Chapter 001: Returning Home in Splendor

The moon hangs over the willow tips, and the lanterns are just being lit, marking the lively moments of Qinhuai. By the Peach Leaf Ferry, a young man, fanning himself gently, strolls over. Many passersby greet him warmly as they see him, calling out, "Han Ge'er," and the young man responds with a smile, bowing repeatedly in a very courteous manner

The moon hangs high in the sky, while the night mist wafts along the path

The oil-coated carriage was parked there, while two horses stood bewilderedly, snorting as if nothing had ever happened

The night dew glistens, the ethereal orchids weep like eyes. The grass is like a carpet, the pines form a canopy, and the path is quiet.

It is often said that it is better to marry a reformed prostitute than to marry a woman who has strayed. Yang Han is also a man of ambition, and he would never allow someone with the surname Mu to belittle him by being a mere servant. He would not tolerate being pointed at or ridiculed behind his back. Therefore, Yang Han exerted all his efforts, even at the cost of his own reputation, and resolutely refused to yield.

It swayed unsteadily in the air, seemingly unable to sustain itself. Suddenly, this golden wheel-like object exploded, and a massive shockwave spread out like ripples, quickly radiating in all directions. The coachman, Old Huang, let out a startled cry, and a lazy donkey tumbled off the cart, diving underneath it.

Oh no! The three young girls in the car were caught off guard, nearly tumbling out due to the sudden stop of the vehicle. Fortunately, they were squeezed together; although the three girls were light in build, a car is not very wide, which prevented them from rolling out. It would have been one thing to fall and mess up their hairpins and hairstyles, but if they had landed face-first, it would have ruined their exquisite and delicate appearances.

Upon seeing Yang Han, Du Xiaoniang, who was wearing an apron, felt a surge of joy in her heart. What girl does not love to admire a handsome young man? She and her father managed the shop, and every time Yang Han came, the duck blood vermicelli soup was always generously prepared, and she even spared no effort in adding a spoonful of pepper for him. She immediately responded cheerfully and then busied herself with her tasks.

This gentleman, Han Ge, is dressed in a round-collared robe, cinched at the waist with a leather belt, and wears a footless cap on his head. A beautiful rose is tucked at his temple, accentuating his handsome features, which inevitably gives him a somewhat enchanting appearance. However, there is no way around it; this is the custom of the Song Dynasty. From the emperor to the common people, any man enjoys adorning himself with flowers.

The carriage, number 96, was draped with a light veil, and in front of it sat a coachman holding the reins. The moonlight was like water, illuminating the earth and preventing it from being dark. More importantly, this road was one he had traveled many times before; he could navigate it with his eyes closed as if walking on flat ground. Thus, the night had no effect on the speed of the carriage.

The coachman, Old Huang, suddenly lost his sight, and in a panic, he quickly pulled on the reins. The two fine horses were abruptly reined in, rising up on their hind legs, their hooves, as large as bowls, came down with a loud "bang" on the ground, forcefully stopping the carriage.

However, Su Yaoyao, Bai Su, and Qing Ting avoided it as much as possible. As the golden light passed through them, the three beautiful young women swayed slightly and then softly collapsed to the ground

Old Huang, what is going on

This person is named Yang Han. Three days ago, he was an official in the Street Administration of our Great Song's Jiankang Prefecture (Nanjing). The Street Administration is responsible for the management of urban streets, and its functions and status are roughly comparable to those of modern urban management. However, the functions of the Song Dynasty's urban management were quite extensive, almost encompassing the duties of community policing, sanitation, taxation, fire safety, price inspection, business law enforcement, greening and cleaning, and handling violations of street occupation.

A massive golden object, resembling the golden wheel held by a celestial king, was seen spiraling in the sky, its radiance as brilliant as the sun emanating from it

The curtain billowed with the wind, occasionally revealing three graceful figures within the carriage. In the center was a girl in a crimson dress, with cloud-like hair and a delicate sway in her steps. From behind, one could see her slender neck, resembling that of an elegant swan

Yang Han smiled faintly, not wanting to boast about himself, yet he did not deny it, clearly tacitly agreeing with his words. After all, why else would he dress up with a flower in his hair today, with a fragrant pouch tied around his waist, appearing in a dashing manner in the area he used to oversee?

The young man before me, adorned with a flower, has a tall and slender figure, with delicate features and bright eyes. Even when his lips are not smiling, there is a hint of a smile at the corners, slightly curling upwards, making him quite endearing. His pair of black, bright, and slightly arched eyebrows accentuates his spirited and lively gaze, which seems to speak with every glance. Unlike those greasy men who insist on wearing flowers, he stands out, drawing the attention of young ladies and married women alike, who cannot help but steal a few more glances at him.

Master Li's daughter, Li Xiu, is indeed quite beautiful, but she is not very discreet in her conduct. According to the news Yang Han has heard, this young lady Li has had several suitors and has even had an abortion for her most recent lover, a scholar named Mu Si. The two of them are still entangled in a vague relationship.

