According to Ning Yi's original plan, he was supposed to head directly to Yushan Academy after his morning run. However, now completely soaked, he had no choice but to return home and change his clothes. It was already the first ten days of August on the lunar calendar, and walking home drenched was not a pleasant experience. His physical conditioning wasn't particularly strong, and he figured he'd probably catch a cold by tomorrow. Fortunately, he hadn't walked far before he ran into someone he knew—it was Master Qin's concubine.
Ning Yi had deliberately avoided the busy parts of town during his run and had chosen the quiet streets where he often played chess with Master Qin. The concubine's name was Yun Niang, a woman in her thirties who had once been a courtesan, though she didn't have the seductive air one might expect. Ning Yi had seen her several times when she brought lunch to Master Qin. She was elegant and dignified, even discussing poetry with Master Qin on occasion. Today, she was dressed simply as a farmer's wife, carrying a basket of freshly picked vegetables. Seeing Ning Yi, she looked surprised.
After exchanging a few words, Yun Niang asked what had happened. Ning Yi pointed to the Qinhuai River in the distance and said, "I fell in the river." Yun Niang smiled faintly and didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she invited him to come to the Qin household nearby: "The autumn winds are strong, and if you walk home like this, you'll surely catch a cold by tomorrow. Since you're a friend of my husband's, there's no need to be polite. Master Qin is at home as well... oh, he mentioned yesterday that you hadn't been by to play chess recently."
Ning Yi knew the general area where Master Qin lived, but this was his first time visiting his home. Yun Niang led him inside, where they found the old man sitting in the study, engrossed in an ancient scroll. His expression was serious, even imposing, quite different from his usual demeanor when setting up a chessboard by the river. When he noticed Ning Yi enter, Master Qin squinted at him for a few seconds before breaking into a bemused smile. Yun Niang laughed softly but didn't need to say much, as the situation was obvious.
"Tell Xiao Hong to prepare some hot water, Yun Niang, and get the eldest son's clothes for him... Haha, Li Heng, my young friend, what happened to you this time?"
After issuing orders, Master Qin burst into hearty laughter, the kind that resembled the glee of making a brilliant move in chess. The two of them had become well-acquainted over their many games, and Master Qin, who usually called him "Li Heng, my young friend," now affectionately referred to him as "my young friend," clearly enjoying Ning Yi's misfortune. Ning Yi could only respond with a helpless smile, knowing it wasn't appropriate to retort with something like, "You crafty old man, always taking pleasure in my misfortune," especially with Yun Niang present.
Compared to the sprawling Su family mansion in Jiangning, the Qin household wasn't particularly large or opulent. However, it was well-kept, exuding a sense of refinement and warmth. It felt like a place steeped in both scholarship and a love for life. Despite Yun Niang's hands-on involvement in picking vegetables that morning, the household also had several maids and servants. A family wealthy enough to maintain several servants was clearly doing well economically.
Master Qin's first wife, a woman of over fifty years, was warm and approachable. She had been born a farmer, but she lacked the pettiness or harshness often associated with that background. Now in her later years, she managed the household and tended to a garden where they grew fruits and vegetables. Ning Yi had seen the small garden where Yun Niang had picked the vegetables; it had been cultivated by the Qin family under the guidance of the wife. Perhaps it was this personality that allowed her to run the household so smoothly. Her relationship with Yun Niang was also harmonious. As a trio, they could be considered a model family within the confines of a polygamous society.
Once Ning Yi had bathed and changed into dry clothes, Master Qin's wife took a look at him and commented approvingly, "Master, doesn't Master Ning look a bit like the eldest son in this outfit?" Ning Yi glanced down at the clothes. They were indeed youthful in style, clearly belonging to Master Qin's son. The old man had two sons, both of whom lived elsewhere. When his wife mentioned this, Master Qin nodded, then inquired about Ning Yi's earlier misadventures, prompting another round of laughter when Ning Yi told him about his unfortunate morning.
"You little rascal, ruining someone's good name, how wicked!" Master Qin teased.
"Well, that's just turning the tables on me," Ning Yi replied, shaking his head.
"Haha… turning the tables? Is there some story behind that phrase?" Master Qin asked with interest.
"... It's a long story." Ning Yi wasn't in the mood to explain this time, but usually, during their chess games, he would patiently explain such things. Not long after, Master Qin's wife and Yun Niang invited them to breakfast, and during the meal, the conversation turned to Ning Yi's initial days teaching at Yushan Academy. Master Qin, convinced that Ning Yi was a novice teacher, couldn't help but laugh and tease him for misleading students.
They then discussed the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.
"The Puyuan Poetry Gathering, is it? Six connected boats from the Pu family, quite a spectacle... but the attendees mostly lack poetic talent. What really draws all the scholars is the Zhishui Poetry Gathering hosted by the Pan family..."
"Oh, a scholar... is he truly talented?"
"Haha, whether he's highly talented or just moderately so, that's hard to say. But he certainly has some poetic talent. Every year during the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gatherings, there are always a few good poems that come out of Zhishui Academy. The Pan family has produced three generations of imperial scholars, so if you're a person of talent seeking fame, you'd definitely want to attend their gatherings..."
