Chapter 93: Gently Moistening Everything Without a Sound

The autumn wind had turned the rice golden, and the heavy grain bent their slender stalks low.

Jun Ruocheng, whom Lu Liao Liao could not find anywhere, was now half-reclining in the VIP room of Ruyi Tower in Dayu Town, savoring the fine wine brought by Qing’er and casting resentful glances.

Lu Jiu stared out at the golden rice fields, his brows deeply furrowed.

“Do you really have a way to ensure that the Wang family’s farmland outside Chang’an City will never lack the materials needed for fertilizing? But right now, your foremost concern should be how to win a game against that young master Qin. You know full well the purpose of my father’s competition this time, yet you let Qin Ruocheng choose the role of constable first. What can your little steamed bun shop possibly accomplish?”

“We’ve known each other for so long—don’t you believe me? If I say I have a way, then I do. But you must promise to lend Xihua to me for nine days. As for that Qin Ruocheng, I haven’t put him in my eyes yet. My true opponent is your cunning old father, the old money god of the Tang Dynasty.”

Lu Liao Liao raised her cup, took a small sip, her expression calm and composed.

“Fine! I agree. You despicable fellow, can’t you go a single day without a woman? Don’t you realize how much loss it would mean for my Tianxian Tower if Xihua were to leave Jiutian? If you fail, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Lu Jiu reluctantly agreed to her excessive demand, shooting her a resentful glare.

“You don’t understand. A man with a family is more easily accepted by others. Xihua is indispensable to winning this competition.”

Lu Liao Liao smiled with satisfaction.

A pot of thin yellow millet porridge was ladled into three bowls until almost gone. Zhang Sanniang added a scoop of water, stirred it a few times, then carried the watery porridge, first handing it to her gray-haired, blurred-eyed, squinting in the act of mending parents-in-law. Then she gave the remaining two bowls to her not-too-big, not-too-small, yellow-skinned, thin children. Only then did she slowly sip the nearly grainless porridge, one mouthful at a time.

A knocking came from the wooden door outside. Zhang Sanniang wiped her face, smoothed her hair, patted her clothes, and stepped out of the dilapidated house to greet the unexpected guest.

Jun Ruocheng stood awkwardly by the shabby courtyard, clutching a bag of copper coins and carrying some pastries as gifts. Seeing a middle-aged woman in faded, worn clothes step out, her stern face softened into a kind smile.

Zhang Sanniang recognized him as the young constable who had helped her when she fell yesterday. Without opening the door fully, she clasped her hands to her chest and gave a slight bow.

“Sir, I, Zhang Sanniang, thank you for your help yesterday. My husband has been guarding the frontier for a long time and has yet to return home, so it is inconvenient to welcome guests inside. May I ask the reason for your visit today?”

Jun Ruocheng blushed before he spoke, stammering for a while before explaining.

“I heard that Zhang’s husband has been stationed on the Longyou frontier for years with no news and has not sent money home. Your family relies entirely on you, sister-in-law, patching and mending to get by, living very hard days.

Since I am new here and heard this, I felt very sorry. I wanted to offer some help to you and your family as a small token of goodwill. Please don’t refuse this humble gift.”

After speaking, Jun Ruocheng took out a bag of copper coins and the pastries, his face flushed as he offered them.

Zhang Sanniang’s withered face showed no change, seeming to ignore the gift entirely.

“My family lives a hard life, but we are not beggars to accept charity. Your kindness is understood, sir. It is inappropriate for a man and woman to be alone for so long. Please, sir, take your leave.”

Jun Ruocheng’s outstretched hand froze. After a long pause, he watched the respectful woman close the door to avoid guests, sighed deeply, and left with a heavy heart.

Not long after Jun Ruocheng left, Gu Xihua, dressed in blue cloth, carrying a basket of steamed buns stuffed with meat, smiled gently as she lightly knocked on Zhang’s wooden door.

Zhang Sanniang was a little confused—how could her shabby courtyard have so many visitors today?

When she saw the beautiful Gu Xihua in the blue dress, she grew flustered. Having lived all her life in Dayu Town, she knew the daughters of the He family, but had never seen one so striking. She wondered what business brought her here.

“Greetings, sister-in-law Zhang. My husband, Lu Liao Liao, is new in town and has opened a small steamed bun shop. As neighbors, to avoid any trouble or disturbance, I came to pay a visit first.”

Gu Xihua smiled, handing over a basket of steamed buns.

It was customary for new neighbors to visit. Zhang Sanniang could not refuse and nervously opened the door to welcome Gu Xihua inside.

The aroma of steamed buns drew two thin, yellow-faced children under ten rushing out, drooling and gazing longingly at the buns in their mother’s hands.

Zhang Sanniang’s heart ached. She took two steaming buns and gave them to her children.

The little girl with withered hair swallowed the buns quickly and looked pitifully at her mother. Zhang Sanniang hid the remaining buns behind her back.

“These leftover buns are for your grandmother to regain her strength. You little girl, why are you so thoughtless?”

