Volume One, Chapter 33: The Courtesan Su Yinger

When Fan Xiu looked toward the man in white, the man also noticed him, his brows knitting slightly.

"Fan Xiu?" the man in white asked with a frown.

Fan Xiu chuckled dryly, "Yes... it is I."

Xie Tangfeng narrowed his eyes. This fellow was acting a bit strange—had he recognized him? It shouldn't be possible. Back then, he had his face covered, and it was night; there was no way he could have identified him.

"So it is Scholar Fan. I am Xie Tangfeng," Xie Tangfeng said, lifting the folding fan in his hand and bowing courteously.

Fan Xiu forced himself to suppress the shock in his heart. *Don't panic! This guy is likely one of the Empress's men, or at least connected to her! If he finds out I recognized him, he might just kill me to silence me! I must not let him know I figured it out. I have to act as if nothing is amiss.*

"Indeed," Fan Xiu said, clearing his throat. He bowed with a smile and asked, "Greetings, Master Xie. Are you also here to see the County Magistrate?"

"I am," Xie Tangfeng replied.

Just then, a man in his forties with a portly belly strode out from inside. It was the County Magistrate, Liu Zhengjun.

"Master Xie!" Liu Zhengjun laughed heartily. "What breeze has blown you our way?"

Xie Tangfeng bowed, "Greetings, Magistrate."

Fan Xiu hurried to bow as well, "Student Fan Xiu pays his respects to the Magistrate." As he did so, he cast a surreptitious glance at Xie Tangfeng. *What exactly is this man's identity? To think that Magistrate Liu would treat him with such deference.*

Liu Zhengjun looked at Fan Xiu and smiled, "Scholar Fan has arrived as well. Come, Master Xie, Scholar Fan, please come inside."

Once inside, Liu Zhengjun said to Fan Xiu, "Scholar Fan, please wait for me in the side chamber. I have some matters to discuss with Master Xie, and then I will come to see you."

"As you command, sir," Fan Xiu replied.

Guided by a yamen runner, Fan Xiu headed toward the side chamber. Although he was burning with curiosity about what they were discussing, this was the county office, and he dared not pry.

***

Otherwise, even as a scholar, he would likely be kicked out by the Magistrate. Just as Fan Xiu arrived at the side chamber, Assistant Magistrate Wang walked in.

"Scholar Fan!" Assistant Magistrate Wang said with a cheerful smile. "The Magistrate said he needs a little more time, so he asked me to keep you company first."

Fan Xiu stood up and asked, "Assistant Magistrate Wang, how did you find the cold noodles from yesterday?"

"Haha!" Wang laughed heartily. "Excellent! You probably don't know, but in the last two days, your Zhiweixuan's cold noodles have become the talk of Zhiyuan County! Many people are eager to get a taste. You are going to make a fortune this time!"

Fan Xiu felt a surge of joy. It seemed his plan to have Zhao Defu treat the local dignitaries had been exactly the right move. The upper class could easily influence the lower class; nearly all trends started at the top and were then imitated below.

"You are too kind," Fan Xiu said, waving his hand. "It is all thanks to you, Assistant Magistrate. Without your help, we wouldn't have been able to sell a thing. Once things settle down, I will certainly pay a visit to express my gratitude."

Assistant Magistrate Wang was the second-in-command of Zhiyuan County, ranking just below Liu Zhengjun. Once he had some spare money, it was only natural to show some respect to Wang; that was the only way his business could thrive in this county.

"Haha!" Wang caught the implication and laughed, "Scholar Fan is too polite. We should have a drink together when we have time."

"Certainly," Fan Xiu smiled.

Then, Fan Xiu tentatively asked, "Assistant Magistrate Wang, might I ask you something?"

Wang sat opposite him and smiled, "Speak freely. As long as it is something I can talk about, I will tell you."

Fan Xiu scoffed inwardly. *This Assistant Magistrate is truly an old fox. 'As long as it's something I can talk about'? He acts so warm, but with one sentence, he's already set his boundaries. If he can tell you, he will; if he can't, don't even ask.*

Fan Xiu gestured toward the outside and said, "When I arrived, I encountered a man in white named Xie Tangfeng. May I ask what his identity is, to warrant such courtesy from the Magistrate?"

"Him?" Wang paused, seemingly surprised by the question. "He is someone you cannot afford to offend. Are you aware of the seven top prestigious families of Xuzhou?"

"I am not. I would like to hear more," Fan Xiu said, bowing. He only knew of the Cheng family of Xuzhou—no one in the region was unaware of their prestige. There was a saying in Xuzhou: *In life, one cannot leave the Cheng family; in death, one cannot leave the Cheng family.* But he had never heard of the seven top families.

"Heh," Wang leaned in and whispered mysteriously, "These seven families are second only to the Cheng family, and this Xie family is one of them. Half of the industries in Xuzhou’s Pengcheng Prefecture belong to the Xie family! Xie Tangfeng is a scion of the Pengcheng Xie family!"

Fan Xiu’s eyes widened in astonishment. *The Xie family is that powerful? No wonder even Magistrate Liu is so polite to him. But why would he send men to kidnap me?*

"Many thanks, Brother Wang," Fan Xiu said.

"You're welcome, Scholar Fan," Wang sipped his tea and added, "But you needn't worry. Most of the Xie family's business is in Pengcheng; they wouldn't care for a small place like our Zhiyuan County. Just don't cause trouble at the Zuixianju, and you'll be fine."

Recalling the fear in the voices of the business owners when they mentioned Zuixianju at the restaurant, Fan Xiu asked, "Brother Wang, is that brothel, Zuixianju, backed by some grand power?"

"Grand!" Wang nodded. "Its background is so vast it's beyond your imagination. Zuixianju has locations all over the country, even in small counties like ours, but its headquarters is in the capital! As for who the real owner behind it is—let alone me, even Magistrate Liu doesn't know!"

Fan Xiu gasped inwardly. A national chain? In the Dayin Dynasty, there were national chain brothels? And they were behemoths in every location they occupied! No wonder Zhao Defu and the others were so terrified at the mention of the name. With such a massive organization, how could they not be afraid?

"Thank you, Brother Wang. I will be careful," Fan Xiu bowed.

Wang laughed, "But don't be too worried. Zuixianju is only interested in making money, and the women there are top-tier. I hear that in the next two days, the 'Tower Immortal' Su Ying'er from the capital's Zuixianju will be coming to Zhiyuan County."

"'Tower Immortal'? Does that mean the top courtesan?"

"Exactly, though everyone calls her the 'Tower Immortal'."

"Why would she come to a small county like ours?" Fan Xiu asked curiously.

"I don't know," Wang shook his head. "How could we possibly know the affairs of such grand figures? We only know she is coming. As for why, you'd have to ask her yourself! But whether or not you can see her depends on you. They say this Su Ying'er is a peerless beauty; there are countless people who long to see her!"

Fan Xiu stroked his chin, lost in thought. It seemed this Su Ying'er was a celebrity in the Dayin Dynasty, known even to Assistant Magistrate Wang. If he could convince her to advertise his cold noodles, his business might instantly become a sensation across the entire country!