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Qinhuai River comes alive with scholars competing in poetry and beauties showcasing their singing talents. Numerous poetry gatherings take place, and there's often an unspoken competition between them. If one gathering produces a great poem, another will strive to outdo it. The excitement often continues for months, even years, and these events become legendary. Of course, there's always some behind-the-scenes maneuvering by merchants and officials, but regardless, this lively atmosphere is what makes the Qinhuai River so renowned.
Among the many poetry gatherings, the Puyuan Poetry Gathering and Zhishui Poetry Gathering are the most prominent. Despite being called the Puyuan Poetry Gathering, it's actually held on six large boats connected together, which float down the Qinhuai River all night. Guests drink, recite poems, watch fireworks, and admire the lantern-lit riversides. There are also various performances on the boats.
The Pu family, though wealthy merchants, still carry the stigma of being from a lowly background. After becoming rich, they've tried to align themselves with the literary elite, but such things take generations, not just a few years. While they've produced a few talented individuals in recent years, they're still not regarded as a true scholarly family like the Su family. The Puyuan Poetry Gathering is known for its grandeur, extravagance, and lively atmosphere. Most of the attendees have merchant backgrounds, such as Xue Jin and Su Tan'er, attending either to enjoy the festivities or to network and discuss business. The quality of the poems varies greatly. It's the most luxurious of the gatherings, but it lacks the literary prestige of the top-tier gatherings.
In contrast, the Zhishui Poetry Gathering attracts the real scholars of Qinhuai. The Pan family is a true scholarly family with three generations of imperial scholars. The current head of the family, Pan Mingchen, is both a scholar and a Minister of Rites. Scholars eager to make a name for themselves flock to their gatherings, but obtaining an invitation is not easy. You need either real talent or the right connections. Talented poets are often invited, but many others submit their poems to the Pan family before the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping to catch their attention. The top courtesans also see it as an honor to be invited to the Zhishui Poetry Gathering, which is very different from the Puyuan Gathering, where performers are simply paid to entertain.
"If you're planning to attend, my young friend Li Heng, do you have any poems prepared? I know a few friends at the Pan family's gathering; I could help you get an invitation if you're interested."
Master Qin finished speaking and looked across the table at Ning Yi, who smiled and shook his head. "I don't understand poetry. I'm just going to Puyuan to enjoy the excitement."
Ning Yi's casual refusal left Master Qin with nothing more to say. After finishing breakfast, the sun had risen high, and Ning Yi had to excuse himself to head to Yushan Academy. After watching him leave, Yun Niang, who had been quietly listening, smiled and asked Master Qin, "Master, does Master Ning truly not know poetry?"
"What do you think, Yun Niang?"
She blinked. "Is he lying?"
"Haha, whether he knows or not, I can't quite figure it out either. If he had said that in the first few days we met, I might have believed him. But now… it's hard to say." Master Qin chuckled and shook his head. "In my life, I've encountered many young men—some seeking fame and fortune, others with true talent. Some follow the Confucian way, calm and polite, while others are more rebellious, bold, and unrestrained. But they all share one thing: if they're talented, they make it clear. This Ning family lad, though... he's impossible to read."
"When we first played chess, I thought he was aggressive, always attacking. But his moves always made me think. I figured he was just an outspoken and clever young man. But the more we played, the more I realized his chess could be both conventional and unconventional, completely unbound by rules. And when we talked, he seemed casual on the surface, but his words often carried profound meaning, even though they sounded new and unusual. In reality, they always adhered to the core principles."
"I remember the other day when he mentioned teaching at the academy. He said something in passing, something like, 'Teaching isn't about telling people what to do; it's about teaching them why they should do it. The ancient sages wrote books to explain the workings of human relationships, the world, and the heavens. Once people understand these things, they'll naturally know what to do. That's what true scholars are.' He said it so casually, and if someone shallow had heard him, they might have called him arrogant. But... the logic is sound. When you can see mountains as mountains and rivers as rivers again, that's when you've truly understood."
Master Qin smiled faintly. "Don't spread that around, though. It could get him into trouble."
Yun Niang nodded. "I understand."
"We haven't known him long enough to make any definitive judgments yet, but I have heard him recite a few verses during our chess games. They were quite good—verses I'd never heard before. If you ask me if he really doesn't know poetry, well, I don't believe that for a second."
As Master Qin turned to go back inside, Yun Niang followed. "Then why does Master Ning continue to hide his talent? No matter the reason..."
Master Qin frowned slightly but then sighed. "That's the part I can't figure out. Some young men, no matter how talented, may choose to hide their skills, hoping for greater achievements in the future. They endure the temptation and remain patient, waiting for the right moment to succeed. But no man with true ambition would choose to become a son-in-law in a merchant family. Throughout history, how many successful men have come from such a background? If he really is that talented... what a waste it would be."
Master Qin couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. A man with ambition and talent would never voluntarily marry into a merchant family. Based on what he had seen of Ning Yi so far, even if he had only a shred of ambition, he wouldn't have chosen such a path. At this time, the difference between the educated elite and the uneducated masses was clear. Whether or not Ning Yi was as talented as he seemed, a man with his demeanor and intelligence should be able to make a living without having to become a son-in-law.