As May came to an end, the weather grew increasingly hot. Rising temperatures and the passing days steadily pushed the city closer to the peak of summer's heat. In previous years, Su Tan'er would have moved to the upper floor about a month earlier. While the days were scorching, opening the windows at night made the second floor significantly cooler. However, this year, she hadn't given any such instructions, and since Ning Yi's movements typically followed hers, he didn't bring it up either. Naturally, without her orders, no servants came to assist with moving the furniture upstairs.
In the evenings, they usually ate in the living room—though at times, they would move to the small pavilion in the courtyard. With only five people in their household, the atmosphere had become casual and familiar. Ning Yi's easygoing nature often led to a relaxed environment, and while Su Tan'er might have placed greater importance on formalities in the past, even she appreciated the laid-back atmosphere at home. The three maidservants, who had gradually adapted to Ning Yi's ways, would occasionally joke about how the stories he told at the academy that day weren't as entertaining—these stories often being retold by Xiao Chan.
With the heat, they rarely stayed indoors after dinner. Instead, they would go for evening strolls. The Su family estate was expansive and included a private garden, where they often wandered to enjoy the cool breeze. Su Tan'er would chat with the women of other branches of the family. Having been relatively serious in the past, she had rarely mingled with them, accompanied instead by her maidservants on her frequent comings and goings. The men of the household found little common ground to strike up a conversation with her, and the women had always found her distant and unapproachable. However, since her marriage, Su Tan'er had grown noticeably gentler, occasionally joining in conversations. People began to comment on how she seemed to have softened after becoming a wife, and many secretly admired Ning Yi for it.
By this summer, Ning Yi had become acquainted with almost everyone in the Su family, at least to the extent of exchanging polite nods.
Su Tan'er remained busy with her responsibilities, though these matters seldom required Ning Yi's involvement. Nor did she expect him to assist. Every few days, they would meet upstairs for a snack or to share frustrations, allowing her to release some of her pent-up stress. Despite the workload, her mood was generally good—it was just a matter of staying occupied. Occasionally, Ning Yi would stroll to the Qinhuai River in the evening, sometimes accompanied by Xiao Chan. If she stayed behind, he would visit the small courtyard by the academy and spend time with Lu Hongti.
Upon returning home at night, Su Tan'er would have bowls of iced red bean soup or other chilled desserts prepared. The Su family stored ice blocks every year for the summer, though only the main family members enjoyed access to them. The small courtyard that Su Tan'er and Ning Yi occupied had the best provisions—understandable, as she managed the primary branch. The chilled desserts were shared with the maidservants, and sitting together to enjoy them in the cool evening air was one of the most pleasant moments of the day. By contrast, other family members, even those in the main household, had to carefully ration such treats, enjoying them only occasionally.
After these desserts, the evening temperatures would usually have dropped. Sometimes they chatted, sometimes they played chess, and other times they worked on their own tasks until the lights went out in Su Tan'er's room, signaling the end of the day. Ning Yi would then retire to bed, leaving the courtyard in peaceful silence.
Every morning before dawn, Ning Yi maintained his routine of running and exercising, a habit that went largely unnoticed by others. At the bend in the riverbank near a small building, Nie Yunzhu often sat on the steps, waiting for him. The business at her teahouse, Bamboo Records, was flourishing. The main shop had begun to see a steady stream of regulars, and the four mobile carts issuing collectible wooden tokens had sparked an unexpected interest among customers. Some even scoured the city to complete the set—a novelty akin to collecting cards.
Nevertheless, Bamboo Records' primary revenue did not yet stem from the main shop or the carts, but from the steady distribution of century eggs to Jiangning's many restaurants. Thanks to the publicity from the courtesan competition, many establishments had begun to stock the delicacy. Even high-end establishments like brothels were beginning to adopt it, contributing to rapid but remarkably stable growth.
Nie Yunzhu rarely discussed business with Ning Yi, preferring to share amusing or novel anecdotes from her daily experiences. From the bustling activities at the teahouse to preparations for Hu Tao and Er Niu's upcoming wedding, her stories often brought a refreshing lightness to their conversations.
With Lu Hongti now a frequent companion, Ning Yi spent fewer evenings playing chess by the river. On the occasions he did visit, Qin Lao would often bring up concerns about flooding. The rainy season had begun, and reports of breached dikes and rising water levels were becoming increasingly common.
"This won't be a good year," Qin Lao sighed.
"If this continues, by July, we'll likely see a surge of refugees again," another chimed in.
Natural disasters—droughts, floods, harsh winters—and occasional banditry plagued the land. The fragile societal structure struggled under these pressures, and every few years, waves of displaced people would flood affluent regions like Jiangning, Bianjing (modern Kaifeng), and Yangzhou. Qin Lao frequently pondered the potential consequences, setting aside his chess piece with a heavy heart. "There could even be war…" he mused.
