Chapter Ninety-Four: Different Kinds of Virtuous Wives

The cicadas chirped incessantly in the shade of the trees, singing their final songs of life before the onset of winter.

In the meditation chamber at the back of the Shangqing Temple in Chang'an, Daoist Yuanqiu sat on his meditation bed, unable to calm his mind. He felt an inexplicable sense of impending doom. The thought of his once-tranquil Shangqing Temple now bustling with endless streams of visitors made him seethe with irritation. "The chirping of cicadas makes the woods feel even quieter; the singing of birds makes the mountains seem even more secluded." What utter nonsense! He muttered a silent curse to himself, then closed his eyes, attempting to enter that state of serene and effortless non-action.

"Uncle-Master, is Uncle-Master Yuanqiu in?"

Lu Liaoliao peered through the window of Yuanqiu's room, poking his head in cautiously.

"I am not!" Yuanqiu replied, his voice laced with suppressed fury.

With a creak, the door was gently pushed open, and Lu Liaoliao stepped in, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Oh! It has been many days, Uncle-Master. Your nephew has missed you dearly."

*Could it be,* Yuanqiu wondered, feeling a deep unease, *that the bad omen I sensed concerns this shameless fellow?* He looked at Lu Liaoliao with suspicion.

"You never visit without a motive. Haven't you wreaked enough havoc on my Shangqing Temple? What do you want now?"

"Oh, Uncle-Master, how could I have known that a careless remark of mine would lead the lovelorn of all Chang'an to treat this place as a holy site for finding a partner? But I haven't come for the sake of the Wenqu Star Lord this time. I wanted to ask if you are well-acquainted with the Headmaster of the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan."

As he spoke, Lu Liaoliao pulled over a meditation cushion and sat down.

"What! Having ruined the peace of my Shangqing Temple, are you now setting your sights on the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan? I shudder to think which deity from the heavens you plan to invite this time." Yuanqiu glared at his friend’s disciple, his head throbbing.

"It is the God of Wealth, Li Guizu, the Honorable Li. This time, I intend to pull off something grand—to make the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan so prosperous and vibrant that it will far surpass your Shangqing Temple here in the capital." Lu Liaoliao ignored the displeasure on Yuanqiu’s face, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

Yuanqiu’s jaw dropped in astonishment. It took him a long while to find his voice. "The Taiyi Hall belongs to the Northern Taiyi Sect, while my Shangqing Temple belongs to the Southern Zhengyi Sect. We do have historical ties. But I am very curious as to how you intend to make that place so lively."

Lu Liaoliao looked around with an air of practiced mystery and began to whisper into Yuanqiu's ear.

"Ha! Hahaha!" After hearing him out, Yuanqiu burst into laughter. "Very well, very well! I shall go to the Taiyi Hall myself and notify them to prepare."

As Gu Xiehua, the wife of Lu, went from house to house in Dayu Town, a rumor began to ferment.

"During the Kaiyuan era, there was a peddler in Chang'an named Wang Ergou. He often traveled to Zizhou to sell silk for a modest profit. On the fifteenth of the ninth lunar month, he was robbed at an isolated inn and lost everything. Ergou sighed, 'Heaven does not help me,' and prepared to hang himself. In the gloom, he saw an old man in silk robes and a court cap, with a white face and long beard, elegant and refined. The man held a *ruyi* in his left hand and a gold ingot in his right—it was the God of Wealth, the Honorable Li, bestowed by the Emperor. The Star Lord said, 'You are destined for great wealth; how can you throw your life away? Have you not heard that Zizhou produces glazed glass?' He then gave him a gold ingot and vanished. Ergou went on to trade in glass and became the wealthiest man in Chang'an. In gratitude, he changed his name to Wang Yuanbao. Every year on the nineteenth of the ninth lunar month, Wang Yuanbao visits the Taiyi Hall on Mount Zhongnan to worship the God of Wealth, praying for peace and prosperity."

As the talk grew, the more pious elders in town began to believe it. They started visiting the Taiyi Hall to request tablets of the God of Wealth to enshrine in their homes.

Zhao Dalang, owner of the Zhao General Store, woke up early to organize his goods. Realizing he was almost out of incense, candles, and spirit money, he hesitated about restocking. Suddenly, he saw his neighbor—the owner of the steamed bun shop, Lu Liaoliao, dressed like a scholar—appearing with his exceptionally beautiful wife, Gu Xiehua.

"Good morning, Master Lu!" Zhao Dalang greeted him with a polite smile.

"Good morning, Master Zhao! Is your business doing well?" Lu Liaoliao cupped his hands in greeting.

"Quite well, quite well. Incense and candles have been selling fast. I was just wondering if I should stock up on more," Zhao Dalang said, rubbing his hands with a guileless smile.

"Do it. You’d better stock up. In a few days, it will be the nineteenth of the ninth lunar month. I don't know how many people from Chang'an will be heading to the Taiyi Hall to worship the God of Wealth. When thousands upon thousands of people come pouring through Dayu Town to make their pilgrimage, are you still worried about not making sales?" Lu Liaoliao said casually.

"Is this news true?" Zhao Dalang’s eyes widened in surprise.

