The Young Lady of the General’s House

Chu Xiuming looked at her easily-satisfied little wife, he didn’t say anything, took her hand towards the leather area. “Do you have white fox fur?”

The stall owner was a dark and strong-looking man, there was also a petite woman besides him. The woman’s features couldn’t be said delicate and her skin wasn’t fair either, but she had an indescribable charm like a flower in full bloom, garish and fiery. She smiled brightly, “It is for your little lady, isn’t it? We have white fox fur, how many would you like?”

“How many you have?” Chu Xiuming asked.

“Have a look at the goods first.” The women gestured to the man with a look, he bent to pick up a full white fox skin from below. “Hunted in winter, the fur is thick and good.”

Chu Xiuming could see it as well, their fur was not bad and had passed through good treatment. Shen Jin eyes had been sparkling at the fluffy furs at the stall, she had never seen so many furs, she wanted to touch but was too embarassed. When the white fox fur was displayed, she couldn’t resist pressing Chu Xiuming’s palm, he didn’t respond so she pressed again a few times.

Every year Rui Wang’s mansion distributed furs according to the rules of allowances, but Rui Wang had always gave Xu Cefei a lot more in private. After Shen Jin was with Rui Wangfei she also received some extras, but that was after Wangfei gave her own daughter and sons first.

Chu Xiuming lowered his head to look at her, Shen Jin asked, “Will it be expensive?”

“No.” Chu Xiuming asked, “Like these a lot?”

“En.” Shen Jin spoke, “Mother always gave me all the furs she saved.”

Chu Xiuming responded, “Then let’s get some more for Mother-in-Law too.”

Chu Xiuming just remembered that the warehouse key was not handed to Shen Jin yet, so she didn’t know they still had some furs in the storage even if not many. Those were the ones he brought back but since it was a wartime he only took the better quality ones. This time they were buying just because he wanted to get her a full length white fox fur coat.

Since she liked furs so much, they should get more for next year’s winter, she would love thick furs in all the rooms. But he wouldn’t tell her now, it would be a surprise for Shen Jin.

“How many white fox ones you have?”

“Four.” The woman replied, “These things are very sneaky, difficult to hunt.”

Chu Xiuming asked, “How much?”

“No money, I want tea and salt.” The woman guessed they were not ordinary people. The distribution of tea and salt was regulated by the Court, so officially could only be bought from government offices. They couldn’t buy from government offices so could only get it from black market or barter in markets like this.

Chu Xiuming was not surprised, he nodded, “How much?”

The woman gave him a number, Chu Xiuming frowned, “Too expensive, it’s getting warm, no use for furs soon.” This was correct, but also not the truth. With good keeping furs could be stored for two years without problem, especially this kind of white furs.

“It’s negotiable.” The woman glanced at the naive looking Shen Jin. She thought as expected pretty boys were unreliable, shouldn’t all men in the world loved to show off in front of their women!

(T/N: The woman thought in front of Shen Jin, Chu Xiuming wouldn’t try to bargain.)

Chu Xiuming said, “Take some more out to choose.” The woman had the man took out all the good merchandise.

Chu Xiuming lowered his head to Shen Jin, “Choose some for Mother-in-Law.”

“Yes.” Shen Jin softly said. She was looking at them with confused looks, the woman’s accent was very thick but at the beginning she could still roughly guessed their conversation, however they then switched to some local language.

She chose some furs for her mother, Rui Wangfei and Rui Wang. Mother was still living in Rui Wang’s mansion, and inevitably still relied on Rui Wangfei’s care. As for Rui Wang, she couldn’t expect him to remember, let alone caring.

When she finished, Chu Xiuming also chose some furs, he talked some more with the sellers then led her away. Shen Jin obediently followed, she thought the deal didn’t come through, “There are still many others selling furs, we can shop slowly.”

Chu Xiuming paused walking and laughed, “Don’t worry, all those furs are yours. I have them deliver to the mansion directly.”

Shen Jin responded and didn’t ask anymore. Chu Xiuming bought other things as well, some were to be delivered to the mansion like the furs. When Shen Jin got tired, he sat her on his shoulders again. Having the experience, she sat more comfortable and relaxly swang her legs.

Soon Chu Xiuming finished shopping, they went to the transport area. This area didn’t just sell horses but also little animals. Shen Jin on his shoulder saw Chu Xiuyuan, she pointed him out so Chu Xiuming took her over.

Chu Xiuyuan was startled seeing them that way, he stared at Sister-in-Law, then at Chu Xiuming, and at last looked at the guards. Someone rode on Big Brother?

Chu Xiuming’s face was calm and Shen Jin was also acting normal, so Chu Xiuyuan felt he shouldn’t make it a big deal. After Chu Xiuming put Shen Jin down, he said, “Big Brother, there is a pregnant mare there, but the asking price is high and not sure what breed the stallion is, could you have a look.”

