Chapter Forty-Five: Expert in Firearms, Part One

During this period, the underworld of the realm of chess suddenly fell silent; there were no more rumors of the eunuch master, and Li Ruchuan seemed to have vanished from the world. No further murders were committed over chess. Fang Guohuan, having no clue to pursue, simply wandered among mountains and rivers while keeping watch for any sign of the chess affair.

One day, Fang Guohuan came to a small nameless town. He first found an inn and took lodgings there. After resting a while, feeling bored, he went out to stroll the streets. The town was not large and had little to see. After walking about for a time, he grew hungry and entered a tavern, ordered a meal, and ate it himself.

When the bill came after he had finished, Fang Guohuan realized to his dismay that all his silver had been left at the inn. He had forgotten to bring any. He searched his whole person and could find not a single coin. Though he did have some large banknotes on him, he knew they would be of little use in such a small town. The serving man mistook him for a deadbeat and stood to one side, watching him with a sidelong glare.

Fang Guohuan was terribly embarrassed and could only say, “My good man, I am truly sorry. I forgot to bring my silver. Could I make it up to you double, when I return?”

The serving man flew into a rage at once. “What were you doing earlier? You only say you have no money after stuffing yourself. If everyone were like you, how could we stay in business? I have seen this sort of thing many times. In short, until you pay for your meal, do not think of taking a step out of this tavern.” With that, he blocked the way menacingly.

Fang Guohuan shook his head helplessly. By chance his hand touched the eight celestial chess pieces in his robe. After a moment’s hesitation, he knew he had no other choice. If he left nothing behind, he would not get away today. So he took out one celestial chess piece and said to the serving man, “My good man, this object is a priceless treasure among chess pieces. No amount of gold would buy it. Let me leave it here as security for now, and I shall go back to the inn for my silver and redeem it. What do you say?”

The serving man did not know a treasure when he saw one. Seeing Fang Guohuan actually produce a chess piece to bluff him, he sneered. “You take me for an idiot? The landlord has plenty of these in his room. Do you think you can fool me with a little pebble?”

Fang Guohuan gave a silent sigh. “Without money, one truly cannot take a single step.”

At that moment, a slightly stout middle-aged man came over and asked, “What is the matter?”

The serving man hurriedly said, “Master, this fellow wants to eat without paying. He even brought out a little stone piece to hoodwink people.”

The landlord happened to catch sight of the extraordinary celestial chess piece lying in Fang Guohuan’s palm. His eyes lit up. “Sir, do you mean to use this to settle the meal?” Fang Guohuan shook his head. “Not exactly. It is merely to relieve an immediate difficulty. I shall fetch my silver shortly and redeem it.”

The landlord reached out. “In that case, let me see what sort of goods it is, and whether it is worth anything.” Fang Guohuan said, “Please be careful, sir.” Then he slowly placed the celestial chess piece into the landlord’s hand.

The landlord only felt his hand sink suddenly, nearly dropping the celestial chess piece. He seemed to understand chess somewhat and had some discernment. At that moment his heart stirred violently, and his face showed delight. The serving man, lacking tact, said from the side, “Master, this thing is worth not a copper. Why keep it? Better to collect the meal money.”

The landlord knew he had encountered a treasure. He turned and rebuked the serving man, saying, “A dog’s eye sees only lowly people. What do you know? Stop spouting nonsense.” Then he forced a smiling face toward Fang Guohuan. “My servant is ignorant, sir, so please do not take offense. Let this meal count as my treat. As for this chess piece, I should like to buy it. I wonder what price you would ask?”

Seeing this, Fang Guohuan knew the landlord was also a man who recognized the value of goods. He shook his head and said, “This chess piece is not for sale. I only took it out because I forgot my silver and had no choice. It was meant as temporary security. I will redeem it with silver shortly.”

The landlord was somewhat disappointed when he heard this. He looked again at the strange, heavy piece, smooth and bright in his hand, and was truly reluctant to let it go. Knowing the chance was rare, he pondered for a moment, then suddenly gritted his teeth and said, “How about this? This tavern of mine is worth a thousand ounces of silver as well. I will take this chess piece and be done with it; from this moment on, the tavern belongs to you, sir. What do you say to an exchange like that?”

As soon as he said this, even the serving man was stunned, and several diners nearby turned to look.

Fang Guohuan saw greed gleaming in the landlord’s eyes and already regretted revealing the celestial chess piece. He hurriedly shook his head. “This chess piece was given to me by a friend. It is not for sale. Please return it to me. Let someone accompany me to the inn to fetch my silver, and I will pay ten times the meal price as compensation.”

