Chapter 14 (1/2)

There once were more than 110 families having a private library in Jiaxing at its peak. With the change of dynasties, early in the Republic of China, most of the buildings used for collecting books became the first private libraries in China. However, most of them had been destroyed during the war; less than ten to one had survived. Jiang Guangyu had undergone hards.h.i.+ps and spent his lifetime savings for Yanfen Cottage.

The Jiangs were a thriving family in Jiaxing with a lot of talents, among which the most famous had been Jiang Baili, Qian Xuesen's1 father-in-law, who had been the headmaster of Baoding Military Academy and the general of National Revolution Army, and had written: ”On Nation Defense”. The existence of Yanfen Cottage relied on the support of the family, but no every book collector had a powerful family. Many books had been ruined in ruthless wars.

Famous buildings such as She Garden, Deshu Building, Hairi Building, Xiangshan Pavilion and so on would be gone because of the war ten years later, but for the time being, Jiang s.h.i.+guang treasured them very much. Seeing Huang Xuan was listening to him carefully, the old man got more and more excited while talking. It was time to eat, but he was still longing for more. The sun was setting down. His third son came in and said: ”Dad, time for dinner.”

Jiang s.h.i.+guang looked at him with a little anger and didn't realize the room had become dim until then. He said with a smile to Huang Xuan in embarra.s.sment: ”I didn't realize it had been so long. I bet you are hungry.”

”No, I'm not,” Huang Xuan said politely. Then he said to Jiang's third son: ”I thank saozi2.”

Jiang's third son was simple and inarticulate who was middle-aged. Years of hard work had polished his sharpness. Hearing that Huang Xuan was a scholar, he waved his hand repeatedly in excitement, moved his mouth, but eventually, he just said: ”Nothing, nothing.”

Jiang s.h.i.+guang was used to his son's simpleness. Putting on his shoes, he said to Huang Xuan: ”Let's go eat. The food in the village is simple. I'm sorry you have to put up with it.”

Huang Xuan made polite remarks again. Since he had been used to them when he was at home, this time was just a review.

Zhejiang was a place full of rich people. Jiang s.h.i.+guang who had some lands, five sons and some shops in town, also lived in affluence. There was fish and meat served on six plates on the table. It was a life in Republic of China much different from the one Huang Xuan had known of.

The third son ate some rice silently while his father started talking again. After a moment, Huang Xuan seized an opportunity and asked: ”I wonder what is the price of grains nowadays?” Speaking of grains, Jiang s.h.i.+guang was dazed at first, then sighed and put down the chopsticks.

In 1927, the southern areas of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River suffered from food scarcity. Some vendors and landlords stored grains which made them scarcer. People of later generations thought that many revolts and riots of that year were related to grains. The Jiangs experienced grain shortage first-hand.

Before Huang Xuan asked another question, Jiang s.h.i.+guang sighed and said: ”While before New Year brown rice was four silver dollars a dan3, nowadays, someone is selling it at the price of 17 yuan a dan. Even we don't dare to eat our stored grains easily.

Huang Xuan exhaled. He didn't understand much about the people's livelihood, less about the reason why farmers were worried about the rise of grain price. He was just calculating the grains he had brought here. dan had different volumes, but even if a dan equaled 120 jin4, one million grains would be 1600 dan which would be 16000 silver dollars even though sold at the medium price which was a fortune in 1927 and could even buy a s.h.i.+p.

Rolin had done the maths for Huang Xuan. Huang Xuan was thrilled inside. Jiang s.h.i.+guang had lost the interest in talking, so he said ”good night” and went to sleep.

At dawn the next morning, Huang Xuan greeted Jiang s.h.i.+guang and left with his third son, Jiang Yisheng for Ganpu Town. Jiang Yisheng was introverted but knew the way very well. Huang Xuan kept talking with him on the way and knew more about the local conditions and customs.

Although this was a small town, the market was bustling with a steady stream of people and vehicles. Many shops were soliciting businesses in front of their cyan curtains. Having walked Huang Xuan to this place, Jiang Yisheng wanted to go home, but Huang Xuan wouldn't let him go. Before he could say a word, Huang Xuan said: ”Brother Jiang, I am new here. Could you please stay with me for two days until my family comes and finds me? Otherwise, I am afraid I wouldn't even be able to find a place to stay by myself.”

Jiang Yisheng was simple-minded and honest. Looking at Huang Xuan, he guessed that he was just a 15-year-old boy of the same height as him. He was worried about leaving him alone in a strange town. After thinking for a while, he said: ”My brother lives in the town. How about me sending you to his place?”

”No need to hurry,” Huang Xuan giggled and said: ”Let's wander around first. We can find a hotel later. You can stay in the town tonight and go back early tomorrow morning.”

Jiang Yisheng wanted to decline, but before he could come up with a right word, Huang Xuan was already at the market. He had to follow him.

Rice and cloth had been traded in bulk since ancient times and the best choice of the merchants seeking reliable investment and steady profit. There were nearly ten rice shops and many landlords and merchants in Ganpu. Maybe it was because of the grain shortage, rice shops were much busier than cloth shops.

Huang Xuan visited the shops one by one. He stopped in one named Xieqiao Rice Shop which was moderate-scaled with a.s.sistants twice as many as others. The a.s.sistants took up specific posts and were working in a systematic way. The customers were all well-dressed, who obviously didn't come for a small amount.

”Is the shopkeeper in?” Huang Xuan tapped at the counter with the knuckle of his middle finger, which was his fourth uncle's habit and he borrowed temporarily.

The a.s.sistant behind the counter looked capable and shrewd. Blue veins could be seen on his thin chin. Hearing Huang Xuan ask, he stopped working on the abacus and said: ”The shopkeeper is busy with the inventory. Can I help you?” After that, he looked at Jiang Yisheng standing behind Huang Xuan, said something to the a.s.sistant behind him and walked out from behind the counter. Stretching his hand, he led the way and said: ”This way, please. Let's talk in the room.”

”Are you the second shopkeeper?” Seeing this a.s.sistant was discerning, Huang Xuan asked while following him into the wing-room. However, Jiang Yisheng kept shaking his head and almost exclaimed.

”The second shopkeeper has gone to the city,” the a.s.sistant denied with a smile. He poured some tea for Huang Xuan and said: ”Are you from Beijing?”

”Nanjing,” Huang Xuan corrected, knowing that his Mandarin must have caused some misunderstanding. ”I want to sell some wheat to your shop,” he said seriously.

The a.s.sistant smiled professionally, checked his curiosity and said: ”We are a rice shop but also accept wheat. May I ask how much you have?”

Huang Xuan smiled but didn't answer him. He thrust out one finger which he had learned from his mom. When he had been little, every time his mom had talked about his prize, she had spread her fingers, but when the real number came out, it was completely different.