C9 The People in the City Asked for Directions

After breakfast, several children from the town crowded around the entrance to Ye Chuxue's home. They peeked out from in front of the restaurant, loudly calling for Ye Chuxue to come out and play.

"Mr. Ye, Zhixian has finished eating."

Upon hearing his friends' calls, Ye Chuxue, still very much a child at heart, quickly lost interest in his meal.

He hurriedly finished the soup and porridge in his bowl, devoured the sugar sesame cake he'd normally save for later, then hopped off the small stool and dashed out to join the fun.

"Be careful while you're out playing, and oh, Zhixian, take this with you. If you get tired, you can buy some treats for your friends."

He stretched out his hand and caught the little rascal who was nearly out the door. Mr. Ye put down his soup spoon, pulled four coins from his pocket, and slipped them into the small pocket on the front of Ye Chuxue's silk jacket.

In the mountains, prices were low; a single coin could buy two large beef buns, a bag of salted silkworm beans, or a delicate sugar figurine.

However, in the town, families usually lived frugally. Mr. Ye's household was likely the only one willing to give their child some pocket money for sweets.

With the coins in hand, Ye Chuxue's face lit up with joy. He acknowledged with a nod, gave Mr. Ye a wave, and then disappeared into the crowd of children, vanishing from sight in no time.

After Ye Chuxue left, the small tavern regained its tranquility. Mr. Ye settled back into his chair, sipping the white rice porridge that had cooled down.

Once he finished his porridge, he tidied up the bowls, washed the table, and opened the tavern's door to let the sunlight in, airing out the overnight accumulation of dust.

Mr. Ye then quietly took his place behind the counter, waiting for customers while endlessly clicking away at his abacus.

This was his life now, simple and serene, unchanged for the past three years...

...

Tongshui Ancient Town's bustling market was where the most merchants gathered. Here, one could find all the necessities of daily life: firewood, rice, oil, salt, and an abundance of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

Artisans crafted charming trinkets, playful mud dolls for children, vintage furniture, ancient books, and old paintings. Even the leisurely and refined folks who delighted in flowers, birds, fish, insects, and the arts of calligraphy and painting could find their interests reflected here.

Women and children were particularly fond of visiting the bustling marketplace. The women found joy in discovering numerous affordable items, while the children sought the excitement of the crowd, gravitating towards the liveliest spots.

The market was also brimming with vendors offering an array of sweets and treats. Every so often, someone would hand out pieces of osmanthus cake or other delectable snacks to the children.

"It's been ten years, yet Tongshui Ancient Town remains unchanged," a gentle sigh emerged on the cobblestone path of the lively market, quickly drowned out by the surrounding chatter. A well-dressed middle-aged man was amusing himself with the caged birds at a stall.

In stark contrast to the town's modest villagers, the man donned a pale green brocade robe adorned with intricate bamboo embroidery. A purple pine crown rested atop his head, and a hefty white jade ring gleamed on his finger, sparkling in the summer light. His demeanor exuded an air of distinction that surpassed that of a mere wealthy country gentleman, suggesting instead the presence of an official.

The fabric of his robe was a luxury not found in the mountains, available only in the county towns through exclusive merchants. The bamboo embroidery, in particular, was a testament to the skill of an embroiderer with at least a decade of experience.

"Sir, Tongshui Town must indeed be a place of great feng shui. How else could it have nurtured a dragon such as yourself?" remarked a mustachioed man, offering his flattery with ease.

Adorned in a black brocade robe with a lustrous jadeite cabbage pendant at his waist, he too appeared wealthy, though his status seemed somewhat lesser than that of the middle-aged man.

At that moment, he carried elegantly wrapped brocade boxes, attentively following behind the man.

"Haha, Hsu San, your gift of gab truly becomes more impressive by the day."

My maternal family once resided in Tongshui Ancient Town, but they later relocated to Taiping County and seldom returned to their ancestral home. Over the years, I've only visited once, accompanying my teacher. I never imagined that this time I would return and not be able to find him."

Zhang Yaozhi's laughter faded into a look of concern as he flicked the intricately carved rosewood birdcage, prompting the bird inside to chirp melodically.

"Don't speak like that, sir. You have the heavens' favor. I'm merely stating the facts. We've only been in Tongshui for a short while, and the town isn't so large that we can't find him."

"I just don't understand, sir. If you're looking for someone, why not search the residential alleys and courtyards? Why come to this bustling marketplace?" Hsu San asked, puzzled as he watched the throng of people on the old street.

"Haha, you've been cooped up in the estate too long, my friend. The marketplace has its advantages; it's the quickest way to gather information," Zhang Yaozhi explained with a chuckle.

He tapped on the bird vendor's stall and smiled at the young man. Pointing to the bird he had earlier admired, he inquired, "Young man, how much for this one?"

"Ah, you've got quite the eye! This bird was caught fresh from the mountain this morning—it's full of spirit. Judging by your attire, you're not from around here. Since fate has brought us together, I'll let you have it for twenty coins, cage included. What do you say?"

The vendor perked up at the prospect of a sale, speaking with confidence and authority.

"Deal. Hsu San, pay the man."

With a generous gesture, Hsu San promptly retrieved twenty copper coins from his pouch and handed them to the vendor. As he took down the birdcage from the bamboo rack, Zhang Yaozhi posed another question.

"By the way, young man, I'm looking for information. Do you know if there's a wealthy family in town by the surname Jiang? They would have moved here about seven years ago."

"The Jiang surname? That's quite rare around here. And a wealthy family? I'm afraid there isn't one."

The stall owner shook his head, indicating that there was no notable family by the name of Jiang in the town.

"Sigh, how could this be? Logically, after a teacher resigns and returns to his hometown, he should have some standing in Tongshui Town. Why does it seem like no one knows of him?"

Zhang Yaozhi sighed, ready to leave with the caged Hwamei. But as he stepped forward, it felt like he stumbled over something.

There was a sharp "snap".

A small figure tumbled to the ground. The little sugar figurine he was holding was flung into the air, landing on Zhang Yaozhi's robe.

The figurine cracked, spilling its syrupy contents, which smeared across the valuable cloud-patterned silk robe.