Chapter 19: Bathing

What tastes best is always what one cannot afford; even a seventy percent sweetness turns into a full ten. Suddenly, Xiuniang thought that perhaps it wasn’t so bad for a man to indulge extravagantly once in a while. She asked Song Sanlang how much he had paid for the butterfly hairpin. Without blinking, Song Sanlang replied, “Fifty-two wen.”

“Sanlang, didn’t you bargain with him?” Xiuniang inquired.

“Hmm, he originally asked for sixty wen,” Song Sanlang said.

“That’s still too much. Forty wen would have been about right; those peddlers are quite cunning,” Xiuniang remarked.

“If they don’t make a profit, then there’d be no peddlers selling goods. Without them, Mother, how would you buy anything conveniently?” The child, who was busy eating grapes, suddenly chimed in, catching Xiuniang off guard.

Embarrassed, Xiuniang lightly tapped the little rascal’s head. “Why are your ears so long? Even grapes can’t shut your mouth.”

Song Sanlang laughed, while Song Jingchen, hiding behind his father, made faces at his mother. Xiuniang was so annoyed she wanted to scold the child, but Song Sanlang shielded him from punishment. The family burst into laughter, enveloped in warmth and joy.

This time, Song Sanlang gave two thousand wen to Yun Niang, another two thousand wen to the public fund, and kept one thousand wen for himself. Yun Niang happily locked the silver away in a cabinet and told Song Sanlang they had saved over seven taels of silver, asking if he was pleased.

Seven taels of silver?

Song Sanlang was overjoyed; he recalled that when he casually drank with friends before, it usually started at around a hundred taels.

After the work at the Li household was done and after lunch, Song Sanlang wanted to enjoy a good bath at the public bathhouse. Bathing at home wasn’t as enjoyable as soaking in a proper bathhouse. Xiuniang told him to bring Chengge along because in a few days they would visit Master Chen’s residence, so it was a good chance for a proper soak. Most importantly, it was free for children, so it was a waste not to go.

Song Jingchen was happy to tag along because his father was generous with money, and there were benefits to following him.

After napping a little, Song Sanlang got up, grabbed some fresh clothes, and headed to the bathhouse on the street. He didn’t want the child soaking in a large communal pool crowded with all sorts of people, so he rented a private room. Bathing in the large pool cost only seven wen, but a private room was ninety-five wen.

Xiuniang thought of “buying big and getting small free,” but with Song Sanlang, it turned into “buying small and getting big free.” He would spend seven wen without the child, but with him along, the cost multiplied several times. This was his way of squandering money; without some secret savings, the couple’s life would be difficult. Lies were the best lubricant between spouses; too much honesty only bred pain.

Song Jingchen asked puzzled, “Father, why do we need a private room? The big pool is so lively, with so many people.”

Song Sanlang was speechless. “Are you here to bathe or to watch the crowd?”

“Watching the crowd doesn’t stop me from bathing,” Jingchen said matter-of-factly.

Song Sanlang ignored him, took the wooden token from the clerk, and led his son into the back bath area. Inside were large pools and small private compartments separated by screens. Song Sanlang entered the compartment corresponding to the wooden token with his son.

The bath pool in the compartment was made of smooth white stone, thoughtfully designed with tiered steps around it so both adults and children could bathe comfortably.

Song Sanlang carried his son into the water and placed him on a higher step; the water just covered Song Jingchen’s chest, perfect for him.

As soon as he entered the water, Jingchen couldn’t sit still and splashed about, causing Song Sanlang to glare at him. “Behave.”

“If I don’t behave, what will you do, Father?” Jingchen ignored him and continued playing.

Song Sanlang glanced at him. “After the bath, do you still want ice cream?”

Hearing the mention of ice cream, Jingchen immediately softened his tone. “Father, that’s negotiable.”

Song Sanlang put on a stern face. “Wash well. If you don’t get clean, I’ll have to help you.”

“All right, Father, I’ll help scrub your back.”

“No need. Just take care of yourself.”

Jingchen imitated his father, rubbing here and there on his body, but perfunctorily. After a while, he grew lazy and stopped.

Seeing that they had soaked long enough, Song Sanlang helped his son wash a little. The child wasn’t really dirty and had tender skin. Song Sanlang, being a carpenter all his life, was careful not to hurt him, so he just wiped him down with a towel.

The child couldn’t sit still; everything was a toy to him. Jingchen grabbed his father’s hair in the water and played.

“Father, why do you have hair here too?” Jingchen pointed at his father’s armpit.

Song Sanlang’s face darkened. “It’s a bath, not a time for so many questions. Do you still want ice cream or not?”

Jingchen pouted. “Hmph! Don’t always threaten me with ice cream. If you don’t give it to me, I’ll tell Mother you spent ninety-five wen on a private room, and I know you secretly hide money from her. I saw it all.”

Song Sanlang gritted his teeth. “Do you think about who I spend the hidden money on? Go ahead and tell your mother. When I’m out of money, let’s see if she’s willing to buy you any ice cream.”

“I’m just teasing, Father. I’m not a tattletale,” Jingchen said.

Song Sanlang was speechless, tempted to give the brat a good scolding.

Just then, someone peeked in and asked if they wanted a back scrub.

The bathhouse’s scrubbers were exceptionally skilled, and the fee was reasonable—only five wen per scrub. Song Sanlang politely declined, mainly because the child talked too much, and he was afraid Jingchen would say something startling in front of others.

Worried that the child had soaked too long and might feel unwell, Song Sanlang took him out of the pool, dried him off, changed him into clean clothes, and did the same for himself. Father and son emerged from the compartment feeling refreshed.

Outside, in the large hall, vendors sold sweet drinks and tea. Those who had just bathed were often thirsty, making the business flourish.

Song Sanlang ordered himself a bowl of tea and got Jingchen a bowl of sweet-sour plum soup. The tart sweetness quenched thirst and was loved by both adults and children.

Indeed, nothing was more delightful than enjoying a bowl of sweet soup after a bath.

After finishing his soup, Jingchen suddenly spotted a familiar face and hopped over excitedly.

“Uncle Li, it really is you! Without your clothes, I almost didn’t recognize you. But luckily, I remembered your beard.”

Li Yishan covered his face. Just as he feared, he had been spotted by the Song father and son. He had deliberately kept his head low, and only felt relieved when he saw the child go for the sweet soup—until the child looked up and recognized him.

Li Yishan was grateful for his foresight in draping a large towel over himself to avoid being too revealing.

Meanwhile, Song Sanlang touched his forehead, wondering whether to greet him or not.

Awkwardly, Song Sanlang forced himself to step forward and say hello.

Li Yishan was equally embarrassed. The two exchanged polite, awkward pleasantries before Song Sanlang hurriedly pulled his son away.

The Li household had its own private bath, but Old Master Li was fond of the bathhouse’s scrubbers’ skill. After a scrub, one felt completely refreshed from head to toe—a true lightness of body.

Today, Xiao Yanzong came over as a guest, so Li Yishan invited his friend to experience it together. Unexpectedly, they ran into the Song father and son.

The old man valued his dignity; in front of the Song family, he tried to maintain the refined, scholarly demeanor befitting a gentleman, but this encounter ruined his image entirely.

Li Yishan, seeing his friend still smiling, scolded him in a good-natured way, “See? This is the child I told you about—exceptionally clever. Luckily, we were still covered up; otherwise, how could you keep any dignity as a teacher? You have no authority at all.”

Xiao Yanzong was speechless.