Chapter Nineteen: Music and Songs (V)

Since returning from the palace, Li Kuo had not had a single moment of leisure. The powerful figures in the court had heard that Young Master Li had been summoned directly after the court meeting to teach the Imperial Concubine archery skills inside the palace. The Imperial Concubine was such a noble figure that even the domineering An Lushan, the military governor of Pinglu, dared only regard her as his godmother. Yet Young Master Li had won her approval and become her archery instructor!

How could these seasoned players in politics fail to see such an obvious signal? Since the emperor was determined to nurture this young man, there was no need for them to jeopardize their own careers. Although this boy still lacked experience, as the saying goes, “It’s easy to oppress the poor when they’re young”—who could predict what would happen in over a decade?

Before the young man became famous, the powerful elites of Chang’an looked down on the down-and-out Li family and naturally did not leave a good impression on Young Master Li.

Wishing to repair their relationship with the young man, various dukes and marquises sent their household managers to deliver invitations and business cards, determined to make a good impression on this newly appointed military officer. (Note 1) The young man suffered greatly from attending endless banquets hosted by these powerful figures. Not only did the dukes and marquises frequently try to ingratiate themselves with him, showing clear intentions to win him over, but even the noblewomen brought their daughters’ birth charts to him. Despite his repeated hints and refusals, these women persisted, eager to bind him and send him to their homes right away, fearing that such a fine son-in-law might be snatched away by another family.

In the following days, the young man simply ordered Dou Qing, Li Sheng, and other trusted men to bring dozens of soldiers from the Copper Military Camp to surround the old house in Lane 23 by the lake. Any manager who came to pay respects was stopped from entering.

The soldiers of the Copper Military Camp were hardened men who stood solemnly beside the house with their swords drawn, exuding great authority. The managers from the dukes’ and marquises’ estates, being experienced in such matters, realized at once that their masters had ordered them not to enter and sighed before returning to report.

Having received an imperial reward, the young man wanted to buy a new house in Chang’an. First, the old house in Ande Fang was actually rented from his uncle. Although his uncle had given that house to his mother after he was appointed as a guest of the crown prince, it wasn’t his own property, and living there was troublesome. Second, he wanted to buy a proper house so that his mother could enjoy a peaceful life for a while. The southern part of the city was too noisy and unsuitable for an elderly person to retire in. Even if he couldn’t afford a house in the expensive Chongren Fang, he still needed to find a quiet place in the northern part of the city.

Although his mother kept insisting she didn’t need to move, the young man insisted on buying a new house. After all, the old lady still cared about her money. Yet she didn’t realize that wealth was earned, not saved! If Li Kuo really ended up relying on his mother to manage the household frugally, then this son would truly be unfilial!
Humans are not animals; they must not forget their roots!
The young man had secretly sworn to himself that he would be a man and support his mother and his family with his own efforts. Though he hadn’t achieved fame or success yet, he had at least made a name for himself. The silver rewards from the emperor alone were equivalent to ten years of his salary, making it quite easy to buy a new house in the north of Chang’an.
However, buying a house wasn’t as simple as he thought. As the old saying goes, a hunter shouldn’t talk about fishing nets, and a donkey seller shouldn’t discuss cattle or sheep—one must have the right skills for their trade. Although Li Kuo was skilled in warfare and could defeat the Tubo people, making them beg for mercy, he was indeed an outstanding general. But the young man knew nothing about business dealings. Asking him to negotiate with the house seller would be quite difficult.
Just as the young man was at a loss, Chen Xiaoliu happened to arrive at Lane 23 by the Lake. Upon learning that his seventh brother was struggling to buy a new house, Detective Chen immediately promised to take care of the task.
After observing the market trends for a few days, Chen Xiaoliu arrived at Lane 23 by the Lake early in the morning, shouting loudly before even entering.
“Seventh brother! Brother!”
The young man, in high spirits, strode into the courtyard.
“Ah, slow down—don’t wake up Mother!”
Li Kuo rushed out quickly, putting his finger to his lips to signal Chen Xiaoliu to be quiet.
“Oh.”
Chen Xiaoliu stuck out his tongue and lowered his voice. “Brother Kuo, you have no idea—I found a nice big house for you in Qinren Fang to the north. It has three entrances and exits, is in an excellent location, and most importantly, it’s quiet!”
Chen Xiaoliu spilled all the details at once, smiling at his seventh brother.
“You’ve traveled so much lately—must be exhausting.”
Li Kuo tickled Chen Xiaoliu’s nose jokingly.
“That’s something you don’t understand. There are specialized firms in Chang’an that handle the sale of houses. Whether someone wants to sell their house for cash or buy an official residence to bring their family there, these firms know better than anyone. By paying a small commission, you can save yourself a lot of trouble—why not?”
“Oh, such a thing exists? Let’s talk as we walk.”
Li Kuo tied up his satchel, locked the courtyard door, and set off with Chen Xiaoliu down the street.
“The house is in Qinren Fang—it probably won’t be too cheap.”

“Brother Li Kuo, this time you really have to reward me. If not for me, how could you have gotten such a great deal!”
Chen Xiaoliu puffed out his chest proudly, claiming credit for it.
“Oh?”
“A house with three entrances and exits, right at the entrance to Fang Street—only a thousand guan in Qinren Fang! A thousand guan!” (Note 2)
As soon as he mentioned this, Chen Xiaoliu excitedly waved his fists, as if the house was meant for him.
“Is that really the case?”
Li Kuo was clearly surprised too. Although he wasn’t very familiar with the exact prices of houses in Chang’an, he had some idea of the general range. Not to mention a thousand guan, even two thousand guan would be insufficient to buy a grand house with three entrances and exits in Qinren Fang.
“Xiaoliu, you didn’t use your authority to force the seller to sell, did you?”
Li Kuo couldn’t figure out how it was possible and asked doubtfully.
“How could I do that? We’re both kids from poor families. How would I, Chen Xiaoliu, do something that would shame our fellow villagers?”
Chen Xiaoliu stood upright, speaking each word clearly and firmly.
Note 1: Business cards: Although the term “ci” appeared as early as the late Han Dynasty, the phrase “business card” first appeared in existing ancient texts during the Tang Dynasty. Tang Dynasty business cards were usually made of red paper. High-end ones were written in gold ink, making them more luxurious than those made of bamboo or wood for visiting dignitaries.
Note 2: Reference to housing prices: During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of Tang, warlord Li Shigu gave a large sum of money to the descendants of Wei Zheng, a famous chancellor from the Tang Taizong era, to help them buy back Wei Zheng’s former residence, which had been sold. The descendants spent a total of six million wen, or six thousand guan, to buy back the house. Housing prices during the Tianbao era were clearly lower than those during Xianzong’s time, and things weren’t as extravagant, so a thousand guan seems quite reasonable.