Anecdotes

Hangzhou · 112

Waterways weave through gentle Jiangnan, gathering all the grace and beauty of the world. Across a hundred miles of Qiantang, prosperity flourishes; fine silks drift like clouds through busy streets and lanes. Through countless springs and…

• Dragon King WorshipZhao Qing, Qian ShuBefore setting out by water, Hangzhou merchants always visit the Dragon King Temple to pray for calm waters and safe passage.
• Water for the PeopleZhao Qingchen, Li DaoyuanHangzhou sits beside the river and the lake, but its groundwater is brackish. The city's people all rely on six wells and their hidden channels that…
• Arrows Against the TideQin Shu, Qi HaoThe Qiantang River tides were once devastating. Legend says King Wusu commanded ten thousand archers to drive back the surging tide with volleys of…
• The Wine Monopoly BeginsQian LaiThe government has monopolized the brewing and selling of alcohol, strictly forbidding private brewing. The Verdant Tavern displays its official wine…
• Elixir of BlissLin CiPatrons in Hangzhou's taverns often speak of a "Pure Land of Bliss," a place where nothing is forbidden and no rule holds. Rumors say this earthly…
• Dead by FiftyLi Shi, Chen PingDespite his noble birth, Young Master Sun has been frail and sickly since childhood, confined for years to his bed. Though his family spent fortunes…
• Throwing Money Like DirtLuckyYoung Master Sun is incredibly wealthy. Yet his chronic illness has soured his temper, and he has taken to squandering money like dirt.
• Young Master ZizhenXu Jing, Lin ShenChen Zixi once had an elder brother, Chen Zizhen, but something tragic happened to him.
• The Master's FavoriteChuntao, Aunt LiuMister Jade Hill loves West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy! Noted for the record!
• Young Master Chen ShenZhong Shun, Li ShengThey say Chen Zixi personally chose Chen Shen from a side branch to be the young master, and poured all his effort into teaching him.
• Chen Family's StewardLiu Yi, Uncle ZhongUncle An is head steward of the Chen family and oversees all household affairs. Where he came from and when he joined remain a mystery.
• Chen Family's Dark DaysChen Gui, Li WuAfter Chen Zizhen's sudden death, the leaderless Chen family was targeted by several apothecaries in the city, who conspired to frame Spring's Return…
• The South City FireJiang Qi, Feng RanFive years ago, a great fire devastated the southern city, destroying countless homes and government buildings. Despite the heavy losses, the Wuyue…
• Chen Shen Takes ChargeWang Long, Wu FengThese days, everything at the clinic, from logistics to social dealings, rests on the young master Chen Shen alone.
• Consultation at Spring's Return HallLi Shiwu, Xue XingdaoHearing of Mister Jade Hill's strange illness, many renowned physicians came to Spring's Return Hall to examine him.
• Consultation Fees at Spring's Return HallWang Zi, Yao ShouqianAt Spring's Return Hall, the consultation fee is determined not by the cost of the medicinal herbs, but by the wealth of the patient. They take from…
• Market MatchmakingLin Qiaoniang, Chen XiuguThe bustling market square has naturally become a matchmaking hub. Neighbors bring their sons and daughters to look one another over, hoping to find…
• Into the Fire for the RelicsYu Deyuan, Fan KongIn the fifth year of Xiande, a great fire broke out in the south city and spread to the South Pagoda. A monk, in a fit of selfless courage, pressed…
• New Spirit Eel WellShao Yan, Pan FengyingLegend has it that on Mount Ashoka in Siming there once was a Spirit Eel Well, home to a divine eel that guarded the pagoda. Later, when King Wusu…
• Yu Hao Secures the PagodaXu Liangxing, Xiang SiqiTwo or three floors into the repairs on the South City Pagoda, the structure would not stop swaying. The builders tried everything in vain, and so…
• The Bao BrothersXiang Mama Mercy, Yang SanniangIn the royal city's Bao family, the legitimate and illegitimate sons are at bitter odds. The legitimate son uses his higher status to keep his…
• The Wine MonopolySun Yi, Mu TengTo fill the state treasury, the government has monopolized the liquor trade. Brewers must buy their yeast from the government, and sellers need an…
