Chapter 28: The Two Foxes, Big and Small

Yuan Jie turned his head and smiled. "What do you think of this name?"

Xu You, calm and composed, replied offhandedly, "To play is to know vastness; the sea is to know greatness. Hearing the words 'Playful Sea' is as if seeing Master Yuan himself!"

Yuan Jie burst into hearty laughter, his tone exuberant, pointing at Xu You. "Seventh Young Master, oh, Seventh Young Master!"

Earlier, Yuan Jie had praised Xu You with the phrase "a flock of swans playing in the sea," and now he asked for an opinion on the name "Playful Sea Pavilion." It was, in truth, deliberate—not quite a test, more of an assessment. Among the scholar-officials of the time, such playful games were fashionable: to scrutinize a person's words, talents, and character through casual questions and answers in daily matters. If the question was clever and the answer witty, the exchange would quickly spread far and wide—a tried-and-true method for elders to promote promising juniors. Of course, it all depended on the questioner's social standing and influence; otherwise, no matter how clever the exchange, it would be like winking at a blind man—yielding nothing but pointless exertion.

Hidden within this question was subtlety. To praise the name would seem arrogant, and to refrain would hint at disrespect towards the elder—a dilemma on how to answer. The phrase "a flock of swans playing in the sea" originally described wild geese frolicking in seawater, often used as a metaphor for the vigorous, lively nature of calligraphy. Yet Xu You deliberately bypassed the "flock of swans," instead dissecting the words: play signified unrestrained freedom, thus vastness; the sea signified the capacity to accept all rivers, thus greatness. By doing so, he severed the direct link to calligraphy, so when he praised the name "Playful Sea Pavilion," it was free of self-promotion.

To achieve this already demonstrated Xu You's quick wit, but he went further, associating the newly defined "Playful Sea" with Yuan Jie's own character, offering a subtle yet refreshing compliment.

Naturally, Yuan Jie understood the reasoning. He both appreciated Xu You's talent and enjoyed the flattery. After a brief hesitation, as if making a decision, he said, "Since you think it is good, then the inscription for 'Playful Sea Pavilion' shall be written by you, Seventh Young Master!"

This truly startled Xu You. The plaque was the face of the pavilion, the symbol of the host’s household. Given the Yuan family's stature, only renowned calligraphers of illustrious lineage would qualify to inscribe such a plaque—certainly not a commoner like himself.

"Master Yuan..."

Xu You considered himself somewhat accomplished in calligraphy, but he had neither reputation nor official status. How could he dare to commit such a breach of propriety? He was just about to politely decline when Yuan Jie waved him off. "It’s settled, no need for more words. Come, after writing the inscription and enjoying the view, we shall savor the delicacies of Jinling. Is there anything more in life to regret?"

Xu You gave a wry smile. "Do I have a choice in the matter?"

"What do you think?" The two exchanged glances and burst out laughing together!

The cooks at Yuan’s estate, perhaps spurred on by Feng Tong’s supervision, outdid themselves: rare dishes piled high on the table, making one’s mouth water merely at the sight. Xu You glanced over the spread—there was vinegar-pickled goose and duck soup, snakehead and swallow, steamed piglet, Persian-style spiced meat, jade dew dumplings, Immortal’s Bay, five-spice venison jerky, and more—all delicacies the average person could only dream of tasting in their lifetime. For instance, the five-spice jerky was particularly complex: in the tenth month, the tenderest venison would be sliced into strips, steeped in a broth of spices and crushed bone for three days and nights, then air-dried to a semi-moist state, kneaded repeatedly, wrapped in black bamboo leaves from Wucheng, and left to cure for half a year. The Persian-style spiced meat hailed from Wei dynasty import, and the steamed piglet was none other than roast suckling pig—each dish a renowned specialty requiring great skill.

Before indulging, Xu You grabbed Feng Tong to inquire about Qiufen’s whereabouts. He had assumed that once the letter of annulment was written, he would leave Yuan’s estate at once, so he’d told Qiufen to wait outside. Unexpectedly, his conversation with Yuan Jie dragged on, and when he finally left for the mountain, she was nowhere to be seen. Assuming it was safe within the estate, he guessed she had been relocated by Feng Tong.

As it turned out, seeing that Xu You and Yuan Jie were engrossed in conversation, Feng Tong had taken Qiufen to a nearby annex and ensured she was well fed and cared for.

Xu You nodded and thanked Feng Tong, then, with appetite awakened by the feast before him, abandoned any concern for decorum and ate heartily. Yuan Jie ate little, mostly stroking his beard and smiling as he watched Xu You, or directing the servants to pour wine and serve more dishes. The usual strictness he displayed towards his family was gone. If Feng Tong hadn’t known better, he might have thought himself watching a harmonious gathering between father-in-law and son-in-law.

However, Yuan Jie was mindful of appearances. The feast was just the two of them; had other family members joined, Xu You’s favored treatment might have caused resentment.

