Chapter 9: The Cousin's Visit

"Ink," Jinyu said. "Sergeant, half of this lane has ink on its fingers."

She raised her voice a little.

"Master Printer! Show the sergeant your hands."

At the next table the printer, a stout man with spectacles pushed up on his forehead, held up both palms.

They were black to the wrist.

The boatmen laughed.

The old woman cackled and said, "He'd stain the emperor's robe."

The sergeant looked at the printer's hands, then at the photograph, then at the faces turned toward him.

His ears went red.

"It's evidence," he muttered.

"It's a hot day," said the printer kindly. "Have a bun."

Somebody pushed a plate across.

The sergeant was reaching for the photograph to put it away.

The street door swung open, and a grey silk shoulder blocked the sunlight.

"Sergeant. Sister-in-law."

Pei Mingshan took off his gold-rimmed glasses, polished them on a handkerchief, and put them back on.

He had a second man at his shoulder, a narrow clerk in a black gown who carried a flat leather case.

The hall went quiet.

"Banker Pei," Jinyu said. "Twice in one week. My teahouse is honoured."

"I'll be brief." Mingshan did not sit down.

"I've come with a proposal, and I'd like the room to hear it, because I have nothing to hide."

The clerk set the case on the nearest table and opened it.

Inside lay two long rows of silver dollars in paper rolls.

A murmur ran round the hall.

"Two thousand yuan," Mingshan said gently.

"For you, sister-in-law. Or for the lane, if you prefer, for the new roof the Tingsong needs."

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