Chapter Fifty, Upper Duty
Zhang Liuyi was a man of his word. Just as dawn was breaking, he got up briskly, and soon the aroma of pancakes filled the kitchen.
Xiong Zixiang was on duty today. As he dressed neatly and walked out of the house, he bumped into Zhang Xiaoli, who was carrying a full plate of freshly cooked, golden and soft melon cakes out of the kitchen.
The pancakes were still steaming hot. Zhang had specially grated the pumpkin and mixed it with cornmeal, knowing that Xiong Zixiang liked this sweet treat in the morning.
"You're up? Perfect timing, eat while it's hot!" She shoved the plate into his hands and turned to serve him steaming millet porridge: "I'm going to town with you today."
Holding the warm pancake, Xiong Zixiang paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "Why are you coming into the city on such a cold day? Is something wrong?"
He took a bite of the pancake; it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a sweet and fragrant aroma.
"Hmm!" Zhang Xiaoyi put the bowl of porridge on the small table and picked up a piece of flatbread for himself.
"It's almost Laba Festival! I'm going to buy some longan and red dates to prepare Laba porridge. We still have some lotus seeds at home. This is the first year, so I plan to make some to give to the elders."
As Xiong Zixiang listened to her rambling on and on, the slight resentment he felt yesterday because his wife wasn't home was quickly dispelled by the hot and sweet pancakes and his wife's concern this morning.
He swallowed the pumpkin pancake in his mouth, feeling very happy, but he only shook Zhao's hand without showing it.
Instead of busy setting up the stall, his wife went to work with him affectionately.
This feels... kind of novel.
After breakfast, Zhang tidied herself up and slung her slightly worn bamboo basket over her shoulder, inside which was a clean cloth bag.
Xiong Zixiang, with a knife slung across his waist, and the two walked out the door side by side.
The cold wind was still blowing, but Xiong Zixiang's steps seemed lighter than usual.
He subconsciously slowed his pace to match Zhang Yi's stride and also shielded her from the wind.
On the way, they encountered an old man from the same village who was up early gathering firewood. Upon seeing them, he greeted them with a smile: "Hey, Officer Xiong, Madam Zhang, heading to town so early in the morning?"
"Good morning, Uncle Wang!" Zhang Yili replied with a smile. "Go buy some Laba porridge ingredients."
Xiong Zixiang nodded as well: "Uncle Wang."
The old man watched them walk side by side and chuckled, "Young couple, go together!"
Xiong Zixiang's face remained expressionless, but a slight warmth crept into his ears.
Zhang Liuli glanced at him sideways, smiled slightly, and said nothing. She simply took his arm, and the two pressed closer together.
Upon entering the city, Xiong Zixiang had to go to the county government office to report for duty.
Zhang Liuli parted ways with him at the entrance of the yamen: "You go and report for duty first. I'll just wander around the market nearby to buy some materials. I'll come back and wait for you when I'm done, and we can have lunch together."
"Okay." Xiong Zixiang nodded: "It's cold, let's find a sheltered place to walk."
"Got it!" Zhang Yi waved his hand. "Go on, don't be late for roll call."
Watching Xiong Zixiang's tall figure walk into the county government gate, Zhang Liuyi turned around and skillfully made his way into the bustling morning market next door.
As the twelfth lunar month approaches, the market is bustling with activity, the festive atmosphere is growing stronger, and all kinds of mountain products are being sold, suggesting that this year will be a good one.
Zhang Yili went straight to the dried goods shop, wanting the river beach dates with thick flesh and small pits, and the longans with thin shells and thick flesh.
She did a lot of careful calculations, looking at prices and quality, comparing prices from different vendors, and haggling with the shop owners.
Finally, she was satisfied and bought everything she needed at a good price, and even bought an extra small bag of high-quality rock sugar frosting.
The cloth bag in the bamboo basket was bulging, exuding a sweet aroma of mixed dried fruits.
Passing by a pastry stall, a rich aroma of radish wafted over. The golden and crispy radish cakes were fresh out of the oven, cut into neat little pieces, and arranged on parchment paper, looking incredibly tempting.
Zhang couldn't resist and bought a piece for two coins. Standing by the stall, he ate it in small bites. The sweetness of the radish mixed with the salty aroma of the sauce, the rice milk was soft and sticky, and the slightly charred skin was quite delicious.
She squinted as she ate, thinking to herself that since she was idle at home during the Chinese New Year, she would make this for Zixiang and her father to try.
