Chapter 46: Officially Becoming a Bai Hu

  Over the next two days, Chen Xin helped arrange the funeral and also kept watch with Old Cai one night, watching the monks perform rituals. Old Cai said that the porcelain shop might not be able to open again, as Madame Zhao had never liked the shop and now it was even more likely to close. He was worried about his own livelihood. Chen Xin tactfully mentioned that he might go into maritime trade, and Old Cai, who knew that Chen Xin and his friends had made a lot of money on this trip, immediately changed his demeanor, putting aside his haughty attitude as a master and pouring tea for Chen Xin twice.

  On the third day, in the afternoon, they finally buried the ashes. Mrs. Zhao cried so hard that she almost fainted, while Miss Zhao showed great strength, revealing another side of herself to Chen Xin. After that, the shop continued to operate as usual. Mrs. Zhao no longer liked the shop and wanted to sell off the goods and Japanese swords they had bought this time. Chen Xin went to the shop every day, but he didn't stay until closing time anymore. Miss Zhao came to the shop every day to chat with Chen Xin. Old Cai and others seemed to have noticed something and never disturbed them.

  The goods in the shop were all sold at low prices, and many merchants from the capital came to buy them in large quantities. They had almost been cleared out. Mrs. Zhao did not intend to continue operating the business, and Lu You also planned to work at Chen Xin's clothing store after a few days.

  The only thing that disappointed Chen Xin was that Song Wenxian cancelled the banquet at the brothel that day, because Qian Daren was about to be transferred to the Fifth Army Camp as deputy general. As a utilitarian, Song Wenxian no longer wanted to waste money, so he just found a thousandth of the naval forces and solved the problem of berthing the ship, then Song Wenxian bid farewell and returned to Dengzhou.

  Liu Minyou bought a shop on Zhenhai Gate Street for 80 taels at the end of July, specifically as a clothing store. The living environment in the courtyard was much improved. However, the business of the clothing store gradually decreased, with less than 100 pieces sold per month. Although Deng Keshan tried his best to suppress small clothing stores, some stores he couldn't afford to offend. Each family was making cheongsam dresses, and it had become a price war. Liu Minyou was worried all day long, and the brand effect he dreamed of never materialized.

  The days passed quietly like water until after Mid-Autumn Festival in August, when Chen Xin was talking to Lu Zixu and Qin Lüfang in the courtyard.

  "Chuanzong, you and Lv Fang take 200 taels of silver to the capital to buy a modest house with three or five rooms. It doesn't have to be expensive, just tens of taels will do. Be low-key in your daily life. After buying the house, Chuanzong, you come back first, and Lv Fang temporarily stays in the capital to help me investigate some people's addresses."

  Qin Lüfang had been living here all along, and he also had a lot of silver. He originally planned to buy a yard, but later heard that Chen Xin was about to go to Weihaiwei, so he gave up this idea. At this time, he listened to Chen Xin's words and asked: "Brother Chen, are we going to the capital to do business? Who are you inquiring about?"

  Chen Xin smiled: "It's business, but not selling clothes. I'll tell you about the investigation when we set off tomorrow. Bring your knives and be careful along the way."

  Chen said as he took out a package of silver, Lu Luzi said: "Brother Chen, I still have some silver."

  "That's yours, it's a business matter, how can you use your own private money. Right, have you brought the silver back to your family?"

  "I've brought it, I'll divide 500 taels and give them to Dai Ge, he'll take a trip back to Yanggu tomorrow and bring the silver back."

  "Then let him come back soon, I'm going to the capital in a few days and want to invite him together."

  Lu Lu Zi replied: "Got it, Brother Chen."

  Chen Xin had just finished speaking and was about to leave when someone blocked his way. He looked up to see that it was Song Wenxian.

  "Mr. Song, you've finally arrived! I was worried to death!" Chen Xin had been waiting for him for a month and was overjoyed to see the shameless scholar at last, hastily inviting him in.

  After sitting down, Song Wenxian smiled and brought Chen Xin the long-awaited hundred-household notice, military registration certificate, and two sets of hundred-household official uniforms. Because of Sun's words at the time, even the word "trial" was removed, and he was actually appointed as the hundred-household of Weihai Wei's Left Thousand Households. Chen Xin took it in his hand and looked at it, and on the hundred-household uniform, there were some small miscellaneous flowers embroidered with a size of one inch, and a cloud-riding fog-patterned leopard-shaped badge on the chest. However, when Chen Xin looked at that "leopard" animal, its whole body was spotted and dotted, seemingly like a golden money leopard. He picked it up and tried it on his body several times before thanking him repeatedly.

  "Mr. Song, when will the reward be issued?" Chen Xin asked happily.

  Song Wenxian smiled and said: "In these few days, I have already received this official uniform."

