Lao Tan, the proprietor of Chunshan Pavilion, felt exceptionally weary today.
Spring drowsiness, autumn fatigue, and summer naps—this was especially true in Jiugao. It must be because it hadn't rained for several days; the summer heat was too oppressive. He had been feeling a bit lazy and hadn't gone to Huichun Hall to queue for some Radiance Restoration Soup, which had allowed dampness to settle into his bones.
In any case, his Chunshan Pavilion was a decades-old establishment. He lived off the patronage of old customers and never needed to spend much effort on soliciting new business.
Thinking of this, he lost even more interest in doing business. Just as he was considering closing up early for the day, a shadow flickered outside the door, and a person stepped inside a moment later.
Lao Tan’s eyelids drooped, and he didn't even bother to look up, his voice sounding listless.
"Our shop took two urgent orders today; we aren't accepting more customers. If the guest is in a hurry, you might try Tiansi Manufactory across the street."
The shadow at the door shifted but did not leave.
"I came here only after visiting Tiansi Manufactory. The proprietor across the street told me that clothes can be made here on an urgent basis. I wonder if that is true?"
It was a very gentle voice. While not exactly melodious, it possessed an indescribable composure. To anyone listening, even the most frustrated spirit would find itself calmed.
Lao Tan couldn't help but look up.
It was a young man with an unfamiliar face. He seemed to move well enough, yet for some reason, he leaned on a staff. Over his plain, light-colored cloth robes, he wore a layer of pale green gauze. The gauze fluttered even without a breeze, adding a touch of ethereal grace to his figure.
In the Longshu region, folk customs were diverse, and there was no such thing as a mainstream style of dress. It was not surprising for men to favor a more delicate aesthetic. Even so, it was rare to see a man wearing gauze on the streets in broad daylight. Gauze was light and soft, often failing to fit a man's frame properly; even when used as decoration, it often carried a hint of the effeminate or the affected.
Yet the man before him showed no trace of affectation in his behavior or speech. He wore that green gauze with a certain transcendent beauty. His features were perhaps a bit too soft, making him look like nothing more than a good-tempered schoolteacher. Fortunately, the li-staff in his hand, polished to a dull shine, balanced this temperament, surrounding him with a quiet, steady atmosphere that commanded respect.
Lao Tan froze for a moment. The business spirit that had been suppressed by the summer heat finally woke up.
In his younger years, he had spent ten years as an apprentice in a second-hand clothing shop in the north of the city. If nothing else, he had a knack for reading people. With one glance, he knew that this young man, who appeared to be a mere scholar, was actually a distinguished guest.
The inner layer of plain cloth was the most common Jiangdong fine cloth found in the markets, but the green gauze came from Yingui Manufactory. Years ago, when Lao Tan was a supervisor at the government embroidery workshop, he had been fortunate enough to witness it up close once. It was a fine, embroidered gauze with a plain silk base. The blue and white silk threads embroidered upon it were as thin as hair, forming a pattern of circles and squares that resembled both water caltrops and lotuses. When laid flat, one could see nothing, but when worn and in motion, the patterns became faintly visible. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, like a garment from the heavens.
Plain cloth worth thirty wen a foot paired with the priceless Lotus Gauze—such a contradictory combination felt strangely harmonious on this man.
Lao Tan had spent half his life dealing with warp and weft; naturally, he was a lover of fine silk. After a moment of silent admiration, he began to feel apprehensive.
Why would a guest who could afford such material for a custom-made outfit patronize a mediocre shop like his?
But adhering to the business philosophy of "harmony brings wealth" and "never offend anyone," he knew he could not slight the man. He gave his young servant a look that said "serve tea," then stepped forward cautiously, rubbing his hands as he introduced his most prized wares.
"I wonder if the guest has a preferred fabric or style? My shop's brocades are highly sought after. This Cockscomb Pattern Brocade cannot be found anywhere else in Jiugao; it is a top-tier item worth ten thousand coins. This Auspicious Longevity robe was ordered by an official in the city last month; you see, even the tassels under the arms are woven with a unique color palette. No detail can be overlooked..."
The man nodded, his gaze sweeping over the silks, satins, and exquisite embroideries without lingering on any of them.
Seeing that the other was in no hurry to answer, Lao Tan’s words grew increasingly hollow until he had exhausted his vocabulary and could think of nothing else to praise. Only then did the young scholar finally speak.
"I only wish to have a new set of clothes made as quickly as possible. I have no requirements for the style or the fabric. I will leave the choice to you, Proprietor."
