Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Man's Life Between Heaven and Earth

After visiting several more households, the situation was much the same everywhere. Some families still had both parents, others included brothers, uncles, nephews, ranging from three or four members to as many as a dozen, all relying on the stipend from the Yuan estate to make ends meet. Now that their loved one was dead, the entire household had collapsed.

Hearing the anguished cries and seeing the faces lost in despair, Qiu Fen, still a young girl at heart and full of kindness, could not hold back her tears, which streamed down her cheeks. In the end, she hid outside the gate, unwilling to enter the courtyard, unable to bear witnessing such scenes again and again.

Zuo Wen, hardened by years in the army, had long grown indifferent to life and death. On the battlefield, blades and arrows showed no mercy; survival was luck, death was fate—no one could be blamed. Yet, never before had there been such heavy casualties, nor had anyone ever gone from house to house, offering condolences as Xu You did. Even the most stoic heart would feel a twinge of sorrow.

After leaving yet another house, observing Xu You’s heavy mood, Zuo Wen quietly suggested, “Perhaps we should return to the estate. The day grows late...”

Xu You did not reply, but strode forward with unwavering determination, as if tireless, arriving at the next house with a torn mourning paper on the door. He repeated, for the countless time, the actions he had performed at every house: straightening his cap, smoothing his robes, and gently knocking at the door.

Whether the deceased was a squad leader, a section leader, or a lowly foot soldier, Xu You's demeanor was always solemn and respectful, as if, in his eyes, these humble souls were no different from the noble heirs of great families.

Zuo Wen stood in the middle of the street. The setting sun hung in the west, its golden light illuminating half of Xu You’s figure. For reasons he could not explain, Zuo Wen felt a force deep within—a power both reassuring and stirring. His expression shifted from confusion to being moved, then to contemplation, and finally to resolute determination. Suddenly, he broke into a hearty smile and said to Qiu Fen beside him, “I have never met anyone like Xu Langjun.”

Qiu Fen smiled softly, her eyes shining with gentle clarity. She whispered, “Because there’s only one young master like him...”

Thus, Xu You spent the entire day visiting every household of the thirty-some soldiers who had died in battle, leaving none unvisited. By the time he departed, dusk had fallen. Zuo Wen accompanied him to the gates of the Yuan estate, where Xu You instructed, “Tomorrow I will have Feng Tong deliver a million coins to the ward. Wait there and oversee the handover. Each family of the fallen will receive thirty thousand coins for funerals and sustenance. Once I am settled in Qiantang, I will send money every year so they never lack clothing or food, nor suffer hunger or cold.”

Having finished, Xu You turned to Zuo Wen and said gravely, “Feng Hu, although we have only known each other for a short time, our temperaments are alike. After this farewell, who knows when we’ll meet again? There’s no need for extra words; I only hope that when fate brings us together again, we will not forget the friendship of today. That is enough for my heart!”

Zuo Wen’s tiger eyes reddened as he gazed back at Xu You, then slowly knelt and said, “If you are not bothered by my humble martial skills and coarse manner, please allow me to follow you to Qiantang!”

Xu You reached out to lift his arm, but Zuo Wen remained unmoving as an iron pillar. Realizing his resolve, Xu You replied joyfully, “Having a hero like Feng Hu as a companion is truly my fortune. But consider carefully, though I am no longer a scion of the Yixing Xu clan, I bear their blood feud. In Qiantang, as a commoner, with no one to depend on, achieving anything will be fraught with difficulty and danger. If you regret it now, I will still regard you as a friend, with no disdain whatsoever.”

Zuo Wen bowed his head and said, “I am alone, with no ties. Even if I stay in Jinling, I would only waste away. Not until I met you, received your guidance, did I gain some understanding and ambition. I know you are destined for greatness; as for me, I am reaching beyond my grasp, but if you do not mind, I am willing to follow you to the ends of the earth, without regret even in death!”

“Excellent!” Xu You laughed heartily. “Then let us go together, first to Qiantang, and see whether this world can contain my ambition and your valor!”

“Understood!”

Zuo Wen clasped his fists and bowed with fervor.

Though both were merely commoners at the lowest rung of society, at that moment, sharing their hearts and plans for the future, their conversation and laughter revealed a grandeur that even the innocent Qiu Fen could feel, causing her to clench her fists and tremble.

The golden-scaled dragon is never meant for the pond; when the winds of change arrive, it soars.

Shun rose from the fields, Fu Yue from the brickworks, Jiao Ge from fish and salt, Guan Yiwu from the scholars, Sun Shuao from the sea, Baili Xi from the market—who is to say that today’s commoners cannot ride forth and conquer the realm?

Xu You helped Zuo Wen to his feet and said, “Now that you are one of us, remember this: from today onward, never kneel lightly!”

Just as Qiu Fen had been before, Zuo Wen did not fully understand why Xu You gave this order so solemnly, but he nodded and agreed earnestly. Then he asked, “Where should I wait tomorrow morning?”

“At the docks... but as for the ward—”

“No matter. I can entrust that to Deng Tao. He is a hundredman, respected among the troops, uninterested in wealth, and trustworthy!”

“Very well, I was going to see Deng Tao soon anyway; I’ll have him handle it.”