  Chen Xin touched his official robes and asked: "The imperial court has rewarded many people this time, hasn't it?"

  Song Wenxian nodded: "The great victory of Ningjin, all thanks to the loyalty and bravery of Changchen's national defense strategy, has been awarded the first merit, Minister Wang Zhi of the Ministry of War, Wang Daren, granted his son a Jin Yiwei commander. He said in a low voice: "The governor of Liaodong was dismissed due to illness, only the Ministry of Officials gave him the title of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Imperial Censorate, nothing else, and it is unknown what the reason is."

  Chen Xin knew the reason, Yuan Chonghuan's resignation was directly due to his refusal to provide reinforcements during the Battle of Ningyuan and Jinzhou, which made him seem incompetent. Some people felt sorry for him, saying that he should be rewarded according to old customs. However, Emperor Tianqi replied that Yuan Chonghuan had privately negotiated with the enemy, and it was already lenient not to punish him, let alone reward him according to old customs. (Note 1) It can be seen that Emperor Tianqi was most dissatisfied with Yuan Chonghuan's private negotiations with the enemy.

  Song Wenxian was just a staff officer and didn't know any of this, so he continued: "Brother Chen, I've already asked about the situation in Weihaiwei, it's different from other Wei, there are only three thousand households, with a fixed number of over 3,000 people, many have fled, every year it's hard to gather enough troops for the Ji Town class, it's really a poor place. The commander-in-chief is surnamed Yang and doesn't have any background either. When the time comes, I'll accompany you there, we must take over a coastal fort, that surname Yang won't dare not listen."

  "When that time comes, I'll have to trouble Brother Song. However, I still want to be promoted one more level here, become a Qianhu, at least become a Deputy Qianhu. Has Brother Song inquired about the matter of promotion for me?"

  "After inquiring, the Weihai Wei's Na-level document has been issued for you, but the Na-level matter still needs to go through the Shandong Du Si Fu, then to the Beijing Hu Bu to pay the silver, and finally to the Bing Bu Wu Xuan Si to receive the Na-level."

  "Isn't the position of Wu Xuan determined by the Ministry of Personnel?"

  "Never mind which department, the matter of buying a title has always been handled by the Board of War. It was suspended during the Wanli era, but later it slowly resumed. During the Wanli era, the price for promoting a hundred-man unit to a thousand-man unit was only three hundred taels of silver; now it's probably even more expensive." Song Wenxian continued: "Brother Chen hasn't even taken office yet, and he's already thinking about buying a title. Can't we wait a bit? The official positions in the guards are worthless anyway, with Lord Zhong looking out for us, we can slowly get promoted later on. Why spend so much silver? Moreover, the two characters 'buying a title' before 'thousand-man unit' are not easy to get rid of; after all, it's not a real appointment."

  Chen Xin rubbed his nose and said: "It's always one size too big."

  Song Wenxian buried his grievances and said, "At the beginning, I told you to go to the banner camp, but you didn't go. If you were in charge of a team inside, with another victory like Ningjin, wouldn't it be easier to get promoted to a thousand-household post?"

  "Mr. Song, it's too late now, I'll just stay in the Wei's household and muddle along."

  Song Wenxian gave him a displeased glance, and Chen Xin smiled and asked: "Can Mr. Song stand firm in the governor's mansion?"

  "The silver was sent away, and even if we're not familiar, there's still some emotional connection. It's all thanks to that trip to Japan, otherwise I wouldn't have had such a surplus on hand. At Lord Gong's place, I also hung up a participant's flag, so in the future when using the Dengzhou sea defense route, it will be even more convenient with this official flag."

  Chen Xin heard him mention Japan and thought of Qian's departure, which reduced the share by one more portion. He probed Song Wenxian: "Mr. Song, is there any new idea about Japan's share from Master Zhong and Sun Fu?"

  Song Wenxian stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes and said: "Governor Fu doesn't know the original quota, but Governor Zhong is clear about it. When he gave me this letter of introduction, he hinted that his quota would be based on the previous number, and Governor Fu's side also followed the previous number. As for Tianjin, he didn't care."

  Master Zhong is a ruthless man, he took away part of Li Song's share and only gave the remaining part to Sun Fu Tai. Even if Sun Fu Tai found out, he would only think that Chen Xin and Song Wen Xian had embezzled it. But since Sun Fu Tai was able to get this unexpected wealth, he should be satisfied too. This way, Tianjin's money master Chen Xin can swallow the most, at most giving a little to Song Wen Xian.

  Chen Xing nodded and said: "In that case, we can allocate more shares. Mr. Song, how many days do you plan to stay in Tianjin?"

  "For a few days it was just a few days, my participation was neither participating nor following, and in the staff I was just familiar with the face."

