Chapter 42 Gaining Fame

Chapter 42 Gaining Fame

Meng Chun, accompanied by five tea masters and tea house staff, brought over tea and snacks. As he boarded the boat, he tripped and nearly fell off.

"Slow down, slow down." Meng Qing was startled. She waited until he was steady and then gently comforted him, "Don't panic, take it slow."

Meng Chun's forehead was beaded with sweat. "Sister, I'm really panicked. Why don't you take over and I'll hold the baby?"

He had never been to such a big occasion before. He didn't sleep at all last night and has been feeling nervous all morning.

Meng Qing didn't respond, so she reassured her again, "Take it slow, there's no rush."

Meng's father came down from the second floor, patted Meng Chun on the shoulder, and said, "Do it according to what we discussed last night. Don't give me a break at the last minute."

"Second Sister-in-law." Du Min arrived, followed by three people. He introduced them, "Second Sister-in-law, this is Master Xie and Madam Xie, and this is Master Lin."

"Greetings to the three of you. Thank you for giving Du Min the honor of attending our Mingqi Painting Boat Banquet." Meng Qing said warmly, "Third brother, please take your teacher and teacher's wife aboard first. Dr. Xu has already arrived and is on the second floor. Remember to pay your respects."

When Master Xie and Master Lin heard that Dr. Xu had indeed arrived, they were both invigorated.

"Please," Meng's father said politely from the boat.

Five paper horses were placed on the deck at the bow of the painted boat. As soon as Madam Xie boarded the boat, she saw them. She said to Master Xie, "You go about your business. I'll take a look at the paper horses here. I've heard of them before, but I've never seen them before."

Upon hearing this, Du Min brought over a cup of tea and a plate of snacks. "Madam, please enjoy your meal. I'll go upstairs first."

"Alright, you go ahead with your work." Madam Xie nodded.

"Brother Meng, congratulations! Your business is doing a great job, it's caused a sensation throughout the city." Boss Yu arrived, accompanied by his two sons.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Mr. Yu. Please come aboard, have some tea and snacks first," said Mr. Meng, leading the way.

"Is this the place? Hey? I see Gu Wuxia." Seven or eight people dressed as students got off a boat.

Gu Wuxia and his brother Gu Wudong followed their father to the boarding gate of the painted boat. Meng Qing nodded and said nothing more than to greet the guests in a normal manner: "Thank you for your hospitality. Please board the boat."

"Master Chen is here?" Gu's father asked in a low voice.

“Yes, the second floor, but he doesn’t want to make a fuss,” Meng Qing reminded him.

Father Gu nodded, lifted his robe and went up, followed closely by Gu Wuxia and Gu Wudong.

"Second Sister-in-law Meng, we've met before, do you remember? We were invited by Du Min, has he come yet?"

Meng Qing nodded. "He's here. He's entertaining his teachers upstairs. Please board the boat."

Meng Qing calculated that all the guests she and Du Min had invited had arrived, except for the group of uninvited guests from the prefectural school, but they should arrive on time.

"Father, you come down and stay here, I'll go up next to you," she called out.

Meng's father got down and carried Wangzhou away to avoid the embarrassment of standing alone under the boat.

There was only Madam Xie on the first floor of the boat, so Meng Qing went over to greet her.

“These paper offerings you made are so beautiful. If we didn’t say they were funerary objects, I don’t know how many people would buy them to admire,” said Madam Xie.

Upon hearing this, Meng Qing understood that she was interested but wary of the term "funerary objects." She feigned helplessness and said, "There's nothing we can do about it. The paper horse shop has been open for over ten years, and the business of making funerary objects is deeply ingrained in people's minds. If we switch to other things, no one will buy them. But if someone isn't wary, we can do it."

“Not necessarily.” Wang Bushang came down from upstairs and said, “I have traveled all over the country and have only seen paper effigies in Wu County. These paper horses are sold to other places and can be sold simply as paper effigies.”

