Zhang Qi

Biodata

Background / History

Zhang Qi serves around the county courier station and yamen. He is present when the County Magistrate anxiously questions the disappearance of Ji Chen and Shen Hui, and is later dismissed after attempting to question the returned Daoists 49.

While Shen Hui is exploring Qu County, he sees Mother Liu of the Cloud-Staying Pavilion publicly scolding and striking Zhang Qi after Zhang Qi climbs over its wall, spends no money, and eats two pastries from one of the women's rooms. Zhang Qi pleads with her rather than arguing back 51 52.

He subsequently drives Shen Hui to Zhang Family Village, where he explains aspects of the Yi people's She Festival and proves easily distracted by the young women attending it 57. During the festival, he receives a red ribbon from an Yi woman while insisting that Xiao Cui of the Cloud-Staying Pavilion is the only woman in his heart 58. The following morning, Shen Hui finds him emerging disheveled from his cart after spending the night with an Yi woman 59.

Zhang Qi later accompanies Shen Hui and Monk Faming in their search for Madam Zhao's missing child. Though frightened by supernatural threats, he handles practical errands, including locating the local village chief when instructed to find the largest and best house in the Yi village 66 67. He remains with the group through the Mass Grave incident, assisting Shen Hui and Faming in collecting and burying the remains raised by Earth Wolf 85.

After the destruction of his mule cart and the death of his mule, Gray, Zhang Qi parts ways with Shen Hui and Faming. He intends to return to the courier station and resume delivering mail 86. By the time Shen Hui next visits Qu County, Zhang Qi has stopped delivering letters. According to the old Stationmaster, Zhang Qi left the county the previous autumn with his family and a redeemed courtesan named Cui, intending to “see the world” 260.

Personality

Zhang Qi is loud, talkative, and mischievous. While driving, he criticizes shops and street vendors indiscriminately and pokes nearby pedestrians with his bamboo whip for amusement 46.

He is cowardly around supernatural dangers, hiding behind Madam Zhao upon seeing the Ox-Head Man and reacting with fear to the corpses raised at the Mass Grave 66 77. His caution extends to officials: he initially resists Shen Hui's plan to pursue Chief Clerk Zhang Erhe and tries to dissuade him out of concern for the consequences 69.

Despite his opportunism and occasional greed, Zhang Qi is useful in mundane matters and becomes openly admiring of Shen Hui's Daoist arts. After Shen Hui feeds him with the minor art Drawing a Cake to Satisfy Hunger, he becomes energetic and markedly more deferential 75.

Equipment / Transport

• Blue-canopied mule cart — Used to transport Shen Hui and Monk Faming during their travels; later dismantled by villagers 57 73.
• Bamboo whip — Carried while driving the cart; he uses it to prod pedestrians who walk too close 46.
• Gray — His mule of three years, used for yamen deliveries and cart travel before dying during the Mass Grave events 86.

Relationships

• Shen Hui / Qingxuan — Employer and traveling companion. Zhang Qi drives him between villages, assists with errands and burials, and grows increasingly impressed by his magic. When Shen Hui later returns to Qu County hoping to see him, Zhang Qi has already left 57 67 75 85 260.
• Monk Faming — Fellow companion during the search for Madam Zhao's children and the Mass Grave incident 63 85.
• Xiao Cui / Cui — Woman from the Cloud-Staying Pavilion whom Zhang Qi claims is his sole romantic interest, despite his involvement with an Yi woman. The old Stationmaster later reports that Zhang Qi left Qu County with a redeemed courtesan named Cui and his family 58 59 260.
• Mother Liu — Madam of the Cloud-Staying Pavilion. She publicly scolds and strikes Zhang Qi after catching him visiting without paying and eating pastries there 51 52.
• Gray — His mule and working partner for three years; Zhang Qi speaks fondly of the animal after its death 86.
• Old Stationmaster — Zhang Qi's former superior at the post house. The Stationmaster later expresses disappointment that Zhang Qi gave up delivering letters and left Qu County 57 260.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zhang Family Village and She Festival

Zhang Qi transports Shen Hui to Zhang Family Village and serves as an informal guide to the Yi people's She Festival. His flirtatious behavior becomes a recurring source of embarrassment and amusement for Shen Hui 57 58 59.

Search for Madam Zhao's Children

He joins Shen Hui and Monk Faming in tracing a missing child with a Paper Crane Tracking Talisman. Although frightened by the illusionist's Ox-Head disguise, Zhang Qi helps secure the village chief and remains with the group as they recover A-Fu 66 67 69.

Mass Grave Incident

Zhang Qi drives Shen Hui to the Mass Grave, witnesses Earth Wolf's corpse army, and later assists in burying the scattered remains. The incident costs him both his cart and mule, ending his immediate role in Shen Hui's travels 75 77 85 86.

Departure from Qu County

Zhang Qi eventually gives up his courier work. When Shen Hui visits the post house again, the old Stationmaster says Zhang Qi left Qu County the previous autumn with his family and a redeemed courtesan named Cui to travel and see the world 260.

Notable Quotes

“Daoist, I'm a proper cart driver!” 69

“This magic is too divine! What is this called?” 75