  "So, Mr. Song, can you help me with the tax registration? I'm completely unfamiliar with the Shandong Provincial Government and don't know where to start."

  Song Wenxian knew he had to take more copies, so he had to run more errands for others and agreed.

  "Then please trouble Mr. Song to take a trip, tomorrow I have an assistant going to Linqing, and you can take the boat together with him, he will also escort you along the way. After finishing the business at the Shandong Governor's office, I plan to go to Beijing to report for duty, if Mr. Song has no other matters, you are welcome to follow me there, it would be a good opportunity to ask for your advice on the road."

  Song Wenxian laughed and said, "Since we're going together, what else is there for us to discuss?" He glanced around and asked Chen Xin, "Lord Zhong once asked when Brother Chen would get married. At that time, he also wants to show his good intentions."

  Chen Xin knew that Lord Zhong was asking when he would send his family as hostages, and he leaned back in his chair, saying lightly: "Soon, soon."

  Song Wenxian's face showed a look of surprise: "Miss Zhao is not in mourning."

  "I never said I was going to marry Miss Zhao, this is what you said, Mr. Song."

  Song Wenxian let out a whistle and said, "So Brother Chen has other romantic interests besides me."

  Chen Xinyi smiled mysteriously and said, "You'll know when Mr. Song arrives."

  Having said that, he stood up and said to Song Wenxian: "I still have to go to the pawnshop today, Mr. Song can rest at my place for now, and I will invite Mr. Song to drink at Fucheng Wine House tonight."

  Song Wenxian waved his hand: "Don't worry about tonight's affairs, you know where I love to go. If you have time, come find me."

  Chen Xin knew he had money, so every night he went to the Qun Fang Building. He came for several months and never touched a woman, but he was really anxious. However, he had many ideas of his own, and although he had a lot of silver, he didn't dare spend it recklessly. So he cupped his hands and left, heading in the direction of the pawnshop.

  After passing by Deng Keshan's courtyard gate, Chen Xin went up and gave a burst of knocks on the gate.

  "Who's there?" A voice came from inside, and the door opened to reveal Chen Xin. Deng Kesha hurriedly nodded and bowed: "Ah, it's Hundred Householder sir, please come in." Deng Kesha had already heard that Chen Xin might become a hundred householder, so he had been addressing him as such recently.

  Chen Xin bowed and walked into the yard, where Deng Keshan's family lived in three households. He himself lived in one room, not even a main hall, so the two of them could only stand in the yard. Chen Xin asked in a low voice: "How is that matter going?"

  "Don't worry, Brother Chen. Several people can afford to pay for the two months' wages, and several craftsmen have agreed. They're all looking forward to leaving soon. However, they requested to see the master before they leave."

  "They just want peace of mind, but you must ask clearly, don't want those who have never made bird guns or weapons. Best to have someone who can make armor."

  Deng Keshan nodded and said, "Don't worry, Master Baihu, I've inquired clearly. Inside, there's a Tang Zuoxiang who specializes in making bird flutes, and another Xia something who has made armor pieces before. Anyway, it won't delay your important matters."

  Chen Xin calmly accepted the title of Baihu, although he was a military household, but also sixth-grade. He nodded in approval and said: "Deng brothers, you're doing a good job. How's the clothing store business going?"

  Deng Keshan's face was full of helplessness: "It's too late, now every household is making cheongsam dresses. I heard that even in the capital and Linqing, many saleswomen are unwilling to sell them anymore and have gone back to selling rouge and powder."

  Chen Xin knew that his income had decreased again, and smiled: "This dress is nothing, in the future there will be plenty of business to do. Brother Deng, you work hard, I won't treat you unfairly either. From now on, come to my place every month to collect three taels of silver, and the commission from other clothing stores will be outside."

  "Ah, thank you Brother Chen, no, Lord Baihu." Deng Keshan's voice rose with excitement. His income often fluctuated greatly and he spent money lavishly in his daily life, so it was common for his family to run out of food. Now that Chen Xin gave him a monthly allowance, he finally had a secure living.

  "Shut up, shut up, shut up, always making a racket to the point of death." A voice came from inside the Shen family's house. Deng Keshan's face turned angry and he was about to retort when Chen Xin pulled him back and shook his head gently.

  "Don't bother with Deng brothers, just take care of the craftsman's household chores, finding a few more is also okay. I have something else to do, I'll leave first."

  Deng Keshan saw Chen Xin off at the door and didn't go back until Chen had turned the corner.

  Chen Xin went straight to the convenience store. Old Cai saw Chen Xin coming in and hurried over, "Mr. Chen is here."

