Chapter 591: Checking In (Attending Roll Call) |
By the time Chen Ji returned to Liquor Alley, it was already midnight (Zi hour).
He stood in the dim alley and rubbed his cheeks before pushing the door and entering: "I'm back."
In the small courtyard, Brother Pao leaned against the grape trellis smoking his Tobacco Pipe, Er Dao squatted on the ground playing with ants, the Little Monk lowered his head chanting scriptures, and Xiaoman sat by the stone table resting her chin on her hand.
Hearing the sound of pushing the door, they all turned their heads together.
Chen Ji stood at the door: "None of you are asleep yet?"
Xiaoman stood up: "Young Master, aren't we leaving tonight? Where did you go? What was that Curfew just now all about?"
Chen Ji casually walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of water: "The Curfew has nothing to do with me. We are not leaving tonight."
Xiaoman hesitated for a moment: "Not leaving... wait, where is the Commandery Princess?"
The water cup in Chen Ji's hand stopped near his mouth: "She left with the Canal Transport Guild people, with her biological father Han Tong... The Secret Spy Division's Bing Hu fished Han Tong out from the Inner Prison."
Chen Ji leaned against the kitchen door frame, took a sip of water, and then slowly said: "Han Tong is her biological father, presumably he can better protect her completely. With the Canal Transport Guild's cover far away from the capital city, she also won't have to live in fear and trembling every day. Moreover, she has things she wants to do, and only the Canal Transport Guild can help her."
Xiaoman pointed to the scattered items all over the courtyard, saying with deep sorrow: "Then what about these things I bought?"
Chen Ji looked along Xiaoman's finger.
In the courtyard, Wool Felt Tents were rolled into two large bundles, leaning against the base of the east wing room's wall.
Beside them were two Iron Pots, the large one an army Marching Pot, the small one a Hanging Pot, with brand new iron chains tied to the pot handles.
Further beside them were neatly stacked oil-paper packages, piled up one by one. Inside were dozens of catties of Stir-fried Oat Flour, enough for one person to eat for two months.
Dried meat was strung with fine hemp rope, hanging under the grape trellis. Fire Wood Strips were wrapped layer after layer in tung oil cloth.
There were also cotton-padded clothes, fur coats, felt boots, waterskins, salt bags, deerskin pouches containing needles, thread, and flint... packed full, stuffing this small courtyard so much that there was almost no place left to step.
Chen Ji also began to worry.
Xiaoman stood with arms akimbo, so angry that her double bun hair trembled: "I ran around for three days, running from Eminent Fortune Temple to Chongnan Ward, from Chongnan Ward to Sky Bridge, my legs almost broke from running! I watched them slice the dried meat, piece by piece, no fatty parts, no tendon parts, only the leanest piece of the hind leg! And that tent, made of wool felt, I scoured the entire capital city to find these two! The shopkeeper said it's a craft passed down from the north; one tent can last ten years. And now you tell me, we're not leaving?"
The more Xiaoman spoke, the angrier she got, her eye rims turning red: "Young Master, do you know how much silver these things cost? Eight hundred taels! You didn't even feel this much heartache when you pawned those shops Auntie left behind! She just leaves when she decides to, and you say we aren't leaving just like that! The two of you should have discussed it with me in advance!"
As she spoke, her voice became hoarse: "Does she know how many injuries you suffered in Guyuan? Does she know how many pairs of boots you wore out walking to the capital city? Does she know how many people in the capital city are cursing you now because of her? Not just the capital city, but also the Border Army at Chongli Pass, and the Three Imperial Camps... How could she just leave? With her leaving, all the commoners in the capital city will laugh at you. They will laugh at you for abandoning even the Qi family marriage to find a criminal woman, only for this criminal woman to ultimately reject you!"
Xiaoman's tears fell drop by drop. She turned her back, using the back of her hand to wipe forcefully again and again, saying softly: "How could she be like this!"
Brother Pao leaned under the grape trellis, slowly smoking his Tobacco Pipe.
Amidst the swirling smoke, he cast a glance at Chen Ji: "The boss suddenly talked about whether the result is important or the process is important that day at the Plum Blossom Pavilion. Presumably, you had already anticipated this day would come, which is why you said the result wouldn't be too good."
