Mo Sang – CH 203

Chapter 203. A Lover of Gossip

Li Sangrou stayed in Yangzhou for about two months. Early in the eleventh month, she quietly set off, leaving Yangzhou for Jianle City.

Back at her house in Chaomi Alley, it was already the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Da Chang hurriedly directed everyone, assigning tasks. Datou and the others quickly cleaned and washed. Hei Ma went to buy rice, flour, live sheep, and live pigs, while he and Chuantiao rushed to the fish market, chicken and duck market, and vegetable market to buy chicken, duck, fish, eggs, scallions, and cabbage.

For two years in a row, they had not been able to properly celebrate the New Year. This year, Da Chang felt that they absolutely had to have a festive, lively, and proper New Year celebration!

Hei Ma and Xiao Lu naturally agreed wholeheartedly with Da Chang’s idea.

Li Sangrou did not even enter the second gate, heading straight for Meng Yanqing’s large courtyard, which was not far away.

In the courtyard, the dozen or so old Yunmeng guards who remained had just welcomed Meng Yanqing and his group. Outside the gate, the contents of several large carts were still being unloaded.

Seeing Li Sangrou approach unhurriedly, Wei Fu, who was carrying large and small bags, hurriedly called out to Meng Yanqing: “The boss is here!”

“I was not looking for you; I came to see how Yan-niang is doing,” Li Sangrou said with a smile, waving to Meng Yanqing, who rushed out to greet her.

“She’s much better. I will take the Boss inside,” Wei Fu said hastily, dropping his bags and gesturing for Li Sangrou to go to a small side courtyard.

In the side courtyard, Yan-niang, wearing an indigo-dyed cotton-padded jacket and skirt, sat in the courtyard, diligently sewing a shoe sole. Seeing Wei Fu step aside to let Li Sangrou in, she quickly put down the shoe sole, grabbed the armrest of the chair, and tried to stand up.

“She looks much better,” Li Sangrou said, quickly helping Yan-niang sit down again.

“Very well!” Wei Fu said cheerfully. “After the boss left, several old physicians came twice more. They discussed it for a long time, saying that we had to start with deworming; otherwise, the diet would not be nourishing enough.

Yan-niang was weak and could not handle it. It took two or three months of deworming to completely clear the parasites. Then she fell ill again but recovered quickly afterwards. Now she’s getting acupuncture to treat her foot numbness.”

“Thanks to the boss,” Yan-niang said, bowing slightly as Li Sangrou pressed her back into the armchair.

“With foot numbness, your hands are also prone to pain. Sewing shoe soles requires a lot of effort, and your eyes are not fully healed either.” Li Sangrou picked up a shoe sole, felt it, and carefully examined Yan-niang’s eyes.

“She cannot stay idle. She says her feet cannot move, so her hands cannot be idle anymore.

I asked her to do some light work, but she said she could not see clearly and could not stitch evenly; she insisted on sewing shoe soles.

Look, even the boss said you cannot work with that hand anymore.” Wei Fu reached for the shoe sole, moved a chair over, and handed it to Li Sangrou.

“If I am idle all day, I will become a cripple,” Yan-niang said softly.

“Recover first, then we will talk about other things.” Li Sangrou sat down next to Yan-niang.

“I think I am almost fully recovered, but he still will not let me do anything, saying I need to rest.

Seeing him, a grown man, washing and cleaning, busy with everything, tell me, how can he do that?

Now that I can move, how can I let a grown man like him serve me like this?” Yan-niang looked at Li Sangrou and spoke softly.

“It’s his blessing that he can serve you like this.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“How can he do this? How can he do this? He’s a grown man.” Yan-niang was very uneasy.

“I told you long ago, it is my blessing to see you again and to serve you. See, even the boss says so.” Wei Fu brought over a small stool and sat down next to Yan-niang.

“People talk about filial piety, and the best filial piety is to obey one’s parents’ wishes. It should be the same between husband and wife, should it not?

If you want to be good to him, the best way is to go along with his wishes. If he wants you to live well and happily, and to be with him, then you should happily be with him, watching him work and talking to him. Right now, he wants you to focus on recovering your health, so you should focus on recovering your health.

As for small things like washing and cleaning, whether you do it or he does it, he does not care, and you do not need to care either, right?”