Meng Qing's eyes lit up, and he said, "If you want to do this business, our Paper Horse Shop can supply you."

Wang, the cloth merchant, shook his head. "You can't supply the goods. If I were to do this business, I could order hundreds or even thousands of items at a time. Can you handle that? After today, Wu County will be enough to keep you busy. This time, your reputation has been established, and your paper horse shop won't have to worry about business. This is much easier than simply doing paper effigies."

"Uncle Wang! You're here too?" Two more young men came aboard the pleasure boat. When they saw Wang the cloth merchant, they walked over to him warmly.

Meng Chun brought over five cups of tea and three dishes of refreshments on a tray. Meng Qing took a cup of tea and asked, "Madam Xie, would you like to come upstairs for a seat?"

Madam Xie nodded and got up to leave.

"Who's upstairs?" a newly boarded passenger asked.

“You’re all scholars, teachers and students of the academy. You don’t need to go up there; you won’t be able to get a word in edgewise,” Wang Bushang advised.

"Who is the owner of this house? Not only are they making such a big fuss, but they've also invited so many important people. I heard even Dr. Xu from the state academy is here?"

Wang Bushang never expected that a paper horse shop would have such great capabilities. Xu Cong'an was just a target here; the real big fish had not yet shown itself.

Meng Qing came down with four male apprentices. She said apologetically, "Gentlemen, the guests upstairs want to see the brass paper horses up close, so we'll take them up first."

"Please go ahead," said Wang Bushang.

All five paper horses were carried upstairs, four were left outside, and the third paper horse, which was the most vibrant in color, was carried by Du Min to the innermost room. Master Chen, Dr. Xu, and the Gu family father and son sat there leisurely. Inside, a tea master was specially assigned to brew tea, and as soon as the door opened, the room was filled with the aroma of tea.

"Sir, Doctor, Uncle Gu, this is the best-colored brass paper horse ever made by my second sister-in-law's family." Du Min walked in with a calm expression and asked humbly, "Would you like me to introduce it to you?"

"You understand?" Master Chen asked.

“I often go to Ruiguang Temple to listen to sutras recently. When I pass by a paper horse shop, I will go in and sit for a while. Although I have never made a paper horse, I have witnessed the process of this paper horse being made from scratch.”

“Alright, tell me.” Master Chen nodded.

“I won’t go into the details of the paper horse’s skeleton and flesh; it’s made using the same process as the paper horse that Uncle Gu’s family carried when they paid their respects to Old Master Chen.” Du Min casually mentioned the Gu family, then continued, “The difference is that this brass paper horse is made entirely of mulberry bark paper. The mulberry bark paper is soaked in tung oil, dried, and then the wrinkles on the paper are smoothed out with a heated iron spatula, restoring it to a flat and smooth appearance. A thin layer of ox glue is then applied to bond it together, layer upon layer, seven to eight layers are needed to achieve this effect.”

Father Gu picked up the teacup in his hand and splashed it on Du Min's face and neck. He was scalded and took a step back, enduring the pain without wiping it off. He said nonchalantly, "Layer upon layer of glue and layer upon layer of tung oil paper, the skin of this brass paper horse is as sturdy as cowhide. It is not only waterproof and moisture-proof, but I suspect it can even withstand the cuts of a knife."

Master Chen glanced at Gu's father. Was this a slap in the face to Du Min or to him? Half a year had passed since the matter of the enrollment quota for the prefectural school, and this man was still holding a grudge, resenting that he hadn't let Gu Wuxia in?

He tapped his fingers, glanced at Du Min, and fell into deep thought.

"Didn't you always look down on merchants? How come you're dealing with them now?" Gu Wuxia started picking a fight.

Du Min glanced at Dr. Xu discreetly and explained, “I was shallow before. Merchants are people too. People can be good or bad, and merchants can be cunning or virtuous. I can choose to associate with the virtuous. The Meng family is my second sister-in-law’s family and also my relatives. It would be despicable of me not to acknowledge this family.”

