Even in these peaceful times, silver has depreciated, and a tael of silver on the market is worth only about two strings of cash. That stuff is heavy; even a tiny silver bean weighs more than two qian. If you ask someone for a favor without giving a gift, but first extort four hundred coins from them, not even the governor’s household would do such a thing.

“Brother Damu, you’re being too formal. I’m older, he’s younger, and we both travel this trade route—who knows who’ll be looking after whom in the future!” George Clark insisted, stuffing the silver bean back into David Thompson’s arms. “Take it, or you’ll make your Uncle Jiu angry!”

“How could your nephew dare accept a reward from Uncle Jiu!” David Thompson hurriedly tried to return the still-warm silver bean to George Clark. Last night, while packing, his mother had told him that a few silver beans were sewn into the hem of his clothes—almost all the savings of the Li family. This item was accepted by all ethnicities, whether Hu or Han; present it to any official, and for the sake of Marshal Zhao, they’d offer some help. (Note 2)

“Brother Damu, just let Xuguan take it. When have you ever seen Old Sun take back a gift he’s given?” Seeing the two at an impasse, someone at another table chimed in.

This man was a bit younger than George Clark, with a sparse beard and relatively clean clothes; he seemed to be someone of influence in the caravan as well. But George Clark refused to accept his goodwill, glaring with his bull-like eyes and feigning anger: “You, Shorty Bolton, I was just about to refuse a few more times and then take the silver back, but you just had to make me lose out. This won’t do! The silver bean is my meeting gift for my dear nephew, and since you’re all elders, you have to give a little luck money too!”

“Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother, aren’t you scolding me! Brothers, please don’t do this, or I, Matthew Thompson, will have no face to travel this route again!” Old Charles Thompson was so frightened he kept bowing. Though the banquet was a bit expensive, it was meant to help his son build a good reputation. With George Clark stirring things up, the cost of the food and drink would surely be recouped, but his son’s reputation would suffer.

He refused to accept, but the others wouldn’t agree. The generous ones simply offered up good cuts of meat; those less willing, cursing George Clark’s ancestors under their breath, still had to fish out a couple of coins from their belts. George Clark, with David Thompson in tow, introduced him to each member of the caravan; with each introduction, David Thompson poured a bowl of wine for the person, who would down it in one gulp and then stuff the meeting gift money into David Thompson’s hand.

After making the rounds, David Thompson’s arms were sore from pouring wine. He collected nearly a hundred coins and various cuts of meat, and got to know most of the faces. The man who had spoken up for George Clark was surnamed Zhang, an old partner of George Clark and the caravan’s temporary deputy leader. The pockmarked man who only gave a single coin was surnamed Du, a distant relative of the Du family from Hejian. The fierce-looking one was surnamed Wang, and the merchant in cloth shoes with exposed toes was surnamed Li, a clansman of David Thompson. Sitting far off by the window, apart from the others, was a big-eyed youth surnamed Xu, from a wealthy family in Jun County, with countless fields and shops under his name. No one knew what grave mistake he had made to anger his family, but his father had ruthlessly sent him to the caravan to gain experience.

After giving David Thompson their meeting gifts, everyone ate and drank even more freely. Some, more calculating, figured out how to eat back the value of their gift money, chewing with their jaws wide open. For a while, the inn was filled with the sounds of drinking games, and the lively atmosphere of old returned. David Thompson’s head throbbed from the noise, but he couldn’t leave the table, so he could only sip his wine and keep company. Thinking that for the next three years he’d be living among these rough men, he couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy.

“Are you really going to the frontier to do business?” A low voice asked from behind him.

David Thompson turned at the sound and saw the clear, bright eyes of Young Miller. He smiled helplessly and said, “My father is getting old, and the frontier is terribly cold. If I don’t go help him, what else can I do? What about you, Brother Miller? With so many shops at home, you could learn about the world anywhere—why come all the way to the frontier?”

“Sigh, don’t mention it! My father just married his seventh concubine, who’s younger than me. I couldn’t stand it, so I found an excuse to get out and clear my head.” Big-Eyed Miller explained with a laugh, “Besides, I hear you can get good furs this season. Aren’t furs expensive in the Central Plains right now? What do you think?”

He bit down hard on the word “furs.” David Thompson’s heart skipped a beat, as if all his secrets had been seen through by those big eyes. But thinking the other was only fifteen or sixteen, he couldn’t possibly have the insight of Old Master Smith, so he forced himself to stay calm and replied with a smile, “Exactly for the furs! In Shanggu Commandery lately, the price of raw hides has nearly doubled. If we go and return quickly, we might make a big profit!”

“I don’t want to go back so soon!” Big-Eyed Miller’s eyes flashed with a sharpness far beyond his years. “It’s rare to get out—might as well have my fill of fun before I return!”

David Thompson smiled, raising his wine cup. Just as he wouldn’t tell the other his true reason for heading north, what Big-Eyed Miller said might not be the truth either. With such a wealthy background, a young man could travel to scenic places like Yangzhou or Luoyang; even if he was angry with his father, there was no need to seek hardship in the bitter cold.

Seeing him raise his cup, Big-Eyed Miller also lifted his own. Finding an excuse, he drank two cups with David Thompson, and, a bit tipsy, asked, “My surname is Xu, given name Ji, courtesy name Maogong. Do you have a courtesy name, my good brother?”

“My name is David Thompson, courtesy name Zhongjian!” David Thompson straightened his back as he spoke, afraid others would think him too young.

“Then let’s look out for each other on the road, travel the frontier side by side—what do you say, Brother Zhongjian?” Big-Eyed Miller patted David Thompson on the shoulder, a hint of mystery in his smile.

“I am happy to follow Brother Maogong’s lead!” David Thompson lifted his heels and patted him back. Both were growing youths, with large frames, and when they stood up, they were about the same height. After comparing for a while and finding no winner, they each held their wine cups and burst out laughing, “Heh heh heh.”