Chapter 33: The Kind That Can Never Be Retrieved

The towering figure loomed over Master Zhao like a mountain casting its shadow. That familiar sense of oppression returned. Master Zhao remembered all too clearly the day Lu Dashan had swung a knife before him. He leapt back, hiding behind Headman Fang. “Brother-in-law, I was wrong. If others don’t believe you, how could I not?”

“You— you—” Headman Fang was so angry he could barely speak.

Just then, Su Tang covered her lips with a delicate laugh, the sound as fragrant as osmanthus blossoms to Master Zhao’s ears. Her green dress, adorned with scattered flowers, rippled with each of her steps.

With a faint smile, Su Tang said, “If Master Zhao wishes to know a thing or two, why not say so plainly? Would Father really keep secrets from you?”

Master Zhao’s eyes darted, and he grinned slyly. “My dear niece is quite right.”

Su Tang’s expression did not change. Headman Fang, annoyed, shoved Master Zhao aside. “Out—”

“Brother-in-law~”

Headman Fang snorted coldly. “I told you already, today is for signing the deed to donate to the Home for the Elderly with the Lu family. Why won’t you believe it?”

“Perhaps Uncle would like to follow suit and make a donation as well,” Su Tang offered gently.

At the sound of “Uncle” from Su Tang’s lips, Master Zhao felt a tingling sensation all over. He grinned, flashing his gold tooth. “Heh, indeed, indeed…”

Headman Fang gave him a sidelong glance. “Truly?”

Seeing the doubt in Headman Fang’s eyes and catching Su Tang’s subtle smile, Master Zhao widened his eyes. “Truly! I came to learn, just as you said. If one has wealth, one should benefit the community to bless future generations. That’s always been the Zhao family’s way.”

Headman Fang let out a dismissive grunt, then glanced at Su Tang. “Very well, but don’t blame me for it later.”

“How could I?” Master Zhao patted his chest. “This is to accumulate blessings for the Zhao family.”

Xuanjizi watched, smiling silently. Lu Dashan also kept quiet, seeing that Su Tang was untroubled.

Headman Fang looked Master Zhao up and down as he straightened his posture.

Shaking his head, Headman Fang picked up the prepared deed from the table, read it over carefully, and mused, “Since that's the case, take a look.”

Master Zhao accepted the deed with a bright smile—only for his eyes to grow wider with every line he read.

“What— what is this?”

“A donation of one coin for every bowl sold? This much? There’s no profit in it!”

Perhaps others would not think much of a coin per bowl, but for Master Zhao, whose business acumen was second nature, the calculation was clear. Fifty bowls a day meant fifty coins, which added up to eighteen taels of silver a year—more if he sold more bowls. At least twenty taels. In one year, twenty taels; in two or three years?

“You’ll use the same method,” Headman Fang said.

Master Zhao shook his head rapidly. “No, that won’t do.”

What a joke—how many bowls does the young lady sell? If he ran his tavern and inn this way, he’d be ruined!

“Oh, so quickly you forget about accumulating blessings for your family?” Headman Fang chuckled.

Master Zhao forced a grin. “How could the two situations be compared?”

“In the end, you just can’t bear to part with the money,” Headman Fang scoffed.

Master Zhao cast a glance at Su Tang, who was also hiding a smile, then muttered to Headman Fang, “Brother-in-law, you know her place earns and spends for one family, but ours supports several. It’s just not feasible.”

“Master, be reasonable,” Master Zhao appealed to Xuanjizi.

Stroking his beard, Xuanjizi smiled with clear, bright eyes. “I am but the go-between, yet what Master Zhao says does carry some sense.”

Su Tang pretended to be shocked. “Does this mean you won’t donate after all?”

Xuanjizi pondered, “Though Master Zhao can be unruly at times, he is a man of his word.”

Lu Dashan rumbled, “What? A man of virtue?”

As he spoke, Lu Dashan looked Master Zhao up and down.

Somehow, Master Zhao understood the look in Lu Dashan’s eyes—this, a man of virtue?

Master Zhao stiffened his neck. “Indeed, I am a man of virtue.”

“Then it’s settled?” Headman Fang asked.

“Yes,” Master Zhao blurted out.

“Good,” said Headman Fang.

Hearing his brother-in-law’s affirmation, Master Zhao finally realized what he’d just agreed to.

“No, wait, brother-in-law, that’s not—”

Just then, Su Tang sighed softly and said, “Master Zhao truly is a man of virtue.”

Xuanjizi nodded, full of emotion. “Indeed, the Zhao family’s blessings run deep.”

Lu Dashan’s eyes grew even rounder in disbelief—truly a man of virtue?

Whatever else Master Zhao meant to say was swallowed back.

“Ah, just as it should be. If even the small Lu family can think of the Home for the Elderly in Ping’an Town, how can the Zhao family, established here for a century, do any less?” Master Zhao patted his belly with a forced grin.

For now, he would agree—later he could pretend this never happened.

“With Master Zhao here, it truly is a blessing for Ping’an Town,” Su Tang said with heartfelt emotion, though tinged with a bit of shyness. “At first I was reluctant, but the master said there had been many obstacles lately, a sign of blessings not finding their way. So this method was sought. Since it is a donation, it must be from the heart to pass on good fortune. But if one is unwilling, harboring resentment, not only will there be no blessings—one might even attract bad luck instead.”

“Indeed,” Xuanjizi said with calm assurance.

Lu Dashan seemed to have a sudden realization.

Master Zhao’s mouth twitched as he glanced at his brother-in-law—was this really true?

Headman Fang, writing up the contract, nodded. “Three feet above our heads the gods watch. All that is said and done is witnessed by the divine, and with the master here, his words carry weight.”

Master Zhao drew a deep breath, watching as his brother-in-law wrote. His heart trembled. “Actually, there’s no need to rush.”

“Of course there is,” Headman Fang replied. “I’ve told the elders of the town. I thought the Lu family’s donation would be modest, but with yours added, it’s a large sum. The elders will be pleased, and at the ancestor worship ceremony this will be praised.”

“Ah, is that so… but, but…”

“Don’t worry, I know you’re concerned. I won’t use the Lu family’s method for you—I’ll base it on the number of customers. For every guest who dines, one coin will be donated. How about that?”

Master Zhao let out a breath. “Ah, that’s much more reasonable.”

“All right, sign your name,” Headman Fang said, turning the paper to Master Zhao.

Su Tang, Xuanjizi, and Lu Dashan also drew closer.

With several gazes falling upon him and the faint fragrance from the young lady’s dress lingering nearby, Master Zhao looked at the deed—his brother-in-law’s words were written just as promised, yet he still felt something was off.

“Sign,” Headman Fang said, thrusting the brush into Master Zhao’s hand.

Master Zhao had no choice but to sign.

But as the brush touched the paper, he suddenly felt a hollow emptiness in his heart, as though something had been lost, something he could never recover.

As the last stroke fell, Su Tang heard a clear chime: “Reward redeemed.”