Bai Zhi was Cheng Danruo’s maid. She was to be released and sent back home, and Lady Huang had no objection. She sent a matron to the yamen to have her slave registration removed.
But Bai Zhi refused to leave right away, and stayed behind to rush-make clothes for Cheng Danruo.
That day, after she and Zi Su attended Cheng Danruo as she went to bed, they lit a lamp in their room and sat sewing shoe soles.
Zi Su urged her, “You should rest too. Working day and night like this, be careful you don’t hurt your eyes.”
“Who knows when I’ll ever see my mistress again.” By the dim candlelight, Bai Zhi bit through the cotton thread in her hand. “I have to do what I can to show my devotion.”
Zi Su sighed and stopped urging her. Instead she said, “Miss Cheng looks cold, but her heart is soft. She hasn’t even secured a place for herself, yet she’s already arranged things properly for you.”
Bai Zhi smiled. “You waited on my mistress on the journey to the capital, so you’ll have prospects of your own.”
Zi Su said, “I’m not afraid that Miss Cheng will treat me badly. After serving her these two years, I know well enough that this mistress has a good temper. It’s just the future…”
She hesitated, then continued, “You’ve heard too, haven’t you? The old madam’s intention is to keep her in the household.”
Bai Zhi nodded silently.
Zi Su murmured, “I really never expected it. Though the Chen family lacks for nothing, and staying wouldn’t be without its benefits, the next time she enters that door, she won’t be a guest, but a… ”
She had little worldly knowledge. For a maid to rise to the status of concubine was naturally a blessing from the ancestors, and the children born in the future would no longer be slaves, but proper masters.
But when Cheng Danruo came in, she was a guest. However poor or humble, she was still a guest, to be treated with courtesy.
Yet a concubine… even a respectable concubine is still a concubine. Why subject herself to that?
The two maids exchanged a glance and sighed in unison.
The next day, Lady Huang summoned Cheng Danruo and told her an urgent piece of news. “A letter just came from Luxiang Garden. They say they’re leaving on the fifth, by sea – taking a ship to the capital.”
Cheng Danruo was very surprised.
The original plan had been to set out on the third day of July, traveling by the Grand Canal to Tianjin, then transferring to Tongzhou, and on to the capital. Why suddenly switch to the sea route?
“Why is that?” she asked.
Lady Huang said, “They didn’t explain the reason. I’m afraid something has come up.”
Cheng Danruo was resigned. If even Lady Huang didn’t know, she certainly had no right to know. Still, it was a small matter – a day or two earlier or later, the result would be the same.
On the evening of the fourth day of July, Chen Rou-niang and Chen Wan-niang came together to bid her farewell.
Because of the marriage arrangement, Chen Rou-niang felt guilty toward this cousin, and gave her a gold hairpin as a parting gift. “It’s inconvenient being away from home. This gold hairpin is solid – if you find yourself short on money, pawning it will tide you over for a while.”
Cheng Danruo declined. “This is too valuable.”
“We’re sisters. Who knows when we’ll meet again.” Chen Rou-niang felt sorrowful. “Just keep it as a token of remembrance.”
She hadn’t wanted to snatch her cousin’s marriage prospect either, but as the concubine had said, some things won’t come to you unless you fight for them. Marriage concerns one’s whole life – it wasn’t the time to be sentimental about sisterly bonds.
Now that her future was secured, Chen Rou-niang naturally wanted to make amends. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. “If you consider me your cousin, then accept it.”
At that point, Cheng Danruo had no choice but to accept.
Chen Wan-niang came a little later.
“I don’t have anything fine either. You’re leaving tomorrow, so take these two outfits – I had prepared them to wear myself, but never put them on.”
After Lady Mo passed away, she had grown much thinner and no longer liked red clothes, wearing only blues, greens, and pale moon-white. The skirts she gave Cheng Danruo this time were two bright pink and crimson silk skirts, of very vivid color.
Cheng Danruo accepted them. “Thank you.”
“Who knows what year or month we’ll meet again next time.” Such was the way of ancient times – once parted, it was hard to meet again, and even a little girl understood the sorrow of separation. “Out there on your own, you must be careful. If anything happens, write to us. I’ll put in a word for you with the madam and the old madam – perhaps we can bring you back.”
