banquet

The property of the displaced people in Yanziping had long been confiscated, and they lived on the meager rations provided by the prefectural government.

Ordinary people who were exiled were required to perform labor service, working in the fields under the supervision of constables every day. Although exiled officials were not required to perform labor service, this kind of life, where they were neither starving nor desperately poor, was a kind of wear and tear on their physical and mental health.

Life is like a game; some people have smooth sailing, while others turn the tide against the wind.

Not long after I got to know my neighbors in Yanziping, I discovered that Xu Shan, a fellow townsman of Liu Xingjian, was someone who excelled at playing from behind.

He was skilled in using and repairing various farm tools and in distinguishing the quality of different seeds. These two skills alone were enough for him to stand out among the displaced people in the settlement and gain the favor and protection of the officials.

That morning, Xu Shan came to the inn to find me.

"Lady Qing, I have a favor to ask of you." Xu Shan clutched a cloth bag in his hand, looking somewhat flustered.

"Brother Xu, please speak."

Xu Shan handed the cloth bag to me: "Qing Niangzi, could you help me bring back some things when you go to Junlian Town to buy things next time?"

The exiles' movements were restricted, and they had no horses. If they wanted to buy things that were only available in town, they had to ask someone to bring them to them.

I picked up the cloth bag and weighed it in my hand; it was quite heavy. "Brother Xu, you really have a way with things. You've saved up two hundred coins so quickly!"

Xu Shan scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "The plow in Zhang's house broke, and I fixed it for him. He then introduced me to help the neighbors in the surrounding villages repair farm tools, and that's how I saved up my money."

"Tell me, what do you want to buy?" I tossed a bag of money to Feng Qiao. "Feng Qiao and the others are going to town soon."

"I want to buy some paper and pens."

"Paper and pen?" Feng Qiao leaned closer. "Uncle Xu, aren't you illiterate? Why are you spending so much money on paper and pen?"

Xu Shan's dark face flushed slightly as he said awkwardly, "I bought it for Mr. Liu. The two children are getting older, and I want them to learn to write from Mr. Liu. If they know more characters, in case, in case one day they can't farm anymore, it will be easier for them to find work... no, isn't that right?"

I was filled with respect and clapped my hands, saying, "Yes, yes! Brother Xu has foresight!"

In the afternoon, I asked Feng Qiao to deliver the paper and pens that Xu Shan had asked me to buy to Yanziping.

When he came back, he smiled and took out a palm-sized bamboo plaque, handing it to me and saying, "Auntie, someone is inviting you to a feast tonight."

"A banquet?" Huai Xu ran over and asked, "Where are we having a banquet? Who's paying?"

I took the invitation, and saw two lines of text engraved on it: "A banquet will be held at Yanziping to respectfully invite Lady Qing," signed "Liu Liu."

I couldn't help but laugh out loud: judging from the situation, these two exiles are in pretty good spirits.

Lin Zhong, who was watering the flowers outside the courtyard, heard the noise and turned to look at me.

I quickly stopped him and said, "Lin Zhong, Mr. Liu and Doctor Liu are treating me to dinner, so I won't be able to join you tonight. Lend me a pot of your 'Chongbichun' tea, and I'll buy you some more later."

Lin Zhong grunted in agreement: "Boss, drink less."

As evening approached, I filled a pot with wine, took a few empty cups, put them in a bamboo basket, and headed towards Yanziping.

From afar, I saw Liu Yu sweeping the floor at the door and I smiled and said, "Dr. Liu, what are you doing?"

Liu Yu threw down the broom and dusted off his sleeves: "Sweep the path and wait for me. Qing Niangzi, please come inside."

Where is Mr. Liu?

"Old Liu is cooking in the back of the house, Qing Niangzi, please sit down."

Several dishes were already laid out on the table, some stir-fried and some mixed, all common vegetables found in Nanguang.

I nodded: "Mr. Liu's cooking skills are quite good."

"Old Liu knows how to cook. It's a good thing he's here, otherwise I'd be eating dry rations every day."

Liu Xingjian entered carrying a pottery urn: "Lady Qing, I've been wanting to invite you to dinner for a long time, but 'no feast is complete without meat.' Today, Xu Shan caught a rabbit in the field and gave me half of it. Liu Yu and I discussed it and decided to invite you over right away!"

Liu Yu pulled him to sit down: "Old Liu, let's toast Qing Niangzi with tea instead of wine!"

“No need for that.” I smiled, took the bamboo basket, lifted the cover, took out a pot of “Chongbichun”, and poured three cups. “Come, you two, try our Rongfu’s fine wine.”

Liu Yu's eyes lit up: "Qing Niangzi is truly a wonderful person!"

After clinking glasses, Liu Yu clicked his tongue in praise: "This wine is mellow and smooth, refreshing on the throat, with a mellow and harmonious flavor—just right. It's comparable to the imperial brew, truly comparable to the imperial brew!"

I smiled and filled his cup: "Dr. Liu, you've even had imperial wine before?"

“He’s drunk far too much imperial wine.” Liu Xingjian scooped half a rabbit head out of the jar and gave it to me, then scooped out a rabbit leg and gave it to Liu Yu. “Isn’t that right, Physician Liu?”

"Instructor Liu, stop insulting me." Liu Yu took another sip. "With Lady Qing here, let's not beat around the bush. Tell me, how exactly did you travel those three thousand miles?"

Liu Xingjian sighed deeply: "Last autumn, several students who went to Shuzhou to take the provincial examination cheated, two of whom came from Tongcheng County. As an instructor, I cannot shirk my responsibility. I did not suffer this hardship of traveling three thousand miles, but it has implicated my wife, who has suffered the pain of wandering."

"Mr. Liu, where is your wife now?"

