Chapter Fifty-One: The Craftsman and the Child

"Ten strings!" An exclamation of surprise rose from behind him. This price was quite steep—enough to purchase a young maid, and yet this was for a mute tiger parakeet, which left people clicking their tongues in astonishment.

"You may not know, honored guests," the attendant quickly explained, "but these parakeets come from the miasmic lands of the South, some ten thousand miles away. Out of ten birds, only two or so might survive the journey here. They must be specially trained to withstand the northern chill, and are exceedingly delicate. Even in the twin capitals, they are rare treasures. Ten strings is truly not expensive."

"Heh! Hearing you say so, ten strings does seem reasonable," Zhen Qian replied with a laugh. "Show us around—we haven't yet decided what to buy."

After one circuit, Zhen Qian was genuinely amazed. It truly was as Wang Qun had said: aside from the absence of large, ferocious beasts, even pythons—so prized in later times—were present. The sheer variety of small animals was dazzling, as if they had wandered into a menagerie. Incredibly, he even saw a bird of paradise, now nearly extinct in his own time, and wondered how such creatures had been brought north.

"What price for this rainbow phoenix?" he asked. The attendant called it a 'rainbow phoenix'—the bird of paradise—its iridescent feathers dazzling in the sunlight. The attendant recounted with pride that such a bird had once been offered as an auspicious tribute to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, though it had soon died, unaccustomed to the climate. Zhen Qian knew that the bird hailed from the rainforests of the southern seas, likely transported together with Kunlun slaves, and was indeed unsuited to northern life.

"This bird is delicate and difficult to keep alive. If you truly want it, fifteen strings is the lowest price."

Zhen Qian simply nodded. They moved on to a cage of hunting dogs, where the attendant eagerly began his introductions.

"This is a sighthound—narrow, long head, pointed nose, slender arched neck, long and lean body, sloping shoulders and thin legs, adept at catching rabbits in the grass. This is a Ti, small enough to perch on horseback, agile, clever, and adorable—a rare gem among canines..."

"Is this the Tibetan mastiff you mentioned?" Zhen Qian was particularly interested in shepherd dogs, blackbacks, and mastiffs, but was surprised to see pets resembling Chihuahuas in the Tang era. He asked, "These must be Tibetan mastiff pups?"

The term "Tibetan mastiff" did not exist yet, but the breed was already present in Tang. When Songtsen Gampo married Princess Wencheng, mastiffs were among the tribute gifts. From then on, Tibetan mastiffs became popular in the Great Tang, a status symbol for the wealthy on hunting excursions.

The attendant immediately praised him, "Sir, you have a discerning eye! These are genuine Tibetan mastiffs. Raised properly, they grow fiercer than leopards. The Tubo people use them to herd cattle and sheep; three or four adults can drive off a pack of wolves."

"These mastiff pups shouldn't be too expensive, right?"

"Three strings each. If you wish to buy a pair, I'll give you a twenty percent discount."

"Five strings for a pair?"

The attendant hesitated, but Wang Qun, holding a string of coins, interjected, "Isn't your manager surnamed Zhang? If we call him out here, you may lose your tip altogether!"

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Startled, the attendant considered. Manager Zhang was notoriously stingy and disliked lingering in the kennels. He only earned a bit more than a string a month himself, but giving customers the lowest possible price meant a generous reward. His eyes flickered as he said, "Will you be purchasing only the mastiff pups, or are you interested in other animals? If it's just the pair, I can decide myself." Small deals he could handle; larger ones would involve the manager, and then his tip might be lost.

"We'll just take the pair of mastiffs. We're not interested in other animals for now."

The attendant was delighted and quickly agreed.

The mastiff pups were not fierce; women in particular were fond of small animals. Xiao Zhu and Xiao Mei each took a pup from the cage. Wang Qun tossed the attendant a string of coins for his trouble.

"I have a question. The person who bought the tiger parakeet yesterday—do you know what he intended to do with it?" Zhen Qian didn't want to alert the manager. Since Wang Qun was acquainted here, it was possible the manager might recognize him, arousing suspicion.

The attendant thought for a moment. "That man said he was the steward of the Zhen family. Manager Zhang served him personally. I overheard them mention a mistress's birthday—it was probably a birthday gift."

Zhen Qian asked a few more questions, but the attendant knew little else. In business, one did not inquire too deeply into customers' affairs; that was the rule.