“Thank you.” Cheng Danruo smiled, and said once more, “Thank you.”
“Even though you’re not really one of our family, we’ve still spent two years together. What’s there to thank me for?” Chen Wan-niang pursed her lips, and for a moment one could glimpse her old spoiled, headstrong manner. But people always grow up. She didn’t mention a single word about her parents’ arrangements, sat for a little while, and then took her leave.
Cheng Danruo continued packing her luggage.
In truth, Lady Huang, Master Chen, and Old Madam Chen had all prepared things for her.
Lady Huang gave her twenty taels of silver, Master Chen gave her a name card, and Old Madam Chen gave her a Buddhist scripture and a jade bracelet.
She took them all.
Even so, all her clothes, jewelry, bedding, and covers filled only two trunks.
On the fifth, the Gu family sent a carriage early in the morning. An older woman of over thirty, who said her surname was Zhang, had come specially to pay her respects to Old Madam Chen.
“My husband’s family name is Zhang. My mistress ordered me and my husband to deliver some local gifts to the Marquis of Jinghai’s wife in the capital, so we’re traveling to the capital together.” Nanny Zhang explained in great detail. “Along the way, I will attend to Miss Cheng. Once we reach the capital and Miss Cheng is settled, I will return and pay my respects to you, old madam.”
Madam Gu was so thorough, and Old Madam Chen was extremely satisfied. “How thoughtful.”
And when Cheng Danruo and Zi Su got into the carriage, Nanny Zhang again explained considerately, “Miss, rest assured, this journey is certain to be safe and uneventful.”
Cheng Danruo was not going on a long journey for the first time. She asked calmly, “How are we traveling?”
Nanny Zhang said, “We’ll cover some distance today and reach Tianfei Town in Taicang, where we’ll board a ship and put out to sea.”
Tianfei Town in Taicang, Jiangsu, was actually Liujia Port. In another world, Zheng He had set sail on his seven voyages to the Western Seas from Liujia Port, and now it was also one of the main ports for sea transport.
Cheng Danruo nodded and said nothing more.
The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage sped off. After about half an hour, it stopped by the riverside. From Songjiang to Suzhou, it was of course faster to go by boat.
Jiangnan was crisscrossed with waterways, and the boats used for transport were already quite sophisticated. The dock was bustling with people coming and going, and porters carrying luggage were everywhere.
Nanny Zhang called her husband over and told him to find two men to carry Cheng Danruo’s trunks aboard, while she herself went to a nearby tea shed and bought two pastries. “Miss, have something to tide you over.”
Just this one gesture made Cheng Danruo regard her with new respect.
Only after the porters had loaded the luggage did Nanny Zhang help her down from the carriage.
Cheng Danruo put on the veil hat she had prepared and, under the protection of Zi Su and Nanny Zhang, went straight into the cabin to rest.
“Miss, rest a while. The boat won’t depart for some time.”
She nodded and propped the window open for ventilation.
Seeing that it was only opened a crack and that the inner cabin could not be seen from outside, Nanny Zhang said nothing and went off to settle in herself.
At noon, the boatman’s wife brought over a bowl of yellow croaker noodles and said apologetically, “We were in a hurry today, so there’s nothing better to offer. Miss, please make do with this.”
Even though the road ahead was uncertain, leaving the Chen family still made Cheng Danruo feel somewhat lighter at heart. She smiled faintly. “It’s no matter.”
The noodles were not at all bad.
After noon, she heard some commotion outside, and not long after, the boat set off.
Once they left the dock, the river suddenly opened up wide.
Cheng Danruo propped the window higher and gazed at the river, lost in thought.
The afternoon passed without incident.
In the evening, the boatman brought fresh catch: crucian carp soup, sweet-and-sour fish pieces, stir-fried asparagus with pork, and salted duck eggs. It was quite good.
The current was calm, and she slept well through the night.
The next morning, they arrived at Taicang.
The others disembarked first, and only then did Nanny Zhang come to receive her, saying the luggage would be moved directly onto the ship shortly, that it would take about one or two hours, and that they would set sail only in the evening.
“Since we’re going to sea, we ought to pay our respects at the Tianfei Palace,” she suggested.
Cheng Danruo naturally agreed.
