After the Immortal Disappeared

"The mistress is aware and has been deliberately reining in spending. We don’t dare hire freely at the mansion. Besides Nanny Qian and myself, there are now only two maids, a cook and a handyman, three long-term laborers, and one gardener. We don’t have enough manpower, so the plan is to make do with temporary workers."

Hee Chunhua nodded. Other mansions of this size would be impossible to run with fewer than twenty or thirty servants. Even Steward Qian, who secretly handled matters for him by managing the Zhu Family’s business in Dunyu, had seven or eight servants of his own.

He flopped onto the chaise lounge, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. "How is Chuan’Er doing?"

It was just a casual question, but to his surprise, Old Mo said, "The Eldest Young Master has been quite active these past few days."

Hee Chunhua’s eyes remained closed. "Is that boy causing trouble again?"

He was used to it, so he was completely unfazed.

"Not causing trouble, exactly," Steward Old Mo said with a smile. "The Eldest Young Master has hired a few people and started spending money to acquire properties in Dunyu and the nearby towns and counties."

"Acquiring properties?" Hee Chunhua’s eyes snapped open, genuinely surprised. "What kind of properties?"

’Buying up assets... this didn’t seem like something his eldest son would do.’ "Wait, what kind of people did he hire?"

"He hired a few private soldiers dismissed by the Li Family, and also a local steward surnamed Ding." Steward Old Mo had clearly done his homework. "It was this Steward Ding who arranged the acquisition of these properties, going to each one to close the deal."

"The man he hired seems to have a good head on his shoulders," Hee Chunhua noted with a nod. "The help of a local should not be underestimated."

"Indeed, indeed. We’ve hired a good number of people ourselves. There are many things that are simply impossible to handle without locals." Old Mo continued, "As far as I know, the Eldest Young Master has already bought several storefronts, dozens of acres of prime irrigated fields, a fishery on the west side of Qing Lake, the old, established Hesu Building restaurant in Dunyu, and he’s even taken over a trading company. This company has two complete caravans under it that were originally on the verge of disbanding."

"He got a fishery?" Hee Chunhua stroked his chin. "Interesting."

"I hear the east side of Qing Lake has the most abundant water plants and the largest fish populations. The west side is slightly inferior."

"It’s impressive he could buy one at all. He’s quite lucky." A fishery wasn’t something you could buy just by having money. Within Da Yuan’s borders, all major rivers, great lakes, forests, and mines were state-owned; unauthorized fishing and logging were forbidden. However, local authorities found it difficult to manage these resources themselves, so they often contracted them out and shared the profits with the leaseholders.

Qing Lake, just outside Dunyu, was a vast freshwater lake fed by three sources. It was rich in fish, shrimp, crabs, and shellfish, and was thus divided into twenty-seven fisheries, all of which were already claimed. To allow stocks to replenish, the government stipulated two fishing-free seasons and two fishing seasons each year.

Once the fishing season began, only the fishery’s own staff could work there. Outsiders had to pay a fee just to dig for clams on the mudflats.

Simply put, it was a semi-monopolistic industry. To hold a well-resourced fishery was to own a hen that laid silver eggs.

"I heard the Shu Family had their eye on that fishery, but Steward Ding stepped in and played the Hee Mansion’s card."

"Well now, the boy certainly knows how to seize an opportunity. Where did he get so much money? Don’t tell me he used force?"

Steward Old Mo was stumped. "That, I don’t know."

That fishery alone must have cost a fortune, even in these extraordinary times. Hee Chunhua tried to recall—had he ever given Hee Lingchuan that much money? ’Could it be that the boy saved it all up?’

’All very strange.’

’Perhaps Chuan’Er gained something from the last bandit suppression campaign? He did get his hands on Lui Yao’s belongings. Besides, on the journey from Black Water City to Shihuan and then to Dunyu, quite a few people tried to curry favor with me through Chuan’Er. Maybe some of them offered substantial bribes?’

’Or could it be that the boy has been strong-arming people and extorting things in private?’

But he had a mountain of other troubles to deal with right now; his eldest son’s little affairs weren’t even on the list. Hee Chunhua chuckled. "Alright, don’t worry about him. If he wants to buy, let him buy."

To be honest, he was quite pleased.

The local tycoons and gentry of Xiazhou were selling off their assets at cut-throat prices, a sign that they had no confidence in the Xiazhou defensive line or in him, the new Chief Steward. All they wanted was to pull out and flee south. Although this was partly a result of Hee Chunhua’s own secret machinations, the thought still angered him.

But his eldest son was now entering the market to buy at rock bottom, proving through his actions that he had complete faith in his father.

As a father, he was deeply gratified.

"But I want to know exactly how many assets he acquires in the end."

"Yes."

* * *

The next morning, Dunyu City issued a formal notice: starting at dusk today, which was 7 p.m., the entire city would permit entry but prohibit exit. Merchants and travelers wishing to leave the city would need a special permit from the relevant Bureau before the gates would let them pass.

The notice also made special mention that the northern defense line was secure, the government troops were fighting successfully, and the situation was stable and improving. It urged everyone not to believe or spread rumors and to live their days in peace.

The moment the notice was posted, a massive wave of panic swept through the city!

Just as it’s futile to limit price hikes—the more you limit them, the more they rise—and futile to limit price drops—the more you limit them, the more they fall—the first thought that popped into many people’s heads upon seeing the notice was:

’It’s over! Run!’

’Something must have happened up north! The Xunzhou Army is ninety-nine percent certain to attack!’

