Chapter 15 Human Streets and Alleys
On the Qixi Festival, women who were usually confined to their rooms were rarely allowed to go out. The streets of the capital were bustling with activity, with stalls selling Qixi cakes and Qixi competitions, as well as many shops that performed acrobatics and hawked their wares on ordinary days.
Shen Qingmeng led Chu Wangshu through the streets and alleys. He couldn't see any excitement, so he mainly bought whatever food he saw to try. After that, the generous boy distributed the remaining snacks to the children begging by the roadside.
“It’s always like this: the rich feast while the poor freeze to death in the streets,” Shen Qingmeng said, handing out all the candy in her hand. After the children thanked her, they scattered. She took Chu Wangshu’s hand and stood up. “In a few more days, winter will be here again.”
Chu Wangshu stuffed the entire money pouch into Shen Qingmeng's hand: "You can buy more."
“I’m not some great philanthropist, and besides, I can only satisfy a hunger, not save a life,” Shen Qingmeng said, linking arms with Chu Wangshu as they continued walking toward Yingyue Pool, where there was a stone bridge where sky lanterns were being sold.
"Then why did you share candy with those children?"
"So you can try a few more things, but eat less, I'll take you to Baiweizhai for dinner after the lantern festival," Shen Qingmeng said, weighing the money pouch in her hand. "Why did you bring so much silver? Didn't you give me a lot before we left?"
"I'm afraid you might see something you like but won't be able to bring yourself to buy it."
“Young Master Chu, with this much money, you could buy all the stalls on the street,” Shen Qingmeng glanced at the bag and then noticed that there were two gold pieces in it. “Don’t carry so much silver with you in the future, and don’t carry it so conspicuously. Be careful if you get robbed.”
Shen Qingmeng seemed to have forgotten that someone was secretly watching their trip... to put it nicely, it was for protection. In any case, Chu Wangshu didn't need to worry about being robbed.
"With you here, I don't need to worry," Chu Wangshu said with a smile. "Our Qingmeng could probably take on ten of them, right?"
"It's hard to say, I haven't been in a fight in a long time," Shen Qingmeng recalled some interesting things: "The last time was five years ago. The son of Dongji Money House was blind and took a liking to me. After I rejected him, he actually sent a bunch of people to block me at the entrance of the escort agency, trying to kidnap me and make me his concubine."
Chu Wangshu's hand suddenly tightened a little, and Shen Qingmeng quickly patted him and said, "Don't worry, it's no big deal. I beat him back, and that Dong who just became a scholar... I forgot what his name was, but I broke his leg and he was bedridden for quite a while. Later, it seems he offended someone, and his money shop couldn't stay open. Anyway, when I came back from a delivery trip with my father, I heard that his family had left the capital, and they left in a sorry state."
"Great Hero Qingmeng, how majestic you are!"
“I think that guy was just stupid, going to the escort agency to ambush people. My dad was still in the capital at the time, he was completely insane. My dad was standing at the gate, hands on his hips, asking me,” Shen Qingmeng said, mimicking Shen Ning’s manner, and deliberately lowering her voice, “Girl, do you want to come by yourself or should your dad stretch his muscles?”
"So you went by yourself?"
"Hmm, I don't know where they found so many useless people, not one of them can fight," Shen Qingmeng clenched her fists, as if reminiscing: "My father used to insist that I go to school, but the schools wouldn't accept girls. In the end, I paid ten times the price and they still let me study for a year. In that year, I learned almost all the characters, but I didn't like memorizing the Four Books and Five Classics. I just spent my days reading storybooks. Later, the teacher asked me to memorize the Precepts for Women. My father got anxious when he heard that, and I never went to school again."
Later, when he taught me martial arts, he said that it was difficult for a woman to survive in this world. He wanted me to learn to read and write, and to know martial arts, so that even if he wasn't by my side, I could protect myself. Looking back now, my father was truly farsighted; at least being literate and knowing martial arts ensures I can earn a living no matter where I am.
“It will be alright. In the future, there will be many women who can walk freely in the streets and alleys every day, just like today. Bookstores will also recruit women, and they will have the opportunity to become merchants or take the imperial examinations.” Chu Wangshu asked, “Shall we go and see Uncle Shen?”
“No, let’s wait a while. I’m afraid I’ll feel unbalanced if I go to his grave now since I just recognized that emperor as my father. Anyway, my father won’t blame me. People burn paper money for him during festivals. He’s very rich now,” Shen Qingmeng said with a smile, as if she had thought of something interesting. “I’ll let him experience how happy it is to have unexpected wealth fall from the sky in ordinary days.”
“Alright,” Chu Wangshu suddenly stopped, frowned slightly, and turned her head a little: “Is it very bright up ahead?”