Gu Wuxia gave a mocking laugh.

Dr. Xu frowned impatiently; he hadn't come here to listen to their verbal sparring.

"When will the ship depart?" Dr. Xu asked, and as soon as he finished speaking, he heard a commotion.

Meng Qinglai knocked on the door, "Third brother, come out for a moment. Your classmates from the prefectural school are here, forty or fifty of them."

Dr. Xu immediately sensed something was wrong. He glanced at Du Min and saw that his expression was strange. He stood up and said, "I'll go out and see when the ship will set sail."

Du Min followed him out.

Shi Zhengli and his group were swaggering around below, looking for trouble and loudly calling for the Meng family to serve tea. Suddenly, they heard someone shout "Shameless thing!" and they looked up.

Dr. Xu, his face stern, suppressed his anger and reprimanded, "Do you have any manners as students? How are you any different from spoiled brats? Are you short of tea? You're a disgrace to the prefectural school!"

The entire room fell silent.

“Dr. Xu, please calm down. The students are passionate people. They are classmates with Du Min, like brothers. They feel at home here and are a bit more relaxed,” Meng Qing said, trying to smooth things over.

The students of the state academy were disgusted by her, and Du Min was also disgusted by the phrase "like brothers". But Dr. Xu gave him a way out. He instructed, "Du Min, you don't need to go up. Take good care of your brothers down here."

"Yes," Du Min replied, suppressing his nausea.

"I'll go ask the guests upstairs to come down; the boat is about to depart," Meng Qing said.

Du Min walked down and entered the crowd. He said in a low voice, "The teachers and students of Chongwen Academy are here too. Behave yourselves, don't cause trouble, and don't embarrass Dr. Xu."

When the guests came down from the second floor, Manager Chen also appeared. Some of them recognized him and were filled with doubt and suspicion, wondering if Master Chen was also there.

When Shi Zhengli saw him, the flame in his heart was extinguished. He was no longer a student of the prefectural school. He was not afraid to cause trouble in front of Dr. Xu, but he was afraid of Master Chen.

From then on, the guests settled down; those with seats took their seats, while those without leaned against the railing and watched the water.

Meng Qing led Meng Chun to the room where Master Chen was and took out a brass paper horse, saying, "Master Chen, Dr. Xu, Master Gu, the guests on the second floor have been cleared out. The pleasure boat will set sail later, and you can go out for a stroll."

Master Chen nodded.

Five paper horses were carried downstairs, and everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to them.

"Let me show you," said Mr. Meng, introducing the paper horses. "The black ones are made of raw lacquer ink paper, and the amber ones are made of tung oil-based paper. We've named them the Black Gold Paper Horse and the Brass Paper Horse." He then gestured for his apprentice to carry the paper horses into the crowd, saying, "The fact that these paper funerary objects can get wet is quite a surprise for the paper crafting industry. I, Mr. Meng, have invited you all to witness this achievement. Thank you for gracing us with your presence today. These five paper horses will be towed by a covered boat in front of the painted barge, traveling from Wumen to Lumen. After they are retrieved at Lumen, you will all be able to inspect them. If the paper horses are not wet, they will be given to our regular customers free of charge."

The guests present touched the paper horse and exclaimed, "It's definitely made of paper."

After the inspection, Meng Chun took out a rope, tied it to the horse's neck, and threw it directly off the painted boat. The boatmen on the covered boat below then used oars to retrieve it.

The paper horse floated on the water, and as the oars moved, water splashed onto it, making a continuous clanging sound.

The people on the pleasure boat couldn't help but walk to the side of the boat and peer down.

"No wonder it's called the Black Gold Paper Horse. This black horse, when wet, shines brightly in the sun, just like black gold," commented a local gentryman.