Looking at the sky, I guessed it was almost noon.
Zhang Liuyi carried the heavy basket back to the vicinity of the county government office.
She didn't get too close; she just stood and waited by a clean little noodle stall diagonally across the street.
A short while later, the county government gate opened, and groups of yamen runners and clerks came out to look for food.
Xiong Zixiang's figure quickly appeared at the door. He immediately spotted the young woman diagonally opposite him, carrying a basket and standing on tiptoe to look in his direction.
He quickened his pace noticeably, crossing the street to stand before her.
"Have you bought everything?" he asked, quickly taking the heavy basket from her hands.
"Yes! Everything's ready!" Zhang Yili said with a satisfied look. "The longan and red dates are great! I also bought some rock sugar powder to make syrup."
She sniffed, smelling the delicious aroma wafting from the noodle stall next door: "Hungry? Shall we eat here? Is the noodle good?"
"I find the food a bit bland, but the portions are decent, so let's go with this place." Xiong Zixiang naturally had no objections.
The two sat down at a small table at the noodle stall. Xiong Zixiang ordered a large bowl of vegetarian noodles with a simple topping of scallions and soy sauce.
Zhang ordered a small bowl of shredded chicken noodles.
"Why a small bowl?" Xiong Zixiang asked with a smile. "Don't you usually eat quite a lot?"
Zhang Liuyi smiled a little embarrassedly: "I saw someone selling radish cake at the market just now, and I couldn't resist buying a piece and eating it. I'm still full, but I'm not very hungry."
Xiong Zixiang nodded knowingly.
The noodles arrived quickly, piping hot. Zhang noticed that the small bowl of shredded chicken noodles was surprisingly large; she felt she wouldn't be able to finish it.
The stall owner also gave me two bowls of noodle soup, which I carefully placed on my lap to warm my hands.
Xiong Zixiang buried his head in his heart and ate his hearty bowl of vegetarian noodles, while Zhang Yiyu also ate his noodles in small bites, occasionally taking a sip of hot soup.
Halfway through her meal, she realized she couldn't eat anymore. Looking at the half-full bowl of noodles and shredded chicken left, she felt a little worried.
Xiong Zixiang glanced at her, then at her bowl of leftover noodles, said nothing, and simply picked out the remaining noodles from his own bowl and ate them all.
Then he reached out, took the bowl of leftover noodles from Zhang Xiaoyi, placed it in front of him, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat in silence.
After finishing his leftover noodles, Xiong Zixiang put down his chopsticks and looked at Zhang Xiaoyi: "Are you done eating? Have you bought everything? Why don't you go back first?"
Zhang nodded: "Okay, I'll head back now. Give me the basket."
Xiong Zixiang stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
"Wait here for a moment, I'll go and tell the registrar if I can leave first."
He didn't really want to go in and say that the registrar's surname was Qian, a fat man in his forties, who was probably huddled in his duty room with a hand warmer right now. This man would push away or delay his duties as much as possible. Xiong Zixiang's pragmatic nature was not compatible with him.
But since they are officials and I am just a clerk, I still have to abide by these rules.
Zhang Yili replied, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
Xiong Zixiang walked into the county government office, arrived at the door of the registrar's office, and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came the lazy voice of Registrar Qian from inside.
Xiong Zixiang pushed open the door and went in. Sure enough, Qian, the registrar, was lounging in a round-backed chair with thick cushions, dozing off while holding a hand warmer. Several scrolls of documents were piled on the desk, seemingly untouched for a long time.
“Registrar.” Xiong Zixiang’s voice was still steady, but his speech was a little faster than usual: “My wife came to the city today to buy Laba Festival goods and is waiting outside the yamen. There is nothing to do in the yamen today, so I would like to ask for a moment’s leave to take my wife home first.”
Qian, the registrar, slowly opened his eyes, his small eyes darting around, and a friendly smile spread across his face: "Oh? Constable Xiong's wife has arrived? Oh dear, in this freezing weather, how can we let her wait outside? Quickly, please come in and warm up."
He greeted them warmly, as if he and Xiong Zixiang were old friends: "Perfect, let the brothers get to know each other!"
Xiong Zixiang frowned slightly. He didn't want her to come in, and he especially didn't want her to deal with someone like Qian Zhubu.
He was about to politely decline, saying, "My lord, my wife..."
"Oh, why are you being so polite with me!"