"Yes, we're almost at Yingyue Pool. There are so many people releasing river lanterns and lighting sky lanterns," Shen Qingmeng asked. "Are you tired? Shall we sit down and rest for a while?"
“It’s been less than half an hour since we got off the carriage. I’m not that delicate,” Chu Wangshu said, holding Shen Qingmeng’s hand. “Let’s go light the sky lanterns.”
There were many people on the stone bridge, so the two bought sky lanterns and found another open and slightly secluded spot nearby.
Shen Qingmeng unfolded the sky lantern and had Chu Wangshu carry it, then she prepared to light it.
"Don't you write your wishes on them?" Chu Wangshu asked. "The books mention that these sky lanterns should all be filled with prayers."
"This lantern probably won't fly for long. It will eventually burn out because the candle below burns out, and it will end up hanging on a distant branch. The wishes written on it won't be seen by the gods, but they might be seen as a spectacle by some woodcutter."
"If that's the case, why did you still order?"
“Sincerity is key. Just because I don’t write it down doesn’t mean I’m not chanting it in my heart. Maybe the gods will get annoyed by my chanting and grant my wish,” Shen Qingmeng blew out the match in her hand and asked, “Is there anything you want to write? I can write it down for you. Although I’m lazy, I’m willing to do it for Young Master Chu.”
Chu Wangshu shook his head: "Just say a few words in your heart like you do. Sincerity will bring results."
“Okay, let go,” Shen Qingmeng said, the candles were already lit and the sky lanterns were bloated from the smoke. “The sight of so many sky lanterns flying in the air is quite beautiful.”
“Very…beautiful…” Chu Wangshu did not look up, but stared at Shen Qingmeng in disbelief. The darkness in front of him gradually dissipated, and as the sky lantern rose, Shen Qingmeng’s face was clearly reflected in his eyes.
She was gazing with a touch of piety at the slowly rising sky lantern.
Chu Wangshu blinked, then blinked again, as if to confirm that this was not a dream. "Qingmeng, I..."
Shen Qingmeng turned her head and met Chu Wangshu's eyes, which had finally regained their composure. A smile spread across her face, and her excitement seemed to overflow: "You...can see?"
Chu Wangshu stepped forward and hugged Shen Qingmeng tightly, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, I can see you, I can see!"
For the first time, he hoped that the punishment would end soon; for the first time, he experienced what it meant to cry tears of joy.
So this is what it feels like to be loved.
The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl should shed more tears.
Or perhaps the gods were simply tired of being chanted over.
Having regained his sight, Chu Wangshu's eyes were almost glued to Shen Qingmeng as they traveled from Yingyuetan to Baiweizhai.
Shen Qingmeng unfolded the menu and placed it in front of Chu Wangshu: "Okay, come and see what you want to eat, then look at me after you've ordered."
"You can choose, I'm fine with anything." Chu Wangshu rested his chin on his hand on the table, looking at Shen Qingmeng with a lovesick grin.
Shen Qingmeng had no choice but to take back the menu: "Their cherry pork is not bad, and the stir-fried shredded vegetables are okay. Let's also order the sweet lotus root with osmanthus. Would you like plain rice or sesame rice?"
"White rice, please."
Soy milk tea or green grape syrup?
"Soy milk tea."
Chu Wangshu's gaze lingered on the wine and spirits page for a moment, but he said nothing.
After the waiter left the private room, Shen Qingmeng leaned close to Chu Wangshu's ear and whispered, "His family is heartless; they diluted the wine with water, so it doesn't taste good."
"Is the wine... good?"
Shen Qingmeng blinked: "You've never had it before?"
Chu Wangshu shook her head, "I've been taking medicine and haven't drunk any alcohol."
“Since you also took medicine today,” Shen Qingmeng suddenly felt a bit like taking Chu Wangshu out for a wild time: “What if we tried some wine?”
"I'll get scolded by Uncle Li."
“It’s nothing,” Shen Qingmeng decided, taking Chu Wangshu to explore a new area: “I’ll take you to Zuiyulu in the south later. They have many kinds of wine, including flower wine, fruit wine, and mare’s milk wine. We’ll buy some of each and drink them secretly in the attic.”
This was the first time Chu Wangshu had such leisure time. His eyesight had been restored, and everything felt new and exciting. He leaned against the window of the private room, looking out at the street.
The place was bustling with people, and vendors and shops were clamoring to attract customers. Performers were doing their best to show off their skills, with people balancing bowls, breathing fire, and performing shadow puppetry. The applause and cheers of the people could still be clearly heard on the second floor of Baiweizhai.
So this is what the common people are like, the common people where Shen Qingmeng grew up.
"Is that Wang Wanwan?" Chu Wangshu asked, pointing to a girl talking to a man dressed as a scholar at the entrance of the Wang Family Restaurant across the street.