Chen Ji stood at the kitchen door, still holding that empty cup: "Anticipated it."
Brother Pao grinned and smiled: "As long as it's a result you can bear yourself, there's nothing to complain about. There shouldn't be any more matters going forward then. The boss can finally rest a bit, go drink tea and listen to operas with me, and then go fishing beside the Altar of Mountains and Rivers. The autumn sky is high and the air is crisp, so pleasant."
Speaking to this point, he changed the subject: "By the way, Xiaoman, Er Dao and I plan to move in to live together. Which room is suitable?"
Xiaoman rolled her eyes: "Aren't there two Wool Felt Tents? You two take one each. Use what should be used from these things, eat what should be eaten, I absolutely won't let my three days of busy work be for nothing!"
Brother Pao chuckled: "Deal. When winter comes, this Wool Felt Tent of mine will be even warmer than your brick house."
The courtyard fell into silence again.
A moment later, Xiaoman broke the silence: "Did the Young Master have dinner tonight?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "Didn't have time."
Xiaoman wiped her tears dry, stood up and walked toward the kitchen: "I'll go cook for you. Auntie said, even if the sky falls, one still has to eat. As long as there is still fire in the firebox, the home still has the flavor of home."
She tied up her apron upon entering the kitchen, opened a bundle of Fire Wood Strips to light the firebox, muttering softly: "With so many Fire Wood Strips, who knows how many donkey's years and horse's months it will take to use them all... Everyone else is reuniting for the Double Ninth Festival, only our family is separating! So maddening!"
When the smell of burning wood in the kitchen drifted out of the house.
For some unknown reason, Chen Ji's taut nerves today truly settled down the moment he smelled the firewood. The slight crackling sound of firewood burning in the firebox was as if a pair of hands had smoothed out the wrinkles on his body.
At this time, the Little Monk looked at Chen Ji: "This young monk remembers that when I first met the benefactor, it was the afternoon of the Double Ninth Festival. At that time, this young monk returned from Donglin Academy to Luo City together with the Prince Heir and the Commandery Princess. I also never expected that in just one year's time, Times Change and Circumstances Pass, turning Blue Sea into Mulberry Fields."
Chen Ji sat down by the stone table, breaking into a smile: "How come you, a monastic, have also become sentimental?"
The Little Monk looked into Chen Ji's eyes, as if seeing something within them: "The mountain in the benefactor's heart has finally been moved away."
Chen Ji rubbed the teacup in his hand, lost in thought: "Is it really moved away?"
The Little Monk shook his head: "This young monk does not have an answer, but the benefactor yourself already knows in your heart."
Chen Ji remained silent.
The Little Monk suddenly asked: "Benefactor, if you were allowed to take your memories back to a year ago, would you be willing? Back to that night when you newly arrived as a stranger, or the afternoon of the Double Ninth Festival."
Chen Ji thought for a moment: "Willing."
The Little Monk asked again: "Then if you were allowed to return to a year ago, but couldn't change any results, would you still be willing to go back?"
Chen Ji was slightly stunned, and didn't answer for a long time.
At this time, Xiaoman's voice sounded from the kitchen: "Little Monk, what are you still standing there blankly for? Come over and pick the vegetables!"
The Little Monk hurriedly said: "Coming, coming."
He stood up and walked toward the kitchen, but heard Chen Ji suddenly answer: "Willing."
The Little Monk was startled, taking two breaths before realizing Chen Ji was answering the question just now.
He turned his head and stared into Chen Ji's eyes, then put his palms together and smiled: "Benefactor, what does 'clinging to self' cling to?"
Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "The result?"
"Exactly," the Little Monk said softly: "As the saying goes, 'Bodhisattvas Fear the Cause, Sentient Beings Fear the Effect'. Once one no longer questions cause and Karma, they are a Buddha. With the benefactor's answer just now, willing to go back even if the result is destined, what you let go of is both the result and the obsession."
Speaking to this point, the Little Monk pointed to Chen Ji's chest and said with gratification: "That mountain in the benefactor's heart has already moved itself away. From now on, that is no longer a mountain, it's the road walked below the mountain."
