The woman looked to be in her forties, and upon hearing the words, she didn’t make a sound but vigilantly watched Song Jiyun, tugging at the man’s sleeve.
The man was about the same age as her, and he gripped his axe tighter, ignoring Song Jiyun completely and instead asked Yuan Yunzhong behind her, "Where are you from? How did you get lost?"
Yuan Yunzhong saw this, took two steps forward, and shielded Song Jiyun behind him, saying, "We’re coming from Suzhou Prefecture. When we got out of the carriage for a short break, the coachman took off with our luggage and the mule cart. We’ve been chasing after him and didn’t catch up with the mule cart, and now we don’t even know where we are!"
The man sized them up the entire time Yuan Yunzhong was talking.
Perhaps because they didn’t appear to be bad people, as Yuan Yunzhong finished speaking, his expression gradually relaxed, and he said, "You’re going to Jingde Town to seek relatives, huh! That’s quite a distance. It’s thirty or forty li from here!"
Yuan Yunzhong and Song Jiyun couldn’t help but exchange a look.
Jingde Town was less than two li from Liang County City. Reaching Jingde Town was tantamount to arriving at Liang County.
They had not expected to wander further away.
The man directed them, "Do you see that small path at the foot of the mountain? If you follow that path straight ahead and cross two mountains, you’ll see the post road that leads to Jingde Town."
Cross two mountains!
Without giving it a second thought, Yuan Yunzhong asked, "Is there any other path nearby?"
The man shook his head and said, "I only know of this one path. Everyone in our village uses it to leave the mountains."
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at Song Jiyun’s feet and said, "Does your village have any households that can provide lodging? We’re looking to stay for one night."
"No!" The man immediately replied, declining very straightforwardly.
Yuan Yunzhong was quite surprised but still managed to smile politely at the couple, bowing in thanks and saying, "Is there a City God Temple or an Earth God Temple in your village?"
Of course, he didn’t believe the man’s words, but since they were strangers meeting by chance, it was normal for them to be cautious with each other.
Since the host was unwilling to provide shelter, he planned to rest at the City God Temple or Earth God Temple first, and then they would see what to do at daybreak.
"No..." The man had just uttered a word when the woman pulled at his sleeve, stopping him.
She smiled apologetically at Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong, pulling the man aside to whisper, "Husband, just let these two stay with us for the night."
The man glanced at them, remaining silent.
The woman continued, "Don’t forget why we came up to the mountain."
The man hesitated.
The woman went on, "Even if we don’t offer them shelter, they could still find their way to the village. Besides, these two don’t look like the evil type at all - they seem like distressed nobles, well-mannered in speech and behavior."
The man was persuaded by the woman, and he agreed.
The woman then walked over with a smile and said to Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong, "It’s not that my husband doesn’t want to lodge you; it’s just that our house is a bit small, and we fear imposing on you both."
The man and woman thought they had spoken softly enough, but Yuan Yunzhong, with his exceptional hearing, heard everything clearly.
Whatever their reasons were for taking them in were their private affairs.
Grateful for the chance to find shelter, Yuan Yunzhong expressed his gratitude profusely.
Seeing this, the man’s demeanor became even more cordial, and he offered, "Our place is called Zhao Family Village. My surname is Zhao, and I rank seventh. You can just call me Zhao Qi."
He also introduced the woman, "This is my wife. If you don’t mind, you can address her as Zhao Qi’s Wife."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded his head, acknowledging the introductions.
Song Jiyun warmly called out to the woman, "Zhao Qi’s Wife."
Zhao Qi’s Wife smiled broadly at her.
Zhao Qi stopped chopping wood, shouldered his axe, and led them down the mountain.
On the way, Zhao Qi curiously asked Yuan Yunzhong, "You don’t look like you’re from a humble household, sir. Why are you heading to Jingde Town to seek relatives?"
Yuan Yunzhong replied, "I can paint. I happen to have an uncle in Jingde Town who’s a painter. I thought of joining my uncle and finding a job."
"Wow, that’s quite a skill!" Zhao Qi said enviously. "Painters for the Kiln Factory are the hardest to find. If you really can paint, you won’t have to worry about food and clothes for the rest of your life."
Yuan Yunzhong modestly replied, "Not at all, I just want to earn a living!"