Without waiting for a reply, Registrar Qian interrupted him and raised his voice to call out, "Little Liu, go and invite Constable Xiong's wife in to sit down and warm up!"
Helpless, Xiong Zixiang could only say in a deep voice, "No need to trouble Xiao Liu, I'll go and call my wife..."
He turned and left the duty room, walked to the entrance of the yamen, and whispered to Zhang Xiaoyi, who was waiting there, "The registrar wants you to come in and sit down... Do you want to go?"
Zhang Yili was somewhat surprised, but didn't ask any further questions, simply nodding and saying, "Okay."
She carried the basket confidently and followed Xiong Zixiang into the county government office.
When Zhang Liuyi followed Xiong Zixiang into the constable's room at a half-step distance, the constables who were chatting or dozing inside were all stunned.
Zhao Delu, Qian San'er, Sun Daye and the others looked at each other, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
Is this the legendary Lady Zhang?
That tigress who could subdue Xiong Tou'er, this iron man?
The young woman who walked in was wearing a half-new floral cotton-padded jacket, a thick coarse cloth scarf, and carrying a bamboo basket full of things. Her face was slightly red from the cold wind, her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and bright, and the corners of her mouth were curved upwards with a smile.
He seems like a very amiable person.
She has absolutely nothing to do with a tigress!
Xiong Zixiang gave a brief introduction: "This is my wife, Zhang."
Zhang Yili bowed gracefully to everyone, her voice clear and crisp: "Greetings, officers. I am very grateful for your care of Zixiang." She was not intimidated at all.
"Oh! Hello, sister-in-law! Hello, sister-in-law!"
"Greetings, Madam Zhang!"
The constables hurriedly stood up to return the greeting, looking somewhat flustered.
Zhao Delu secretly nudged Sun Daye next to him, giving him a knowing look: See? Rumors can kill!
Qian, the registrar, strolled over, his belly protruding, a smile plastered on his face: "Oh my, is this Constable Xiong's virtuous wife? She is indeed gentle and virtuous. Please have a seat!" He pointed to an empty chair next to him.
"Thank you, Registrar Qian." Zhang Yili bowed to Registrar Qian again, his movements natural and smooth. "Zixiang works in the yamen and is grateful for the care and assistance he has received from Registrar Qian and all the officers. I thank you for your help. He is a very honest man who only knows how to bury himself in his work. If he has any shortcomings, I hope that Registrar Qian and all the officers will be lenient with him and give him some pointers."
Registrar Qian chuckled and said, "Of course, of course! Constable Xiong is capable; he's a pillar of the yamen." Although these words sounded like he was just being perfunctory.
Zhang Liuyi smiled but didn't respond to the registrar's official tone.
She put down the bamboo basket, then, as if suddenly remembering something, took out a package of oiled paper from the basket: "Oh, right, I just bought some roasted melon seeds at the market, thinking I'd like to snack on them on the way. If you gentlemen don't mind, would you like to try some?"
As she spoke, she deftly opened the oil paper package, revealing plump and fragrant sunflower seeds inside.
"Oh! Thank you, sister-in-law!"
"Madam Zhang, you're too kind!"
Several constables were flattered and gathered around.
Zhang Liuyi smiled and grabbed a handful for each of them, distributing them among themselves.
Even in front of Registrar Qian, she grabbed a handful and respectfully placed it on the tea table next to him: "Registrar, would you like to try some?"
Looking at the melon seeds, then at Zhang Xiaoyi's graceful and gentle smile, and then at the obvious affection the constables showed to this sister-in-law, Qian Zhubu's displeasure at Xiong Zixiang's usual lack of tact in urging him to work faded somewhat.
He picked up a few melon seeds, smiled and nodded: "Madam Zhang is so kind, Officer Xiong is so lucky."
The somewhat reserved atmosphere in the constable's office immediately relaxed and became lively.
As everyone ate sunflower seeds and chatted, the topic naturally turned to the Laba Festival.
Zhang Yili smiled and agreed, saying what ingredients he had bought, how he planned to cook the porridge, and even asking the constables if they had any special Laba Festival customs at home.
Standing next to Zhang Liuyi, Xiong Zixiang watched her greet her colleagues with ease, and his heart felt full, warm and swollen.
He was usually quiet, and he didn't say much at this moment.
The corners of her mouth, which had been tightly pursed just moments before, had completely relaxed and even curved slightly upwards.
The pride in his eyes when he looked at his wife was almost overflowing.
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