  Lao Cai is also a very astute person. Recently, Miss Zhao has been coming to the store almost every day to talk to Chen Xin. He and Lu You both suspect that she has taken a liking to Chen Xin. Seeing that the rice shop is not doing well, if Chen Xin were to marry Miss Zhao, the Zhao family's property would eventually become part of the Chen family. Given Chen Xin's ability to run a clothing store, he might even be able to expand it further. Therefore, Lao Cai no longer dares to call himself Chen Xin's master, and instead addresses him as Mr. Chen.

  "Boss Cai, is it busy in the store today?" Chen Xin also changed his title in time, and also avoided Old Cai being polite.

  "There's nothing much left to do in the shop, the good quality Japanese goods and top-notch Japanese swords have all been sold out, only some Japanese fans and a few inferior Japanese swords are left. Mr. Chen, you know that those things can't attract many customers."

  Chen Xin nodded in agreement: "Indeed."

  Cai Zhanggui said: "The lady just came, this shop opened in August and will not open next month. She told me that my father and son can leave one to be the housekeeper."

  Lao Cai said this to see if Chen Xin could offer any positions. Chen Xin was actually grateful to Lao Cai, who although a bit rustic, had been good to him and was serious about his work. The fact that Zhao Dong's family trusted him in the past showed that he was reliable, and everyone knew each other well. As for Cai Shenjiu, forget it - someone who doesn't take care of anything can't accomplish much.

  He thought for a moment and said to Lao Cai, "Lao Cai, if you're not ashamed, you can come to my clothing store first as an accountant. As for managing the household here, let Cai Shenji take care of it, so neither side will be neglected."

  Lao Cai bowed his head and said with gratitude: "From now on, I will have to rely on Mr. Chen more often."

  "If it weren't for Mr. Ruo's help that day, I would still be wandering around without a place to settle down, so please don't say such things, Mr. Cai." Chen Xin still had some feelings towards old Cai, and since he had also made him suffer before, he felt somewhat guilty, so he decided to return him a favor.

  This matter was settled, and Old Cai changed his tune. He told Chen Xin: "Just now the young lady came to the shop, saw that you weren't there, and left again."

  Chen Xin sat down by himself, and there weren't many goods on the shelves in the middle of the store. The smell of seafood had faded a lot, and several Japanese swords were hung sparsely on the wall. Chen Xin had only been here for two months, so he couldn't have developed deep feelings, but looking at the desolate scene before him, he still felt a little sigh.

  After sitting for a while, the door creaked open and Old Wang came out to see Chen Xin in the store. He walked over and said: "Mr. Chen, my wife wants to talk to you." After going out to sea with Chen Xin, Old Wang was quite impressed with his performance and their relationship had become much closer, so he now addressed him as Mr. Chen.

  "Madam wants to see me?" Chen Xin was slightly stunned, as Mrs. Zhao had not shown her face since the funeral and according to Miss Zhao, she had been crying every day, he didn't know how she would want to talk to him. He immediately said: "Please trouble Brother Wang to lead the way."

  He arrived at the third entrance, Chen Xin was there for the first time. In the third entrance, there was a small pool and a small garden in the middle, with some flowers and trees, which added more life interest than the second entrance. He quietly glanced at the west wing, that was Miss Zhao's boudoir. He followed Old Wang to the door of the hall, and saw Mrs. Zhao at a glance, almost unrecognizable.

  Mrs. Zhao originally had only a few white hairs, but after a month, she was already completely gray-haired, with wrinkles all over her face and red bloodshot eyes staring blankly at the roof, without even noticing the two people entering.

  Chen Xin whispered a word of apology and bowed to Mrs. Zhao. Old Wang said softly, "Madam, Mr. Chen has arrived."

  Lao Wang shouted twice, and then Madam Zhao slightly trembled, her eyes focused on Chen Xin again, she said in a hoarse voice: "So it's Mr. Chen who has arrived, please sit down quickly."

  After Chen Xin sat down, she waved her hand again and let Old Wang retreat.

  After a brief pause, she spoke up: "Mr. Chen, I have something to ask you, and I hope Mr. Chen won't mind."

  "Please speak, Mrs. Zhao," Chen Xin said with a serious face.

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  Note 1: "The Veritable Records of Emperor Xizong" Volume 87: The Ministry of War's Right Vice Minister, Huo Weihua, memorialized: The Governor, Yuan Chonghuan, has been stationed in a precarious border region for six years. His elderly mother and wife have passed away, leaving behind orphaned children. He has toiled with great hardship and his achievements are high. According to precedent, he should be granted a posthumous title... Imperial Decree: As for Yuan Chonghuan's discussion of the terms of surrender, his mistakes were not small. I will not punish him, but rather reward him. It is clear that he has been in a precarious border region for a long time. For now, let it be so. The imperial court's benevolence and virtue are not to be shifted or sold. Huo Weihua does not understand the proper way of doing things.