Shen Qingmeng looked in the direction Chu Wangshu was pointing. "Yes, it's Wanwan. Has she... really found a husband to live with her?"
"A son-in-law?"
"Uncle Wang and Aunt Jiang only have this one daughter, whom they dote on. They don't want her to suffer in her husband's family, so they've been trying to find a son-in-law to live with them. However, there hasn't been anyone in the capital who's willing to be a son-in-law and whom Wanwan would like."
"Do you... also want to find a son-in-law to live with you?"
“I never thought that I would even consider those suitors in the past. As I got older, no one came to my door anymore,” Shen Qingmeng gently hooked Chu Wangshu’s finger. “Perhaps I really have been looking for you all along. Wanwan said I’ve become delusional from reading those stories, but I have truly dreamt of you. You were a young man, dressed as a night traveler, but in my dream you reached out to me like a savior, saying you would take me out.”
"Perhaps, there really is a past life." Chu Wangshu wasn't quite sure either. He had been in a daze for many years, but he did feel that Shen Qingmeng looked familiar when he first met her.
He believed in fate, but he was once hesitant to believe that he was truly worthy of having a relationship with a free-spirited woman like Shen Qingmeng.
The two of them leaned against the window, watching with great interest as Wang Wanwan and the scholar talked. Although they couldn't hear the conversation, they could tell that Wang Wanwan was very happy.
Suddenly, Wang Wanwan looked up and saw Shen Qingmeng.
Shen Qingmeng waved to her, but Wang Wanwan did not respond. Instead, she smiled and looked at Shen Qingmeng.
Having not seen each other for more than half a year, and with Shen Ning's passing and Shen Qingmeng's absence a few days ago, Wang Wanwan had many questions to ask Shen Qingmeng now that she saw her again, but she knew that now was not the time.
It's good that she's safe. Wang Wanwan knew that once Shen Qingmeng finished her work, she would go to her to explain.
Every year brings the best fortune; Shen Qingmeng is surely a blessed person.
“Wanwan hates Baiweizhai to death. Every time her family’s restaurant comes up with a new dish, Baiweizhai has to copy it. Even if they can’t copy the taste, they shamelessly keep the price the same or much higher. And there are always dancers downstairs, attracting those lecherous men to linger there.” Shen Qingmeng shrank back and whispered in Chu Wangshu’s ear, “We said before that if I really went to Baiweizhai, I would definitely find a chance to drag their manager out and beat him up so he would get out of the capital.”
Chu Wangshu was somewhat shocked: "...Today?"
"No, it's just that it's not convenient for me to go to Wanwan's place today. Once this mess is over, I'm going to take advantage of my position and find a chance to teach that old bastard a lesson."
Sure enough, apart from the cherry meat, none of the dishes at Baiweizhai were as delicious as those made by Shen Qingmeng.
The business of Zuiyulu was still booming, with a long queue outside. Fortunately, Qiusheng had been asked to queue for a long time in advance, and Shen Qingmeng and Chu Wangshu quickly bought many bottles of exquisite wine.
Zuiyulu offers a wide variety of wines, and Shen Qingmeng bought some of each. Since she didn't have to carry them herself, she experienced the joy of being waited on for the first time.
Along the street, there were many stalls with groups of people gathered in small groups. Chu Wangshu asked curiously, "What are they all doing?"
"Threading a needle to test skill, throwing a needle to test dexterity, if you succeed you can get a red string and a prize for skill, if you lose you get some copper coins, but it's all very difficult, I've never succeeded."
"How about I give it a try?"
"You can thread a needle?" Apart from Shen Ning, Shen Qingmeng had never seen any man thread a needle.
Chu Wangshu shook her head, "But you said it's too difficult, I want to give it a try."
What a good kid who faces challenges head-on.
Shen Qingmeng was even more nervous watching Chu Wangshu thread the red thread through the needle than if she were doing it herself. Unexpectedly, Chu Wangshu's hand was very steady, and he successfully threaded the thread through all seven needle holes in one go, and placed the needle steadily on the water in one go.
The stall owner took four red strings and handed them to Chu Wangshu: "Congratulations, young master! These are your red threads. Wishing you and the young lady a long and happy marriage!"
Shen Qingmeng looked at the red string on her wrist with disbelief. It was that simple? She now felt that she had wasted some of the copper coins she had spent before.
"This red string is too simple. Let me learn how to make it and I'll make you a nicer one." Chu Wangshu tied the red string, but was not very satisfied.
"Well, our young master Chu is truly skillful; he's so good at everything he does." Shen Qingmeng took Chu Wangshu's hand and walked towards the carriage parked outside the street.
It was getting late, and Lingtai Mountain was quite a distance away. I'll have to come back to these charming streets and alleys another time.
Moreover, there is so much "jade dew" waiting for the beauty to enjoy.
I wonder how much Chu Wangshu can drink.
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