The little girl pouted, tears welling up.

The older boy split his bun in half and gave some to his soon-to-cry sister. Seeing this, Gu Xihua felt a pang of sadness but said nothing.

Zhang Sanniang gathered the buns and, in the backyard vegetable patch, regretfully pulled out a few seedlings, then came out with an apologetic look, presenting them as a return gift.

Gu Xihua took them without hesitation, her expression hesitant, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

“Sister-in-law Lu, if you have something to say, please speak plainly,” Zhang Sanniang said, patting the dirt off her hands, her expression serious.

“My husband runs a steamed bun shop, but he has some scholar-like bad habits, always complaining that the street in front of the shop is too dirty and chaotic. I saw that you don’t have much work, so I wondered if you could help clean the street in front of our shop every day, one copper coin a day. I was afraid you’d look down on me, so I didn’t dare ask.”

Gu Xihua looked shy, almost unable to meet Zhang Sanniang’s eyes.

“Heh,” Zhang Sanniang laughed with relief. “You, Sister-in-law Lu, are so beautiful and charming—no husband would want you doing such rough street sweeping. I’ll sweep your doorstep morning and night. But that one copper coin wage can’t be less, you hear?”

Gu Xihua left joyfully, carrying steamed buns to visit neighbors one by one.

Zhang Sanniang was very honest. Early the next morning, she took her two young children and swept the street in front of the steamed bun shop meticulously.

“Sister-in-law Zhang, can you also clean the street in front of my shop? Morning and evening, one copper coin a day, how about it?” Zhao, the owner of the neighboring grocery store, called out with a smile.

“Sister-in-law Zhang, can you clean in front of my house too? The pay is still one coin. Thank you for your hard work.”

Neighbors all began calling out together.

Tears streamed down Zhang Sanniang’s face. She couldn’t speak but nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Whether asked or not, Zhang Sanniang, with her children, earnestly swept the entire town’s streets clean. Collecting the coins neighbors dropped, she counted nearly a hundred.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Zhang Sanniang went to the steamed bun shop and bought ten buns at three copper coins each. Seeing her children eat greedily, she felt happy. She knew this steamed bun shop couple were no simple people, but good people, very good people.

News of Zhang Sanniang’s family naturally reached Jun Ruocheng in full detail.

In the autumn wind, Jun Ruocheng gazed at the small steamed bun shop from afar, lost in thought for a long time. After a moment of silence, he muttered to himself:

“Lu Liao Liao, such a small steamed bun shop, yet within two days, you’ve been accepted and praised by the townsfolk of Dayu. What’s more remarkable is that you haven’t even shown your face once. It seems I truly underestimated you. Send for Qian’er; I need her help.”

On the third day, under the watchful eyes of townsfolk and curious onlookers, a group of workers quickly built three latrines at the town’s entrance and in the center.

These latrines stood clean and tidy under the shade of trees. At the entrance sat a solitary elderly widow, with toilet paper prepared on a small wooden table before her.

Countless people, curious, gathered to watch these latrines built by Ruyi Tower. Some bold and mischievous entered a latrine, relieved themselves, then strutted out proudly, causing laughter.

“Tell me, why would Ruyi Tower be so kind as to build three latrines in town and pay five copper coins daily to the old woman who cleans them? Are they just rich and bored?”

Some people puzzled, gossiping and speculating.

Jun Ruocheng breathed a sigh of relief. With these latrines, those who urinated carelessly in corners and bushes would now find a proper place. Dayu Town would no longer stink, nor would flies and mosquitoes swarm wildly in the autumn air.

For some reason, he suddenly felt this idea must have something to do with the almost unseen Lu Liao Liao. A wave of helplessness surged within him. Even if Qian’er came, could he really defeat Lu Liao Liao, whose mind hatched endless strange and cunning plans?

Under the night sky, the small town of Zhongnan Mountain, Dayu Town, was peaceful and serene.

In the flower hall of Ruyi Tower’s backyard, Gu Xihua eagerly took out a jade flute, insisting on a duet of “Long Autumn Night” with Lu Liao Liao’s qin.

Lu Liao Liao declined but ultimately consented.

The melodious flute sounded through the quiet, beautiful night as if it were not Gu Xihua’s delicate lips playing the jade flute, but the murmurs of the moon and night itself.

Lu Liao Liao’s fingers lightly brushed the strings, producing deep, rich tones that harmonized with the haunting flute. The music was beautiful and the melody lingering. People were intoxicated, and the night was drunk as well.

When the last notes faded, Gu Xihua’s face was enchanted, tenderly stroking Lu Liao Liao’s cheek.

“Liao Liao, I find myself loving you more and more. Sometimes I feel you are like the gentle spring rain, quietly nourishing the heart—both mine and the people of Dayu Town.”

“Is that so? I never realized your jade flute played so beautifully. But I have another jade flute here—would you like to try it?”

Lu Liao Liao pulled Gu Xihua into his arms, whispering softly by her reddened earlobe.