Chapter 17: A Fortune Every Day
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Zhai Yue Lou, back courtyard.
Located in the heart of the capital, Zhai Yue Lou occupied a large area. Behind the main building facing the street were gardens, rockeries, a pond, pavilions, and private rooms.
Lin Xiu stood by a well. Several buckets of water were lined up, and waiters continuously brought more.
The intense heat quickly warmed the water drawn from the well.
Lin Xiu washed his hands, then placed his palm on the water’s surface.
A chill emanated from the bucket, and the water rapidly froze solid.
The manager watched, barely containing his excitement.
This summer’s heat was unprecedented. Ice was truly more precious than gold. With this young man, their business would boom.
For Zhai Yue Lou, this wasn’t just about profit.
While other restaurants were like ovens, Zhai Yue Lou would be a haven from the heat, attracting influential patrons and securing their future prosperity.
Compared to that, a few hundred taels of silver was nothing.
After freezing several buckets, Lin Xiu sat down to rest, recovering his Yuanli. Freezing water directly, though easier than creating ice from nothing, was still draining when done repeatedly.
He had considered other methods, like using saltpeter, but that was less efficient, produced less ice, and was easily replicated. Using his ability was faster and more efficient.
And no one but Lingyin could replicate it.
Waiters chipped the ice from the buckets and placed it in ice basins.
Ice basins were used by the wealthy to cool their rooms. They were square, cauldron-like vessels with small holes around the sides and bottom. Ice placed inside cooled the air, circulating it through the room.
In his previous life, ice was cheap, even in summer.
But in Great Xia, like ancient China, there was no technology for making ice. All ice was stored in ice cellars during winter and gradually melted throughout the year. Ice was a luxury, affordable only by the wealthy, not families like the Lin family had been.
Even in normal years, a block of ice the size of a bucket cost about one tael of silver, enough for a family of five to eat meat every meal for a month.
He was selling each bucket of ice for five taels, five times the usual price, but he knew Zhai Yue Lou wouldn’t lose money. They would profit far more than him. It was a win-win situation, with Zhai Yue Lou getting the better end of the deal.
But Lin Xiu didn’t mind. There was no limit to how much money he could make. Collaborating with Zhai Yue Lou saved him the trouble of managing everything himself, even if it meant slightly lower profits. He was prepared for that.
An hour later, Sun Dali, carrying a wooden box, emerged from Zhai Yue Lou with Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu was pale and unsteady, looking drained. He was drained. While freezing a single bucket of water didn’t consume much Yuanli, fifty buckets in an hour had depleted him completely.
But the rewards were substantial.
The box Sun Dali carried contained thirty silver ingots, each worth ten taels.
Along with the fifty taels daily fee, Lin Xiu had earned three hundred taels in an hour, a true fortune. It was enough to cover his family’s expenses for several years.
This was the advantage of being a mystical arts practitioner. Most, even without serving the court, could live comfortably using their abilities.
Sun Dali grinned as he carried the box. “Three hundred taels! If only every day could be like this…”
Lin Xiu shook his head. This wouldn’t last. The weather would cool soon. He had to make as much as possible while he could. This winter, the nobles and businesses in the capital would stockpile ice, driving down prices next summer. Making money this way wouldn’t be so easy then.
When they returned home, they saw A Yue carrying a brocade box. Lin Xiu asked, “A Yue, where are you going?”
A Yue, his mother’s personal maid for many years and a few years older than him, stopped. “Madam asked me to pawn these for some money.”
Lin Xiu opened the box. Inside were jewelry: jade bracelets, gold hairpins, earrings.
His mother emerged, smiling. “Xiu’er, you’re back. It’s hot outside. Stay home these next few days.”
Lin Xiu noticed her jade bracelet was gone, replaced by a wooden one. Her gold hairpin was also missing.
He said to A Yue, “Put those back.”
Zhou Jun said, “These aren’t useful. We can pawn them for some money.”
Lin Xiu smiled. “Don’t worry about money, Mother. Dali…”
Sun Dali grinned, opening the box he carried. The neatly arranged silver ingots gleamed in the sunlight, dazzling Zhou Jun.
Hundreds of taels! She stared at Lin Xiu, shocked. “Xiu’er, where did you get this? You didn’t do anything illegal, did you…?”
Though declining, the Lin family was still noble. As a government official, there were many ways for him to acquire money illegally.
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Lin Xiu knew her concerns. “Don’t worry, Mother. I earned this. Ask Dali.”
Sun Dali immediately chimed in, “Madam, I can vouch for Young Master! He earned this through hard work!”
Zhou Jun was still skeptical. “Don’t lie to me. How could Xiu’er earn so much in such a short time?”
Lin Xiu patiently explained, “Mother, have you forgotten? I’ve awakened my mystical art. With this heatwave, ice is in high demand. I used my ability to make ice for Zhai Yue Lou. This is their payment.”
Finally convinced, she stared at the silver, still in disbelief. “But… this is too much…”
Lin Xiu smiled. “Don’t worry, Mother. Every penny I earned is clean. You and Father can relax and enjoy life now.”
He turned to A Yue. “A Yue, when the weather cools, take Mother shopping. She deserves some new jewelry.”
A Yue’s eyes crinkled into crescents. “Yes, Young Master.”
Zhou Jun’s mood, however, was subdued. She looked at Lin Xiu guiltily. “Xiu’er, it’s because your father and I are incompetent that you have to resort to using your mystical art for this…”
In any dynasty, mystical arts practitioners were highly respected, supported by the court or powerful factions. It was rare for them to lower themselves to such menial tasks for money.
Lin Xiu took her hand. “Don’t say that, Mother. There’s no shame in earning money with my own abilities. Keep this money. There will be more to come…”
…
Cool air flowed from the ice basin, making the room pleasantly cool.
Zhou Jun, after putting away the silver, walked over to her husband. “Husband, have you noticed? Xiu’er has changed…”
Lin Ting nodded. “I’ve noticed. He actually asked to cancel the engagement with the Zhao family. Wasn’t he looking forward to it?”
“That’s not what I mean.” Zhou Jun shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and heartache. “Xiu’er has grown up…”
She was proud of his maturity. Even without them, he could now take care of himself.
But she also felt heartache. He was only eighteen. Other noble youths his age were still enjoying life, living off their family’s wealth, while he was already supporting a family.
Lin Ting sighed. “I’m such an incompetent father…”
Zhou Jun took his hand, her expression softening. “Perhaps this is a good thing. At least we won’t have to worry so much when our time comes…”
After a good night’s sleep, Lin Xiu was fully recovered.
The next day, after lunch, he and Sun Dali set out for Zhai Yue Lou.
As they entered the restaurant, a figure in white on the street paused, then followed them inside.
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