The group left the yard, preparing to return to the Zhen residence. Seeing Zhen Qian uninterested in further shopping, Xiao Mei asked, "Sir, are you not buying a birthday gift for Lady Xing?"

At first, Zhen Qian had considered buying a bird of paradise for Lady Xing, but the price—fifteen strings—was daunting. His monthly allowance was far less than that, and the thought pained him.

"What's the rush? Her birthday isn't for another ten days or so."

Back at the Zhen mansion, Zhen Qian mused aloud to Wang Qun, "It's been nearly a month since we last visited the Qin family. Shouldn't we check in?"

"It has. I'll go to the slave market and ask Cao Renyi if there’s any news about the slave craftsmen and children we requested. If so, I'll bring them to the Qin estate."

Zhen Qian nodded. Business at the tavern and with the spirits was decent. Excluding initial investment, they were now turning a profit.

Following the principle of spending when one has it, he planned to buy more slave craftsmen and children. There were many orphans and abandoned children, but Zhen Qian was not overly sentimental. Money had to be used wisely; ordinary hired laborers were not an option yet, so he focused on slaves.

Opening a bookstore was a weighty matter. After much thought, he decided to postpone it. Song Yi had been carving printing blocks in his room; sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutter. When the time came, they could print immediately—no need to rush.

Wang Qun had recently approached several merchants, expressing willingness to cooperate and test the waters. If things went well, they would expand in Zhendin. Spirits were already a novelty beyond the era's imagination, and the merchants approached with caution. Zhen Qian understood their hesitation.

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Unexpectedly, the humble nuts sold well at the tavern. The first three wagonloads sold or were gifted away in under half a month. When Zhen Qian inquired privately, the answer made him smile wryly. The nuts had become a favorite snack in aristocratic households, especially among noblewomen, and were also beloved by scholars, who claimed they nourished the brain and improved wit—though whether this was true, he did not know.

With money in hand, he felt secure. The tavern's business was steady, and the reputation of the new dishes was growing. Just two days prior, a manager from "Fragrant Pavilion" had visited, proposing to buy sixty percent of Drunken Immortal Tavern for two thousand strings and promising Song Yi many benefits. Song Yi, unable to refuse directly, claimed to be only an employee, without revealing Zhen Qian as the true owner.

The fact that such an offer had been made proved to Zhen Qian that Drunken Immortal Tavern's fame was spreading; it was only a matter of time.

Now, Zhen Qian was less anxious than before. The new cuisine was more readily accepted by Tang people than spirits, though profits from food were slow. He needed a way for the spirits to earn his first windfall.

Wang Qun returned from the slave market with two pieces of news. "Master, the bad news is that weaving craftsmen are hard to find—few possess the skill. The good news is that a family of carpenters has been found, and their surname is Lu, supposedly related to Master Lu Ban. The slave dealer, Cao Renyi, demanded sixty strings for the family, plus nine boys and five girls—for a total of two hundred strings. They've been sent outside the city and can be brought to the Qin village tomorrow."

Two hundred strings for a family of carpenters and fourteen children—what a bargain!

"Money is but a tool. What I want is useful people—no amount of money matters," Zhen Qian reassured Wang Qun without a trace of regret.

To Wang Qun, it seemed a poor deal, but seeing Zhen Qian so unconcerned about money, he felt his own thinking lagging behind. Hesitantly, he asked, "Master, forgive me for asking, but why do you need so many children?"

Buying craftsmen he could understand, but why so many children—was it an investment?

Of course, Zhen Qian would not reveal his true intentions yet. Training these children was a core part of his plan. He could not rely on scholars; he lacked the domineering aura to command them. Commoners were too set in their ways, and every venture he undertook was far ahead of the times—he could not trust others to keep secrets. But slaves were different; they were his personal property. Treat them well, and he could easily gain their trust and loyalty. Such an investment was well worth the cost.

This, after much consideration, was the only viable solution. Wang Qun and the other house retainers were proof enough.

"Uncle Wang, I intend to take these children as my adopted sons—what do you think?"

Since adopting Qin Meng and Ayena Ye as his own, Zhen Qian had realized that taking in orphaned slave children as adopted sons and daughters, raising them by his side and teaching them personally, could both ensure secrecy and guarantee gratitude and loyalty when they grew up, minimizing all risk.