Chapter Twenty-Four: A Win-Win Situation

Completely unaware of the shift in his own status, Yuan Jie continued to gently persuade, saying, “…Seventh Lord, since things have come to this, I’ll speak plainly. The Yuan clan will never participate in the internal strife among the nobility. This is an ancestral rule, and no one dares defy it. If you refuse to annul the engagement, stirring unrest within and outside the Shen clan and driving them to deal with you resolutely, I will not offer the slightest aid. The worst outcome is simply that you perish far from home, and A-Yuan becomes a widow.”

Although everyone knew the Yuan clan strictly adhered to neutrality and ordinarily avoided internal disputes, if Xu You did marry Yuan Qingqi, would the Shen clan truly believe he wouldn’t receive any support from the Yuan family? Such suspicions would breed unease, and unease would inevitably lead to a repeat of the Fourteenth Arrow assassination.

Xu You remained silent, his expression no longer as steadfast as it had been.

“But a widow can remarry. With our Yuan family’s status, we needn’t fear finding an ideal son-in-law. But what about you? For the sake of this obsession, you would die in a foreign land, severing the Xu bloodline. Of the three great failings in filial piety, having no heirs is the greatest. How could you face heaven and your honored parents?”

This era was not one dominated by the rigid moralism of the Ming and Qing; widows remarried often, and even divorcees frequently found new matches. Xu You genuinely feared that Yuan Jie, in a moment of resolve, might marry his daughter off, and then, after she became a widow, wait for her to remarry.

Xu You grumbled inwardly, You could have said so from the start—I wouldn’t have had to pretend to be so fiercely upright, acting out that indignant scene. His expression shifted to sorrow as he leaned back in the armchair, and after a moment, he spoke in a low voice, “Master Yuan, your words are most reasonable. I failed to consider carefully before and spoke rashly—please forgive my offense.”

Filial piety was held in the highest regard by the ancients; Xu You’s concession on this point was not shameful, but rather appeared all the more rational. Had he immediately agreed to Yuan Jie’s proposal, he would have seemed too yielding, easily manipulated.

He was at the nadir of his life, hardly a place to stand in the vast world. If he did not display some backbone, Yuan Jie might look down on him, and all his future plans would come to naught.

Yuan Jie waved his hand, indicating it was of no consequence. Seeing Xu You’s tone soften, he continued, “You are a clever man and surely know I am not making empty threats. A-Yuan marrying you would spell your death, but if you agree to annul the engagement, not only will your life be safe, but I can also promise that, so long as it does not involve the Shen clan, I will offer you appropriate assistance when necessary.”

Xu You’s heart settled. He had originally only hoped for money, but now gained a promise as well—much more valuable than mere wealth.

Negotiation is just like this—advance and retreat, reality and pretense, always a blend. Those who reveal their cards too soon always lose something. In his previous life, Xu You, nicknamed the Fox Marshal, was best at pressing his advantage: if the other party increased their offer, it meant there was room for further extraction. Not squeezing every last drop from the opportunity would feel like a disservice to those who gave him his moniker. But times had changed; Yuan Jie’s status was beyond compare, and the disparity in their positions was so vast it was almost painful to acknowledge. If pushed too hard, who knew if disaster might strike?

So, knowing when to stop, Xu You’s face took on a resolute look and he said, “Master Yuan, your words are like enlightenment, preventing me from becoming the eternal sinner of the Xu clan. Very well—marriage is predestined. If there is no fate, it cannot be forced. I will withdraw from this betrothal.”

Yuan Jie was overjoyed, about to speak, when Xu You hesitated, saying, “Yet there is something still amiss…”

Yuan Jie asked in confusion, “What is amiss?”

“Those who know, naturally understand that the annulment is for my benefit, thanks to your consideration. But those who do not may think you despise poverty and seek riches, acting the part of a petty man. For the sake of your reputation and that of your noble house, should anyone ask, I will say it was I who, knowing our families are mismatched, first proposed the annulment. It has nothing to do with you.”

It was a veiled barb, but Xu You’s sincere expression and flawless performance left Yuan Jie unsure whether he was being ridiculed or genuinely concerned. Yuan Jie coughed lightly and said, “That is all the better—though it will be hard on you, Seventh Lord…”

“There’s no hardship at all!” Seeing that the groundwork had been laid, Xu You’s demeanor grew solemn. “To make my words more credible, would Master Yuan consider returning the betrothal gifts? In this way, outsiders would praise you as a principled gentleman, not taking advantage of the younger generation. Even if word reaches the ruler, no fault could be found.”

Yuan Jie’s eyes narrowed slightly; it wasn’t that he begrudged the wealth, but only now did he realize that all Xu You’s earlier digressions had not been out of reluctance to break ties with the Yuan family, but for the sake of the betrothal gifts.

