It’s not so easy to travel upstream on the canal; there are many troubles along the way, especially since there’s a customs checkpoint ahead at Hexiwu, which is specifically for collecting tolls. But as long as you have these two lanterns, basically all troubles can be turned away. This Wang family is George Walker, who, as Vice Minister of War and concurrently Right Censor-in-Chief and Governor-General of military affairs in Jizhou, Liaodong, Baoding, and other places, is a trusted old minister of Wanli. Not even the defeat at Sarhu shook his position. The area around the North Canal is all under Tianjin’s Right Guard. Besides the official granary, Yin’er Bay also has the Yin’er Bay Shallow Post, which is a military household unit dedicated to dredging the river—these all fall under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General of Jiliao. You could say that with these two lanterns and Old Butler’s boat leading the way, no one along this route would dare trouble Charles Howard.

Charles Howard quickly moved closer, repeatedly expressing his thanks as he accepted the two lanterns.

“This young brother looks familiar. Why didn’t I see you on the boat yesterday?”

Old Butler looked at William Young with a half-smile.

“Perhaps it’s because you’re older and have seen many people—there are always a few who look alike. I’d say seeing you makes me feel at home, just like meeting an elder from my hometown!”

William Young said.

“Ah, that does make some sense. Now that you mention it, I do recall who you resemble. But that person’s scar is on the left side of his face, while yours is on the right. Besides, he has a big scar on his body, but you seem quite smooth-skinned. Looking again, you’re not much alike after all. Next time, if you see someone who looks a bit like you, but has a big scar on his body and a scar on the left side of his face, be sure to report him to the authorities. That man is a fugitive criminal—remember to be careful.”

Old Butler said with a laugh.

“Thank you for the warning, sir!”

William Young replied earnestly.

Just then, from a window behind Old Butler, a drowsy little head poked out, her big watery eyes wide with astonishment as she looked at these two men telling blatant lies with straight faces.

But soon her gaze shifted to Helen Howard.

“Sister from the Huang family!”

The young lady from The Walker Family waved excitedly and called out.

Chapter 006: Xiong Tingbi

“This doesn’t seem very ladylike!”

William Young stood on the deck, looking at Miss Walker leaning out the window on the boat ahead to the right.

She glared at him.

She was the granddaughter of George Walker, from their hometown of Huangmei in Huguang. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, a beautiful and lively young girl, charming and cute, though a bit adorably silly. She was traveling with just Old Butler, six armed family servants, an old woman, and two maids. They had been on the road for three whole months, setting out at the start of spring on this long journey. Now, as they neared their destination, the young lady seemed in high spirits; yesterday’s fall into the water hadn’t left her with any psychological shadow. What surprised William Young, though, was that she didn’t seem bound by feudal etiquette at all. Along the way, she often skipped out of her cabin like a happy little sparrow…

“What’s a proper young lady supposed to be like?”

Helen Howard asked coldly from the side.

“Uh, shouldn’t it be: never stepping out the front or back gates, never showing her teeth when she smiles, walking with a sway, usually holding an embroidery hoop to stitch flowers and birds, occasionally looking up and coughing at the leaves falling from above, sighing, ‘Who pities the fading red and dying fragrance?’”

William Young said.

He even struck a mournful pose and sang the last line in an operatic tone, making Helen Howard break into a bright smile.

“That’s actually pretty close!”

Charles Howard said with a laugh.

“But in the south, especially along the Yangtze near Yingtian, women from big families aren’t so bound by etiquette—many appear in public. It’s the northern gentry who are stricter. But to say they never leave the house at all is a bit much. As for Secretary Walker, he was a disciple of Li Zhi, who was imprisoned and committed suicide for promoting heresy. Their school is especially relaxed about etiquette, so it’s no surprise that Miss Walker is raised this way.”

He continued.

“A disciple of Li Zhi?”

William Young was surprised.

He really hadn’t expected a disciple of Li Zhi to rise so high in office.

“Yes, a disciple of Li Zhi. The tombstone at Li Zhi’s grave in Tongzhou was even erected by Secretary Walker.”

Charles Howard nodded.

“Howard Senior, you really do know everything!”

William Young looked at Charles Howard with a meaningful gaze.

“Call him uncle!”

Helen Howard said disapprovingly from the side.

“Uncle Howard, you really do know everything!”

William Young immediately corrected himself.

“You young people have never seen the grand scene of Li Zhi’s lectures back then. Even the highest officials on tour couldn’t compare. When he lectured, people of all classes—scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, men and women, old and young—would gather as if worshipping Buddha. Not just Secretary Walker, but many high officials and nobles took him as their teacher. What he taught made a lot of sense, but it was too rebellious, so the Ministry of Rites arrested him for promoting heresy, and he slit his own throat with a razor in prison. Since his death, few have dared to speak so openly, and though the rules are stricter, the Ming dynasty has become like a stagnant pool.”

Charles Howard sighed.

Clearly, he was a man with stories of his own.

Up ahead, Miss Walker was still leaning out the window, curiously watching them…

“A Laugh from the Vast Sea, the surging tides on both banks…”

William Young suddenly burst into song.

And it was even the original Cantonese version.