Chapter 90: The bustling morning market brings warmth, and the street corners bring good news
The morning light dyed the alleys of the capital city golden. The dew on the cobblestones, barely dry, was crushed by the sound of footsteps. Liu Hong, wearing a lake blue cloth skirt tied with a knot for easy walking, held Ziwei in one hand and Jinsuo in the other, flitting through the morning market crowds like a cheerful bird. "Come and see! The old artist at this sugar painting stall has incredible skills. He can even create auspicious dragons and phoenixes!"
The morning market was bustling with activity, the cries of tofu pudding vendors, the sizzling of fried dough sticks, and the haggling of vendors mingling, the air thick with the sweet aroma of beans, oil, and fruit. Ziwei, dressed in a plain aqua dress, was enveloped by this vibrant market atmosphere, her eyes sparkling as she paused to gaze at the velvet flowers and embroidery displayed at the roadside stalls. "The morning market in Beijing is much more lively than the one in Jinan," she said, her fingertips gently touching the soft petals of the silk flowers on the stalls. "Even the rouge they sell has more colors than I have back home."
Jinsuo followed closely behind, holding the sesame pancake that Liu Hong had just bought, with half a piece still stuffed in her mouth: "Miss, look at that sugar figure, it's made to look like the real thing! We haven't seen such exquisite ones in Jinan." She pointed to the sugar figure stall not far away, where the sugar figure in the shape of Sun Wukong was shining amber in the sun.
Liu Hong turned around and patted Jinsuo's arm, spilling sesame seed crumbs all over her. "Eat slowly! There's even better donkey rolls up ahead. My mother said the soybean flour there is freshly ground, so it's sweet but not greasy." She leaned closer to Ziwei, lowering her voice and glancing at the people around her. "But you must remember what Xiaoyanzi said. Don't talk nonsense outside, especially don't mention looking for relatives. The capital is a mixed bag, and there are many people with sharp ears."
Ziwei nodded, tucking the jade pendant at her waist into her lapel. Feeling the warm jade with her fingertips, she felt more at ease. "I know, don't worry, Sister Hong'er. We're just following you around to get acquainted with the road." She paused as she looked at a roadside stall selling calligraphy and paintings. On the stall were several small landscape paintings, painted in elegant brushwork. "This painting... has some of the artistic conception of Jinan's Daming Lake."
Liu Hong followed her gaze and grinned, "You know painting too? Xiaoyanzi said your mother was a lady from a prominent family. No wonder you're so learned. Unlike me, I don't know anything elegant except accounting and boxing." She pulled Ziwei forward, "There's a storyteller up ahead, telling 'The Three Heroes and Five Gallants'. It's so good!"
The storyteller's gavel clattered, and a crowd gathered, cheering. Ziwei stood outside the crowd, listening to the story of a knight rescuing an orphan girl. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she was reminded of her own life. Jinsuo saw what she was thinking and quietly handed her a piece of freshly bought osmanthus cake: "Miss, have something sweet. Sweetness can brighten your heart."
At that moment, Liu Hong spotted a figure in a slate-gray gown standing by a tea stall on the corner, waving at them. "It's Escort Captain Zheng!" Her eyes lit up, and she squeezed over, pulling Ziwei and Jinsuo with her. "Brother Zheng, have you found any results on the matter my brother asked you to investigate?"
Zheng Biaotou was a burly man with a short knife at his waist and a weathered face. He was very friendly when he saw Liu Hong. "Hong girl, I've almost finished the task your brother asked me to do. Manager Zhou of the Moyunzhai in Liulichang moved here from Jinan. He opened a bookstore by Daming Lake ten years ago. I just asked him about it, and he said he does know a girl named Xia."
Ziwei's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously clenched the corner of her clothes, her fingertips turning pale. "Captain Zheng, the Shopkeeper Zhou you mentioned... is he in the shop now?"