At this, the landlord pulled his hand back and clutched the celestial chess piece tightly, fearing someone might snatch it away. His expression changed somewhat as he said, “That will not do. How do I know you will not run off halfway? In any case, without money now, you can forget about getting this thing back.”

Fang Guohuan was anxious. “You landlord, that is unreasonable. Who does not sometimes find himself short of funds? Do you think I would really cheat you out of a few coins for a meal? Why should I covet your goods?”

Seeing that Fang Guohuan was merely a foreign traveler passing through, the landlord grew predatory, intending to take advantage of a stranger. With a dark face he said, “To eat, you pay. If you have no money, you pay with something. That is only fair. This place is not for freeloaders. Besides, this tiny chess piece is more than enough to cover the meal. You should consider yourself fortunate.”

Just moments ago, the landlord had been willing to trade the entire tavern for it. Now he was saying such things, making the surrounding guests shake their heads repeatedly. Since he could not seize it by force, the landlord’s face turned black, and he set his heart on shamelessly keeping it. Fang Guohuan was alone, and though he was in great distress, there was nothing he could do.

At this moment, the landlord’s despicable conduct angered a solitary guest drinking nearby. That man stood and came over, saying, “This gentleman only forgot to bring his silver, and you are already trying to steal his fine thing. How outrageous!”

Fang Guohuan saw that although this man seemed somewhat careless in manner, he spoke up boldly and righteously. He was deeply moved.

The man then asked the serving boy, “How much is this gentleman’s meal?”

“One and a half taels of silver,” the serving boy replied.

The man then felt at his waist, took out a silver ingot that weighed at least a full tael, and tossed it onto the table. “The meal money is here, more than enough. Return the man’s property at once.”

The landlord had thought he could hold onto the celestial chess piece, and had been secretly pleased. Unexpectedly, someone had stepped in to right the wrong and paid Fang Guohuan’s bill for him. Somewhat annoyed, he said, “Why are you meddling in other people’s affairs?”

The man immediately glared. “Eating requires payment; that is justice. Do you truly mean to keep this man’s property? With everyone here as witness, shall we call the magistrate?”

The landlord had already been in the wrong, and his expression turned awkward. “Well... this...”

There was still reluctance in his tone. Seeing this, the man bellowed, “What do you mean, this and that? Return the man’s property quickly.”

Overcome by the man’s bearing, the landlord at last extended his hand most unwillingly. Fang Guohuan took back the celestial chess piece from his hand and hid it in his robe, then hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed to the man, saying gratefully, “Many thanks for your help, big brother. Please come back to the inn with me. I shall surely repay you tenfold.”

The man glanced at Fang Guohuan and said, “Sir, you are being rather conventional. Do you think I care about your few coins?” After saying this, he swept his sleeve and left.

Fang Guohuan froze for a moment, knowing he had spoken clumsily to such a righteous and generous man. He hurried after him.

But by the time Fang Guohuan came out of the tavern, the man had already walked away at great speed and could not be seen. Fang Guohuan searched the street for a while. By the time evening fell, he still had not found him, and could only shake his head and return to the inn. He thought to himself, “This man is bold and righteous. He relieved my urgent distress. I should thank him properly to his face.”

Early the next morning, Fang Guohuan again went into the streets looking for the man. By noon there was still no result. He asked passersby, but most said they did not know him. He had no name, no surname, and who could have known? Fang Guohuan felt dejected. As he lowered his head and walked back toward the inn, he suddenly heard someone by the roadside say, “Sir, you are truly a man with a heart. You have even delayed an entire day’s journey seeking to thank this humble Cai.”

Hearing the voice, Fang Guohuan turned. There sat the man from yesterday in a roadside teahouse, smiling at him.

Delighted, Fang Guohuan hastened forward and bowed deeply. “So the benefactor is here. I have searched everywhere for you.”

The man smiled and indicated the seat beside him. “Sit, little brother. Have a bowl of cool tea first, and then we can talk.”

Fang Guohuan thanked him and sat.

The man personally brought over a bowl of tea. “It was such a small matter. Why go to all that trouble? Drink this tea first.”

Fang Guohuan was thirsty as well. He took it and drank it in one gulp, then set down the bowl and said gratefully, “Thank you, elder brother, for rescuing me from yesterday’s difficulty. My name is Fang Guohuan. May I ask your honored name?”

The man laughed. “So you are Brother Fang. My name is Cai Xiaolei. What happened yesterday is not worth mentioning.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Guohuan quickly rose and bowed deeply once more. “So you are Brother Cai. Please accept a bow from this younger brother.”

Cai Xiaolei扶他起身 and said, “Scholars can be rather troublesome. Still, I can tell that Brother Fang is a man of kindness and righteousness.”