’Run too late or too slow, and we’ll be trapped and left to die in Dunyu.’

Rumors had been flying for days. With this announcement, their indecision instantly transformed into an iron-clad resolve to flee.

Prices plummeted, including the price of grain.

Wealthy merchants and large households held vast amounts of grain, but they couldn’t transport it all at once, so they had to resort to emergency fire sales. The market price for grain, which had already risen to about six wens per catty, dropped back to two wens in less than half a day. For bulk purchases of ten dan or more, the price was just one wen!

These were truly desperation prices, sold at a complete loss.

If it was like this for grain, it went without saying for all other businesses. Everyone wanted to have a tearful clearance sale before the city was sealed.

The State Government sent constables into the streets to beat gongs, telling the people not to panic while also maintaining order and preventing looting and riots.

Even Hee Chunhua himself made a personal appearance, giving a speech at the market entrance to calm the public.

Seeing his firm assurances and the Government Office’s uncharacteristically swift and decisive actions, the emotions of most commoners were soothed, and they calmed down a little.

However, beneath the surface, a dark undercurrent was surging.

The gentry and nobles instructed their subordinates to sell off their assets while they themselves left first. The Zhan Family’s long convoy, for example, stretched from their front door all the way to the city gate, nearly causing a massive traffic jam.

In this situation, Ding Zuodong was away from home the entire day, leaving his wife and son to wait with such anxiety it felt like their insides were burning.

’When had her husband ever been so unreliable?’

Fortunately, Ding Zuodong finally ran home at 3:00 PM. Despite the cold weather, his head was covered in sweat. "Water? Food? Bring them here! I’ve been running around all day, I’m starving!"

His wife hurriedly poured him a cup of water and said anxiously, "The government issued a notice! Everyone is trying to run. Our neighbors, the Wang Family and the Yin Family, have already left with their chests and children. Are we—are we going to run or not?"

Ding Zuodong chugged the water, GULP, GULP. "Run where?"

"South, to escape the disaster! We’ve packed everything, the horse is hitched, and we’ve already fed it. Your son is outside watching it to make sure no one steals our horse!"

"He’s right to watch the horse. A horse is worth more than anything right now." But Ding Zuodong was very calm. "Unpack everything and put it back. And heat up the food and bring it to me."

"But... but, what if the Xunzhou Soldiers come charging in..."

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone’s saying it, my lord. This isn’t a groundless rumor; the situation in the north is bad." His wife clutched her handkerchief tightly. "Did you hear any news from Mr. Hee?"

"Yes, and it was all good news. We’re staying. Let those fools leave if they want to."

Though his wife was half-believing and half-doubting, she had always followed her husband’s lead. His certainty was enough for her to go back to the kitchen and get busy.

Just then, his five-year-old grandson scampered over and hugged Ding Zuodong’s leg.

When his wife came out with the food, she saw Ding Zuodong playing with his grandson. She wiped her hands on her apron and said, "Some damn thief stole the money you were going to give Bao’Er! Now we can’t buy the hobby horse we promised him."

Hearing this, Ding Zuodong looked up. "I took that money."

His wife froze.

’What? He took back the money he was giving his grandson? That old coot!’

"The big mansion at the entrance to East Street—you know the one I’m talking about, with the peach grove inside its walls—the owner was selling it for dirt cheap. I didn’t have enough money, so I threw in Bao’Er’s allowance too." Ding Zuodong took a deed out from his robes and dangled it in front of his wife. "Look! From now on, you are the mistress of this mansion!"

Such a beautiful mansion was going to be hers? His wife was dumbfounded. It took her a while to react. "We put all... all our money into it?"

"I also bought two small storefronts." It had been a long time since Ding Zuodong had laughed so heartily. "Today wasn’t just about doing business for Eldest Young Master Hee; we got to pick up some bargains for ourselves, too."

His wife’s palms were slick with sweat. "My lord, this is a huge gamble." If they lost this bet, they would be penniless and trapped in Dunyu, waiting for the Xunzhou people to break down their door.

Ding Zuodong clenched his fists, his smile fading. "Aren’t you tired of being looked down on? To turn our fortunes around, we have to make a big play."

He wolfed down his meal in a few quick bites, wiped his mouth, and stood up. "I’m heading out."

His wife watched him leave as the setting sun in the west cast its last rays of light.

Night was about to fall, and Dunyu would soon be sealed.

The Ding family weren’t the only ones staring blankly at the sunset under that same sky; so was the foremost great family of Xiazhou.

The Li Family was also in a state of panic. The servants had all packed their luggage, but the Sect Leader of the Li Family had yet to give the order.

Clan members took turns trying to persuade him, but Li Zhi had shut himself in his study and refused to see anyone.

At this time, their relatives thought of Li Shuang. After all, while Old Sir Li was alive, he had always praised Little Sixth for being clever, thoughtful, and insightful.

But Li Shuang shook her head. "We’re not leaving."

"Why not?"

"If the front line had fallen, why would Eldest Young Master Hee be throwing money around town these past few days, buying up shops and properties?"

Li Shuang added, "If Dunyu were in peril, why would the State Government be seeking us out right now to purchase grain and buy back hoarded farmland?"

Of course, Hee Lingchuan’s movements and the State Government’s actions could not be hidden from local bullies like them.

The reasons Li Shuang gave were logical but not entirely convincing, not enough to placate the clan.

When people are anxious, they need to see solid evidence to bolster their confidence. And so, unable to bear the suspense, some clan members soon left, taking their families with them.