• The Beef TradeFu Jie, Ji PingThe Wuyue Region is built on farming and sericulture, and plow oxen are regarded as the foundation of the state. The law is severe: whoever secretly…
• North City PagodaXu Wangping, Pan RonghuiIn the fourth year of Tiancheng, several dozen ancient Buddhist relics were discovered during the repair of the Shun Well in Yuyao County, Mingzhou…
• Bonds of BloodEavesdropped SecretThe King and the Deposed King share a deep brotherly bond. Despite ministers repeatedly petitioning for the execution of the Deposed King, the King…
• Will-o'-the-WispLuo DuSome say that strange lights float on the Ge Ridge mountain path late at night, not quite lanterns, blinking in and out through the fog, unnerving…
• Fish for the Official ResidenceYu YouFishermen earn their living half by skill, half by the mercy of the weather. The tender Mandarin fish of West Lake is eagerly sought after by taverns…
• Dredging SoldiersMeng Qing, Uncle MaHangzhou keeps growing, and its people depend entirely on the West Lake for drinking water and irrigation. The soldiers patrolling the waters are the…
• West Gate Brick PagodaWu ShuishengKing Qian Chu of Wuyue made a vow to build a pagoda of merit on Huifeng Peak of Nanping Hill, enshrining relics and scriptures to pray for the peace…
• Path to OfficeWu YunQian Liu treated talent with respect regardless of their birth, drawing many scholars to his court. Qian Yuanguan, who championed Confucian learning…
• Chamber DisputeYu ChengleThe Connecting Bridge Chamber is divided between the Elder Council and the Bai Family. The Bai Family leads the Chamber, but the Elder Council…
• Connecting Bridge LoansRen ChuAny merchant of Qianjiang in need of funds can present their account books to the Connecting Bridge Guild for an emergency loan. The interest is only…
• Renting for a Bag of RiceXu ChaThe Connecting Bridge Guild often settles accounts in bags of rice, from loan interest to rent on farm tools and plow oxen.
• Sharing Blessings in PorridgeLin Shanshan, Wu LuEach season, the Connecting Bridge Guild distributes porridge under the name of "sharing blessings," so that none need bear the shame of admitting to…
• A Debt of GratitudeLiang JipingLiang Jiping is upset that Xiang Wensu took the Qianjiang magistrate post, blaming Bai Chonghe for cashing in an old favor and ruining his friend's…
• Not for Fame or FortuneXiang WensuXiang Wensu chose to become the Qianjiang magistrate for two reasons: to do real work in peace, and to pull a friend ill-suited to politics out of…
• Flowers Cannot Be BoughtSong A'qingThe Flower Boat Market is run by the Connecting Bridge Chamber, and everything there is traded in flower tokens. The philosophy is simple: Flowers…
• Fleeing HuainanZhang Wanniang, Li AmaoDuring the time of the Yangwu Kingdom, Huainan was ravaged by war, famine, and natural disasters. Many refugees fled to the Wuyue Region and settled…
• Any Trouble, Seek the Connecting Bridge GuildRen Bao, Ren ZhishuIn Qianjiang, any trouble big or small, trade-related or not, can always be brought to the Connecting Bridge Guild for help.
• Well-Paid AccountantsDu WenThose dressed in blue robes with crimson sashes are accountants of the Connecting Bridge Guild. Some were already trained in mathematics, while…
• Wonders of the Streets - Swallow NestXu ManmanThere is a master thief in Qianjiang who bundles stolen goods into "swallow nests" and tosses them onto rooftops for people to claim. Some are worth…
• Wonders of the Streets - Qilin SageStorytellerA remarkable scholar known to all as the Qilin Sage. The connections of the streets form a vast web, and the Qilin Sage moves through that web…
• Wonders of the Streets - Human ScaleQi Yiyi, Fan CaiKnown as the one whose hand is more accurate than a scale, Bai Shiba the Human Scale is the fairest judge of weights and measures in all the…
• Wonders of the Streets - Granny SuYu BaGranny Su of the shabby tavern has mastered the art of flying chopsticks. She can lodge them in walls, and the wind from her throw can wound a man.