Zhao Qi asked Yuan Yunzhong, "What are you good at painting? Figures? Flowers and birds? Or landscapes?"
This didn’t seem like a question a common farmer would come up with.
He assessed Zhao Qi discreetly and replied, "I specialize in painting flowers and birds, and I can manage landscapes as well. I’m not good with figures, though."
Wearing coarse homespun and with rough, cracked hands and dirt-filled fingernails, they certainly didn’t look like someone educated.
But there are always exceptions.
Yuan Yunzhong watched quietly and attentively.
Walking behind them, Song Jiyun and Zhao Qi’s Wife were also speaking softly.
"You brother is so good-looking!" exclaimed Zhao Qi’s Wife. "He looks like a Golden Boy sitting at the feet of Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
Song Jiyun glanced at Yuan Yunzhong.
Even if one were to tumble down a hillside, he still had the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, a truly outstanding individual.
She couldn’t help but laugh, "That’s what everyone says."
Then Zhao Wu’s Wife looked at Song Jiyun.
"What is it?" Song Jiyun asked.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Zhao Wu’s Wife said quickly, waving her hands. "You and your brother don’t look very much alike."
That was a bit of a sting.
Song Jiyun laughed, "My brother takes after our mother, and I take after our father."
"No wonder!" Zhao Qi’s Wife then asked, "Has your brother married yet?"
Song Jiyun was taken aback and then said, "He hasn’t married yet. But he is engaged!"
You don’t want to just walk through someone else’s village and attract the local belle, causing complications.
Hearing this, Zhao Wu’s Wife sighed, "I wonder what kind of lady would be worthy of your brother."
She had taken a liking to Yuan Yunzhong’s looks.
Song Jiyun thought of Madam Qian.
She, too, had taken a liking to Yuan Yunzhong at first sight.
She couldn’t help but smile.
Upon reaching the foot of the hill, there was not only a rugged dirt road, but also a bullock cart stopped there, piled with more than half a cart of pine branches. Beneath the pine branches, there was a large tree trunk, just the right material for a horizontal beam.
She couldn’t help but take a few more looks.
Yuan Yunzhong then said to Zhao Qi and his wife, "My sister has developed blisters on her feet, could she hitch a ride in your bullock cart back?"
Zhao Qi and his wife were taken aback, and though they were concerned about their ox, having seen Song Jiyun’s fair skin, they agreed.
Song Jiyun felt it wasn’t necessary.
But Yuan Yunzhong insisted that she ride.
Not wanting to reject their kindness, she thanked Yuan Yunzhong and, with the help of Zhao Qi’s Wife, sat down on the cart’s shaft.
Zhao Qi led the ox and continued to talk with Yuan Yunzhong, asking questions like "What’s your family name?" and "How many people are in your family?"
Yuan Yunzhong half-truthfully responded and in no more time than it takes to drink half a bowl of tea, they had arrived at the village.
Zhao Qi’s Home was right at the entrance of the village, a modest dwelling with three main rooms and two wing rooms on each side, all enclosed in a small courtyard.
But whether it was the house or the surrounding courtyard, they were all made of bricks.
Once they went through the gates, even the ground was paved with bricks.
Looking at the neighboring houses, no matter their size, they too were built of bricks.
Even the village roads were scattered with brick chippings.
Song Jiyun subtly furrowed her eyebrows.
Zhao Qi’s family’s courtyard was kept very clean and tidy, it was only somewhat incongruent with the half-yard of pine branches piled up.
Zhao Qi was unloading the firewood in the yard.
Zhao Qi’s Wife invited them to sit in the main hall and served them large-leaf tea, and enthusiastically said, "You must not have had dinner yet? We still have some steamed buns made of mixed grains at home, I can steam them for you. I’ll also make some soup with egg and loofah. It’ll be just enough to tide you over."
Song Jiyun quickly replied, "No need, we’ve already had our evening meal. We’ll just stay here for one night."
She usually wouldn’t eat food from strangers.
With that, she gave Yuan Yunzhong a significant look.
Yuan Yunzhong did not even drink the tea.
Zhao Qi’s Wife was quite surprised but didn’t insist, saying, "Please have a seat. I’ll go clean up the East Wing Room. You two can stay there tonight."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, but Song Jiyun followed her out.
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