Escort Captain Zheng looked at Ziwei, noticing her gentle demeanor and earnest eyes. He nodded and said, "He's here. I just came from over there. He said he'll be waiting at the shop this afternoon. If you want to come, just tell me my name." He lowered his voice and said, "Shopkeeper Zhou is a kind man, but his memory is poor due to his age. If you talk about the events in Jinan, maybe he can remember more."
"Great!" Liu Hong clapped her hands and laughed. "I'll tell Xiaoyanzi when we get home later so she can rest assured." She glanced at the sky. "It's almost noon now. We should hurry back and not let Xiaoyanzi wait anxiously."
Ziwei was still standing there, gazing towards Liulichang. The morning light shone on her face, her eyes glistening with tears and a bright glow. "Thank you, Chief Zheng, thank you, Sister Hong'er... Maybe my mother's wish will come true."
Jinsuo supported her arm, her voice filled with excitement: "Miss, let's go back and tell Miss Xiaoyanzi, let her be happy too!"
When the three of them walked back, there were more people at the morning market. Liu Hong introduced them along the way: "The sweet pickled cucumbers in that pickle shop are the best. My mother always asks people to buy them for you. The cloth shop in front has all kinds of patterns. Let Xiaoyanzi take you there to make new clothes next time." Ziwei looked at the children laughing and playing on the street and the vendors carrying their loads on their shoulders, and the uneasiness in her heart was gradually melted away by the worldly atmosphere.
Meanwhile, in the Fang family courtyard, Xiaoyanzi was fidgeting under the wisteria trellis. She had changed into a short, goose-yellow gown, her braids swung back and forth, and she would occasionally stand on tiptoe to peer toward the door. The maid, Chuntao, came over with freshly brewed Rain-Previous Longjing tea and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Princess. Young Master Xiao is a reliable worker and will surely bring good news."
As soon as the voice fell, Xiao Jian's figure appeared at the entrance of the moon cave. His blue-gray robe was stained with dust, and he was holding an oil-paper bag in his hand. Xiao Yanzi flew over like a little swallow: "Brother! How is it? Did you find Mr. Zhou?"
Xiao Jian smiled and raised the oil-paper bag in his hand, which contained the newly bought Fuling cake. "I found it. It's Shopkeeper Zhou from Moyunzhai in Liulichang. He's the person we're looking for. He said he'd be waiting in the shop this afternoon. He also said he remembered Miss Xia loved painting lotus flowers and often went to his shop to borrow poetry collections."
Xiaoyanzi snatched the Poria Cocos Cake, broke off half a piece and stuffed it into her mouth. The sweet fragrance spread on her tongue. "Great! I knew you could find it!" Her eyes rolled. "When Ziwei and the others come back later, we'll go to Moyunzhai this afternoon. It's a good opportunity for Ziwei to have a good chat with Mr. Zhou. Maybe we can find more evidence."
Xiao Jian nodded and handed her a clean handkerchief to wipe her hands. "But we have to be careful. There are several shops owned by officials near Mo Yun Zhai. There are many people and eyes. We don't want anyone to know our purpose." He looked into his sister's sparkling eyes and added, "I've asked Chief Zheng to inform Manager Zhou that we will meet alone, so we won't attract attention."
Just as Xiaoyanzi stuffed the last piece of Poria cocos cake into her mouth, she heard Liu Hong's loud voice coming from the door: "Xiaoyanzi! We are back! There is good news!" Her eyes lit up and she pulled Xiao Jian and ran to the door. The red pompom on her braid jumped in the sunlight, like her joy that could not be hidden.
The gardenias in the courtyard were in full bloom. The breeze blew, and the fragrance of the flowers mixed with the aroma of sesame seeds brought back from the morning market, brewing a warm sweetness in the air. Ziwei looked at the little swallow running towards her, the light in her eyes brighter than the morning sun. She knew that although the road to finding her father was still long, this step was finally taken firmly.
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