• A Glimpse of JadeWang RunqingThere is no one in Hangzhou who doesn't know Mister Jade Hill. Once, when his boat came through the city, a hundred boats raced to follow in his wake.
• Wonders of the Streets - Feng SanzhenZhang LiantouThey say wherever the wind blows, there is nothing Feng Sanzhen does not know. If you need to find someone or get something done, Feng Sanzhen is the…
• Academic Pressure ILiu YanqiuThe mania for study at Qiantang Academy has gone past reason. Teachers compete over monthly exam rankings, and parents panic about their children…
• Academic Pressure IIZhao A'zhiUnder the academy's crushing pressure, the youngest children suffer the most. Some students, desperate to keep their place in the rankings, stay up…
• Academic Pressure IIIHuimingDuring the academy's exam season, the temples become the busiest places in town. Desperate for top marks, students kneel in prayer until the moon…
• A Battle of WordsGu Jiulang, Shuiqiu QiniangThe seemingly idle chatter of nobles is layered with hidden motives. Gu Jiulang probes the Shuiqiu family's plans, while Shuiqiu Qiniang deflects…
• Cat Search by NightHuang SanMissing pets make convenient excuses for those sneaking around after dark. Huang San claims to be looking for a cat, but the truth is likely far from…
• An Empty OfficeGu ChengyuThe Qiantang County Court sits in an awkward spot, surrounded by wealthy households. When those families have a dispute, they take it straight to the…
• Roll Up Your SleevesRegistrar Liu, Magistrate XueThe times are changing, and rank alone won't protect you forever. Magistrate Xue's primary goal upon taking office is to teach the young nobles to do…
• What a Clerk Can DoCai MaoDecisions are made above, but work is done below. It is often the minor clerks who determine whether something succeeds or fails, a fact the young…
• A New MagistrateYu A'yang, Zhou YanrongChanges to the imperial throne in the Central Plains prompted changes within the Wuyue Kingdom as well, and it was for this reason that the new…
• Baishuang of the Well of HeavenGao RushengLiu Baishuang of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency is a Well of Heaven disciple who had long been estranged from her sect. Now she has made contact again…
• Ghost in the WaterWu JunOutside the city there is a market, and within that market lurks a ghost—a ghost bearing a grudge against the escort agency. The feuds of the jianghu…
• Harvest and EvergreenQi WuWheat for harvest, pine for evergreen. The name of Ye Qingsong, the young master of Zhenyuan Escort Agency, carries many hopes: not for glorious…
• Zhenyuan Agency AffairsLi Mujiang, Zhu CaiThe Zhenyuan Escort Agency was founded by Ye Gu and Liu Baishuang. Now, the couple is training Liu Caifeng to take the reins.
• Inquiries of the WarehouseYe GuanThe warehouse of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency is a top secret. To both outsiders and insiders, the rule is absolute: "Never ask about the warehouse."
• Keeping Up AppearancesWu Ren'anNot all noble families are equal. The greater ones enjoy fine robes and lavish feasts, while the lesser ones have to pretend they do.
