Thousand Dusts Ferry Me - Chapter 38

Later, they laughed and played pitch-pot and backgammon. Chu Yanhe also had someone lower a small boat to pick lotus flowers.

The group played until dusk before returning.

By then, the setting sun spread across the water, autumn wind rustled, and the painted boat traveled through the dense lotus clusters. When they returned to shore, the alcohol had worn off for everyone on the boat.

On the way back, Jiang Baiyu seemingly casually mentioned the foolish beggar by the roadside.

Chu Yanhe said frankly, “There are indeed many fools in Linglong City. Each year, several hundred more appear. I suspect—one appears every day.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because each year approximately three hundred more appear. Spread out, that’s about one per day, isn’t it?”

Cheng Suiyan asked, “How do you know three hundred more appear each year?”

“Because my Ai Ge opened Jinshan Hall!”

Chu Yanchuan spoke up, “Little sister, why bring this up?”

Chu Yanhe stuck out her tongue, then smiled again, “Ai Ge, are you embarrassed?”

Chu Yanchuan’s face indeed turned red.

Fu Xue asked curiously, “What is Jinshan Hall? A charity hall?”

“Yes!” Chu Yanhe proceeded to explain.

Jinshan Hall was a charity house Chu Yanchuan opened with his own private money. Families with mentally disabled members could register them at Jinshan Hall and receive a monthly food allocation, with an annual health check required for the disabled person.

Wherever there are benefits, there will be people looking to exploit loopholes.

Almost every day, people pretended to be mentally disabled to scam food. The staff at Jinshan Hall spent their days devising ways to distinguish between those genuinely disabled and those pretending.

For this purpose, Chu Yanhe had helped her Ai Ge collect jokes. Those pretending often couldn’t help but laugh at the jokes, exposing themselves.

Initially, Jinshan Hall provided good quality food in sufficient amounts to support a disabled person, but Chu Yanchuan soon discovered this wasn’t working.

Some people, craving these rations, went so far as to deliberately disable their family members. Others bought people from elsewhere, registered them in their households, then found ways to disable them to claim food rations.

After taking the food, these people usually sold it directly, squandering most of the money on themselves while spending a small portion on cheap coarse grain to feed the disabled family members—just enough to keep them from starving, but never enough to be full.

These disabled people lived even worse than pigs. After all, people wouldn’t starve pigs if they wanted fat ones.

When Chu Yanchuan learned of this, he was distressed but didn’t close Jinshan Hall. He simply reduced the food supply by half and mixed some sand into the rice.

Regardless, it still somewhat helped reduce the burden for those truly in need.

After hearing this, Yun Qing smiled at Chu Yanchuan, her eyes showing admiration.

Chu Yanchuan’s face reddened further.

Cheng Suiyan said, “Brother Chu, I admire you. You’ve achieved true benevolence.”

Chu Yanchuan shook his head with a sigh, “Unfortunately, some families, upon discovering a family member is disabled, simply throw them into the mountains to feed wild beasts or sink them into the Linglong River.”

Yun Qing stared blankly, lost in thought.

Jiang Baiyu asked, “Have the people of Linglong City never considered solving this problem at its source?”

Chu Yanchuan paused, “How to solve it?”

“By finding the cause of their mental disability.”

“You mean the Mountain God?” Chu Yanchuan shook his head with a bitter smile. “To be honest, our ancestors tried several times, sending Daoists with cultivation to investigate Linglong Mountain, but later, none of them returned.”

Yun Qing came back to her senses and asked, “Have your ancestors ever tried to see what would happen if they didn’t send brides to the Mountain God?”

Chu Yanhe interjected, “Sending brides to the Mountain God wasn’t decided by our ancestors. This custom existed before the Chu family came to Linglong City. Its exact origin is lost to time.

Our Chu ancestors once tried to dissuade the Chongshen Society—oh, they’re the ones who organize the bride-sending—but though the Chongshen Society appeared to agree, they secretly continued the practice, and our ancestors couldn’t do anything about it.”

Chu Yanchuan continued, “However, you asked what would happen if we didn’t send brides to the Mountain God. There was indeed one such instance in history. I read about it in the Chu family archives.

