Chapter Five: I Have a Relative

Ten days ago, Zhang Qian and Zhou Jianliang managed to successfully lure the crazed giraffe away from the front of the Zichen Hall, thanks in large part to Li Qi, who, along with a group of guards and stable hands, dismantled the gatehouse ahead of them.

Therefore, both Zhang Qian and Zhou Jianliang held a favorable impression of this Li Imperial Attendant. Exchanging glances to gauge each other’s stance, they quickened their pace toward the entrance together.

“Imperial Attendant Li, your swift presence is most welcome. I, Zhang, have long hoped for this meeting. It’s just that the Armory Bureau has been ordered to relocate recently, and things here are somewhat chaotic. I beg your pardon for any inconvenience!” Although Li Qi was about the same age and rank as Zhang Qian, based on his later-learned knowledge of bureaucratic etiquette, Zhang still made a conscientious effort to show sufficient respect to this “leader’s driver.” Upon opening the door, he smiled warmly and bowed politely.

“No need for formalities, Deputy Supervisor Zhang. Things on my end are usually even more disorderly,” Li Qi replied with ease, stepping aside and returning the bow with equal courtesy. He then cheerfully explained his purpose for coming: “Today, I am here specifically about the relocation of the Armory Bureau! The higher-ups have said that since the Armory is moving into the Imperial Garden, the task is heavy, and the Escort Bureau will do its best to provide support. Over here, we have plenty of carts, horses, and men. Whenever you need vehicles, horses, or manpower, just send your men over to notify us!”

“In that case, many thanks, Brother Li!” Zhang Qian was overjoyed to hear that Li Qi was officially sent to assist, as he had been worried about lacking enough hands and resources. He promptly bowed again, then stepped aside to invite him in. “Please come inside, Brother Li. As it happens, we have both wine and meat today; let us feast heartily.”

“Then I won’t be shy!” Li Qi smiled and returned the gesture before stepping inside. Zhou Jianliang, Guo Nu, and Ren Cong, all of lower rank, came forward to pay their respects one by one. Yet Li Qi showed no airs of being merely “the leader’s driver,” happily returning their bows with equal respect before settling comfortably into the seat Guo Nu had made room for him.

Though humble in demeanor, Guo Nu and Ren Cong no longer dared to be as casual as they had been with Zhou Jianliang before. One moved the copper hot pot aside and hurried to help set the tableware, while the other fetched two copper cups—one large, one small—and promptly filled them both with chrysanthemum white liquor.

“Good wine!” Li Qi was truly unreserved. Without waiting for Zhang Qian to prepare a new copper pot, he lifted the large cup and took a vigorous gulp. Then he leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. “Now this is proper liquor, the kind fit for men. The drunks and swill they offer in the capital are nothing but swill fit for dogs!”

“Brother Li, you mustn’t say such things outside, or you’ll offend too many people!” Zhang Qian laughed lightly while swiftly assembling the fifth small copper hot pot.

“Of course not. Do I look like someone who lacks discretion?” Li Qi took another hearty swallow and exhaled again. “I only dare speak frankly before the host of this chrysanthemum white. By the way, I’ll be upfront—my men at the Escort Bureau are responsible for the move. But as for this fine wine, you must prepare several large barrels for me later. I’ve already boasted to the men that the Armory guards the powder refining furnace—just a little spill will be enough for everyone to drink their fill!”

“All right, definitely. On that day, everyone will have more than enough! They can drink to their heart’s content and even take some home in a gourd!” Hearing Li Qi’s unabashed words, Zhang Qian readily agreed.

For someone like him, inexperienced in officialdom, matters were simply this straightforward. Even though Li Qi was officially dispatched with his men to assist the Armory Bureau, he owed Zhang Qian nothing. So, any gesture of goodwill required a reciprocal display of respect.

Moreover, Li Qi’s willingness to volunteer conditions spared Zhang the trouble of pondering how to repay the Escort Bureau’s kindness.

Like Zhang, those men had never tasted premium liquors like Maotai or Wuliangye. They simply diluted the alcohol extracted from the powder refining pot to about sixty degrees and added some plant essences to mask the taste.

At the same time, Zhang could report some inflated expenses to superiors, secretly redirecting the saved alcohol with Zhou Jianliang to the Shuofang Army, thereby satisfying some of their needs without alarming Li Xian within the palace.

“Then I’ll take this opportunity to thank you, Deputy Supervisor Zhang, on behalf of my brothers!” Li Qi sat up straight, nodding respectfully. His gaze then fixed on the brazier behind Zhou Jianliang. “Is this also a tool passed down from Brother Zhang’s sect? What is it called? Though somewhat unsightly, it looks very practical!”

Before Zhang could respond, Li Qi rose and circled the brazier, scrutinizing it carefully. “Having one of these in the room during winter must save a lot of smoke exposure. If a pot of soup is placed on top, it can quench thirst anytime and add moisture to the air, preventing dry skin. I wonder how much it costs? Can ordinary households afford such a thing?”

“A simple winter gadget from my sect. Didn’t expect it to catch Brother Li’s eye,” Zhang Qian said, deftly finishing assembling the small copper hot pot. He rinsed it with hot water from the teapot’s nest and smiled as he replied, “In my sect, it’s called a brazier, made a bit more delicately than this. But currently, the Armory Bureau can’t produce thin iron sheets, so we must make do with what we have. As for its use, it’s just as you said. Here, the pot is clean—please enjoy, Brother Li.”

As he spoke, he placed the copper pot on the table before the seat, lit the wick, adjusted the flame, and filled it with chicken broth with a smooth, practiced motion. “This simple style of eating isn’t fit for high society. Brother Li, please bear with it!”

