Chapter 13: Deputy Director Lee Da

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“Li Da, Li Da.” Liu Mao called for Li Da, the deputy steward of the Governor’s Residence.

Li Da, standing by the doorway, heard Liu Mao summon him and immediately stepped inside, answering as he came, “Young Master, what are your orders?”

When Li Da drew near, Liu Mao waved a drunken hand and ordered, “Go. Find Auntie Wang and bring me a few singing girls. And summon Yan Hong as well—I want her to dance for me.”

As he approached Liu Mao, Li Da felt the overpowering stench of wine rush straight to the crown of his head, leaving his mind blank for a moment. Hearing Liu Mao’s command, he could not help looking troubled. In broad daylight, how could this young master be thinking of songs, dancing, and frolicking among women?

“Hmm?” When Li Da failed to answer at once, Liu Mao uttered a heavy, questioning sound.

Startled, Li Da hurriedly replied, “Young Master, I’ll go at once. At once.”

With that, he retreated to the doorway, then turned and made his way toward the quarters where the singing girls lived.

“Hmph.” Watching Li Da’s back, Liu Mao gave a cold snort. That dog of a servant had actually dared hesitate before his command. He was nothing like the diligent creature he had once been, who came whenever summoned and left whenever dismissed.

With the irritation in his heart finding no outlet, Liu Mao poured himself another cup of fine wine. What could dispel sorrow? Only Du Kang.

“Misfortune, misfortune, misfortune.” As he walked, Li Da’s heart was filled with regret. As the deputy steward of the residence, he had sought advancement, dreaming that one day he might take the position of chief steward from Pang Jing. For that reason, he had fawned upon the Third Young Master, Liu Mao. He had believed that, with seniority determining succession, once Liu Yan was gone, the position of Governor of Yi Province would naturally fall into the hands of the Third Young Master. If he followed Liu Mao, becoming chief steward would be no more than a word from him.

Deputy Steward Li, Deputy Steward Li—how much more pleasing it would be to be called Chief Steward Li. Yet who could have imagined that the one to take the position of Governor of Yi Province would be the Fourth Young Master, Liu Zhang, that coward? No matter how loudly his abacus had rattled, it was all useless. To Li Da, the position of chief steward now seemed no more attainable than flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon seen in water.

Pang Que, the son of Chief Steward Pang Jing, had long since attached himself to Liu Zhang. Even if Li Da now turned his boat around, he had no chance left. Before this, relying on the prestige of the Third Young Master, he had not shown Liu Zhang much respect. Now, even his position as deputy steward was likely in danger.

Li Da knew that he had no other choice. He could only cling desperately to the Third Young Master, Liu Mao. A loyal servant could not serve two masters—and he had no second master to choose anyway. He could only follow this path into darkness.

At that thought, Li Da blurted out, “How did I end up serving such an ill-fated young master? And he even married a woman destined for great honor.”

“Bah.” Li Da turned and spat in the direction of Liu Mao’s quarters, cursing inwardly: “Not only is he ill-fated, he has no ambition either. All he knows is singing, dancing, and women. Who knows how many times he has sent for Auntie Wang lately?”

A young master was not even as sensible as a servant like Auntie Wang. She understood that his father had died only recently, and that there ought not to be singing and dancing in the residence. The singing girls had all stopped practicing these past few days and were busy with needlework instead.

“Alas.” Li Da reached the entrance to Auntie Wang’s courtyard and heaved a deep sigh.

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“Bang, bang, bang.”

Li Da raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Inside the courtyard, Auntie Wang heard the knocking, set down the mandarin-duck embroidery in her hands, and rose to answer the door.

The moment she opened it and saw Li Da, her expression dimmed considerably. Forcing a strained smile, she placed her right hand over her left and bowed to him. Then she asked, “Chief Steward Li, what are your orders?”

In truth, Li Da did not need to say a word. Auntie Wang already knew why he had come. These past few days, whenever the Third Young Master, Liu Mao, demanded singing girls, it was always this Deputy Steward Li who came to deliver the message. Such a minor errand normally would not require a deputy steward, but Li Da was living through an extraordinary time.

Everyone in the residence knew that Deputy Steward Li wished to display his diligence before Liu Mao. He had spent all this time fawning upon the Third Young Master, hoping to climb into the position of chief steward, only for the Fourth Young Master, Liu Zhang, to become Governor of Yi Province instead. If he did not work harder now and secure Liu Mao’s protection, then sooner or later—perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow—he would lose even his position as deputy steward and be reduced to hard labor like an ordinary servant.