The ropes for the five paper horses were all tied to the stern of the boat. The awning boat started moving first, and the two boatmen rowed simultaneously, and the small boat quickly went far away. From a distance, the five paper horses that had fallen into the water looked more and more realistic. The black and gold paper horse looked like a living horse, while the brass paper horse really looked like it was cast from molten brass.

With a "whoosh," the painted boat raised its sails.

As the painted boat moved forward, the tea masters began to pour tea, and the Meng family's apprentices served out tea and snacks.

"Here it comes, here it comes, the boat is here." The teahouses on the shore were packed with people sitting by the windows.

The riverbank and the bridge were also filled with onlookers.

Master Chen came out of the room and walked to the side of the sail. The sail blocked his view, allowing him to freely observe the pedestrians on both sides of the river.

The idlers on the shore followed the boat, running as they crossed the bridge. The children followed suit, running along the riverbank, calling to their friends, like little ponies.

"What's going on here? What's the excitement?" asked someone who didn't know what was going on.

"You didn't know? The Meng family's paper horse shop under Ruiguang Temple is saying they've made waterproof and moisture-proof paper funerary objects, and they're testing them in water today. Did you see those five paper horses over there? If they don't get wet by the time they reach the gate, they'll be given to the shop's regular customers after they're retrieved. I heard they cost six strings of cash per horse, that's quite a generous offer."

"I'll go take a look too."

"Want a boat ride? It only costs five coins to get to the village gate," a small boat on the riverbank called out, soliciting business.

"It's really lively," Madam Xie said, taking a sip of tea in a good mood.

The people on the pleasure boat all had their eyes on the crowds running along the riverbanks. They basked in the gazes falling upon them, filled with envy, longing, and amazement...

"The people of Wu County are more carefree, leisurely, and at ease than the people of Chang'an. It's really lively today," said Master Chen.

Dr. Xu nodded, "I'm afraid half the people in the county have come here."

"This is a good idea. It seems that paper-made funerary objects will take root in Wu County," commented Master Chen.

As the pleasure boat approached the village gate, one could see people everywhere. The county government's yamen runners had all arrived, and the soldiers stationed on the city wall were also peering down.

"You're really idle." Master Chen laughed, shook his head, and went back into the house. "You can continue watching; you don't need to follow me."

The paper horses had been retrieved from the awning boats floating on the river, the ropes had been torn, and the five paper horses were being passed back and forth between the awning boats.

"Is it wet or not?" someone on the shore asked anxiously.

The people on the pleasure boat were also curious.

"This paper horse isn't wet at all, not a drop. After wiping it dry, there's not a single damp spot." A loafer grabbed the brass paper horse and said loudly, "Master Meng, I bought paper figures from your paper horse shop. Give me this paper horse."

"no!"

"Don't even think about it!"

"I don't think you're planning to get ashore today!"

Those on the shore unanimously opposed it.

"How should it be delivered?" Wang Bushang asked.

Mencius' father took out five sandbags and said, "Whoever receives a sandbag can answer three questions and receive a paper horse."

"Throw it away," said Wang the cloth merchant.

Meng's father distributed the five sandbags: one to Meng Chun, one to Meng Qing, one to Du Min, one to Wang Bushang, and one to Li Bushang.

"We can throw it too?" Wang Bushang asked in surprise.

“Without you, we wouldn’t be able to make these paper offerings. It’s best if you throw them,” said Meng’s father.

Meng Chun weighed the sandbag in his hand and threw it onto the bridge.

"Here! Here! Throw it here!" people on the shore shouted.

"Throw it onto my boat!" shouted the boatman on the water.

"Meng Qing, throw it to me!" Aunt Zao Hua from Jiayufang shouted.

"Here! Give it to me—"

Yu Dongjia's ears hurt from the noise. He walked over to Meng's father and said, "Brother, you're going to make a fortune! After today, everyone in the county will know the name of your Meng family's paper horse shop."