The woman trembled with rage, even the finger she pointed at Bajie's nose shaking.
"Zhu Liang!! Have you swallowed some soul-bewitching potion today?! Where else in town can you buy salt? The east end! Chen's Oil and Salt Shop!!"
"I know, I know! The east end!"
Bajie ducked his head and took off toward the east end of the street.
The woman's scolding still rang out behind him.
The neighbors poked their heads out to enjoy the spectacle. Some leaned against their doorframes, tea bowls in hand, grinning; others were only too happy to fan the flames.
"Xiaolian, scolding him again?"
The town was small. Walking from one end to the other took less time than a stick of incense could burn.
Quite a few neighbors had greeted him along the way.
"Well, well, Second Zhu, got another tongue-lashing?"
"Listen, Second Zhu, put a little heart into things. You've got such a fine wife, and you don't know how to cherish her."
"Exactly. Xiaolian's so capable, while you're a live-in son-in-law who loafs around all day. What kind of behavior is that?"
Those lukewarm remarks drifted over, most carrying a measure of mockery and disdain.
There were no secrets in a small town.
With so few people, whatever fine dish one family ate at noon would be common knowledge across town by afternoon.
Bajie walked very slowly, piecing things together along the way. From those scattered greetings and snatches of conversation, he gradually assembled his current identity.
Zhu Liang, known around town as Second Zhu.
His family had been too poor, with too many children, so he had come over from the neighboring village and, through a matchmaker, married into the Li Family.
His wife, Li Xiaolian, was famously capable. As for him, he shirked work and spent his days