More than 270 years ago, a woman chosen as the Mountain God’s bride didn’t want to marry the Mountain God and hanged herself the night before the ceremony. That year, the bride-sending couldn’t proceed. You’ve all seen the result.”

Cheng Suiyan asked curiously, “What result? I didn’t see anything.”

“Offending the Mountain God.”

“You mean Linglong City offended the Mountain God because of that failed bride-sending?”

“Yes. Since then, people in Linglong City gradually began becoming mentally disabled. The people of Linglong City became even more fearful of offending the Mountain God. The Chongshen Society now selects not only a bride each year but also two bridesmaids.

These two bridesmaids are bridesmaids in name only, but are actually substitutes in case something happens to the bride.”

“I’ve heard,” Chu Yanhe added, “though I don’t know who started the rumor, that the Mountain God decided to punish Linglong City for 300 years. That means in about 30 more years, people in Linglong City will stop becoming disabled.”

Yun Qing sank into deep thought.

…

The next day, Chu Yanchuan had business elsewhere, so Chu Yanhe came alone to play with them. Yun Qing indeed suggested visiting a clothing shop.

She thought that if she bought clothes for Jiang Baiyu, she couldn’t avoid buying for her junior sister. And if she bought for both of them but not for Cheng Suiyan, it would seem like she was isolating him.

So she decided to buy for everyone.

Chu Yanhe’s family had embroiderers to make seasonal clothes, so she never wore store-bought clothes. Seeing them trying on clothes with such joy, she couldn’t help but join in the fun.

In the end, Yun Qing chose a red and white dress with matching hair accessories. Being tall and slender, with the soft material gathered at her waist, she looked like a red plum blossoming defiantly in snow.

Fu Xue chose the same style but in light green. With her delicate eyebrows, bright eyes, snow-white skin, and flower-like face, full of spirit, wearing this dress she resembled tender spring grass, soft and adorable.

Cheng Suiyan selected a rock-blue embroidered robe and a matching jade hairpin, which complemented his spirited temperament well, highlighting his dignified bearing and sharp features.

Jiang Baiyu didn’t know what to choose, so he let Yun Qing help. She had him try on all the outfits she thought looked good, and finally selected the most expensive men’s ready-made clothing in the store.

Made of top-quality silk, it had a black and white pattern like ink-wash landscape painting, with subtle gold-threaded patterns that shimmered as he moved, capturing fleeting light.

This outfit seemed tailor-made for him, fitting perfectly, enhancing his already striking appearance. He looked as noble and cold as a pine tree among clouds, as majestic and brilliant as mist on the horizon.

The hair accessory was Jiang Baiyu’s own choice—a dark red silk ribbon.

Yun Qing had preferred the ink-jade hairband with gold inlay, but Jiang Baiyu’s hair was thicker than most people’s, and he wasn’t used to wearing hairbands, so he ultimately chose the simple ribbon, still tying his hair in a half-ponytail.

The red ribbon hung down with his thick black hair, adding a touch of cold splendor to his nobility—not too much, not too little, just right.

Yun Qing raised her eyebrows, not hiding the amazement in her eyes.

Jiang Baiyu curled his lips slightly.

Chu Yanhe tried on many outfits but didn’t like any of them, so she simply bought a few accessories to give as gifts when she returned home.

“Stay at my home, and I’ll have our embroiderers make clothes for you. They can make all the fashionable styles, much better than store-bought ones, though it will take at least ten to fifteen days. Some clothes need to be made half a year in advance.”

Yun Qing smiled, “Thank you for your kind offer, but we’re rough travelers. It would be a waste of good clothes.”

“So will you stay at my home or not? Fu Xue, persuade your senior sister. Our chef is the best in all of Linglong City.

His specialties include crystal shrimp cake, rose duck, fermented carp, osmanthus sugar corners, peony steamed buns… many delicious dishes you absolutely can’t get elsewhere.”

Fu Xue looked expectantly at Yun Qing.

Yun Qing found it amusing. Yesterday the two were arguing like fighting roosters, and now they were so friendly again.

She looked at Jiang Baiyu and Cheng Suiyan, asking, “Baiyu, Suiyan, what do you think?”

Cheng Suiyan found the inn uncomfortable and indeed wanted to see the city lord’s mansion. Jiang Baiyu had no preference.