Both host and guest thoroughly enjoyed the meal. After cleansing their hands and mouths, Yuan Jie and Xu You returned to the elegant study where they had first met. Feng Tong had already prepared red ink and the plaque. Seeing the situation, Xu You knew he could not refuse. Besides, after enjoying such hospitality, how could he say no? He laughed, "Good thing it’s a wooden plaque—if it were stone, I’d have refused no matter what..."

Yuan Jie, understanding the allusion at once, only smiled. Feng Tong, however, was puzzled but, seeing his master in high spirits, joined in the merriment. "Why do you say so, sir?"

As Xu You silently sketched the proportions and structure of the characters "Playful Sea" in his mind, he replied, "In the previous dynasty, there was a renowned calligrapher named Wei Dan, famed for his large clerical script. Whenever a new palace was built, he was summoned to inscribe the plaque. But those plaques were of stone, so he had to be hoisted up to the height after construction—a perilous task. Once, a new tower was built, reaching twenty-five zhang high, and Wei Dan was hoisted up again. When he came down, his hair and beard had turned white from fright. He returned home and forbade his descendants from ever practicing large-script calligraphy—a story much laughed about among scholars."

Feng Tong, amused, covered his mouth and laughed. "That Wei gentleman was rather timid, wasn’t he?"

"Not timid, just tired of being dangled in the air—such a fate is hardly fitting for a scholar. Wei Dan could hardly be blamed!" With this, Xu You’s expression grew focused. He rolled up his sleeves, raised his brush, and with a few vigorous strokes, completed the characters "Playful Sea," then tossed the brush aside and sighed, "My inspiration is spent for the day!"

Yuan Jie stood beside the table, studying the work for a long while, then spoke: "Ink makes the brush lean, vermilion makes it plump—such is their nature. Thus, plaque calligraphy is often overly rounded and lacks vigor. Yet you, Seventh Young Master, have achieved both fullness and leanness, with a forceful brush that commands admiration." Then he ordered Feng Tong, "Go at once and fetch the best carver in Jinling—no, in Yangzhou! Tell him not to deviate in the slightest from either the style or the meaning of the calligraphy. When the carving is done, remember to apply the gold leaf. And tomorrow at first light, send my cards to the Chen, Yang, Qu, and Cui families—invite my old friends to visit!"

Once Feng Tong left, Yuan Jie showed a trace of fatigue, turned and reclined on the couch behind the three-paneled screen, and said, "Do you know why I wanted you to write this plaque, Seventh Young Master?"

"Because you honor me with your esteem..."

"Esteem, yes, but there is also self-interest involved." Yuan Jie rubbed his brow. "Once the plaque is completed, I will invite the renowned scholars of Jinling here. I guarantee that as soon as they see the script, they will all ask who inscribed it..."

Xu You sighed. "That is precisely why I wished to refuse you earlier!"

"No matter!" Yuan Jie’s eyes glinted with a mischievous spark more suited to a young man. "The more they ask, the less I’ll say. I’ll only mention a reclusive master unwilling to reveal his name. Soon enough, with your transformative calligraphic talent and this aura of mystery, word will spread throughout the southern lands. In months, those wishing to glimpse your work will come in droves, and you can quietly build your reputation. Then, after a year or two, when there is change at court or the right moment arrives, I will reveal your identity. In an instant, you will be famous across the realm!"

Xu You shivered inwardly. Was this not the very marketing strategy from his own world? It played perfectly to human curiosity; the more something is hidden, the more it itches at people’s minds, creating a spiral effect that reaches ever wider audiences.

This Yuan Jie, though a scholar of Confucianism, was no mere pedant. Clearly, he was shrewd and resourceful. Xu You, having worked in finance in his past life, saw the unspoken part immediately.

These were the benefits for Xu You—but for Yuan Jie himself, there were advantages as well, as he admitted. So long as Xu You’s name remained undisclosed, the Playful Sea Pavilion would become the most talked-about place in Chu. Scholars and gentlemen from all over would flock there, and Yuan’s household would have to play host, building relationships and connections. These visitors had their own networks, which would spread the pavilion’s fame even further.

For Yuan Jie, this meant not just reputation, but personal connections and resources. The Yuan clan had seventeen men of his generation, four of whom held high office—far above what Yuan Jie, as Prefect of Jinling, could claim. The current family head was elderly and ailing, his passing imminent. If Yuan Jie could raise his own standing before then, even if he could not secure the headship, at least his position would not be diminished during the coming shift in power—perhaps it might even improve.

This was not intra-clan infighting, but rather the reasonable pursuit of self-interest within acceptable bounds.

Xu You’s eyes narrowed slightly. Outwardly, Yuan Jie seemed free of scheming, yet in casual conversation he had quietly arranged such a grand design, only for Xu You to realize it after the fact. Such skill was truly admirable.