Lao Tan was stunned, grumbling inwardly.
When ordinary wealthy families visited the shop, which of them didn't pick and choose, wishing they could turn over every bolt of fabric in his inventory before being satisfied? It was impossible to have such a casual customer. He worried that once the clothes were made, the man would return to find fault with them.
But he was used to serving difficult masters. After only a moment's hesitation, he asked patiently, "Does the guest have any preferences? Do you prefer primary colors or intermediate shades? Light or heavy fabrics? For what occasion will they be worn? Are there any taboos..."
"None." The man paused, then continued, "Only one thing: the material used for the tailoring must not look too expensive."
*Not too expensive? So he refuses to use good material?*
A garment shop was different from a fabric store. If everyone only paid for the labor, what profit would there be for the proprietor? He thought a fat duck had walked in, but it turned out to be a stingy iron rooster.
Lao Tan’s face, which had been full of joy, immediately slumped. His complexion lost its ruddy glow, and the warmth in his voice cooled considerably.
"The guest may not know, but business has been quite brisk lately. I already took two orders from old customers this morning. The tailors are fully booked. Urgent work must be prioritized, and even with overtime, the fastest we can manage is three days..."
He delivered his rejection perfectly, but the young man showed no intention of leaving. After a moment of thought, he took out a coarse cloth bag and handed it over respectfully.
Lao Tan was confused, but when he took the bag and looked inside, his eyes instantly widened.
"Ten taels of gold for one suit of clothes, to be ready by tonight. Does the proprietor think it can be done?"
The young man finished speaking and continued to look at him with that gentle gaze.
Lao Tan was completely dumbfounded. He looked at the man, then at the heavy gold in his hand. He thought this scholar looked refined and transcendent, but he hadn't expected him to be like those scions of great families—someone with more money than sense.
The Radiance Restoration Soup from Huichun Hall must be drunk, but a massive order delivered to his door couldn't be turned away, could it? It wasn't that he was greedy for the money; it was simply that the other had given far too much.
"It can be done, it can be done!" Lao Tan nodded frantically, his hand already flying as he noted down the tailoring details. "If you want the material to look less expensive, how about using this plain, coarse kudzu cloth as a base? It’s cool for the summer..."
"As I said, I leave it all to your judgment. But I need it tonight, so please hurry."
No one would refuse silver, and certainly no one would refuse the gold of a polite and informal man.
Lao Tan was overjoyed. He said no more, his legs moving like a whirlwind as he vanished into the back room.
As soon as the curtain fell behind him and he saw no one was around, he impatiently poured out the contents of the cloth bag. After confirming with his teeth that there was no problem, he quickly hid the bag in a secret compartment under the counter. Adjusting his expression, he lifted the curtain and stepped out, calling for the seamstress who was cutting fabric and giving her rapid instructions.
The seamstress had worked in the shop for a long time. She saw at a glance that her proprietor was in a great mood and that the man standing in the hall was a major client. Her greeting was even more submissive than usual.
"Please follow me inside, sir. I will take your measurements."
The young man followed her lead into the inner room.
The inner room was divided into an outer and inner section. The outer section was separated by floor-length silk curtains into four small cubicles for regular customers. The inner section contained a screened-off area with elegant decorations, sophisticated furnishings, and perfect lighting. Seasonal flowers were piled on a small side table, fresh tea was ready on the desk, and high-quality storax incense burned in the corner. This was indeed a room used only for the most distinguished guests.
However, this small room was usually used to host ladies. A man entering it felt somewhat out of place. Yet, when the seamstress lowered the outer curtain and turned around, she felt the scene was exceptionally harmonious.
She had served many guests, but someone with such a clear, pure temperament was rare. Since she had to do the work anyway, who wouldn't want to serve a clean and pleasant guest?
"Please raise your arms, sir."
As she spoke, she took a ruler and cord from a nearby embroidery basket, briskly measuring the young man for his clothes.
The process of measuring was somewhat long and tedious, so she engaged in small talk as usual.
"Is there a happy occasion, sir? You seem to be in such a hurry for a new set of clothes."
"It is nothing much. I am merely reuniting with an old friend. To show my sincerity, I should wear something new."
The man’s words seemed casual, but the corners of his eyes curved slightly at the mention, and a faint, subtle smile appeared on his face.
The seamstress felt she had discovered the guest's hidden joy and felt a strange sense of envy.
"This old friend of yours must be a lady, then?"
The young man was silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"There is indeed a lady."
The seamstress sighed openly.
"To have you so concerned, I wonder what kind of person that lady must be."