“We traveled by water, and when the boat reached the Minjiang River, she unfortunately contracted the plague and was forced to disembark in Luzhou.” Liu Xingjian’s voice choked with emotion. “I don’t know how she is now, whether she has recovered or not…”

"Good people are always blessed by heaven." Liu Yu put his arm around Liu Xingjian's shoulder and said, "Old Liu, don't worry. Didn't Prefect Wei already send a letter to Luzhou Prefecture to inquire about your wife's whereabouts? Come, come, Qingniangzi, let's drink a toast to the reunion of Old Liu and his wife at Yanziping!"

"Dry!"

Liu Xingjian asked, "Brother Liu, you have served in the Imperial Medical Bureau for many years and are also a Hanlin physician. Why have you ended up here?"

Liu Yu took a swig of wine and replied, "I can say that I was able to be reborn here because of the good deeds of my ancestors. Two years ago, I sent my two daughters off to get married, and my wife rushed back to her mother's house, just waiting to see whether I would be strangled or reborn."

I was quite shocked: "Do you people from the Central Plains all risk your lives to become officials?"

“It’s hard to say about other government departments, but the Imperial Medical Academy is definitely one.” Liu Yu counted on his fingers, “Last year, when the young prince died, the Imperial Household Department reviewed the medical cases from the past two years and calculated the mileage based on the number of signatures. Including myself, there were a total of thirteen cases.”

Liu Xingjian poured Liu Yu another cup: "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have always been known for your leniency in governing your subordinates. However, your children have died one after another. As a father and the emperor, you are suffering such a heavy blow, it is inevitable that you will take your anger out on others."

I was utterly astonished: "Even poor people lacking medical care and medicine would have such difficulty raising their children. The imperial palace is filled with luxury, with many servants to look after them. How could they have fallen into such a state?"

Liu Yu picked up a hollyhock seedling with his chopsticks and said casually, "It's because it's inherently flawed. For example, if the seeds in the soil are defective, no matter how much you catch insects, fertilize, and work hard after they sprout, the harvest won't be very good."

Liu Xingjian patted Liu Yu on the shoulder: "Be careful what you say, be careful what you say."

"What are you afraid of, Old Liu? The emperor's reach is far away." Liu Yu downed a cup of wine, pointed at me, and said, "Qing Niangzi, she's one of us!"

I laughed and said, "Since you don't treat me like an outsider, I'd like to ask you two, what are your plans next?"

Liu Yu pulled Liu Xingjian aside and said, "Old Liu, although Yuezhou is not as prosperous as the Central Plains, it is still a place of beautiful mountains and rivers."

"How about we cultivate a vegetable garden in front of this house, raise a few pairs of chickens and ducks, and in our spare time, we can cut a couple of bamboo poles and go fishing together in the Yuejiang River? What do you think?"

Liu Xingjian nodded: "That's a good idea."

"However, I'm afraid I'm not as free as you. This afternoon, Xu Shan brought over paper and pens, asking me to teach his two children to read and write. There are a few other children of similar age among the exiles. I figure teaching one pair is the same as teaching several others."

"If their parents are willing, they should all come to me and study and write every day. When they grow up, it will eventually be of some benefit to them."

I clapped repeatedly: "Mr. Liu has thought things through long-term and thoroughly!"

I refilled his glass and asked, "Many people in our Nanguang also admire the culture of the Central Plains, but they have been struggling in war and poverty for many years and have never had the opportunity to learn it."

"Since Mr. Liu has the idea of ​​opening a school, could you consider accepting some of the children of the Liao people?"

Liu Xingjian suddenly became excited: "Why not?"

Confucius said: "In education, there should be no discrimination." Now that Nanguang has returned to its former status as a vassal state, the Liao people and the Han people are both subjects of our Great Song Dynasty. Promoting education and bringing harmony to the world is truly my lifelong wish.

"Regarding the enrollment of the Liao people's children, I would like to ask Lady Qing to help us make the arrangements." With that, she stood up, holding a cup in both hands. "Lady Qing, this old man toasts you!"

I quickly stood up: "Mr. Liu, Qingcheng respects you!"

Liu Yu also stood up and said, "Hey, how could you forget about me? Am I the only one who's left the land abandoned?"

I laughed and said, "If Dr. Liu doesn't want to enjoy a peaceful life, I can make the people of Nanguang flock to your doorstep with just one word tomorrow. Do you believe me?"

“I believe you!” Liu Yu patted his chest and said, “Let them come! I can treat them in the courtyard.”

I raised my glass and said, "Then it's settled! Mr. Liu will run a school, and Dr. Liu will practice medicine. This will benefit the people of Nanguang, and you will also be able to support yourselves. Cheers, Qingcheng!"

"Cheers!"

"One! One!"

The drinking session lasted from sunset to moonrise, with everyone chatting and laughing, and it was a very enjoyable time.

I carried an empty basket, bid farewell to Liu and Liu, and walked more than ten steps before seeing Lin Zhong standing alone under a tree, leading his horse.

I walked over and shoved the basket into his hands. "Lin Zhong, you came to pick me up? That's great. But I'm a little full, and I'm afraid riding a horse will make me throw up. I'll just walk back slowly." With that, I turned and left.

Lin Zhong grabbed my arm and led me around halfway: "Boss, this way."

I pointed to the sky: "Isn't the inn to the east?"

"What's hanging there now is the moon."

"oh."

I walked for a while and saw my bed not far away, but for some reason, a tree had grown next to the bed.

I didn't care about anything else. I sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against a tree, and was about to lie down when Lin Zhong put his arm around my back: "We're not there yet."

I was a little worried: "What should I do? I can hardly walk anymore."

Lin Zhong sighed and picked me up in his arms.