“Alright.” The mare carrying foals was tethered alone, her belly looked ready to give birth already. First time Shen Jin saw this, unfortunately the smell around there was very bad, no wonder Chu Xiuming brought her here last.

It was hard to check from far, Chu Xiuming let go Shen Jin’s hand that he was still holding, “Don’t you want to buy some things? Xiuyuan can take you.”

“I’ll wait here for you.” Shen Jin very innocently said.

Chu Xiuming’s heart warmed as he heard this, he wanted to speak when Chu Xiuyuan said, “Sister-in-Law, there are snow rabbits for sale over there. I saw a nest of them, the baby rabbits are smaller than my hand.”

Shen Jin’s eyes lit up, very docile and still innocently said, “Fujun you are busy, I better not be here distracting you, please come for me and Xiuyuan when you are done.”

Chu Xiuming seeing her innocent looks, he felt speechless, after a pause he said, “Go then.”

“Big Brother don’t worry, I will take care of Sister-in-Law.” Chu Xiuyuan assured him.

Chu Xiuming waved his hand, Shen Jin happily urged Chu Xiuyuan to move, “Let’s hurry, how if someone buys them.”

“Sister-in-Law don’t worry, they have less than 2 liang meat, noone wants to eat.” Chu Xiuyuan said.

Chu Xiuming’s face remained unchanged, “Go.”

Seeing the Madam just left without looking back, the two remaining guards gave Chu Xiuming’s backside a sympathetic look. Apparently in Madam’s heart the General was in lower position than a bunch of rabbits. They looked at each other, then followed the General.

The area for live animals naturally was littered by animal droppings. Walking with Chu Xiuming, he would pick the path carefully or simply held Shen Jin up, but Chu Xiuyuan didn’t care about this. Shen Jin was too afraid to wonder what were the soft things she stepped on.

All the discomforts disappeared as she saw the rabbits. These rabbits were really cute, ears slightly shorter than other kind of rabbits, shorter tails too, big round eyes, fluffy fur of uncertain colours with some parts lighter some parts darker as if they were in the middle of changing furs, the abdomen part was all white, tips of ears and around eyes were black-brown, the palms of the paws were light yellow.

Two rabbits a bit bigger than palms were crouching, with four or five of smallers ones on their side. Chu Xiuyuan said, “They don’t look pretty now, but in winter they will all turn white, and these little ones are not even 20 days old yet.”

“Little brother knows a lot.” The rabbit seller spoke, “I was going to sell rabbit fur, but this one is pregnant so I can’t sell as fur. My family doesn’t want to keep so I took them here, mother rabbit gave birth on the way, the bunnies are just 11 days old.”

“How do you know they are not 20 days old yet?” Shen Jin curiously asked.

“Because after 20 days old, the big rabbits won’t be so close to them.” Chu Xiuyuan said, “Sister-in-Law wants them?”

The rabbit sellers heard him, so the young girl was a married lady, he thought they were playmates running around.

“Can I touch them?” Shen Jin looked at the rabbit seller.

“Just don’t let them bite you.” The rabbit seller thought noone could refuse such a cute girl. Pity she married too early, however it must be a big family otherwise they wouldn’t be able to raise such a delicate girl.

Shen Jin nodded, her eyes opened wide. The two rabbits in the cage were also looking at her with their big eyes. Chu Xiuyuan almost blurted out laughing, three pairs of huge and bright eyes were talking to each other separated by the cage.

Shen Jin poked one finger through the gap on the cage but instantly withdrew it. She stared at the rabbit waiting for it’s response, seeing none, she poked again. This time the rabbit reacted, it slowly moved and turned it’s back, the short tail was now facing Shen Jin.

“How much?” Shen Jin was full of love, she decided to fence a part of the garden and plant a lot of grass for the rabbits. These rabbits could change colour!

She remembered two lines from Wei Zhuang’s poem [Yin Xi House], “Fowl sings in spring dusk drizzle, rabbit dances in winter deserted weeds”. The poem must be about this kind of rabbits.

(T/N: Wei Zhuang was a poet in late Tang Dynasty. I couldn’t find English translation of [Yin Xi House], so I just translate it word by word regardless of the meaning. But I think Shen Jin probably didn’t know either, she picked the two words ‘snow’ and ‘rabbit’ in the poem and thought it’s about winter rabbits like hers. Anyone knows more about this poem, feel free to tell us.)

The rabbit sellers didn’t ask for much, Shen Jin turned to Chu Xiuyuan who nodded and said, “We’ll buy them.”

Without waiting for Chu Xiuyuan, Shen Jin had paid it herself. Chu Xiuyuan didn’t try to pay for her but after the transaction he carried the rabbits. This many rabbits big and small was quite heavy. Couldn’t let Big Brother see Shen Jin carry these herself or he would get sorted again.