Li Sangrou thought for a moment and smiled.

“What the boss says makes sense; that’s exactly right,” Wei Fu quickly added.

“The boss is really good at persuasion.” Yan-niang bowed to Li Sangrou.

“If you think a grown man should not do laundry and cleaning, then you should focus on recovering first. Once you are better and have more strength, you can decide which chores a man should not do, and then do not let him do them,” Li Sangrou said with a smile. “How you two should live your lives is ultimately up to you.”

“How can I decide? It is always the man who’s in charge…”

Yan-niang did not finish her sentence before Wei Fu laughed. “If I were truly in charge, then I would be in charge, and I would be the one cooking and cleaning!”

“That’s not right!” Yan-niang sighed.

“You see, you are still in charge,” Wei Fu continued with a smile.

Yan-niang sighed, unable to suppress a laugh.

Li Sangrou laughed, standing up as she did so. “You two can discuss how to be in charge. I am leaving now. Do not move.” Li Sangrou gestured to Yan-niang.

“I will see the boss out. Do not move.” Wei Fu quickly stood up, bent down, and pressed Yan-niang down, following Li Sangrou out.

“That’s just Yan-niang’s temper. She always feels she should serve me, not me, and she nags me all the time.”

Outside the courtyard, Wei Fu and Li Sangrou laughed.

“It’s good that you understand. These past years, at least you’ve had a group of comrades who would share life and death with you. She was all alone, living amidst a pack of wolves, struggling to survive. Her situation was much harder than yours. You should be more understanding of her,” Li Sangrou said gently.

“Yes,” Wei Fu’s throat tightened. “I know, do not worry, Boss.”

……………………

Li Sangrou left the Old Yunmeng guard compound. Seeing that the sun was already setting, the school should have let out. She bought a few packets of pine nut candy and other snacks on the way and headed to Zhang Mao’s house.

Li Sangrou called out to Xiu’er and pushed open the courtyard gate.

Xiu’er peeked out from the main room and, seeing Li Sangrou, let out a delighted scream, “It’s Auntie!”

Before the scream faded, Dazhuang rushed out first, followed by Cui’er and Guo’er, all screaming as they ran towards Li Sangrou.

“Oh, one’s missing,” Li Sangrou said, opening her arms and letting the children huddle around her.

“Man’er’s family moved to a new house, over there, just two alleys away!” Cui’er, as always, was the quickest to speak.

“They are setting up their stove today, so they rushed home after school.” Xiu’er took the bags of pine nuts and other treats from Li Sangrou.

“Moved to a new house? What about your Auntie Gu? Did she buy a new house too?” Li Sangrou, holding Guo’er’s hand, led her into the house.

“They all bought houses. Auntie Gu bought first. Auntie Han was not in a hurry to buy; she wanted to find one closer to us, but the house prices went up, so she rushed and bought one quickly.”

Xiu’er, carrying large and small bags of food, walked backwards in front of Li Sangrou.

“It’s only two alleys away; I do not think it is far!” Cui’er shook Li Sangrou’s arm.

“You have to go around; it is quite far.” Guo’er grabbed one of Li Sangrou’s hands with both of hers, craning her neck to speak to Cui’er.

“This one is the closest, but we had no choice. If we did not buy now, the prices would go up again; we could not wait,” Xiu’er sighed with an air of maturity.

Li Sangrou chuckled.

At the kitchen doorway, Old Wang’s wife peeked out and greeted Li Sangrou.

“Auntie Wang, wash all the vegetables, and when my mother comes back, let her cook,” Xiu’er called out.

“Will your mother be back soon?” Li Sangrou was ushered into the house.

“She said she’d be back for dinner tonight. Soon.” Xiu’er placed a basket full of food on the table and busied herself getting tea leaves and a teacup to make tea for Li Sangrou.

Before the tea was even finished, Zhang Mao’s voice came from the courtyard gate. “Where’s Ni’er? Dazhuang! Sister-in-law Wang!”

“Mother’s back!”

Besides Xiu’er, who was making tea, Cui’er, Guo’er, and Dazhuang squeezed out together.

“Mother! Mother! Auntie’s here! Auntie’s here!”

“Which auntie?”