"She is just an ordinary person."
The seamstress curled her lip slightly, not believing him.
Which of the prominent young masters in this city wouldn't marry a virtuous noblewoman or a great beauty? Having both family background and beauty was best, but having at least one was acceptable. If a woman had neither, how could she ever enter their gates?
The more the seamstress thought, the more bitter she felt. Steeling herself, she forced her attention back to the business at hand and said brightly, "A scholar like you, sir, surely has no shortage of ladies who admire you. Compared to those wandering martial artists who dance with blades and swords, you are a far more reliable person to entrust one's life to. However, for the great matters of life, it is best to have elders present as witnesses. Although mutual affection is natural, 'parents' orders and matchmakers' words' are indispensable. When the time comes for you to present the betrothal gifts, sir, you must find out the preferences of your future in-laws, or perhaps send a retainer to my shop to look around..."
She poured out this sales pitch smoothly, mixing in flattery. If an ordinary person heard it, even if they had no intention of returning, they would likely be pleased and might even give her a tip.
But for some reason, as soon as she spoke, the man who had been smiling just a moment ago suddenly changed his expression. Those softly shaped eyes looked the same as before, but they now carried an inexplicable chill.
"Parents' orders, matchmakers' words?" He tasted those eight words slowly on his lips before concluding coldly, "They are nothing more than a fig leaf pulled out for the sake of so-called clan continuity and profit. They need not be spoken of, let alone taken to heart."
This man looked like a scholar, so why did his words sound so rebellious and unorthodox?
The seamstress was stunned. Before she could think of a way to steer the conversation back, the man changed the subject and asked, "How much silver do you earn for making a suit of clothes?"
The seamstress faltered. When she spoke again, her voice was no longer as composed as before.
"About... less than seventy coins."
The man chuckled and continued in that gentle voice, "Then do you know how much silver I just gave your proprietor?"
The expression on the woman's face was becoming hard to maintain. But she had been making a living for many years; after a long while, she finally adjusted her mindset and laughed self-deprecatingly.
"I am but a mere seamstress. How would I dare to speculate on the master's business? If the proprietor heard me, he would think I don't want to do my work properly..."
"Why wouldn't you dare?"
Before she could finish, the young man abruptly interrupted her. In the next moment, her wrist was tightened; he had grabbed her.
"These hands of yours can measure clothes and cut fabric, yet they alone cannot touch the manager's abacus and ledgers?"
The seamstress was startled and instinctively pulled away. However, she forgot that she was still wearing the thimble on her thumb, which was worn down from long use. In her movement, the opening of the thimble caught a thread on the man's gauze robe, instantly tearing a hole in the priceless Lotus Gauze.
The woman's face turned pale, and her heart tightened. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"Forgive me, sir! I... I truly did not mean to..."
As she apologized, she looked at the thousand-gold green gauze, wondering if her embroidery skills could save it. In the next moment, her eyes caught sight of something, her throat choked, and she was rendered completely speechless.
The man's neck was clearly white and smooth, but through the slightly open collar, one could glimpse winding, dense scars. Those scars were old, protruding and tangled together like the prominent veins on the back of a lotus leaf, or like living snakes and earthworms crawling into the depths of his clothes...
The woman's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor with a thud.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 春衫阁 | Chunshan Pavilion | A long-standing clothing shop in Jiugao. |
| 九皋 | Jiugao | The city where the story is currently set. |
| 回春堂 | Huichun Hall | A medical hall or pharmacy. |
| 回光汤 | Radiance Restoration Soup | A tonic meant to restore energy or "dampness" in the body. |
| 天丝坊 | Tiansi Manufactory | A rival textile shop across from Chunshan Pavilion. |
| 龙枢 | Longshu | A geographical region in the story's world. |
| 银桂坊 | Yingui Manufactory | A high-end textile workshop known for exquisite fabrics. |
| 芰荷纱 | Lotus Gauze | A rare, expensive gauze with a subtle lotus/water caltrop pattern. |
| 藜杖 | Li-staff | A staff made from the woody stem of the goosefoot plant, associated with scholars. |
| 鸡翘纹锦 | Cockscomb Pattern Brocade | A type of high-quality patterned silk. |
| 贺寿锦袍 | Auspicious Longevity Robe | A ceremonial robe made for birthday celebrations. |
| 璎结 | Ying-knots | Decorative tassels or knots used on clothing. |
| 苏合香 | Storax Incense | A fragrant resin used as high-quality incense. |
| 庄客 | Retainer | A servant or guest-worker of a manor or estate. |