So they all moved into the city lord’s mansion.

Chu Yanhe summoned a large group of people to help them move their belongings, which made Yun Qing both amused and embarrassed—they had so few things that help was unnecessary.

In the end, most of the servants returned the same way they had come.

The city lord’s mansion was larger than any residence Yun Qing had ever seen, with carved beams and painted rafters, gardens and fairy-like ponds, exotic flowers and strange trees, birds and beasts—too numerous to describe. Even Cheng Suiyan remarked, “This is no worse than a prince’s mansion.”

Fu Xue asked, “Have you seen a prince’s mansion before?”

“Not just a prince’s mansion, I’ve even seen the imperial palace.”

“You’re just boasting!”

The night they moved into the city lord’s mansion, Chu Yanchuan hosted a banquet for them. During the meal, he told Yun Qing about the arrangements for Li Siniang.

Since Yun Qing had asked for help, Chu Yanchuan had personally overseen this matter. He helped Li Siniang secure a shop in a good location on Zhuque Street, where the mother and son could live off the rent.

He also had the head steward of the city lord’s mansion adopt Liu Sanlang as his godson, openly telling everyone that the city lord’s mansion was their patron.

Li Siniang was initially fearful, not knowing what the city lord’s mansion’s intentions were, but when she learned it was the Immortal Lady Yun who had asked for them to be looked after, she accepted.

Yun Qing found this Second Young Master Chu handled matters thoroughly and considerately. As repayment, she promised to teach him and his sister some sword techniques during their stay at the city lord’s mansion.

Chu Yanchuan didn’t enjoy martial arts, but this news delighted Chu Yanhe.

Chu Yanhe said, “Sister Yun Qing, when you have the chance, you should spar with my eldest brother! My eldest brother wields a silver spear masterfully, with few equals in the world. Even the emperor has commended him!”

Yun Qing smiled, “Very well.”

Chu Yanchuan shook his head with a smile. His sister was like a flea, never able to stay still for a moment. He lightly tapped her forehead, “You could stir up waves even without wind.”

At the same time, in the southwest corner of Linglong City, near a residential area.

Li Siniang got down from the carriage, then lifted Liu Sanlang from the carriage, tightening her clothes.

The autumn wind was already quite cold.

She somewhat awkwardly thanked the carriage driver.

The driver nodded, politely bidding her farewell.

A light red lantern hung at the front of the carriage, and under its light, the city lord’s mansion’s emblem on the carriage was particularly conspicuous.

Li Siniang watched as the carriage left until it disappeared at the end of the alley.

The small alley returned to darkness.

Li Siniang put her son down, holding his hand with one hand while touching her chest with the other, where she kept the deed and lease close to her body—her livelihood.

Today’s surprise had come so suddenly that she still hadn’t fully processed it.

As she took out her key to open the door, a low voice suddenly came from beside the door. “You’re back.”

“Ah!” Li Siniang was startled and stepped back.

Then she realized someone was standing by the door, though the night was too dark to see clearly. She pulled Liu Sanlang behind her and stammered, “It’s—it’s—it’s you.”

The person seemed to sigh, “It’s me.” The voice was deliberately lowered, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female.

“I’ve done as you said!”

“I know, you did well,” the person stepped forward, and Li Siniang continued to back away. When she could retreat no further, the person placed something in her hand, “This is your reward.”

Li Siniang gathered her courage and said, “Can you spare the Immortal Lady Yun? She—she is a good person.”

Another sigh, “Has no one ever told you that when you’re weak, the most important thing to learn is to play dumb?” After saying this, the person left.

Li Siniang returned to her small rented house. Though small, she kept it very clean and even felt it was more cozy than her previous room in the Liu family’s house.

She bolted the courtyard gate tightly, then entered the house and lit the oil lamp. The small room filled with faint light.

By the lamplight, she saw that what had been placed in her hand was a piece of gold, its brightness dazzling her eyes.

Li Siniang held the gold, her head hanging low, unable to hold back tears of guilt.

“Immortal lady… I’m sorry…”

Liu Sanlang tilted his head and silently watched her. After a while, he suddenly laughed with an “Heh” sound.