How amusing—Yuan Jie’s legitimate daughter was considered a treasure by outsiders, yet in this young man’s eyes, she mattered less than mere money.

Yuan Jie wasn’t aware of the saying, “If a problem can be solved with money, it’s not a problem,” but for him, settling this matter with money was ideal. To be honest, Xu You’s earlier bravado had startled him; he feared further complications. Smiling, he said, “I’ll send someone for the gift list… Feng Tong!”

Feng Tong, who had been waiting outside, immediately entered at the call. Hearing Yuan Jie’s instructions, he was a bit bewildered but replied, “No need to fetch the list—it’s all in my memory. Ten jade discs, thirty deer skins, four sheep, two calves, one goose, a hundred bushels each of wine, millet, rice, and flour, fifty bolts of brocade, three hundred bolts of silk, fifty thousand coins…”

Feng Tong recited at length, and to Xu You it sounded like an old comedic routine listing dishes, giving him a vivid sense of the extravagance of elite clans in this age.

Of course, marriage between families was a major event; a generous gift list was only reasonable. Compared to the famous gourmand He Cheng of the Wei dynasty, whose daily meals cost ten thousand coins and who claimed there was nowhere left to place his chopsticks, this was mere child’s play. Many items on the list were dictated by the “Rites of Marriage for Gentlemen”; for example, the goose, which was essential. The goose’s migration symbolized a woman’s fidelity, and the orderly flight represented the principle of hierarchy and respect.

This “goose” caused many amusing incidents. After all, geese are high-flying creatures, difficult for ordinary folk to catch. Some families, unable to secure a goose for years, delayed their children’s weddings. Thus, after much discussion among officials and the elite of Wei-Jin society, it was decided that a “domestic goose” could be substituted. With this decree, wild geese could rest easy, while domestic geese suffered anxiety!

“Manager Feng is truly remarkable, remembering such a lengthy gift list so clearly. The Yuan household is indeed full of talent.”

Being praised before his own master meant more to Feng Tong than a thousand compliments spoken behind his back. He was extremely pleased and now regarded Xu You with more favor—at least less dislike than before.

Yuan Jie frowned, “Seventh Lord, if we return the gifts as per the original list, some items may not be readily available today…” Not least of all, the goose—where could one find it in this season?

“No need for such trouble,” Xu You replied with a smile. “Excluding the coins, the other items can be valued at fifty thousand; together with the coins, it totals one hundred thousand. That will be convenient for all.”

Ten thousand coins could buy about one hundred fifty to two hundred bushels of grain, or seven sheep, ten bolts of silk, or exchange for an ounce of gold. The sum Xu You requested was actually on the low side. It wasn’t out of modesty or timidity, but a carefully considered decision: if he had official status, he could have taken a million coins and walked away. But as a commoner, at the bottom of society, carrying such a fortune to a place like Qiantang, unfamiliar and distant, would be too conspicuous and invite trouble. So, neither too much nor too little—a hundred thousand coins was just right, enough for immediate needs and to lay the foundation for future plans.

With capital in hand, Xu You, once a master of commerce, feared no challenge. In the end, whether ancient or modern, the essence of society remains unchanged: understand one principle and all become clear. The same applies to life, work, and business.

“I wouldn’t take advantage of you!”

Yuan Jie had the grace for it, and instructed Feng Tong, “Prepare one hundred fifty thousand coins, ready a cart, and when Seventh Lord departs for Qiantang, deliver them to his boat.”

Since Yuan Jie insisted on adding fifty thousand, Xu You did not refuse, thanking him with a smile. With the matter of wealth settled, Yuan Jie did not wish to delay further. He had Feng Tong fetch the marriage contract and turned to Xu You, “Do you have your marriage contract with you?”

At that time, marriage contracts were made in duplicate—one for each party. Xu You shook his head, “That night I met disaster unexpectedly; all my belongings were destroyed in the fire and nothing was saved.”

Though annulment required retrieving the marriage contract, its absence was not crucial; what mattered was the annulment certificate. Feng Tong soon brought a wooden case, which Yuan Jie handed to Xu You. “Open it and see—is this the one?”

The case was made of boxwood, twelve inches long, one and two-tenths wide, two-tenths thick for the board, three-tenths for the lid, and eight-tenths wide inside—all according to regulations for marriage contract cases, without the slightest error. Once the lid was secured, three paths were carved in the center, then bound with five-colored string, marking its completion.

Xu You examined the case in his hands, his heart calm and steady, untying the string and lifting the lid to reveal the marriage contract within. The contract was written in fine script, officially done in clerical script, though at this time “clerical” meant what would later be called regular script.

He glanced over it, noting the strong, yet skillful strokes, lively in spirit. His heart skipped a beat, and he uttered a soft “Ah.”

Yuan Jie asked in surprise, “What is it?”

“Nothing—just seeing this suddenly stirred my feelings.”