"We are neighbors, would my husband lie to you? He received the news, which is why he rushed here early to tell his kitchen staff to stock up on ingredients. I don't even know how many steamed buns we’ll be able to sell," Gu Xiehua said with a smile that made the morning glow seem dull in comparison. Zhao Dalang quickly averted his eyes.

As Lu Liaoliao entered his shop, Zhang Sanniang, who was sweeping the street, approached with excitement to thank them. Gu Xiehua smiled and pressed two copper coins into her hand.

Zhang Sanniang looked confused. "Madam Gu, what is this for? Your employee, Hu Dalang, already pays me for sweeping the street daily."

"My husband hopes that while you sweep, you can share the news he gathered with the neighbors. If there is money to be made, let everyone share in it. Only by working together will Dayu Town become more prosperous. These two coins are your wages for spreading the word." Gu Xiehua glanced toward Zhao Dalang as she spoke.

Zhao Dalang caught the hint and immediately produced two copper coins for Zhang Sanniang. "This is a token of gratitude for your trouble. Please, accept it."

Zhang Sanniang blushed, looking at the four gleaming coins in her hand, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

"This is hard-earned money from your own labor; there is no shame in it. My husband taught me this, so please, accept it with an easy heart." Gu Xiehua gently closed Sanniang’s hand and patted her slightly hunched back.

***

Dongfang Qianqian, dressed as a married woman with her hair in a bun, was adjusting the collar of Jun Ruochen's robes. Her eyes darted about, giving her an air of spirited, mischievous energy.

"Stop obsessing over what Lu Liaoliao might do. Just focus on what you believe is right. The townspeople will notice and remember your actions. That Lu Liaoliao is a schemer full of tricks; there’s no point in thinking so much about him."

"But many of the ideas he comes up with, though bizarre, truly bring benefits to the people. In that regard, I, Jun Ruochen, am indeed inferior to him." Jun Ruochen sighed, looking out at the hazy sky.

"But your ambition to serve the country and the people far surpasses that cunning Lu Liaoliao. Come now, there is much to do in Dayu Town; look how busy you are. I want to meet this fellow myself one of these days." Dongfang Qianqian gave him a light nudge.

"Qian'er, you have too many tricks up your sleeve; don't go causing any trouble," Jun Ruochen cautioned as he stepped out of their rented courtyard.

At midday, Gu Xiehua was taking a nap at the Ruyi Inn. Lu Liaoliao, idle, sat behind the counter of his shop, fanning himself and sipping tea.

Dongfang Qianqian, dressed in a pale yellow dress, fluttered in like a beautiful butterfly, catching the gaze of the dazed Hu Dalang.

"Hey, Lu Liaoliao, where is your fairy-like little wife? Has the scent on her been fully removed yet?"

Lu Liaoliao’s hand trembled, and he nearly spilled his tea. Seeing her hair styled as a married woman, he glared at her.

"My wife is at home managing the household and serving my elders. Unlike you, who runs around wildly even after being married."

"So what if I'm married? I don't like staying in the back chambers, and I like running around. It’s not like I married you, so don't lecture me." Dongfang Qianqian poured herself a cup of tea and retorted without hesitation.

"Cough, cough," Lu Liaoliao cleared his throat. "Brother Ruochen is a lucky man."

"Of course he is. My husband isn't like you—hiding one beautiful woman at home and bringing another to Dayu Town. You’re nothing but a flirt." She stared at him with disdain.

"Pfft," Lu Liaoliao flushed. "As if your Jun Ruochen only loves you and will only ever marry you."

"Brother Ruochen loves only me, and I love only him. He will marry only me in this life. Why? Don't like it?" She spoke with pride, disregarding the ears of others.

"Heh!" Lu Liaoliao sneered. "Miss Qianqian, are you joking? If he only wants you, why is he working so hard here in Dayu Town?"

"It’s his father’s order; that old man Jun Nanfeng is forcing him." She even referred to her father-in-law by name with a disrespectful label.

Lu Liaoliao couldn't help but laugh. "A 'father's order,' indeed. But you, Miss Qianqian, running around here and there, have also gained your husband a lot of support. What do you call that?"

"Heehee!" Dongfang Qianqian smiled slyly. "I’m just bored at home and came out for some air. Who said I’m trying to help him win? I came to find you to demand that you beat my husband. You must not let him marry that Wang Liuli, the ninth daughter of the Wang family."

"And why should I help you?" Lu Liaoliao’s eyes lit up; he wouldn't miss the chance to extort her.

"I knew you wouldn't do anything for free." She reached into her pocket and pulled out an exquisite jade bottle.

Lu Liaoliao took it and uncorked it; a faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted out.

"You don't think you can dismiss me with just this, do you?" He corked it and handed it back with a look of disdain.

Dongfang Qianqian didn't take it, staring at him like he was a country bumpkin.

"What do you know? This perfume is a secret recipe from my Myriad Flower Valley. If a woman adds a drop or two to her bath, after a while, her entire body will carry the scent. If you agree to my terms, I will give you the recipe."

"Deal!" Lu Liaoliao gripped the bottle tightly and held out his hand for the recipe.