Li Da forced a twisted smile onto his face. His circumstances were dire, and he had lost the commanding airs he once possessed as a steward. He had even become more affable. Relaying Liu Mao’s request, he spoke gently and in a subdued tone.

“Auntie Wang, I have come on the Third Young Master’s orders. He wants several singing girls with pleasant voices. Oh, and Yan Hong as well—the young master wishes to watch her dance.”

Auntie Wang saw through everything and secretly congratulated herself for having received Liu Zhang’s order only yesterday. Otherwise, she feared she would not have been able to refuse him today. Calling him Chief Steward Li, she tactfully replied, “Chief Steward Li, I am afraid the timing is unfortunate. Yesterday, the Governor ordered that all singing and dancing be strictly forbidden within the residence. If they are needed, the Governor’s approval must be obtained first.”

“Now, as for that…” Auntie Wang spread her hands, making it clear that she could do nothing.

The smile Li Da had forced onto his face vanished at once. His brows knotted together, and deep furrows spread across his fat, greasy face, revealing a vicious glint.

He reminded her, “Auntie Wang, the Governor can be dealt with by the Third Young Master. You just hand the girls over to me first.”

“Chief Steward Li, it is not that this servant is unwilling. The Governor truly issued a strict order. Why not have the Third Young Master speak with him first?” Auntie Wang continued to evade him, using Liu Zhang as her shield.

After several exchanges, seeing the perfunctory words and expression on Auntie Wang’s face, Li Da realized that the matter would probably go nowhere. If he returned and reported this to the Third Young Master, Liu Mao, the enraged young master would likely have him beaten with rods. Yet Auntie Wang was impervious to reason. If he forcibly demanded the girls, the matter might grow serious and become impossible to settle.

Li Da felt like a rat trapped in a bellows—unable to advance or retreat, with no road to heaven and no door to earth.

Suddenly, inspiration struck him. As though he had thought of a solution, he said amiably to Auntie Wang, “Since the Governor has issued an order, I will not trouble you any further. I shall return and report to the Third Young Master. Farewell.”

He gave her a slight cupped-hands salute and turned away. His expression immediately became sinister, the flesh on his face wobbling as he cursed Auntie Wang inwardly: “You damned servant girl. Today is the day you suffer. Just wait.”

Watching Li Da’s retreating back, Auntie Wang let out a long breath of relief. She closed the door, returned to her room, and pushed it open. A crowd of young women gathered around her like chicks clustering around a mother hen.

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“Mother, are you all right?”

“That scoundrel Li Da didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“He is truly hateful.”

Looking at her many adopted daughters gathered around her, Auntie Wang smiled in comfort and shook her head.

“I’m fine. With the Governor’s order, there is nothing Li Da can do.”

“All right, go back to your embroidery. Stitch more mandarin ducks. When the Governor takes a second wife, he should be able to use them. We may even receive a little good fortune in return.”

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“Gan Jiu, do you really have no other name? Is it simply Gan Jiu?” Liu Zhang asked with some curiosity. “Zhu Wusi, Zhu Babu—people in the Yuan Dynasty may have chosen names so casually, but how is it that people in the Han Dynasty did the same?”

Gan Jiu’s face flushed faintly, as though rouge had been applied to it. He clasped his hands and reported, “My lord, my parents were country folk who knew nothing of poetry or the classics. I was the ninth child, so they named me Gan Jiu. The name was bestowed by my parents, and I would not presume to change it.”

“Besides, country folk generally use only a common nickname. We do not have courtesy names.”

Gan Jiu had never imagined that, while accompanying the Commander to the Governor’s Residence today, he would receive an audience with Liu Zhang. Unlike other noble young masters, this Governor Liu had actually engaged him in conversation. There was no trace of condescension in him; he spoke with Gan Jiu as though they were friends.

Gan Ning interjected, “My lord, do not let Ah Jiu’s unimpressive name fool you. He is extraordinarily skilled with the halberd. Back when I roamed Ba Commandery as a wandering hero, I relied greatly on Ah Jiu’s halberd techniques. He is especially adept with the short halberd—indeed, even I consider myself inferior.”

Gan Ning had taken on the task of promoting his own man. Now that he himself had become a Commandant, his brother could not remain without rank. His lord was a rare master who valued talent and humbled himself to seek worthy men. Gan Ning wished to let Gan Jiu display his abilities and obtain a military post from Liu Zhang.

“Oh? He possesses such skill?” Liu Zhang said with delight. “Young Brother Gan, would you be willing to show us what you can do, so that I may feast my eyes?”

“How could I refuse your command?” Gan Jiu replied.

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