The courtyard erupted in shouts. Li Sangrou stood up, looking at Zhang Mao, who was carrying and slung large and small bags.

“Look at the way Mother asks, ‘Which auntie?’ It is like we have so many aunties!” Xiu’er finished making the tea and quickly went out to greet her, helping Auntie Wang take the bags from Zhang Mao’s shoulders.

“You are back!” Zhang Mao exclaimed with delight upon seeing Li Sangrou. “Look at what I am saying! It is almost New Year’s; of course, you should be back!

Xiu’er, did you make tea for your aunt? Was it the tea cake from the red jar?

Sister-in-law Wang, please tidy these up. I will cook dinner.

Where did you come from? Almost two years ago…”

Zhang Mao’s words flowed uncontrollably.

Li Sangrou smiled at her, listening without speaking.

Zhang Mao unloaded her bags and patted her clothes, pacing back and forth between the kitchen and the main room.

Should she talk to the boss first or start cooking now? It was getting late.

“Xiu’er, take the tea tray; let’s go to the kitchen and watch your mother cook. Her pancakes are delicious, and they look beautiful when she makes them,” Li Sangrou said, gesturing with a teacup.

“Take the pine nut candy!” Guo’er rushed into the room with Xiu’er, carrying the bag of pine nut candy.

“I will move a chair for Auntie; I am the strongest!” Dazhuang rushed over to move a chair.

Li Sangrou entered the kitchen amidst the entourage. Zhang Mao took off her apron from behind the door, shook it out, washed her hands, and began to look through the prepared meat and vegetables while talking.

“We need to make fried dough sticks, so our dishes cannot be too greasy.

We have soaked red beans, so let’s make a pot of red bean porridge.

This rooster is a bit small; perfect. Let’s stir-fry it. Stir-fried chicken has been all the rage in Jianle City for the past six months; it is really delicious.

We will also stir-fry some shredded radish with sesame oil and make a spicy and sour shredded cabbage.”

“Ma, we cannot make it too vegetarian. Dazhuang cannot do without meat!” Xiu’er reminded her.

“I cannot do without meat either!” Cui’er immediately chimed in.

“Me too! Me too!” Guo’er followed closely behind Cui’er.

“I have not finished yet. We have mutton, stir-fried with scallions, a section of this black cabbage cut into braise, and a steamer of cured pork and sausages.”

“Is there anything else you want to eat?” Zhang Mao counted around and asked Li Sangrou.

“Do you have shredded mustard greens?” Li Sangrou hugged Guo’er, who was nestled in her arms, and asked with a smile.

“Of course there is! That’s settled then.” Zhang Mao cheerfully patted her apron, picked up a basin, scooped out flour, and started kneading.

Xiu’er rinsed the rice, mixed it with red beans, put it in a clay pot, and placed it on the charcoal stove.

“You’ve been gone for over a year without a single word.

The lock over at Chaomi Alley has not been touched. Old Meng and his men have connections, but they know nothing. They say that you and Old Meng must be involved in some kind of military secret, and that in Jianle City, if anyone knows, it is probably only the Emperor.

Look at what they are saying.

I often go to Shunfeng Shop. Manager Zuo even asked me if I’d heard from you. I told him, if you have not heard from me, it must be some kind of military secret.

I think Master Lu seems to know, but I cannot be sure. He’s just like that, mysterious and always seeming like he wants to say something but does not. Man’er’s mother said that’s how scholars are.”

“You said it!” Xiu’er, who was slicing cured meat, turned around and corrected her. “Man’er and I were right there. You said it first. Scholars are all like that. Aunt Han said so!”

“You have such a good memory!” Zhang Mao tapped Xiu’er’s forehead with his finger. “Later, in March of this year, Uncle Blind came back. He said he and you parted ways in Xinyang, and you went to Ezhou.

This is the first time in over a year that he’s heard from you. And only this once.

Uncle Blind brought back two senior sisters. Did you know that? You definitely know!”

Speaking of Blind Mi’s two senior sisters, Zhang Mao beamed, his eyes sparkling with gossip.

“I did not even dare to admit it!” Xiu’er also looked gossipy.

“Me neither!” “Me too!” Cui’er and Guo’er quickly chimed in.