The tenuous peace between the Liao and Jin dynasties seemed ready to collapse at any moment. If a full-scale conflict broke out, the resulting turmoil would ripple through the Southern Kingdom. Even so, the two elders remained cautiously optimistic.
"Once it's all over, things will get better," they said. Indeed, optimism pervaded much of the Southern Kingdom. Despite bureaucratic inefficiencies, the nation's agricultural and economic foundation remained strong. A resolution in the north would significantly ease the court's burdens, providing opportunities for reform.
Afternoons found Ning Yi tinkering in the small courtyard. He often discussed martial arts with Lu Hongti, taking notes when inspiration struck—a habit that amused her to no end. Recently, she had been lending him a hand with experiments, particularly in designing distillation equipment for producing high-proof alcohol. With Bamboo Records running smoothly, it was time to develop a signature product: a premium spirit to establish as their brand.
Distilling liquor wasn't a complicated task for Ning Yi. He had started experimenting back in March. Initially, he crafted a small apparatus, and now he was scaling it up and refining the process. The basics of the technique were straightforward; what others might do with the distilled liquor afterward wasn't his concern. He'd leave that to them.
Lu Hongti, for her part, was quite the drinker. Although she didn't appear rugged, she certainly didn't hold back. However, after downing her first glass of drinkable white liquor, she frowned and muttered, "This… is so strong."
Her interest in alcohol made her an enthusiastic helper, and she occasionally asked questions. Ning Yi would explain distillation, vaporization, condensation, and such. While she still considered his methods unconventional, her attitude had shifted notably.
"Some of your ideas… might actually be useful," she admitted.
"They're barely adequate," Ning Yi replied. "You can copy down the process before you leave, but..."
"In the mountains, there's not much grain to spare for brewing," she said with a faint sigh. "Sometimes we seize goods from merchants, but even the wine runs out quickly. Drinking from big bowls may look grand, but with distillation, there's so little left."
"We could still consider making a batch," Ning Yi suggested. "It's great for disinfecting wounds, but the low-proof stuff won't do."
He elaborated on the idea, showing off as he spun tales of infection and bacteria—microscopic bugs too tiny to see but swarming by the thousands. Some with eight legs, others fuzzy. Watching her wrinkle her brow, he finally shifted topics. "By the way, that healing salve you use is excellent. It doesn't leave scars. How do you make it?"
"It's partly a matter of martial arts skill," she said. "Of course, if you want the recipe, you can copy it too. Some ingredients aren't easy to find."
She glanced at him and added, "But what are you after—martial arts secrets or recipes?"
"You've made it clear you won't teach me martial arts… Hmm, let me think about it."
"I still won't teach you," she said with a smile. "Even if you learned, it'd be useless. As a teacher, you wouldn't scare your students."
"But they love me!"
"You're a good person. A bit odd, but truly good," she remarked.
"Ahem, no need to emphasize that," Ning Yi replied.
Time passed, and her injuries were healing. The surveillance in Jiangning seemed to be easing, meaning she'd likely leave soon. "You've told most of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by now, haven't you?" she asked one day. "I'd like to finish it before I go."
Ning Yi understood her well. While she seemed to enjoy the stories, the wine, and the snacks, when it was time to leave, she'd leave decisively. The Luliang Mountains still held countless tasks awaiting her.
For Ning Yi, a businessman in his previous life, relationships mattered. He now saw her as an interesting friend—someone to chat with about atoms and molecules or share small talk during evening hangouts. Life felt leisurely and unburdened, with little pressing urgency.
On the evening of June 4th, Xiao Chan had something to do, so Ning Yi told Lu Hongti he'd bring over food and wine later. After dinner, he left the Su residence, planning to buy some snacks along the way.
As he walked down a quiet street, a cart loaded with firewood rolled up behind him. A burly man atop the cart greeted him. "Hey, Ning Yi—Ning Liheng?"
The man was massive, seated high above. Ning Yi tilted his head back, feeling a flicker of unease. The man's gaze carried malice, and Ning Yi's instincts flared. Before he could fully process it, a club swung down from behind him with a whooshing sound.
"Bookish scholar…"
Night had fallen. Lu Hongti waited in the courtyard for Ning Yi to arrive, wind chimes softly jingling.
Nearly a month had passed since she began recuperating here. Strangely, she felt a faint attachment to this place—a sentiment unimaginable before. The past month had been enjoyable, but in a few days, she'd return to Luliang. After that… there likely wouldn't be another chance to come back.
Time ticked on. Perhaps something came up, she thought. It wouldn't be unusual; now that she knew more about his background, missing an appointment wasn't unimaginable. Still, it was a pity she wouldn't hear tonight's story. Hopefully, the tale could be finished in the days to come.
She waited a little longer, then retreated to her room, slightly disappointed. Taking the leftovers from lunch, she ate the now-cold steamed buns with a bowl of chilled vegetables. To her, there was nothing to complain about. The simple meal before her was a feast compared to her usual fare.