Font Size:
Pei Zheng’s expression was gentle, with a smile gracing his lips. He saluted and said, “Greetings, Madam. Pardon the intrusion.”
He showed no disdain for the humble thatched cottage nor any condescension toward the rural villagers.
Zhu Wanrou, realizing the situation, hurriedly invited him inside.
Once everyone entered, two burly guards remained stationed outside, standing watch with unwavering focus.
The villagers were brimming with curiosity, buzzing with speculation about the second branch of the Xu family.
First, they took in a foreigner, and now a noble young man from the capital was visiting.
They yearned to hear what was going on and to catch another glimpse of the refined, celestial-like young master.
But the imposing presence of the two guards at the door deterred them from approaching.
“Alright, alright, quit loitering at the door! Get back to your work—don’t you have chores at home?”
Aunt Li scolded loudly, shooing the onlookers away like scattering chickens.
Inside, Xu Sinan was explaining to Dechan what dragon’s spittle incense (ambergris) was.
“It’s an opaque, waxy lump with a blackish-brown hue resembling amber, sometimes with iridescent streaks. It’s light, brittle, and waxy to chew, sticking to the teeth. It has a slightly fishy smell with a sweet-sour taste.”
The ancients believed dragon’s spittle incense to be dragon saliva. In reality, it’s the dried secretion of the intestines of sperm whales. It can be used as a fragrance or medicinal ingredient.
Pei Zheng’s deep-set eyes flickered with surprise; he hadn’t expected Xu Sinan to understand Siamese.
He now seriously scrutinized the girl by his side. Though dressed in simple, coarse clothing, she was stunningly beautiful.
Her bright eyes, sparkling like amber, radiated calm composure—entirely unlike a typical fisherman’s daughter.
He then focused intently on Dechan, eager to learn the whereabouts of the dragon’s spittle incense.
Dechan lowered his head in thought. It was his first time accompanying his family’s ship out to sea, so he wasn’t familiar with the goods, and the variety of spices was overwhelming.
Sensing Pei Zheng’s urgent need for the incense, Xu Sinan continued translating.
“When burned, it emits a blue flame with a pervasive aroma. Items smoked with it retain the fragrance for a long time.”
“Yes, I’ve seen it!”
Dechan suddenly remembered a rare, precious spice that imbues garments with a lasting fragrance.
It did exist in Siam, but only in small quantities, primarily imported via maritime trade.
Because it was prohibitively expensive, his family didn’t have any, but he had seen it once.
Pei Zheng’s face lit up with excitement upon hearing this, and he stood up energetically. “That’s excellent news!”
His attendant, Wen Yu, was startled—his usually reserved master showing such emotion was unprecedented. Clearly, the old lady’s illness weighed heavily on him, and now there was hope.
Xu Sinan was equally delighted. Pei Zheng seemed determined to obtain the dragon’s spittle incense. Perhaps he would send someone to Siam.
If so, could she hitch a ride to buy rice?
“Dechan, do you want to return home?” Pei Zheng asked.
Upon hearing the translation, Dechan nodded vigorously. He longed to return—dreamed of it every day!
“Then I’ll take you home.”
Dechan jumped up in joy, waving his arms excitedly.
“Master Pei, Siam is a long way off, and the journey by land and sea is fraught with danger. Are you sure you want to send someone?”
Xu Sinan suppressed her own excitement. Traveling to Siam was no trivial matter; she needed to confirm Pei Zheng’s resolve.
“Miss Xu, merchants from Jizhou traveled there during the previous dynasty. It’s feasible. I’ll go personally.”
Pei Zheng’s eyes were resolute, exuding confidence.
Years ago, when opening up trade routes in the Western Regions, he had dealt with bandits and negotiated with foreign nations, often walking the razor’s edge between life and death.
How could he back down now, just because the journey was dangerous?
If he failed to save his grandmother’s life, wouldn’t his rebirth have been in vain?
Given the exorbitant price of dragon’s spittle incense and the prevalence of counterfeits, he had to confirm its authenticity himself. His grandmother couldn’t afford any mishaps.
Xu Sinan’s lips parted slightly, surprise flickering in her eyes. No wonder he was destined to become a merchant whose wealth rivaled nations—his courage and determination were unparalleled.