Back at the Yuan estate, Feng Tong waited in the retreat, unsure how long he had been there. As soon as he saw Xu You, he complained, “Why are you only just back? We set out tomorrow, and there’s much to discuss...”

Xu You washed his hands and face, sat on the couch, letting Qiu Fen knead his shoulders. The fatigue of the day washed over him, his eyelids heavy; if not for his willpower, he might have drifted into sleep.

This body is truly too frail!

“The steward arrived at the right time, I have matters to discuss too!” Xu You pinched his thigh secretly, summoned his energy, and smiled, “But tell me, what is so urgent?”

Feng Tong’s face was displeased. “How could it not be urgent? The master has rewarded two and a half million coins in total. Should we charter an entire mid-sized boat for transport, or travel alongside other passengers in a large cargo vessel?”

At this season, there were specialized cargo boats that could also carry a few passengers. The mid-sized and large cargo vessels were both types of these boats. Xu You asked, “What’s the difference between the mid-sized and the large cargo boats?”

“The mid-sized boat is flat and shallow, faster, and though it doesn’t carry much, it can hold several million coins. But if the winds are strong and the waves rough, it can easily capsize.”

“Not that one...” That was no joke—his future in Qiantang depended on this money; if the boat sank, there would be no one to cry to, and there wouldn’t be another Yuan Qingqi to return so much wealth after breaking an engagement. Xu You glanced at Feng Tong; was the old fox plotting to trick him with the transport? “What about the large cargo vessel?”

“The large boat is sturdy, can carry over seven thousand bushels, but travels slowly. Normally, the owner won’t set sail unless the holds are full.”

Xu You quickly calculated: seven thousand bushels, nearly eight or nine hundred tons. He asked, “How much does one and a half million coins weigh?”

“About a hundred piculs... Why do you ask?”

Since the Han dynasty, thirty pounds made a picul—about three thousand pounds, just three tons. Of course the owner wouldn’t want to take only his business, and one and a half million coins was no small sum; not every boat would accept it without confidence and resources. Xu You felt a headache coming. In a world without banks or paper money, even transportation was a major difficulty. As he pondered, he caught a glimpse of a smug look on Feng Tong’s lips, and a thought occurred to him. He stood and said, “If it’s so troublesome, I’ll go see Master Yuan and ask his advice!”

Feng Tong frowned. “Master Yuan is dining now, he hates disturbances.”

“No matter, I’ll be quick.”

Xu You realized only then that since Yuan Jie had told him to leave Jinling tomorrow, there must be arrangements. Several tons of coins couldn’t just be carried away in a pocket; where would he find a suitable boat on short notice? He decided to test Feng Tong, knowing the old man’s cunning would quickly reveal the truth.

“Wait!” Feng Tong, exasperated, always ended up bested by Xu You, unsure if fate was against him. He quickly stopped him, reluctantly conceding, “Actually, it’s easily solved. Tomorrow, a large cargo vessel, which regularly does business with the estate, will be shipping a load of silk to Qiantang and can take the two and a half million coins along. But the master insists you not travel with the cargo; you must find another boat.”

Xu You gazed at Feng Tong with a half-smile until the steward coughed awkwardly. “Young master...”

With departure imminent, uncertain when he would return from Qiantang, even Feng Tong’s annoying face seemed somewhat endearing now. Xu You would not embarrass him further. “Of course, one and a half million—people and money travel separately, that’s safer.” If not for his own secret plan, the journey to Qiantang would surely be full of twists and dangers; separating people and money was only prudent. Still, it was fortunate the boat was guaranteed by the Yuan clan; otherwise, given his attachment to the money, he would hardly feel comfortable not accompanying it.

Only then did Feng Tong realize something was amiss. “Shouldn’t it be two and a half million coins? Did you forget the roll of ‘Records of the Sea Pavilion’…”

“That’s what I wanted to discuss,” Xu You said warmly, taking his hand. “Tomorrow, after I leave, please deliver one million coins to Deng Tao and have him help with a small matter… By the way, didn’t Master Yuan ask you to bring Deng Tao to meet me? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?”

Feng Tong replied irritably, “He came earlier, but left when he couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Then please, steward, make another trip, and tell him I await him at the retreat and insist he come!”

Feng Tong went off, disgruntled, while Xu You reclined again, gazing at Qiu Fen’s clear eyes. Suddenly he asked, “Tomorrow I leave—aren’t you curious about the marriage with the Yuan family lady?”

Qiu Fen hung her head for a long time before replying, “I don’t ask, because I know that whatever you do, you have your reasons.”

Xu You beckoned her closer, took her small hand, soft but cold, and asked, “You figured it out?”

“Last night, I overheard that fierce girl say the divorce letter had been written… At the time, I didn’t understand. Today, hearing you leave for Qiantang, busy with consoling those… those who died on the boat, I realized you had already decided to break off the engagement with the Yuan family lady, right?”

Xu You looked up; on the ceiling, elegant lines were carved with exquisite craftsmanship, everywhere displaying the heritage and refinement of the Chen Commandery Yuan clan—a legacy built over centuries, by dozens of generations, through blood and wisdom, and so revered by the world.

If he shamelessly clung to this marriage for prestige, all he would gain was scorn and humiliation, never able to lift his head for the rest of his life!

What man fears being without a wife?

Moreover, a man’s power lies not within the boudoir,

But in the vast world!