The Tianfei Palace was the Temple of the Holy Mother, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, worshipped in coastal regions. People who lived by the sea would go to the temple to offer sacrifices and seek talismans for safety before every voyage.
As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw countless common folk coming and going.
Cheng Danruo got down from the carriage, and only then did she see Yan Hongzhi and Xie Xuanying, teacher and student.
“Doctor Cheng.” Yan Hongzhi was very polite. “Is this your first time at the Tianfei Palace?”
She nodded.
“Then you should pay your respects. I’ve heard it’s most efficacious for those going to sea for the first time.” He smiled and stepped inside.
Cheng Danruo waited for Xie Xuanying to go first, but he gestured for her and her maid to follow, while he kept Nanny Zhang back. “Why are you here?”
Nanny Zhang said respectfully, “Young Master, these past few days I have been attending to Miss Cheng.”
But he said, “We’re about to go to sea. There will be many inconveniences on the ship. If you’re not out procuring supplies, what are you doing following them? Enough. You’re not needed here to attend to anyone. Go get things done properly and don’t let anything go wrong.”
Having been reprimanded by him, Nanny Zhang did not dare argue. She hurriedly assented. “I was muddle-headed. I’ll go at once.”
She quickly caught up and asked whether Cheng Danruo needed anything bought.
Cheng Danruo said, “Buy some melons, watermelons, citrus fruits, and other fruits that can keep, as well as walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, and other nuts. If it’s convenient, also buy a bolt of cheap black gauze.”
Nanny Zhang did not dare be careless. She smiled ingratiatingly and said, “Would you like some pastries as well?”
“Pastries don’t keep and they attract rats.” She thought for a moment and said, “If you pass a pharmacy, buy some mint and wine.”
She also took out silver and gave it to her. “If it’s not enough, tell me. If there’s extra, consider it your tea money.”
Nanny Zhang agreed and hurried off.
After she left, Cheng Danruo said to Zi Su, “There’s a bun shop over there. Go buy some food.”
Zi Su hesitated slightly, but she was more aware of what was proper than Bai Zhi. “Yes.”
Once the idlers had left, Cheng Danruo finally said to Yan Hongzhi, “Sir, great kindness need not be repaid with words. Though I am lowly and my strength is small, if there is anything you need done, please do not hesitate to command me.”
Yan Hongzhi was momentarily speechless.
He had had no idea that the female doctor Xie Xuanying found was Cheng Danruo, whom he had met once at Tianxin Temple. When he learned of it, he could not have been more surprised. But Xie Xuanying had said, “I also thought it was inappropriate, but my aunt strongly recommended her, and it was hard to go against her wishes. In any case, there’s no need to meet her – just send someone to escort her to the capital.”
Yan Hongzhi had not thought much of it either, but who would have expected that he suddenly received a letter from home saying his daughter-in-law had borne him a first grandson? Only then did he change his plans and decide to return to the capital at once to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at home.
Since they were all leaving anyway, there was naturally no need to travel separately. They would actually be traveling together for a while.
“Doctor Cheng, there’s no need for courtesy.” Yan Hongzhi’s thinking was exactly the same as Madam Gu’s. It was inconvenient to place this matter on Xie Xuanying, so he had no choice but to take credit himself. “It was all a coincidence.”
Cheng Danruo smiled and did not take it seriously.
Even if it really was a coincidence and he had not intended it to be her, he had still helped her, and had even made the Chen family willing.
This kindness naturally had to be remembered, just as the Chen family’s kindness, even after leaving, had to be properly repaid.
“Yes.” She said, “I suppose that’s how it was.”
Both sides stopped at the proper point and exchanged no further words. They went directly inside to pay respects to Mazu.
The Tianfei Palace had not been built long ago, and the statue was very brightly colored. Countless devout believers knelt and kowtowed, praying that they or their family members would be safe at sea, that they would not encounter storms, that they would not encounter the Dragon King, and that they would return safely.
Cheng Danruo followed along and paid her respects, then asked for a protective talisman. It was a small one, ten coppers, with a crude image of Mazu printed on yellow paper in a very abstract style.
Yet everyone carefully put theirs away, as if this alone could soothe their fear of going to sea.
How interesting.
She thought, and placed it in her pouch.
If there really were gods and Buddhas, then please bless her as she began a new life.
