Chapter 13: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 13: 

 

Every day, Liu Mian Tang sat in the shop, dealing with flies and learning to use the abacus from the accountant. After picking up the basics, she began calculating the costs of hiring staff.

After meticulously going through the accounts, her brows furrowed in frustration. She realized that burning through money daily without any income was not a sustainable strategy.

Occasionally, when customers did come in, they would glance around and then quickly leave. Liu Mian Tang politely stopped a few and asked for their feedback on the store.

A couple of customers spoke honestly, saying that the shop's porcelain was unremarkable and just common goods, but priced higher than at other stores. As a result, they preferred to shop elsewhere.

After hearing this feedback, Liu Mian Tang spent the night thinking it over. The next day, she and Li Mama went out to visit other shops to explore their sources and see if they could find a way to improve their business.

In the town, most of the porcelain comes from kilns scattered across various villages. Imperial porcelain, meant for tribute, does not circulate among the common folk. More refined pieces are typically reserved for established old shops, and regular stores like hers can't even get a hold of them.

While the rougher porcelain is cheaper, its profit margins are very slim, relying on high volume sales. These are mostly sold by peddlers in the streets and villages and can't cover the costs of running a shop.

After several days of exploration, Liu Mian Tang grew increasingly anxious, wondering why her husband chose to move away from home to run a shop here, especially one dealing in porcelain with no competitive edge. Without significant changes, the shop was bound to incur heavy losses. Fortunately, the planned canal project might boost the shop's value. When that happens, she could rent it out to sustain their livelihood.

Although renting out the shop would bring in less money than running a business, it could still cover basic expenses if done frugally. However, keeping several servants would likely become impractical.

Her husband is used to having a few servants around, and it remains to be seen if he can adjust. Additionally, the two older maids in the household might not find good positions elsewhere if they are dismissed from the Cui family.

Despite promising to provide more comforts, Liu Mian Tang felt conflicted about having to potentially send them away. She continued searching for solutions, but her legs ached and her skirt was muddy from the country roads, yielding no satisfactory ideas.

If necessary, she might need to give the maids some pension money to ensure they have support in the future. Unfortunately, this would leave her with less money. Nonetheless, with the shop as a backup, she hoped to make ends meet.

While contemplating this, she heard someone calling from behind: "Madam, please wait!"

Turning around, she saw Zhao Quan, the esteemed doctor she hadn’t seen for a while.

Zhao Quan is known in this area for seeking out reclusive, wise figures. In addition to his profound medical skills, he is also well-versed in calligraphy and painting, though he shows little interest in the works of famous artists, preferring instead to discover and support the talents of struggling scholars.

Zhao Quan’s interest lies in discovering hidden talents in calligraphy and painting, preferring to support unknown artists over famous ones. Recently, he had come across a summer lotus painting by a failed scholar known as "Mr. Hate Pen."[1] Though the painting wasn’t valuable and was only worth half an ounce of silver, Zhao Quan saw its subtle elegance and unique use of color. He believed that with the right opportunities, the artist could become a renowned figure in the world of art.

So, Zhao Quan set out to find the artist, following the address left by the scholar. Although he didn’t locate the painter, he unexpectedly encountered Liu Mian Tang, whom he admired greatly.

Seeing Zhao Quan again, Liu Mian Tang felt a renewed sense of caution. Her husband had warned her about Zhao Quan's tendencies to take advantage of his friends' resources. Therefore, she chose to maintain a reserved demeanor this time, avoiding the warm welcome she had previously offered.

With a stiff expression, Liu Mian Tang greeted Zhao Quan politely and then instructed Li Mama, “Please tell Dr. Zhao that we have other matters to attend to and cannot linger any longer. We must take our leave.”

Zhao Quan was puzzled. He was standing right in front of Liu Mian Tang; why was she sending Li Mama to convey a message instead of speaking to him directly?

Even though he had just discovered a gem hidden in the countryside and was naturally excited, eager to show off his refined taste to the lady, he didn’t mind her suddenly cold attitude. He quickly said, “I came today to find a master of painting, and was worried whether my judgment was correct. Since you’re here, Madam, please take a look at this artwork.”

Saying this, he instructed his attendant to bring down the scroll from the carriage and proudly presented it to Liu Mian Tang.

Liu Mian Tang, who initially had no interest, glanced at the painting quickly. But when her gaze fell upon it, she was immediately captivated.

Although she was more skilled in martial arts, she had some knowledge of antiques and paintings due to her family's interests. While she couldn't speak about them in great detail, she could still appreciate their quality.

The lotus flower painting, with its subtle use of color, conveyed the lotus's purity and elegance, especially the dragonfly perched on the lotus, creating ripples on the lake’s surface, adding a dynamic yet serene quality to the scene.

Liu Mian Tang studied the painting closely, particularly the dragonfly. Zhao Quan, seeing her interest, felt very pleased and said, “What do you think? Isn’t it refreshing and elegant? I can assure you, if this artist is given a patron’s recommendation, he will certainly rise to prominence and make a name for himself. Would you be willing to accompany me and witness this artist’s moment of recognition?”

Liu Mian Tang slowly straightened up and spoke to Li Mama, “Please ask the doctor where the artist lives and if it’s far from here.”