“Me, me, me!” Dazhuang, munching on a piece of pine nut candy, was playing with the nine-linked rings. He had not actually heard what they were saying, but that did not stop him from raising his hand and following closely behind.

Li Sangrou, watching the gossipy Zhang Mao and Xiu’er, hugging the clearly clueless Guo’er, laughed.

“Uncle Blind, with his Sister Lin and Sister Wang, arrived here first.

Do not even mention Xiu’er not daring to recognize him, I did not dare either!

That day, Uncle Blind was wearing a bamboo-green lined robe, his hair neatly combed and adorned with a jade hairpin.

He came to the workshop looking for me first.

I heard there was a gentleman looking for me at the door. I went out to look, and it was indeed a gentleman, wearing a long robe, hands behind his back, clean and tidy. Two women were standing next to him, one carrying a sword. How could I dare to recognize him!

Uncle Blind just stared at me; he did not say a word. How could I possibly recognize him?

Then he got angry and said to me, ‘You brat, why are you staring at me like that?’

I immediately thought, ‘Alright, I recognize him!’

Uncle Blind, Sister Lin, and Sister Wang only stayed here for four or five days before finding a house—quite remote, near the south end of the city wall, with a large garden in the back—and they moved in.

The next day, I went to deliver some things to them, and as soon as I entered the second gate, I saw Uncle Blind standing in the courtyard hanging clothes to dry! Oh my, I was so scared!

Tell me, when has Uncle Blind ever gotten his hands wet? He does not even wash his face! He would not even pick up a fallen oil bottle.

This is a true story: right here in my house, the oil bottle fell over, and he did not move. He called to Xiu’er, saying, ‘Xiu’er, your oil bottle has fallen over.’

Can you believe it? This kind of person, and I actually saw him washing and hanging clothes? You can imagine how scared I was!”

Zhang Mao’s face paled with surprise.

“Uncle Blind does not just do the laundry; he cooks and sweeps, too! He’s so diligent. Man’er and I have visited him several times.

Uncle Blind eats with Aunt Lin and Aunt Wang. He cooks, and after they eat, he washes the dishes!” Xiu’er chimed in, her face full of gossip.

Li Sangrou listened and asked with a smile, “Are they in Jianle City now?”

“No, probably around the fifth or sixth month. First, they went to Wuwei Prefecture, and last month, they went to Mizhou, saying they were looking at some cotton.” Zhang Mao kneaded the dough and started chopping chicken, slicing mutton, and cutting fish.

“Uncle Blind and his Senior Sister Lin, you know them, right?” Zhang Mao turned back to look at Li Sangrou, lowering her voice.

Li Sangrou nodded with a smile.

“I knew you’d know,” Zhang Mao chuckled. “Sister Lin is wonderful! Truly wonderful!

She arrived on the first day, and the next day she came to our workshop, saying she wanted to teach everyone martial arts, and then she said she wanted to teach Xiu’er and the others.

Sister Lin has a really good personality; she says what she thinks. Sister Wang is the same, very good-natured, though she seems a bit simple-minded.”

Zhang Mao turned to look at Li Sangrou, his comment about her simple-mindedness carrying a deeper meaning.

Li Sangrou smiled and nodded, “There’s Blind Mi.”

“I really like Sister Lin! I asked her, ‘You and Uncle Blind are so close; why not marry him?’

Sister Lin just looked at me like that and said, ‘Is it not enough that you are so close? Why would I want to marry him?’

Look at her! I am the odd one out, but she is not! She’s such a nice person!

That Sister Wang, too—she’s really strange. The first time she came, she circled our pomegranate tree in front of our workshop, insisting on climbing a ladder to cut some. And sure enough, this year the tree is laden with big pomegranates.”

Li Sangrou hugged Guo’er, watching Zhang Mao busy chopping chicken and meat, stir-frying vegetables, and making pancakes; listening to her talk and laugh about everything from the Blind Mi to Lin Sa, then from Lin Sa to the skyrocketing prices of houses in Jianle City this year, and then to Sister Yang’s eldest son, Zhao Rui’s marriage proposal…

After dinner, they left Zhang Mao’s house; it was already late at night.

Li Sangrou, still feeling warm, dragged her lazy steps through the bustling East City Wazi area and returned to Chaomi Alley.