Entering the City

After leaving Li Laocai's home, Third Master hummed a little tune as he strolled around the village. By the time he returned home, it was already past noon. He had a habit of taking a nap, so he kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the kang, just about to rest his eyes when a burst of children's shouting rose from the courtyard. Annoyed, he thought, Whose brats are fooling around outside my door in the middle of the day? He was about to get up and chase them off when another voice called from outside, "Grandpa, open the door! It's Yuanzhi!"

Third Master froze for a moment, then broke into delighted joy. He hurried off the kang and opened the gate, where he saw a handsome young man standing before him with a smile. It was his grandson, Liu Yuanzhi.

Liu Yuanzhi wore a Moon White Confucian Robe. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, he carried an air of refined scholarship. Seeing his grandfather emerge, he quickly stepped forward, took his hand, and said with a grin, "Grandpa, Father told me to come pick you up."

"Good, good." Third Master grinned so broadly that he could not close his mouth.

A mule cart stood in the courtyard, its body covered by a canopy. Five or six children were gathered around it, laughing and playing. In the countryside, such a mule cart was still a rare sight. Grandfather and grandson approached the cart, and Liu Yuanzhi introduced him, "Grandpa, this is Wang San Ge, the driver." Wang San Ge was thirty-six or thirty-seven, with an honest-looking face. After greeting Third Master, he continued carrying things down from the cart.

Liu Yuanzhi helped Wang San Ge unload everything from the mule cart. There were pastries and candies commonly sold in the city, along with some meat and other foodstuffs. Third Master took some candies and handed them out to the children, waving them away. "Go play somewhere else." The children, delighted with their sweets, scattered in a laughing rush.

Third Master invited the two men into the cave dwelling, brewed hot tea, and asked about the situation in the city. Liu Yuanzhi said, "Everything is well. Everyone is hoping Grandpa can come join us soon." Third Master then asked about his studies. Liu Yuanzhi replied, "Passing next February's County Exam should not be a problem. As for the Prefecture Exam, that will depend on luck." He said it lightly, clearly being modest. Third Master clapped his hands and laughed. "Ha ha! Truly the Qilin Child of our family! If you can become a Xiucai, it will bring glory to our ancestors!"

Grandfather and grandson talked for a while longer. Then Third Master had Liu Yuanzhi take the pastries, candies, and other gifts to visit the elder relatives of the village clan. There were not many members of the Liu clan in Liu Li Village. Including Third Master himself, only four of his generation were still alive. Below them, there were roughly twelve or thirteen uncles and cousins of Liu Yuanzhi's father's generation. Third Master led Liu Yuanzhi around with gifts, visiting each household in turn. Whenever someone was not home, they left the gifts behind.

They had dinner at Liu Yuanzhou's home. Third Master had informed Liu Yuanzhou in advance, and Zhang Shi had prepared the meal early. The dinner was her best dish, mutton heluo noodles, and Liu Yuanzhou had gone to Crouching Tiger Slope that afternoon to buy the mutton.

The sun had already set by the time Third Master and the other two finally arrived. Liu Yuanzhou's whole family came out to greet them. Liu Da merely kept chuckling, while Zhang Shi stepped forward with a smile. "Oh my, it's only been half a year, and Yuanzhi has grown another head taller! You must be hungry. Hurry into the cave dwelling and eat. Your aunt made the mutton heluo noodles you love." Liu Yuanzhi greeted his uncle and aunt, then turned to Liu Yuanbo. "Da Wa Ge, I heard you're getting married next month. Congratulations, congratulations!" Liu Yuanbo also began chuckling.

As they spoke, everyone went into the cave dwelling, which immediately became crowded. Zhang Shi directed the two Liu Yuanzhou brothers to press the dough while she herself fished out the noodles, ladled the broth, and personally served the bowls to Third Master and the others. Fortunately, they were eating noodles, so there was no need to sit at a table. Each person took a bowl of helao noodles, either sitting on the kang or standing as they ate. Liu Yuanzhi took big mouthfuls and praised, "Auntie's mutton heluo noodles are truly delicious, no worse than those served in the city restaurants." Third Master nodded as well. "Mm, Liu Da's Wife makes some truly fine mutton heluo noodles."

Receiving such praise from the guests, Zhang Shi was overjoyed. She smiled and said, "I learned the craft from Da Wa's maternal grandfather. Now, whenever anyone in our village has Weddings and Funerals, they ask him to take charge of the cooking."