Understanding Liu Mian Tang’s cold attitude toward the doctor and feeling sympathy for the Marquis who was bearing the blame, Li Mama relayed the question to Zhao Quan.

Zhao Quan, pleased that Liu Mian Tang seemed willing to go with him, quickly responded, “Not far at all! He lives in a village just ahead. If we move quickly, we can return to the town before sunset, so it won’t delay your dinner. Of course, if we’re too late, I know a lakeside tavern with excellent food where I can invite you to enjoy the view and some fine wine.”

Liu Mian Tang frowned inwardly, feeling that Zhao Quan's behavior was indeed problematic. It seemed inappropriate for him to invite a married woman to dine alone.

She declined Zhao Quan’s carriage offer and instead boarded her own donkey cart, following Zhao Quan’s carriage at a distance.

Zhao Quan understood that Liu Mian Tang was likely trying to avoid any appearance of impropriety given that she was the wife of someone else, and he didn’t take offense.

However, he was deeply taken with her grace and wished to spend time together, exploring landscapes and discovering art, imagining a life as a perfect couple.

As they traveled along the rural path, they soon reached a dilapidated thatched cottage.

It was said that this was where the painter lived.

When Zhao Quan dismounted from his carriage and instructed his servant to knock on the door, the painter had already appeared before they could knock.

The painter was a man in his forties, dressed in worn-out, colorless robes. His beard was disheveled, his hair at the temples graying, and he was laboriously tending to the small plot of land in his yard where the seedlings were just beginning to sprout.

Hearing someone at the door, the painter glanced up briefly, noticed the visitors, and continued working in silence.

To Zhao Quan, a connoisseur of eccentric talents, the painter's unusual behavior was nothing new. He politely called out from outside, “Are you the one known as ‘Mr. Hate Pen’ who sold the painting to the Mo Zhai in Linxian?”

The old scholar in the field barely lifted his eyes and responded with a simple acknowledgment.

Seeing that he had found the right person, Zhao Quan quickly introduced himself, expressing his admiration for the scholar’s work and stating that he had come to visit in person.

The painter, having assessed Zhao Quan, put down his hoe and opened the door.

It was clear that the scholar, known as “Mr. Hate Pen,” was not living in comfort. There were no proper tables or chairs for guests; instead, he had laid out a mat on a flat spot in the yard for visitors to sit cross-legged.

Since it was inappropriate for Liu Mian Tang, as a woman, to sit with them, she and Li Mama quietly stood to the side.

There was no tea served by the painter. Instead, Zhao Quan’s servant, seeing the mat was bare and concerned for his master’s comfort, brought out a box of pastries and set up a small charcoal stove to brew tea.

The old scholar ate most of the pastries with hearty appetite, indicating that his meals were irregular.

After his hunger was somewhat sated, the scholar’s demeanor softened, and he was able to discuss the artistic merits of the painting with Zhao Quan in a more amiable manner.

However, when Zhao Quan unfurled the lotus painting and began enthusiastically discussing his interpretations, the painter’s expression grew increasingly despondent.

After Zhao Quan finished speaking, the old scholar pondered for a moment before saying, “Thank you for your appreciation, but you are not a connoisseur of painting. It’s getting late; please, leave now.”

Zhao Quan was in high spirits and did not expect to be so abruptly dismissed by the painter. The abrupt rejection was quite disheartening.

Usually, he would have dismissed the old scholar’s gruff demeanor as eccentricity. However, in front of Liu Mian Tang, being publicly rebuked for his lack of knowledge was particularly embarrassing. Annoyed and affronted, Zhao Quan’s temper flared, and he retorted, “What exactly did I get wrong? Please, enlighten me. How can you say I don’t understand painting?”

At that moment, Liu Mian Tang, who had been standing silently to the side, spoke up, “Sir, I also have some thoughts on this painting. May I share them with you?”

The reclusive painter, accustomed to his solitary ways and indifferent to the admiration of others, initially ignored Liu Mian Tang. It was only when she spoke that he shook the crumbs of cake from his sleeve and said, “Please, Madam, go ahead. I need to chop wood and cook soon.”

Liu Mian Tang approached the painting and pointed delicately at the dragonfly, saying, “I seem to see a reflection in the dragonfly’s eye… It’s a lady admiring the lotus flowers at the bridge, and her reflection just happens to appear in the dragonfly’s eye.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Quan was stunned and stared intently at the painting. He immediately called for his servant to bring the Yin-Yang mirror—a gift from the imperial court that magnifies images, useful for the elderly with poor eyesight. Though Zhao Quan was young, he kept it in his carriage for occasional use.

After receiving the mirror from his servant, Zhao Quan examined the dragonfly’s eye through it. To his amazement, within the tiny spot, he indeed saw a scene of a willow tree, a small bridge, and a graceful lady holding an umbrella!

[Author’s Note:] Divine Doctor: Why doesn’t the beauty even glance at me???

Sobbing, Crushed, and Calling Out: Cui Jiu, come out here—I’m not going to hit you!!!

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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[1] "Mr. Hate Pen" works as a translation for 恨笔居士, capturing the essence of the original nickname. It conveys the sense of regret or dissatisfaction that the painter feels about their art. Another option could be "The Regretful Painter" or "The Penitent Painter".

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