Title: "A Day of Leisure Before the Task"
Fa Yinge knew better than to rush and reveal his target too soon. The muddy road allowed him to maintain a safe distance while following the boy's footprints, which led to a small courtyard. The courtyard housed three humble dwellings, with smoke drifting from the chimney of the westernmost house. Voices could be heard from inside.
Fa Yinge edged closer, listening carefully. Sure enough, it was the boy speaking, his voice filled with excitement. "Aunt Betty, you wouldn't believe the beautiful porcelain that arrived at the shop today! They were so fine—white as milk and smooth as the moonlight. The designs on the bottom were incredible, like the fish were alive, surrounded by strange and lovely aquatic plants I've never seen before. They're the kind of plants you see in art from the East, with broad round leaves, tall straight stems, and huge, bright flowers. They were stunning!"
"You got scolded by the assistant manager again, didn't you?" came an older woman's voice.
"How did you know?" the boy asked.
"You always lose focus when you see things like that. And that hunchbacked assistant manager is just waiting to kick you out so he can get his nephew in," the woman replied with a sigh. "I've told you many times, those things are not for you to worry about. That porcelain must be expensive—you'll never be able to afford a piece in your lifetime. Even your head manager, who's quite wealthy, can only admire them. And your boss, though he could buy them, won't use them himself. Those are for nobles and the rich to collect. You need to focus on your work, hold onto your job so that hunchback can't get rid of you. Work hard for seven or eight years, learn to keep the books, and maybe you'll get promoted to a buyer or accountant. Then the hunchback won't be able to touch you."
"I know, Aunt Betty, but why won't you let me sail with Uncle? I'd love to be a sailor, to see Westbai, Irei, maybe even the Far East," the boy said.
"Forget it. You're too young to understand the dangers. Every time your uncle sails, I'm terrified. I'm just happy when he comes back safe. Sailing is dangerous work—you hear about ships sinking every day at the docks. And even if they don't sink, look at the sailors. How many of them have been in good health after ten years? They get sick easily, and once they're ill, there's no cure. Your uncle is full of old injuries, just waiting for the day the ship's owner moves him to a warehouse job so he can settle down with a steady income."
"Aunt Betty, I still want to see the world," the boy persisted.
"Then talk to your boss. After you've worked there for seven or eight years, maybe he'll take you along on his overseas business trips. That's much better than being a sailor. We want the best for you. Your parents are gone, and your uncle and I, without children of our own, have raised you as our own. We don't want you to end up like your uncle, who knows better than anyone how hard and dangerous it is to be a sailor."
"I know you're looking out for me… I understand," the boy said softly.
Listening from the shadows, Fa Yinge pieced together the boy's background. It was ideal for the role they needed—a boy without parents, only an uncle who was often away at sea and an aunt who wasn't truly a blood relative. Satisfied with his discovery, Fa Yinge quietly slipped back to the main street.
Southport, being a hub for merchants from all over, was home to numerous inns. For Fa Yinge, who was accustomed to the spartan conditions of a prison cell, even the simplest inn would suffice.
Before nightfall, Fa Yinge found a cheap inn on the outskirts of Southport that offered private rooms. This inn catered to small-time merchants and shop owners. To his surprise, the inn even had hot baths available—a luxury Fa Yinge was not about to pass up.
Soaking in the warm water, Fa Yinge reflected on the day's events. The boy seemed like the perfect candidate for the job. The next step was planning how to approach and recruit him. However, with a rare visit to Southport, Fa Yinge decided to indulge a little. His mind drifted to how he would spend the next day enjoying the city, now that his pockets were full of coins.
Southport was a place where money could be spent quickly, but it was also a city where one could have fun without spending much at all. After his bath, Fa Yinge treated himself to a large mug of beer at the inn's bar, then retired to his room for the night.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Fa Yinge forced himself out of bed. He wasn't a morning person—no golden finger was, as the early hours were never the best time for profit. But in Southport, he didn't want to waste a single hour.
