Chapter Sixteen: The Dragon-Bone Waterwheel

Master Lin and Lady Tian excused themselves, saying they would go together to the pharmacy to discuss the treatment for the Tian family’s illness.

Gan Sui was about to join them when the county magistrate spoke, “Scholar Gan, please stay.”

Gan Sui asked Hui Niang to find Banxia, then turned to face the magistrate.

“Are you dissatisfied with today’s outcome, Scholar Gan?”

“Such is the way of the world; I have no complaints.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Complaints are reserved for the weak, and I will not be weak in the future. If you have nothing further, I will take my leave.” With that, he walked out the door.

Lin You entered to find his father deep in thought.

“Father, what’s wrong? Are you still worrying about Second Uncle’s family?”

The county magistrate looked up at his son.

“Father, what’s that look in your eyes?”

“I’m pondering how people of the same age can be so different.”

“Are you complimenting me?” His father’s expression didn’t seem so.

“I met someone today whom I believe will amount to something great. You should make his acquaintance.”

“Who is it? Don’t tell me it’s another pedantic old scholar—I’m not interested.”

“It’s a young man, now at Renren Hall with your Third Uncle. Go there and see him; if you find him agreeable, make friends.”

“Yes.” He was planning to visit the pharmacy anyway.

Hui Niang and Master Lin stepped out and spotted Banxia. Banxia approached, “Where’s Gan Sui? Didn’t he come out with you?”

“Scholar Gan was asked to stay by the magistrate for a discussion and told me to come out first.”

“Go ahead with your errands; I’ll wait for him.”

“I’ll wait with you.”

“But Master Lin—”

“If Master Lin has other matters, please don’t let us delay you. The medical fees are paid; Renren Hall won’t make things difficult.”

“Nonsense, Lady Tian, but indeed I have some affairs to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.” With that, Master Lin turned and departed. Just then, Gan Sui emerged, and Banxia remarked, “Master Lin left in quite a hurry.”

“He’s afraid of losing face, worried people will find out about his son’s troubles.”

“But with things blown up now, many already know.”

“As long as there’s no imprisonment, he can say what he likes later. The crowd watching, who truly cares what the truth is?” Gan Sui took out the silver from his sleeve pouch and handed it to Banxia.

“More silver.” Banxia secretly peeked inside, “And so much of it.”

Gan Sui watched her, looking like a little hamster seeing a feast, a miser guarding her treasure, and felt some of his heaviness lift. “Hush money.”

Banxia paused, then understood, “With such a sum, let’s have a good meal at the restaurant this afternoon.”

“Agreed.”

Watching the loving couple, Hui Niang laughed, “Never expected Lady Su to hold the purse in Scholar Gan’s household.”

Banxia was embarrassed to have others overhear. “No, I’ve just never seen so much silver before—it makes me happy.”

“Me too. He gave thirty taels—all thanks to you two. This great kindness, I’ll remember forever. Today I must hurry home to inform my mother-in-law and husband. Tomorrow I’ll prepare a meal, and I hope you’ll honor us with your presence.”

“No need, no need. With someone still unwell at home, wait until your family is all recovered before we discuss meals.”

“Then I won’t be polite. No need for you to accompany me to the clinic; go eat first.”

“I have business at Renren Hall as well. I’ll check on today’s witness and discuss what happened.”

So the group headed to Renren Hall.

By midday, the crowd had thinned. Baizhi was at the front desk tallying accounts. Seeing them enter, he asked, “Is everything resolved?”

“Settlement reached, silver paid.” Hui Niang took out five taels, “Hope you won’t disdain it. You risked yourself to testify for me—I have nothing else to offer.”

“No need at all. I only testified because of Brother Gan.” He firmly returned the silver.

“If he won’t accept it, then leave it, Lady Tian. Brother Bai may be leaving soon—why not share a meal before you go?”

Lady Tian took her medicine and hurried home but forced three taels of silver into Banxia’s hand, asking her to host Bai Zhi properly.