• Foreigner's TalesIdrisWhen seafaring travelers arrive at Zhejiang Crossing aboard their ships, the well-traveled foreign merchants speak of their sea adventures, telling…
• Next-Door NeighborsYang Liuniang, Li ChuntaoMost travelers from foreign lands choose to rent houses for a short stay, and naturally end up mingling with their neighbors. The exchange of gifts…
• A Blending of CustomsAzlan, Inoue KyuusukeTravelers by boat hail from many different shores. Now, gathering here at West Manor, each brings their own way of dressing, eating, and living…
• Origin of the Alley's NameNasser, KarimBeyond the river is the sea, and foreigners arriving from across the sea are called seafarers. Some love the long road and make it their home; some…
• The Coffin MakerWu Laoda, Han ErlinWu Laoda always keeps a dozen thin-board coffins in his coffin shop, never sold to outsiders, reserved solely for his third brother's use. Wu Laoda…
• Rakshasa RiverDu Sanshou, Xu Si'erThe Qiantang River is also known as the Rakshasa River for its treacherous waters and hidden stone reefs. A boatman unfamiliar with its terrain would…
• Endless ToilForeman Lin, Lei DazhuangBoats go through Zhejiang Crossing without pause, meaning the porters can never rest. Not until long after dark, when the water gates close, can they…
• River Fish to MarketZhang Chaoshui, Chen HaishengRiver fishermen often rise at the Chou hour to set out with the tide. Once their boats return laden to the brim, they carry their overflowing fish…
• StowawaysHe Zhonghua, Su ZhaoxuThe fare for crossing the river or sea is far from cheap, and each boat can carry only a limited number of passengers. It is not uncommon for some to…
• Wind FlagsFang Pojun, Du KaiyueBeyond the ferry lies an island with a tower on it. Naval troops are stationed within, watching the winds and raising flags to signal the wind and…
• Goods for TaxCheng Wanchun, Zhang ZhimiWhen a boat docks, Trading Post officials count the crew and cargo, often taking goods as tax. Noble families frequently traveling by water often use…
• The Way of GovernanceHe Lianhua, Xiang WensuThe magistrate of Qianjiang may appear mild-mannered, but he has his own way of doing the job. With a few clever tricks, he perfectly settles…
• What the Bridge ConnectsYu Erniang, Wang JihongThe Connecting Bridge Chamber has worked with the Zhenyuan Escort Agency for years. The two have developed a deep understanding, allowing them to get…
• Bartering Old GoodsChu HeyeRefugees in the fish market barter their old belongings for goods without spending coin. Household items like pots and pans go easily, while books…
• Cheap CatchLin AcuiIt's called a fish market, but the baskets are mostly filled with leftover odds and ends—scraps of fish and broken bits of shrimp passed over at the…
• The Corpse CarrierSteward Sun, Wu LaosanNobody knows the road in and out of the city better than Wu Laosan, and nobody hears the wailing from a household sooner. One thin coffin, one dead…
• The Unsinkable CoffinSteward Sun, Wu LaosanThe coffins on these boats are heavy; they usually sink within hours. Wu Laosan, tasked with delivering the dead, noticed a coffin boat in the marsh…
• Writing from the LedgerSteward Sun, XiaolingWhen business is slow, Steward Sun teaches the kids to write using account books, from names, to causes of death, to sums of money. He has no idea…
• Water BurialsXue Tu, Shi DafuThe Sunken Boat Workshop often serves poor families who have no land to bury their dead. A thin coffin, a small boat, and a single leaking hole……
• Anything You AskLiu SiThe Panacea Pavilion answers any request, be it gold, jewelry, porcelain, jade, or fine artwork. So long as it travels by boat, there's nothing the…
• Fishing GoldflowersWater DrifterOn these waters, killing for hire is known as "fishing goldflowers." A river bandit willing to take the job simply hangs an order token bearing his…
• Whence the GoodsYoung Master Yu, Xia ErjieSome savvy buyers know where these goods come from. Not dropped from the sky, or dug from the earth, but sourced from the water, under the water, and…
• Every Man His MethodRiver GhostRiver bandits have their favorite ways to kill. Some prefer the "chopping board fare": poling the boat out to the middle of the river before hacking…
• Old WatchdogUnderwater Wanderer, Monk of the WavesThe watchman at the Pavilion is old, yet his eye for appraising goods remains as sharp as ever. Still, everyone who sees him spits in contempt. They…
• Dragon King's LampLiThe refugees say that on rainy nights, the Dragon King of Dead Man's Marsh lights his lamp, and the wicked men of Torrent's Maw gather on the water…
• Gambling with DeathFang XiaoqueThe folk of the boat camp have nothing to wear and nothing to eat, but they always find a way to borrow money. Crippled, deaf, or mute, when the time…
• Survivor of WarOld ChenOld Chen doesn't remember when or how he crippled his leg. He only knows one thing: if he hadn't fled south to Torrent's Maw, there might not have…
• Where's the OwnerLiu SanniangThe shipyard once had a magnificent vessel. But after the wealthy young noble died, the proprietor lost everything, the workers scattered and left…
• Overseas Visitors IYuanhuiAfter the system of Tang Envoys was abolished, Japan continued to maintain ties with the Wuyue Kingdom. Hangzhou's many Buddhist temples draw…
• Overseas Visitors IIJin ChangyunPeace and secure borders have kept Wuyue's economy growing, boosting diplomacy and trade with Japan and Goryeo. Wuyue merchants frequently cross the…
• Vain CompetitionMa GengAt Beita Temple, the young nobles have taken to judging one another by the cost of their offerings, turning devotion into another vanity contest.