“Simple?” Though well-traveled, this was Li Qi’s first time eating hot pot, and his first time seeing an alcohol stove that neither smoked nor had a fixed flame. Forgetting to further examine the brazier, he quickly returned to his seat, eyes wide with amazement. “This must be what ‘no food is too exquisite, no dish too fine’ means.”

“You just haven’t read the culinary descriptions in Cao Xueqin’s works!” Zhang Qian muttered to himself, unwilling to accept such praise and then began demonstrating how to cook the meat.

As a liberal arts student, he had read Dream of the Red Chamber many times, each time marveling at the meticulousness and opulence of the Jia family’s cuisine. So, in his mind, the phrase “no food is too exquisite, no dish too fine” was synonymous with the Jia family’s dishes. He dared not admit that simply dipping lamb slices in a copper pot qualified as ‘exquisite.’

Yet, Li Qi’s enjoyment of the meal somewhat belied his status as “the leader’s personal driver.” After imitating Zhang Qian and tasting a few bites of lamb, he shouted enthusiastically like a common soldier. Then, with rapid chopstick movements and frequent toasts, he devoured the food as if swept up in a whirlwind, needing no encouragement.

Seeing his hearty appetite, Zhang Qian, Zhou Jianliang, and the others were instantly inspired to join in. They eagerly picked up their chopsticks, dipped meat, drank wine, and soon their faces flushed and brows glistened with sweat.

“Apologies for intruding uninvited and troubling Brother Zhang,” Li Qi said humbly after two jin of lamb and a large cup of white wine. Raising his small cup, he invited Zhang Qian, “Let me toast first—to the promotions of Brother Zhang and Brother Zhou!”

“You flatter me; I am but a humble subordinate unworthy of the Imperial Attendant’s toast!” Zhou Jianliang was the lowest in rank and immediately stood, bowing with both hands holding his cup.

“Cut the nonsense. Brother Zhang treats you well, yet I haven’t seen you demur. Since we share this meal and drink, let’s not fuss over rank. If you’re uncomfortable, I’m uncomfortable. If both are uncomfortable, why gather at all?” Li Qi rolled his eyes in mock displeasure before draining his copper cup.

Zhou Jianliang had no choice but to drink alongside him. Seeing Li Qi’s frankness, Zhang Qian, eager to make a friend, also emptied his cup.

As they prepared to refill their cups to reciprocate, Li Qi had already grabbed a wine gourd from Guo Nu, filling both his large and small cups. Raising the small cup a second time, he smiled and added, “This second toast is specially for Brother Zhang. Besides official business, I actually have a personal favor to ask. I hope Brother Zhang won’t mind my boldness when I speak.”

“Brother Li, please speak freely. As long as it’s within my ability, I will not refuse!” Zhang Qian raised his small cup and signaled Guo Nu to pour more, smiling to show his willingness.

“It’s nothing major!” Li Qi drained his cup before continuing with a smile, “I won’t make things difficult for Brother Zhang. Of course, if you do feel troubled, you may refuse.”

“Please, speak openly!” Zhang Qian quickly finished his cup, straightened, and readied himself to listen.

“Then I won’t be shy!” Li Qi chose his words carefully, smiled, and bowed slightly. “I have a relative surnamed Gao, somewhat unreliable. He failed at studying and farming, so he opened a shop selling ‘fa candles’—the Gao family’s old shop at Dongshikou. Brother Zhang, have you ever used fa candles? I guess you’d disdain such common folk items. They’re made by gathering worn-out straw sandals and hemp clothes from Chang’an’s residents, mixed with peat, sawdust, yellow clay, and compressed into dry fuel. The smell isn’t pleasant, but they’re cheap and burn well.” (Note: Fa candles are historically accurate, not fabricated.)

“Ah?” Zhang Qian’s eyes widened, mouth agape.

Coal briquettes already existed in the Tang dynasty, and were environmentally friendly, utilizing recycled materials! He wondered if they had been pressed with ventilated honeycomb patterns.

‘Could the inventor of this have originated from the twenty-first century?’ A sudden flash of insight struck him, filling him with eager anticipation.

Just as he prepared to inquire whether the inventor of fa candles still lived and where, Guo Nu’s voice came from his side, “The Gao family’s old shop at Dongshikou? May I ask if your relative is Gao Shouyi? The elder Gao who, a few years ago, chivalrously saved the Dou family and took over their fa candle business?”

“Exactly! Didn’t expect Registrar Guo to know my relative’s name!” Li Qi smiled and turned to Guo Nu. “It wasn’t charity that made him help. He saw potential in the Dou family’s business and gave them a good price. Both buyer and seller were willing. It wasn’t really a rescue.”

“Imperial Attendant Li need not be modest on Gao’s behalf. The Dou family’s fa candle business has been running for three generations. The descendants lack the pioneering spirit of their forebears. Especially after Mr. Dou passed away, the business was only kept afloat for another decade thanks to old friends’ support.” True to his reputation as the former “Little Overlord of Chang’an,” Guo Nu knew much about the city’s affairs. Taking the opportunity to converse with Li Qi, he briefly outlined the background of the relative for Zhang Qian’s benefit. “If Gao hadn’t stepped in, even half the price the Dou family got would have been a blessing.”

Hearing that the fa candle business was already in its third generation, Zhang Qian felt a twinge of disappointment. Learning that the original inventor had passed away many years ago dampened his spirits further.

Yet Li Qi noticed nothing unusual in his expression. After the exchange with Guo Nu laid the groundwork, he returned to the main topic. “Brother Zhang, my undependable relative somehow heard that the Six Spirits Floral Dew business is run by your family and that two rounds of share subscriptions have already taken place in Chang’an. His information isn’t very up-to-date or strong, so he missed the first two. He has specially entrusted me to ask when the third subscription will be held, and if he might hitch a ride on it?”