Banxia reluctantly agreed. Bai Zhi notified the pharmacy, and the three left together.

At the entrance, “Hey, you! Little girl, stop right there for this young master.”

It was a case of enemies meeting. Banxia’s head throbbed—wasn’t this the little rascal she’d met yesterday?

That rascal, Lin You, gently shook his folding fan. “I knew you’d come to change your medicine. Got you, didn’t I?” Banxia had her hair in a fishtail braid today, which Lin You wanted to tug. He reached out but was stopped.

“Sir, please behave yourself—don’t touch my wife.”

“Wife? What’s that? You’re married? Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?”

“We aren’t acquainted, and I don’t announce my marriage to every stranger I meet.” Banxia nearly rolled her eyes. Gan Sui had just moved past this, and now this fool was causing trouble again.

“But… but… you haven’t even styled your hair.”

“I can’t. Is that a problem?” Banxia retorted.

Lin You looked crestfallen for a second, then tugged at Bai Zhi. “Is there a Scholar Gan here? Where is he?”

Bai Zhi glanced at him and pointed at Gan Sui. “That’s him.”

Lin You sized him up, “So you’re Gan Sui.”

“That’s right.”

“I heard you wrote a petition against Lin Qianbao?”

“I did.”

Bai Zhi eyed Lin You’s stern expression—was he going to start a fight? Scholar Gan wouldn’t stand a chance.

But Lin You suddenly grinned, “Good kid! I’ve wanted to deal with him myself, but feared my father’s wrath. Well done. Next time I catch him in the wrong, I’ll tell you straight away—let you sue him to death.”

The remark was so absurd, it was beyond comment.

Lin You was remarkably familiar, “Where are you all headed?”

“To eat,” honest Bai Zhi replied.

“I’m coming—I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Did you bring any money?” Banxia asked.

“I lost two taels yesterday, so isn’t it fair for you to treat me today? We’re bonded by life and death now; don’t be stingy.” Lin You sidled up, but Gan Sui pushed him aside.

“Speak properly. Don’t get too close.” This kind of brat was just irritating.

“So stingy. Fine, I’ll be magnanimous and not hold it against you. Let’s go to Moonwhite Pavilion—their Autumn Moonwhite is the most authentic, though a bit pricey, three taels a jar.”

“Not enough silver for that. We can’t afford it,” Banxia said bluntly.

“No matter, let’s drink something else.”

Some people are passionate about drinking, but that doesn’t mean they can hold their liquor—like Lin You, who folds after one cup.

Lin You, claiming everyone was in high spirits, ordered rice wine. In ancient times, rice wine wasn’t distilled and had a low alcohol content. Banxia disliked drinking and barely touched her lips to it.

Lin You, full of bravado, poured himself a big bowl. “What’s that? When you’re happy, you should eat meat and drink wine in big gulps.” He raised the bowl and started gulping.

Then, setting the bowl down, he collapsed.

“Is he… drunk?” Bai Zhi was amazed.

Banxia poked him. “Wake up, wake up.”

Lin You opened his eyes and, with a paper fan, lifted Banxia’s chin. “This girl is lovely—how about coming home with me as my eighteenth concubine?”

Banxia slapped him, “Go dream your spring and autumn dreams.”

Lin You went limp again, asleep at the table. At least he slept quietly and didn’t snore.

Bai Zhi was Gan Sui’s first friend in this world; they had much in common. Bai Zhi was well-read, and their conversations were lively. Banxia listened with keen interest.

The meal lasted an hour. As they left, Banxia asked, “What about him?”

“Leave him here,” Gan Sui replied.

“That doesn’t seem right,” honest Bai Zhi said, “Wake up, Young Master Lin.”

Lin You woke, “Huh? Wasn’t I drinking?”

“Was it your first time?”

“How could it be? I drank once when I was eight.”

No wonder. “Young Master Lin, a one-cup wonder. Don’t drink next time.”