• Wuyue's Merit SystemLuo Fen, Cheng XuUnlike the great states of the Central Plains, which select officials through the imperial examination, the Wuyue Kingdom relies mainly on…
• Trade with the Central PlainsShopkeeper HuaBesides its maritime trade with overseas nations, the Wuyue Kingdom frequently trades with the Central Plains. But with the land routes blocked, most…
• Golden Thread RobeYun ShuniangMost of the well-known textile shops in the city are connected to the Yun family in some way. In idle chatter between customers and merchants, the…
• Fresh for the FairgroundsCao Tieniu, Xia TongyuTo offer honored guests the freshest river fish, the city's Fairgrounds often send carts to the ferry, picking the freshest catch and hauling it away…
• The City God of Yonggu TempleFengYonggu Temple sits on Mount Phoenix. No one remembers the date it was built or the origin of the City God it enshrines. Some thirty years ago, the…
• Broken Drum of BlessingMo ChengThere once was a woman who beat a drum day after day, praying for her son missing at sea. Miraculously, the day the drum finally broke, her son…
• A Difference in DietYang Qingcang, Gan MuThe children of Wuyue Kingdom's nobility live in a different world from the common folk. The fine fare they take for granted may well be delicacies…
• The Wu Manor GatheringTuEvery year, the nobles of Wu Manor host a gathering for admiring flowers. It is a grand affair with an extraordinary variety of blossoms, and most of…
• Chasing EleganceShaoniangAs the King's maternal family, Wu Manor wields far-reaching influence. Ever since word spread of their love for flowers, every wealthy family in…
• Dreams of a HeroAh He, SuCaptivated by the storybook heroes who right wrongs and help those in need, young master Yang has taken to rising early every day and slipping away…
• Sharing the HullShen XingWuyue Kingdom's diplomatic ships often serve multiple purposes at once. Besides envoys and tribute, they also carry merchants and local goods bound…
• Flowers on the PathWang YaoKing Qian Liu of Wuyue, seeing the spring blossoms, thought of his wife who was away and wrote to her: "The flowers along the path have bloomed. You…
• Yongfu TempleHui QingYongfu Temple was once called Gushan Temple. It is the one in Bai Juyi's famous poem, "A Spring Walk by Qiantang Lake." The temple was built during…
• Pin Flowers in HairLu NingFlowers may be admired for their beauty, or tucked into one's hair. Plucking a blossom and wearing it adds a touch of elegance. Lotus flowers…
• Iced Milk CurdQian Youwei, Sun JincaiIced milk curd is a summer dessert made of sweet curd over crushed ice, dotted with cherries. Sweet and refreshing, it's loved by nobles and…
• King Qian's Dragon OfferingMadam WeiThe royal house of the Wuyue Kingdom has the tradition of casting golden and silver dragon tablets into West Lake as an offering. Unlike the rulers…
• Lost in the GameXiaqi, Bo YiLegend tells that during the Jin dynasty, a woodcutter went into the mountains to gather firewood, and came across several children playing chess and…
• Snacks of JiangnanXie Lingyi, Wang YiningIn the Jiangnan region, glutinous rice pastries are known collectively as snacks: square ones are cakes, round ones are dumplings, flat ones are…
• The Two Great TavernsWu Hao, Han ChengHangzhou has no shortage of restaurants, and two of them stand out above the rest. One is the Verdant Tavern with its elaborate dishes and strict…
• Four Tyrants of XifuHu BushuoThe street storyteller Hu Bushuo speaks of jianghu secrets under the guise of interpreting dreams. "Wine, Lust, Greed, and Wrath" are four notorious…