After dinner, Liu Yuanzhou escorted Third Master and the other two back. Along the way, Third Master said, "Second Child, tomorrow morning I'll go to the city with your Yuanzhi Ge. I'll give you the keys to my home later." He had another purpose in going to the city: he wanted to ask his eldest son to find Liu Yuanzhou a position in the sect. But he was not sure it would work, so he had not told Liu Yuanzhou.

Third Master saw things clearly. There was no future in staying cooped up in this mountain village. Only by going to the city could one find a path forward. Now that his son had gained some standing, he wanted to lend Liu Yuanzhou a hand.

Nothing happened that night. Before dawn the next day, Third Master got up and prepared breakfast. By the time the three had finished eating and set out, the sky was only just beginning to brighten. Third Master did not have much to bring. A few changes of clothes made up one large bundle, and he also brought some of the millet and pumpkins he had grown himself.

Liu Da came to see them off with his two sons, and they brought quite a lot with them: a large cloth sack filled with millet, black beans, and soybeans, as well as a basket of potatoes, all grown by their own family. Once everything had been loaded onto the cart, Liu Da and his two sons escorted them all the way to Crouching Tiger Slope.

"Third Master, take care of your health. I'll watch over the house for you." Liu Yuanzhou's eyes were slightly red. This parting would likely last three or four months.

"I know. You should read more books when you have nothing to do. There are books in the chest in my cave dwelling. Go look through them yourself." Third Master instructed Liu Yuanzhou, then turned to Liu Yuanbo. "Da Wa, I won't be able to drink your wedding wine. You must live well with your wife." Liu Yuanbo hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Only after watching the mule cart gradually disappear into the distance did Liu Da and his two sons turn back toward home.

Liu Li Village was about one hundred and twenty li from Yan Province City. After passing Crouching Tiger Slope and following the country road for another twenty-odd li, they reached the broad road leading to Yan Province City. It was generally called the official road, connecting Yan Province and Yuzhou. More than ten meters wide, it had a compacted yellow-earth foundation covered with a layer of fine gravel. Villages and market towns lay scattered along both sides, with one appearing every dozen or so li.

Third Master had not entered the city for more than two years, so instead of sitting inside the canopy, he sat on the driver's shaft with Wang San Ge and admired the scenery along the way. Once they reached the official road, traffic increased. There were camel caravans and mule carts hauling goods, traders driving livestock, people carrying baskets on shoulder poles, and groups of two or three traveling empty-handed. Men and women, young and old, were all there; every sort could be found. From time to time, a luxurious horse carriage rolled past.

It was now the Fifteenth Year of Changping. The Great Shun Dynasty had been founded barely twenty years earlier, and the reigning emperor was only the second of his line. It was an age of striving to strengthen the realm, with policies centered on light taxes and levies, allowing the people time to recover and thrive. Thus, even this remote corner of the northwest was gradually taking on an air of prosperity.

When they passed a market town called Ma Family Shop, all three were somewhat hungry. They bought some mutton offal at the market and ate it with flatbread. Afterward, they continued on their way. Third Master grew tired and went into the canopy to rest, soon falling asleep in a daze. Seeing that his grandfather had fallen asleep, Liu Yuanzhi took a book from the bag he carried with him and began reading.

Near the end of Shen Hour, just as the sun was about to set, Yan Province City finally came into distant view. Liu Yuanzhi gently shook his grandfather awake. "Grandpa, wake up. We're about to enter the city."

Third Master was a light sleeper and woke at once. He lifted the cloth curtain of the canopy, stood, and stepped out to look ahead. A city shaped like a giant wolf crouched at the foot of Phoenix Mountain. That was Yan Province City. Yan Prefecture's administrative seat was located in Shi Fu County, so Yan Province City generally referred to Shi Fu County City; this was what was meant by "the administrative seat and city being one." Third Master then looked to his left. In the sunset, a pagoda stood far away atop the mountain, gleaming brilliantly. His eyes grew moist without his noticing.

The three continued onward. After crossing the Shi River, they neared the eastern gate, and the crowds thickened. A grass market had formed here, with stalls selling goods stretching one after another along both sides of the road. Vendors' cries, haggling, and playful shouting blended into a single clamor. It was bustling beyond measure.

There were too many people for the mule cart to move quickly, so Third Master and Liu Yuanzhi simply got down and walked. Third Master sighed with feeling. "When I came here two years ago, there were only a few food stalls and hardly any people. Look at it now—there are more people than at a fair."

