Struggle in Ancient Times

It was already noon when Liao Tingyu arrived in the county town. He handed his card to the gatekeeper, “Xiaoge (little brother), I hope you can convey the invitation on my behalf.” He said and stuffed some money to the gatekeeper.

The boy was very satisfied with the money, it was rare to meet someone generous, “Okay, just wait for me.” The boy replied courteously.

Liao Tingyu waited outside.

Soon, someone led him into the main room of the Qingshui county Office, there was a middle-aged man with slender body waited for him. His face was young and without a beard, this was the chief of Gongbu branch in Qingshui county.

“Xuesheng (student), this year’s scholar, my name is Liao Tingyu, courtesy name is Yue. I have met Chen-zushi (chief).” Liao Tingyu saluted respectfully.

“Liao-xiucai, please raise. You are indeed a young talent. I’m the chief of Gongbu branch in Qingshui county, Chen Yi.” Chen Yi didn’t dare to accept the salute. After all, he was a scholar too. He gently lifted Liao Tingyu’s arms.

“Thank you, Chen-zushi.” Liao Tingyu felt Chen Yi’s grace and followed him to sit on the chair.

“I just read your invitation card, which said you know the method of producing refined salt. I am very pleased; the strict control over salt was because our production rate isn’t hight. I don’t know how this refined salt looks like, I have never heard about it for many years. Maybe Liao-xiucai could show it to me?”

Chen-zushi said carefully, he was a learned man and observed Liao Tingyu. He looked at Liao Tingyu gently but he felt a little uneasy. Usually, the one who met him was farmers or merchants, scholars wouldn’t even look for him.

Liao Tingyu didn’t feel anything; he was thankful to himself who took the trouble and made his own refined salt. This way he could show the finished product, without this he didn’t know how the discussion would end.

Liao Tingyu took out the rice paper he reluctantly used to store the salt and handed it to Chen-zushi, “Please look at this daren*; I made this by my own method. The salt is white and crystal clear, it didn’t have any bitterness. You can try it, daren.”

Chen-zushi took the salt with both hands in surprise, he looked at the salt like snow particles and said emotionally, “It is the first time I saw pure white salt in my life. This worth my lifetime to witness it.”

He carefully tasted the salt and sure enough, as Liao Tingyu said, it was only salty without bitterness. He happily asked, “Okay, okay. It is a good taste, Liao-xiucai, you are very knowledgeable and talented. I don’t know, how much we could produce this salt according your method?”

“Answering back to daren, the production of this salt isn’t very high. It could only be eaten by high-ranking official, noble clans and imperial family; it consumes a lot of firewood.” Liao Tingyu replied the truth with stable emotion.

“But I still have a way to remove the bitterness from the salt that is sold on the market today. But it couldn’t achieve the colour and refined salt like in your hands, daren. I could only keep the salty taste.”

“Even if it couldn’t be good like this. As long as there was no bitterness, it is good.” Chen-zushi held the paper with salt inside, “Our salt is salty but there is a bitterness inside. The food also has bitter taste.” Chen Yi looked deeply hurt by their foods.

Liao Tingyu nodded; he thought exactly the same. The people here already used by the bitter salt, but he who was from the modern times couldn’t do it.

“If you really have the method, I will help you get a good reward.” Chen Yi said loyally.

It wasn’t like a few decades ago, in the past, scholar was like a fragrant steamed bun. Right now, with a fame and recommendation from other officials, he could at least win a minor job as official.

Chen Yi looked at Liao Tingyu with some pity. It was fine if his family was rich, but judging from the clothes, his family background wasn’t that good.

“Xuesheng would thank daren from the help.” Liao Tingyu didn’t care about Chen Yi’s thought; he stood up happily and thanked him.

Note

*daren: this how you address an official, especially someone with higher rank.