Chen Ji suddenly looked at the Little Monk: "I've let go of the effect, have you picked up the cause?"
The Little Monk took a deep look at Chen Ji, turning around and walking into the kitchen: "This young monk is going to pick vegetables..."
...
...
In the night, Chen Ji had a very long dream.
In the dream, he was still sitting on that flatbed cart heading to Luhun Villa. Under the splendid evening glow, friends ate sour-to-the-teeth Oranges together.
But suddenly a heavy snow drifted over. Chen Ji was blinded by the snowflakes, and when he rubbed his eyes and looked around again, he was the only one left on the cart.
The sound of roosters crowing rang out.
Chen Ji opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
He was still in the small residence in Liquor Alley, having moved back from the east wing room to the empty main room. Wu Yun was nestled by his pillow, nice and warm.
Activities gradually began in Liquor Alley. There were footsteps of men from unknown families heading out to work, and sounds of children being sent to elementary school by their mothers. The children's voices were sincere and innocent, the mothers' voices gentle.
Chen Ji sat up, dressed himself and came to the courtyard, only to find Brother Pao had gotten up early. He was currently draped in a black cloth shirt, sitting by the stone table smoking his Tobacco Pipe.
Chen Ji asked curiously: "Why are you up so early?"
Brother Pao looked at the sky and slowly said: "Ever since coming to this Ning Dynasty, every day has been desperately risking our lives. Now that we finally have rare leisure, I actually don't know what to do."
Chen Ji said with a smile: "Go fishing then! I haven't ever fished before."
Brother Pao's spirits lifted: "Boss, fishing is incredibly interesting!"
He knocked his Tobacco Pipe on the stone table, leaning forward a bit, his eyes lighting up: "Find a quiet secluded river bend, set up a pole, hook the bait, and just sit there for an entire day. With the sun shining, the wind blowing, the water rippling, you don't have to think about anything or worry about anything. Whether the fish bite the hook or not doesn't matter, what you want is precisely that leisure."
The corners of Chen Ji's mouth curled up slightly: "Air force (fishing term for catching nothing) always has its own set of methods to console themselves."
Brother Pao laughed heartily: "When I was young in my hometown, when I was idle with nothing to do, I'd shoulder a pole and go to the riverbank. We were poor back then and couldn't afford proper fishing rods, so we'd chop a piece of bamboo, straighten it over fire, tie a hemp thread, and the hook was bent from a needle. Even with such crude things, we could still catch fish. Crucian carp, common carp, grass carp... if lucky, we could even hook a large snakehead fish. Taking it back and stewing soup, an entire family could eat for two meals."
He paused, narrowing his eyes as if recalling some distant memory: "Later when I went out to wander, I never fished again. It wasn't that I didn't have time, it was that I lacked the state of mind. Thinking all day about how to survive, how to climb upward, how not to be trampled down by others. Who has the time to sit by the river in a daze."
Chen Ji said cheerfully: "Then let's go fishing, sit there for a whole day."
Breakfast at home was Stir-fried Oat Flour paired with egg drop soup, which made Brother Pao and Er Dao choke in their throats while eating. When finished, the family of five went out the door, planning to head straight for the Reed Marshes beside the Altar of Mountains and Rivers.
But right as they stepped out the door, they happened to see a secret spy standing guard in front.
Chen Ji stopped at the door: "Is there a matter?"
The secret spy cupped his fists: "Lord Chen, the Directorate of Ceremonial sent a message, asking this humble official to come remind you. You are a Secret Spy Division Gyrfalcon. From now on, you must go to the Falconry Office to Check-In (attend roll call) every day. Right now the Secret Spy Division is busy with official business and in need of personnel... Also concerning the Morning Newspaper, you need to personally go and watch over it."
Chen Ji glanced at him, leading Brother Pao and the others straight toward the outside of the alley: "Whoever told you to send the message, go back to tell him this: I am sick, I cannot Check-In (attend roll call). Not only can I not Check-In today, I can't tomorrow either, and especially not the day after tomorrow. If it really won't do, just strip me of my Gyrfalcon title." (End of Chapter)