chance encounter
The pair of chicks Wei Ji gave us are growing quite fast under the care of Huai Xu and Feng Qiao. I'm thinking of keeping them at this rate, and they'll be ready to eat by the New Year.
Perhaps they were looking for insects, because the two chicks loved to run into the hollyhock bushes. Whenever Lin Zhong found them, he would patiently scoop them out and move them aside.
That day, I was taking a nap under the eaves. Half asleep and half awake, I met that person again. He was one of the people from Mahu who had been selling tea in the border market a few days ago.
I am certain that I have never seen this person before, but his eyes inexplicably feel familiar to me.
The look in those eyes inexplicably made me feel uneasy.
It was the gaze of someone eyeing their prey, like a snake or an eagle, concealing a cautious forbearance and a feverish determination to succeed.
"Huai Xu!" I suddenly woke up and sat up from the recliner.
Lin Zhong put down the watering can, turned to look at me, and asked, "Boss?"
I rubbed my temples and asked, "What about Huai Xu and Feng Qiao?"
"They went to Yanziping." Lin Zhong walked up to me. "Did you have a nightmare?"
“No.” I waved my hand. “A stranger. I’ve only met him once and never spoken to him, but these past few days, he’s been on my mind constantly, whether I’m looking at him or not.”
Lin Zhong frowned: "Master, are you possessed?"
"Hey! What are you saying? I'm being serious."
“I’m being serious.”
“It’s definitely a bit strange.” I pointed to the wine gourd at Lin Zhong’s waist and said, “Maybe if someone has a couple of drinks with me, everything will be fine.”
Lin Zhong walked away: "In a couple of days, around the Dragon Boat Festival, I'll have Huai Xu and Feng Qiao keep you company for a drink."
"Alright." I got up listlessly, grabbed a handful of millet from the food bowl by the window, and went to feed the chickens in the yard.
Not long after, Huai Xu and Feng Qiao returned, chatting and laughing.
"Hey, what's making you so happy?" I asked.
"Godmother, today a whole house of people gathered at Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu's place to make dumplings. It was so lively. Aunt Xu said she'd bring them over to us once they were cooked."
Feng Qiao took out a large bag of money and a note: "Aunt, many villagers have asked us to buy wine. Doctor Liu specifically asked for 'Chongbichun'."
Hmm, this is the first festival the exiles have celebrated since arriving at Yanziping.
I laughed and said, "There are still two days until the festival. Let's go to town now and buy some tea snacks, yam, and mugwort flowers to share with the children."
"I'll go prepare the horses!" Huai Xu rushed to the stable like a gust of wind, led out two horses, and turned to Lin Zhong, saying, "Uncle Lin, you stay here, we're going to Junlian!"
Before the festival, Junlian Town was much livelier than usual. The streets were filled with the scents of mugwort and calamus, as well as the sweet aroma of honey and berries. Han people wore mugwort, and Liao people wore flowers. The streets were bustling with people, creating a peaceful scene.
Like most Liao girls, Huai Xu loves going to the market. With Feng Qiao by her side, who is always obedient to her, she becomes more and more energetic and spirited the more she goes.
I walked with them for half a street, but I felt not only tired but also superfluous, so we agreed to meet at a tavern an hour later.
The tavern selling "Chongbichun" was hidden in a deep alley. It was almost dusk, and there were few pedestrians on the road. I led my horse slowly toward the tavern.
Suddenly, I saw a person walking towards me at the end of the alley. The figure looked very familiar. I stopped at the entrance of the tavern, and the person also stopped in front of the wine flag.
"Green Maiden".
"Lord Wei."
Wei Ji's gaze shifted to the jars and pots on the horse's back behind me, and I stared at the jug he was carrying.
"Buying alcohol?"
"Buying alcohol?"
We both spoke in unison, and couldn't help but look at each other and laugh.
After tying up my horse and entering, I asked the waiter to help me unload the wine containers and handed the shopkeeper a slip of paper with the wine's name and quantity written on it. The shopkeeper took it, beaming from ear to ear, and repeatedly urged the waiter to hurry up.
Wei Ji didn't rush to buy wine; instead, he looked up at the sign hanging in the shop.
The innkeeper asked, "What kind of wine would you like, sir?"
Wei Ji hesitated for a moment: "Do you have yellow wine?"
"Sir, you must be from Jiangnan," the shopkeeper said with a smile. "Our shop doesn't sell yellow wine; nobody in Sichuan drinks that."
Wei Ji smiled and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I'll trouble you to recommend someone, sir."
The shopkeeper explained, "The Han people of Yuezhou love to drink 'yinjiu' (a type of Chinese liquor), while the Liao people prefer 'jujiang' (a type of Chinese liquor). If you are entertaining distinguished guests, our shop's signature 'Chongbichun' (a type of Chinese liquor) is the best choice."
I smiled at Wei Ji and said, "'Chongbichun' is delicious. Doctor Liu said that the 'Chongbichun' here is no less than the imperial brew."
Wei Ji handed over the teapot: "Give me a corner of 'Chongbichun'."
I covered my mouth, struggling to suppress a laugh: "You bought so little, won't it be enough to drink?"
Wei Ji's ears turned slightly red: "Shi Yu is still young, so I won't give him any. I'll just have some myself, that should be enough."
"What a refined taste. If it were me, I could never bring myself to drink alone in silence."
"I don't like drinking alone, but today is my birthday, so I'll have a small drink."
I crossed my arms and laughed, "Since we've met here by chance, perhaps you could consider having a drink with me."
Wei Ji immediately took my hand and said, "I respectfully invite Lady Qing to grace my humble abode."
I pointed to the wine jug: "Then you should prepare more, this little bit of wine is not enough for me."
Wei Ji took out a purse from his sleeve, pulled out a piece of silver, and placed it on the counter: "Shopkeeper, fill it up."
The shopkeeper sealed each jar and can of wine I bought tightly, loaded them onto the horse's back, and got everything ready. Huai Xu and Feng Qiao arrived as promised.
"You all go back first. I'm going to have a drink with Lord Wei. Remember to save some of the rice dumplings that Aunt Xu sent for me."
"Godmother, why are you back? Should Uncle Lin come pick you up?"
"No need, Shigure can take me."
"That's right. Lord Wei, since it's a festival the day after tomorrow, let Shiyu stay with us for a couple more days."
"That's fine, it's lively where you are."
I traveled with Wei Ji, and along the way we bought some tea, snacks and fresh fruit. When we arrived at the prefectural government office, we saw Shi Yu. He was very happy and insisted on taking me to see his litter of puppies.
As the season approached, the yamen was deserted, with fallen leaves piled up in the courtyard, and even the cleaning servants had gone home on leave.
There was a pavilion in the garden, with a stone table and benches. Wei Ji arranged tea, snacks, and fresh fruit on a plate and invited Shi Yu and me to sit down.
Wei Ji got up to pour me wine, but I stopped him, saying, "My lord, today is a day of longevity, so let me pour the first cup of wine for you."
Wei Ji took an empty cup from the side, filled it, and pushed it to my side: "If it weren't for Qing Niangzi's rescue, I would have been adding to my death year today. This cup is for you, please don't refuse."
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