“One-cup wonder? Who, me? I never get drunk, not even after a thousand cups.”

Ha.

After lunch, the day was still young. Gan Sui planned to visit the bookshop and pick up a couple of books to copy at home.

“This weather is sultry—looks like it’ll rain tonight. I’m worried our thatched hut won’t withstand a downpour. While there’s daylight, I’ll buy some meat and ask villagers to help fix the roof,” Banxia said. She’d worried about rain since moving in, and though the skies had been clear lately, repairs were necessary.

“Alright, you go to the butcher; I’ll wait at the bookshop.”

“You two forgot about me?” Lin You protested.

“Master Lin, if you’re idle, go have tea, listen to music, comfort a maiden. We common folk still have to make a living.”

“I’ve never seen how meat is bought—I’ll go with you.”

“Please don’t linger, Young Master Lin, lest others misunderstand,” Gan Sui said seriously.

“Your husband, so young yet such a pedant.”

Banxia smacked him on the head.

“Why hit me?”

“If I hear you badmouth Gan Sui again, I’ll hit you every time.”

“I’m off to buy meat then.” Banxia, silver in hand, skipped to the butcher’s.

“Hey, Scholar, aren’t you afraid of your fierce wife?”

“My wife is never fierce with me.”

Lin You, who hadn’t eaten a bite, suddenly felt stuffed.

Gan Sui ignored him and went to the bookshop. Lin You watched Banxia leave, then Gan Sui, and decided to follow Gan Sui. Banxia’s slap really packed a punch.

Shopkeeper Yan was eagerly awaiting, and saw Gan Sui approach. “How went things?”

“Not as ideal as hoped, but the outcome is good. The afflicted family is satisfied.”

“That’s good, that’s good. It’s a good deed, truly.”

“Any books in need of copying?”

“Yes, quite a few. What you copied yesterday sold today—everyone praised your handwriting.”

“Your business skills, Shopkeeper, are excellent.”

Gan Sui browsed books while waiting for Banxia. Lin You had never liked reading, felt uneasy in the bookshop, and since Gan Sui was absorbed in reading, ignored him, Lin You sat listlessly.

Banxia returned with the meat; the shopkeeper saw her flushed face and handed her a fan. “It’s hot early this year. Looks like a drought’s coming.”

“Relying on heaven’s moods to eat is too hard.”

“Indeed. If the drought persists, crops may fail. But the southern village has a millennium-old stream that never dries up. As long as water is carried for irrigation, there shouldn’t be shortages, though it is laborious.”

“Carrying water—couldn’t a dragon backbone waterwheel be used for direct irrigation?”

“What’s that? Never heard of it.”

“Never? Here, let me draw it,” Gan Sui said, sketching a device resembling a dragon or serpent. “This is the dragon backbone waterwheel—wooden boards form a trough, with one end submerged in the stream and small axles at both ends, fixed to a wooden frame on the bank. By stepping on the lever, the main axle turns, lifting water along the trough to irrigate higher fields.”

“A marvel! Scholar Gan, you even know such ingenious devices?”

“It’s not my invention—I read it in a book and found it interesting.”

“If this can be widely used, farmers could be spared much hardship.”

“I’ll show it to my father—maybe it can be used this year.” Lin You, who had been standing idle, felt he had a purpose at last. “Brother Gan, explain the details of its operation.”

Gan Sui explained, “To irrigate, submerge the end in water, step on the pedal, and the axle raises water up for irrigation. But it’s only good for short distances—fields too far from the stream won’t work.”

“That’s easily solved—relay systems can irrigate different fields.” Gan Sui was surprised; Lin You wasn’t as useless as he’d thought.

“I’ll show my father now. Brother Gan, come along.”

“I’ll pass—I need to go home and repair the hut. You already understand the principle, so it’s the same if you go.”

“Then I’ll head back.” Excited to witness such an invention, Lin You took off running, shouting, “Don’t worry, I’ll never steal your credit!”