Fang Guohuan said, “You flatter me, Brother Cai. It is your bold and generous nature that I admire most. Let me treat today. How about finding a good place and drinking our fill?”

Cai Xiaolei laughed. “Yesterday at the tavern I saw no wine on Brother Fang’s table. What, do you also know how to drink?”

Fang Guohuan smiled. “I am not much of a drinker, but when I meet a righteous man like Brother Cai who lends a hand to others, how can there be no wine to add to the pleasure?”

These words stirred Cai Xiaolei’s interest. He stood up happily and said, “Then come with me. It is hard to find a drinking companion as elegant as you, Brother Fang!” With that, he tossed a few copper coins on the table, took Fang Guohuan by the hand, and led him away.

Fang Guohuan had intended to host Cai Xiaolei in gratitude for yesterday’s help, but seeing his earnest hospitality, he had no choice but to follow. Once they left the teahouse, Cai Xiaolei led him all the way out of town.

Seeing that they were leaving the town, Fang Guohuan could not help asking, “Brother Cai, where are we going?”

Cai Xiaolei said, “Do not doubt it, Brother Fang. Meeting you today, I found our temperaments very much alike. I am taking you to a splendid place for drinking. There is plenty of good wine there, enough to make us forget everything else and drink until we are properly drunk.”

Fang Guohuan thought to himself, “He must be taking me to his home.” So he simply followed.

The two of them left town and crossed a patch of vegetable fields. When they rounded a grove of trees, several exquisite wooden cottages came into view, enclosed by a hedge and shaded by willows, like a household dwelling alone in the countryside.

Seeing this, Fang Guohuan praised it. “Brother Cai, this place of yours is quiet and elegant.”

Cai Xiaolei laughed. “Regrettably, this is not my home, but the estate of a friend. Still, he keeps plenty of fine wine within, and I often come here to drink.”

Fang Guohuan was astonished. “Brother Cai has such easygoing habits that he actually brings me to someone else’s house for drink.”

Yet seeing that Cai Xiaolei did not care in the least, he continued along with him.

Once inside the gate, Cai Xiaolei called out, “Is Brother Ruan Fang at home? Cai has come again to drink your fine wine.”

A man emerged from the house to greet him. Seeing Cai Xiaolei, he said happily, “So it is Master Cai. My master was just speaking of you yesterday, saying it had been three or four days since you came. He wondered where you had gone this time.”

Cai Xiaolei said breezily, “Well, here I am, aren’t I? How could I miss the matter of the wine here? By the way, Liu Xiang, where is your master?”

Liu Xiang quickly replied, “Master left early this morning with his rifle to hunt in the hills.”

“In that case,” said Cai Xiaolei, “I shall drink with this friend first, and wait for your master later.”

Liu Xiang said, “Please make yourselves at home, Master Cai. I will prepare everything at once.” With that, he turned and left.

Fang Guohuan thought to himself, “It seems Brother Cai is very close to the master of this house, as if it were his own home.” At this point Cai Xiaolei said, “Brother Fang, today you are in luck. Cai will let you taste a wine that is rare in all the world.”

Saying this, he led Fang Guohuan into the wooden house.

Once inside, Fang Guohuan saw that the room was simple yet clean, with wooden tables, bamboo chairs, chests, and old cabinets arranged in order. On the right wall hung an object shaped like a pipa, black and glossy, seeming to be some kind of iron mechanism. He did not know what it was.

Cai Xiaolei seated Fang Guohuan with great ease and reached for the fruit on the table, inviting him to eat.

At that moment, Liu Xiang brought in a jar of wine and set it gently on the table. “Please wait a little, Master Cai and sir. It is best to let the wine settle before drinking.”

Cai Xiaolei said, “I know that. Go find some dishes to go with it.”

Liu Xiang answered and left.

Fang Guohuan felt somewhat constrained. “Brother Cai, since the master is not here, the two of us drinking alone may not be quite proper.”

Cai Xiaolei laughed. “Do not stand on ceremony, Brother Fang. Think of it as if you were at my house. The owner here is my sworn friend; there is no problem.”

Fang Guohuan said, “Still, this does seem a little improper.”

Cai Xiaolei laughed again. “I am used to this by now. No one has ever blamed me for it, and besides, my friend likes things casual too. Brother Fang need not be uneasy.”

Liu Xiang soon returned with four small dishes: two kinds of garden vegetables and two meat dishes. He also set out bowls and chopsticks, then said, “Please enjoy yourselves,” and withdrew, as though used to such things.

Yet Cai Xiaolei now simply stared at the jar of wine without moving, as if waiting for something. Seeing this, Fang Guohuan was puzzled.

The novel was first published here.

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