Stretching luxuriously, Fa Yinge put on his coat and stepped out into the morning air, ready for a day of leisure.
For Fa Yinge, this was one of the most relaxing days of his life. Southport was a paradise for those with free time and a carefree attitude.
The morning at Southport's docks was a sight not to be missed. The ships had yet to arrive, and the dockworkers hadn't started their day. The docks were filled with people waiting to watch the sunrise—mostly folks with a bit of money but not enough to be truly wealthy. Like Fa Yinge, they weren't going to miss out on the free pleasures that Southport offered.
Even in the early morning, Southport's docks were bustling. Stalls piled high with fresh fish and shrimp were surrounded by the bustling crowd—servants from wealthy households, housewives from more modest homes, and restaurant staff haggling over prices. As the sun climbed higher and the dockworkers began their shifts, the noisy crowd gradually dispersed.
By midday, Southport was at its most vibrant. Shops opened their doors, and restaurants were ready to serve their first customers. In Southport, breakfast was cheap, and Fa Yinge, after calculating his remaining money, decided he could afford to indulge.
Without hesitation, he found a restaurant near the docks and treated himself to a feast of seafood—a rare delicacy for him. Satisfied, he set out to satisfy his eyes next.
Southport offered many free entertainments, with window shopping being one of the most popular. However, the streets wouldn't be at their busiest until the afternoon, so Fa Yinge decided to pass the time with a different morning activity. He had noticed a flyer advertising a performance at one of Southport's largest silk shops.
The old man had once told him that silk merchants often held such performances, featuring beautiful girls dressed in luxurious silk clothing, singing and dancing on stage. While the performances themselves weren't particularly impressive, the real attraction was the display of new and innovative silk garments.
These performances were free to watch, and sometimes they even gave out free samples. Fa Yinge wasn't about to miss out on such an opportunity. He spent the entire morning enjoying the performances. Though he didn't receive any freebies, he was content with the experience.
After a quick and simple lunch, Fa Yinge prepared for the main event of the day. The previous day, he had focused on scouting for a recruit, but today, he was free to explore the city without such concerns.
It would have been a shame to visit Southport without taking in the rare and exotic goods that were difficult to find elsewhere. These were items that only Southport, with its influx of goods from distant lands, could offer.
Fa Yinge spent most of the day wandering through the city's most prosperous streets, admiring the unique wares on display in the shops. By the time evening came, he had thoroughly explored the area.
As the sun began to set, a passerby directed Fa Yinge to a location near the docks—a place every big city had, without exception.
In a narrow alley, the air was filled with the shouts of gamblers and the sight of women dressed in bright, heavy makeup. Fa Yinge was no stranger to such places. He wasn't there for the women—the old man had warned him that indulging in such pleasures in Southport could lead to diseases with no cure.
Instead, Fa Yinge was drawn to the gambling dens. For someone who made a living with his hands, gambling was a natural fit. Fa Yinge particularly enjoyed dice games, where the outcome was decided quickly. Confident in his skills, he knew he was the best among the
golden fingers.
Fa Yinge sought out tables where foreign gamblers, dressed in their exotic attire, were playing. He placed small bets, winning just enough to keep things interesting. By the time he left the first gambling den, his pockets were even fuller. Fa Yinge mused that perhaps, after the guild split and he went independent, he might move to Southport and abandon his old trade, focusing instead on fleecing foreign gamblers.
Leaving one gambling den didn't mean Fa Yinge was ready to call it a night. He casually strolled into another, and by the time he emerged from the narrow alley, it was well into the night. With his pockets bulging with coins, Fa Yinge had no intention of returning to the dingy inn he had stayed at the night before. Instead, he found a better inn near the docks.
The rates were much higher, but Fa Yinge, flush with his winnings, didn't mind spending a little extra. After splurging on a bit of luxury, he retired to his room for some well-deserved rest.
The next morning, Fa Yinge woke up knowing that his pleasant holiday was over. It was time to get back to work.