Liu Yuanzhi nodded. "Yes. The court has adopted generous policies, so villagers from around the county come here to sell goods. Some have simply rented homes in the city and started businesses."

At the eastern gate, County Yamen runners stood guard. Those entering the city had to present their Identity Plates for inspection, while a squad of spear-bearing soldiers guarded the gate tower above.

All three presented their Identity Plates for inspection. The runners checked them, and another runner ordered the canopy curtain raised to inspect the cart. Once everything was found in order, they were allowed through.

The three drove into the city. Before them stretched a broad avenue called East Main Street. Shops stood in dense rows on both sides, and houses rose one after another, most two stories tall, though some had three or four floors. There were fewer pedestrians than outside the city, but most were neatly dressed and strolled along at ease.

Shi Fu County City was Yan Province City. It was divided into Three Streets and Eighteen Wells. The Three Streets were East Main Street, South Main Street, and North Main Street. Each main street was further divided into six smaller streets called "wells," making eighteen in all. East Main Street was chiefly the commercial district. The Prefectural Yamen, County Yamen, academy, and other government offices were all on South Main Street, where many high officials and nobles also kept their residences. North Main Street was mainly a residential district for commoners.

The mule cart carried the three through East Main Street and into North Main Street. They turned down a smaller street and traveled about three hundred meters before stopping before a courtyard gate. This was the Yan Province City home of Third Master's eldest son.

Liu Yuanzhi helped Third Master down from the mule cart. Wang San Ge had already gone ahead to knock on the gate. After a while, the doors opened, and a group of men, women, young, and old came out to welcome them. Leading them were Third Master's two sons: the eldest, Liu Jiali, and the second, Liu Jiaren. Liu Jiali was around forty and bore a striking resemblance to Third Master. He wore an eight-shaped mustache and a Date Red Silk Official Robe, giving him a dignified and imposing air. Liu Jiaren looked thirty-five or thirty-six, fair-skinned and quite handsome.

Seeing their father arrive, Liu Jiali and Liu Jiaren hurried forward in delight. "Dad, you've finally come! Hurry inside and rest." The others also stepped forward to pay their respects. Some called him Dad, some Grandpa, and some Maternal Grandpa. Third Master smiled and greeted each of them in turn.

The group crowded around Third Master and ushered him into the courtyard. Liu Yuanzhi and his elder brother Liu Yuanyang stayed behind to carry the things. They helped Wang San Ge unload the cart, after which Liu Yuanyang sent Wang San Ge back. When the brothers had carried everything into the storeroom and walked into the courtyard, they heard their grandfather angrily slamming the table in the main hall, along with their father's unceasing attempts to soothe him. The two exchanged a glance, turned around, and slipped back to their own home.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was heavy. Third Master sat there breathing hard, his face flushed red. Liu Jiali kept patting his back as he said, "Dad, don't let anger harm your health. Our family is reunited; we should be happy. Jiaren's matter can be discussed later." Third Master pushed him away, but Liu Jiali poured a cup of hot tea and offered it to him. "Dad, have some hot tea."

Liu Jiaren stood to one side with his head lowered, not saying a word.

Third Master looked at his eldest son, then at his second son, and let out a long sigh. Taking the tea and sipping it, he said with self-mockery, "Ah, forget it. Every one of your children has grown up now. This old man can no longer control any of you."

The two brothers hurriedly tried to explain, but Third Master waved his hand. "Enough. Let's speak of happier things."

He then asked Liu Jiali about his work, and Liu Jiali gave him a general account.

Under the Miscellaneous Affairs Director of the Tai Xuan Sect Yan Province Branch were Left and Right Stewards. Some time ago, the former Right Steward had reached retirement age and stepped down, and Liu Jiali had smoothly taken his place. Reaching the rank of steward made him middle management within the branch, bringing a fundamental rise in both benefits and status.

Third Master took the opportunity to mention Liu Yuanzhou's matter. Liu Jiali pondered for a moment, then said, "Dad, since you've asked, I'll naturally do my utmost. But you know I've only just been promoted. If I rashly arrange for a relative to enter now, there may be complications." Yet he could not help thinking that, now that he had become a steward, it was time to cultivate a few people he could trust. Aside from his two sons, relatives from his hometown were the best candidates. He therefore kept the matter in mind.

Third Master nodded. "Handle it as you see fit."

"Dad, the meal is ready. Come eat." A woman entered the main hall and spoke.