat today. As brothers, when there’s a chance to make a fortune, you’re the first person I think of…”

At the mention of “fortune,” Sun Fugui’s eyes widened.

“As expected of my brother! Whenever there’s profit, you think of me. Come in, let’s eat and talk…”

Sun Fugui laughed so hard his eyes nearly disappeared, pulling Fang Jingzhe toward a screened-off corner. It wasn’t stinginess, but simply that the restaurant was too successful—every private room was full. Even the Minister of War’s brother-in-law had to dine in the main hall, surrounded by a table of wealthy guests.

No sooner had they sat down than a stream of fine dishes and good wine was served. Sun Youcai, behind the counter, watched this with a pang in his heart, but recalling his earlier conversation with his son, he gritted his teeth and buried himself in his abacus, pretending not to see.

Li Changsheng, seeing the feast was real, didn’t wait for an invitation before grabbing a braised pork knuckle and tearing into it hungrily. Fang Jingzhe, on the other hand, sipped her wine with practiced nonchalance and got straight to the point.

“Brother Fugui, today I’ve landed a deal that’s guaranteed to make money. Your sister-in-law has written again, saying she’s in urgent need of coptis root! She even stressed that the more, the better—no limit on quantity.”

“Which sister-in-law?” Sun Fugui was momentarily confused.

Seeing his bewilderment, Fang Jingzhe quickly explained, “Who else? The one who defeated eighty thousand with ten thousand!”

The other diners, eavesdropping with intent, now realized that the General of the Western Frontier had been corresponding all along with this person, and the uproar in the main hall quieted considerably. Even the waiters dared not raise their voices.

“You mean the General of the Western Frontier—no, sister-in-law’s side urgently needs coptis root and wants you to buy as much as possible in Chang’an?”

Sun Fugui’s grasp of the point was swift—he would have been a top student in the humanities in a former life. “Exactly! In fact, not just Chang’an—Anding, Liyang, Hongnong, Li County—anywhere you can reach, you must try to buy it all…”

Sun Fugui sucked in a breath. Though coptis wasn’t a rare medicinal, the sheer volume made it valuable! Even if the profit was only ten percent, it would be a fortune. This truly was a windfall.

Yet, as he mulled it over, Sun Fugui sensed something amiss…