Zhu Wanrou remained silent, her brows furrowed slightly. It was clear why Ah Nan had brought Pei Zheng here.
She had thought her daughter had given up after yesterday, but now she had found a powerful ally.
Thinking of her father-in-law, who had set sail and never returned, Zhu Wanrou couldn’t help but feel deeply worried.
Pei Zheng, with Xu Sinan’s help, spent a long time communicating with Dechan.
He inquired about Dechan’s family business, the route they took to arrive, the number of sailors needed, and the customs, natural resources, and trade situations in Siam and nearby countries.
Xu Sinan had a hunch that while Pei Zheng seemed to be gathering information for the voyage, he was actually testing Dechan and verifying whether he was truly from Siam.
After all, Pei Zheng didn’t know Xu Sinan or Dechan personally, nor did he understand the Siamese language.
Xu Sinan wasn’t bothered—Dechan was indeed genuine, and Pei Zheng’s caution was understandable.
Since they were looking to collaborate, honesty was essential. Thus, she actively translated for them.
While listening to the translations, Pei Zheng carefully observed Dechan’s expressions and gestures.
Dechan’s gaze was clear, his demeanor natural, and his words aligned with what Pei Zheng had previously heard.
For instance, whenever Dechan expressed gratitude, he instinctively clasped his hands together in the Siamese gesture of respect. Additionally, Siamese people valued blackened teeth as a mark of beauty, and Dechan’s black teeth further confirmed his origins.
Although Pei Zheng wanted to take Dechan along, the language barrier made it impossible. He had to give up, departing only as the sun set.
As soon as Pei Zheng left, Zhu Wanrou pulled Xu Sinan aside and asked, “Who exactly is he?”
“The second son of the main branch of the Pei family from Hedong.”
Zhu Wanrou’s eyes widened. She had assumed he was just an ordinary nobleman, but he turned out to be from one of the most renowned aristocratic families in the country.
“How do you know that?”
Xu Sinan was momentarily at a loss—she couldn’t very well say she had read about it in history books.
“Their carriage bore the Pei family crest, and the men accompanying him carried themselves with extraordinary poise. Some details also slipped out during their conversation.”
Still unconvinced, Zhu Wanrou furrowed her brows in thought.
“Mother, don’t worry. We have nothing here worth coveting, and I’ll be cautious,” Xu Sinan reassured her, spinning the truth just enough to settle her down.
Xu Sinan had chosen Pei Zheng as a partner based on historical accounts of his integrity and unwavering emphasis on trust in business. His success in opening up trade routes in the Western Regions was proof of his courage and willingness to take risks.
However, anyone who studied history knew that records were not always to be taken at face value. Xu Sinan understood the need to observe Pei Zheng herself. Someone capable of navigating political and business complexities and reaping immense profits couldn’t possibly be a simple, naïve soul.
She resolved to keep her guard up.
“Big Sister,” Xu Qianxing, glancing at Zhu Wanrou, whispered, “Do you think Pei Zheng would take us along to Siam?”
The night before, Xu Sinan had privately shared the numerous benefits of traveling to Siam, and now her brother was also eager to go.
“He will,” Xu Sinan replied with a confident smile.
“You want to go to Siam?”
Cheng Yuanhui, half-reclining on his bed, glared at his student. Though phrased as a question, he was already certain of the answer.
Pei Zheng felt a headache coming on. He shouldn’t have met the Xu siblings in his teacher’s presence.
Consumed by worry over his grandmother’s illness, he had acted impulsively.
Seeing that there was no hiding it, he nodded and admitted, “Yes, Teacher, I want to go.”
Cheng Yuanhui clutched his chest, nearly overcome by exasperation.
He had already wasted a month in Jizhou and now wanted to venture to a foreign country!
“You… cough… do you even care about entering officialdom anymore?”
Cheng Yuanhui desperately wished he could pry open Pei Zheng’s head to see what was going on inside.
“Do you have any idea how treacherous the sea can be? Do you know how many ships sink every year?”
Pei Zheng kept his head bowed, silently enduring his teacher’s tirade.
Once Cheng Yuanhui had vented his anger, Pei Zheng finally spoke.
“Teacher, I’m not going to Siam just for my grandmother.”