Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 15

The small commodity street was filled with an array of fascinating items, rare treasures, unique creations, and clever designs that dazzled the eyes. 

Zi Ye marveled, “Young master, doesn’t Jiangning feel incredibly prosperous?” 

“It is,” Zhou Gu agreed. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed that such a small place could rival the capital in vibrancy. Yet its liveliness was different from the capital’s refined elegance, it was grounded, close to the people, with an air of warmth and harmony. 

What struck him most was the joy on people’s faces. It was rare to see anyone with a sour or miserable expression. 

In the capital, nighttime rarely offered such a lively scene. The city’s patrols ensured that commoners avoided venturing out after dark, fearing trouble with officials. But in Jiangning, although patrol soldiers also walked the streets, the people seemed unbothered. The soldiers merely maintained order and provided assistance when needed. Many of the townsfolk even showed their gratitude by bringing food to the soldiers. 

Both Zhou Gu and Zi Ye found themselves charmed by this “little backwater.” 

Everyone had always claimed that Jiangning’s Lord, Su Taishou, was a man of limited talent, rigid, inflexible, and a perennial underperformer in administrative assessments. He’d remained stuck in Jiangning for over a decade, unable to advance, his greatest “achievements” reportedly limited to marrying seven concubines and fathering seven daughters in quick succession. But now, Zhou Gu found this reputation somewhat undeserved. 

He turned to Zi Ye and asked, “Have you noticed? There are no beggars in Jiangning.” 

Even the capital, the emperor’s seat, had its share of beggars. However, this wasn’t due to any inherent virtue, it was simply that the city patrol drove them out to maintain appearances and avoid inconveniencing nobles. As a result, beggars lingered in the outskirts instead. 

Zi Ye nodded thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, I didn’t notice until you pointed it out. Do you think the beggars here just don’t come out at night?” 

“I doubt it. Ever since we entered Jiangning’s borders, we haven’t seen a single beggar,” Zhou Gu replied. “We saw plenty on the way here, but it seems like they vanish once you reach Jiangning.” 

Zi Ye furrowed his brow. “What could explain that?” 

Zhou Gu stretched and yawned. “It’s late. Let’s head back and investigate more tomorrow.” 

The next day, after a restful sleep, Zhou Gu set out again, accompanied by Zi Ye and Zhou Xi. 

Zhou Xi quietly suggested, “Young master, since we’re in Jiangning, we shouldn’t focus solely on enjoying ourselves. It would be wise to visit Lord Su’s residence sooner rather than later. We’ll be staying here for a while, so you can always come back to explore afterward.” 

Zhou Gu shook his head. “No need to rush. We should give them time to prepare. They weren’t expecting me to come personally. Right now, they’re likely scrambling to tidy up and prepare for my visit. If I show up too soon, I’ll catch them unprepared, and it won’t be a pleasant meeting.” 

Zhou Xi chuckled. “You’re absolutely right, young master. I hadn’t considered that. You’re so considerate and thoughtful.” 

Zhou Gu smirked internally. Considerate? Not quite. I’m just procrastinating. Visiting his future father- and mother-in-law, not to mention meeting his fiancée, was no small matter. He wasn’t ready, so delaying was the most appealing option. 

Jiangning was as bustling during the day as it was at night. 

Zi Ye exclaimed, “I thought the nighttime activity here was impressive enough, but the daytime is just as lively. So many people coming and going!” 

Zhou Xi added, “I’ve done some research. Jiangning’s location makes it an important crossroads, so merchants from all over flock here to trade goods. And Lord Su has done a remarkable job – not only with agriculture, but also by encouraging local industry. Small workshops produce all sorts of goods, supported by government policies aimed at benefiting the people. It’s truly a unique and thriving place. 

“Oh?” Zhou Gu glanced at Zhou Xi. 

Zhou Xi understood immediately. “I didn’t gather much, young master. If you visit the Lord’s residence, you can ask Lord Su directly. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to explain.” 

Zhou Gu nodded in acknowledgment. 

They spent half the day wandering the city. Many locals, noticing Zhou Gu’s unfamiliar yet striking appearance, couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances at him. 

At midday, they stopped at a local inn for lunch. 

While the dishes were being served, Zhou Gu seized the moment to ask the waiter, “Brother Xiao Er, Jiangning seems to be quite wealthy, doesn’t it?” 

The waiter smiled politely. “Not exceptionally wealthy, sir. Our Lord simply encourages small businesses, allowing the people to be self-sufficient.” 

“No beggars at all, isn’t that wealth?” Zhou Gu pressed further. 

The waiter chuckled at the question and responded, “Sir, can you guess what I used to do?” 

“Aren’t you a waiter?” Zhou Gu replied, thinking this was an obvious answer. 

The waiter grinned wider, thumped his chest proudly, and revealed, “I used to be a beggar.” 

Zhou Gu was taken aback. “And now you…” 

“You’re from the capital, right? Your accent gives you away,” the waiter said. “Just recently, there was another gentleman from the capital asking about the same thing. He looked just as noble as you, perhaps two years older. Let me tell you, sir, the reason there are no beggars in Jiangning is that the Lord’s office takes us in. 

“They educate us and show us examples: seventy-year-old grandfathers and grandmothers selling vegetables with their baskets, and three- or five-year-old children selling small trinkets on the street. Old or young, they’re all making a living. Seeing this, how could we beggars have the nerve to stretch out our hands for alms? Under the Lord’s arrangements, we find ways to support ourselves instead.” 

Zhou Gu found this explanation both incredible and logical. It reminded him of what he’d observed during his walks. The previous night, he’d seen elderly men and women selling vegetables or handmade crafts. This morning, he noticed the same industrious spirit across town. 

It dawned on him that, aside from travelers visiting for leisure, there seemed to be no idle people in Jiangning. 

He rewarded the waiter with two taels of silver. “Thank you for sharing.” 

The waiter accepted the generous tip with joy and hurried off to serve other guests. 

Turning to Zi Ye, Zhou Gu spoke quietly, “Did you catch what he said? The person who asked him about this earlier, it’s probably the Crown Prince.” 

The Crown Prince’s mission wasn’t in Jiangning but nearby. He must have taken a detour to witness Jiangning’s governance firsthand. 

Zi Ye nodded in agreement. 

Zhou Gu, recalling the Crown Prince’s instructions, pondered for a moment before motioning for Zhou Xi to come closer.