Su Yaoyao felt a bit angry, shielding her face with her hand to block the strong light. She then lifted the curtain, bent down, and stepped out onto the carriage. The two maidens, Bai Su and Qing Ting, followed her out, and the three of them stood at the front of the carriage, looking up at the sky. Upon seeing the extraordinary sight above, they were instantly left speechless.

Yang Han turned his head and saw Old Fan passing by with a shoulder pole. He quickly called out, "Hey! Old Fan, come in, give me half a catty of mutton and a pair of pig intestines."

The golden light vanished, and the golden wheel in the sky also disappeared. Fires ignited in several places both near and far, with smoke rising. The night returned to its cold clarity, quietly illuminating the three graceful and enchanting bodies.

Those who can excel in this line of work are either like the rogue Niu Er, who can command respect, or they must be versatile and adaptable, able to read the situation and respond accordingly. When it comes to standing firm against others, they must also possess excellent fighting skills, being both flexible and resilient, capable of being both soft and hard.

Thus, Yang Han, this small city manager of the Song Dynasty's Jiankang City, was living quite a fulfilling life. Unfortunately, three days ago, he lost this lucrative position

However, Yang Han is also a person of great versatility, well-acquainted with the cunning figures of Jiankang City, possessing keen insights and information. He understands the precious daughter of the magistrate better than the magistrate himself, so how could he possibly agree

Yang Han and others, he said this sentence, and with a proud glance around, he noticed that everyone was all ears, and only then did he modestly smile: "It's nothing much, really. It's just that I have been fortunate to be recognized by Lord Li, the deputy magistrate of Jiankang Prefecture, and now I am serving as a minor steward in the Li residence."

If you do not have the ambition to achieve great deeds or conquer the world, and simply wish to be an ordinary commoner, or if you are only capable of being an ordinary commoner, then being born in the Song Dynasty is indeed a result of several lifetimes of merit, as the lives of common people in other dynasties are far inferior.

Time flies, five hundred years later

However, Lord Li did not seem to understand the principle that a forcibly twisted melon is not sweet, and he actually threatened to dismiss him from his position. Naturally, Yang Han was unwilling to submit, and as a result, he lost his job. In the past few days, when people on the street mentioned the missing Yang Han, many couldn't help but sigh and express their regret for him. However, unexpectedly, he made an appearance this evening.

It is not that Yang Han is enforcing the law impartially and has offended some powerful figure, nor is it that he has encountered any influential ruffians who have pressured him to resign. Rather, it is because the chief of the street office, Lord Li, has taken a liking to him and wishes to marry his daughter to him

A oil wall vehicle approached from afar, gliding gently along the small roads of Jiangnan countryside. In front of the vehicle hung a pair of lanterns, swaying with the bumping of the wheels, and a delicate and elegant character "苏" on the lanterns also swayed unsteadily

Next to the Peach Leaf Ferry, there is a restaurant. Yang Han walked in, picked a table to sit at, and called out: "Boss, one bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup, one steamer of crab roe buns, and a shot of liquor!"

Southern Dynasties, Qi State, Qiantang, by the Xiling Bridge

Suddenly, the originally frost-like night transformed in an instant, shifting from a cool pale white to a dazzling golden light, as if a sun sealed for ten thousand years had suddenly broken free from its restraints and leaped into the sky.

Old Fan was taken aback and exclaimed, "Oh my! This is quite remarkable! A seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's gate. Brother Han, now that you are managing affairs at the residence of Lord Li, the Tongpan, your status must surely be no lower than that of Chief Li, right?"

On the left, a young girl is dressed in white, and on the right, another young girl is dressed in blue. Observing their attire and hairstyles, they still resemble young maidens in waiting, clearly indicating that the beautiful girl in the crimson attire is accompanied by her maid. However, seeing the three of them together, walking under the moonlight, their crisp laughter echoing along the way, it is evident that they share a bond akin to that of sisters

This old Fan is a vendor selling cooked food, and Yang Han is familiar with him. Upon hearing him call, he hurriedly picked up his courage and entered the shop. He placed the shoulder pole down, set the cutting board on Yang Han's table, and picked up a piece of lamb to start cutting. While cutting, he laughed and said, "Brother Han, have you found a new opportunity? Where are you making your fortune these days?"

The girl in the center, dressed in crimson, is Su Yaoyao, the foremost courtesan of Qiantang. The two girls on either side, clad in blue and white garments, are her close companions, Bai Su and Qing Ting. The three young women are out at night to attend an invitation from Young Master Ruan of an official's family. Tonight, Young Master Ruan is hosting a grand banquet, inviting local talented scholars and beautiful women, renowned for their poetry and elegance, unmatched in their time

Returning home in splendid attire

The chief officer is equivalent to the "head of the urban management team"; he is a person from the officialdom. Individuals like Yang Han are recruited by the chief officer, so to be precise, Yang Han is essentially holding the rice bowl of the chief officer. To become the favored son-in-law of the chief officer is indeed a stroke of good fortune.

Yang Han belongs to the latter category, being eloquent, quick-witted, and possessing excellent skills. Although he is a commoner from the lower strata of society, the three hundred years of the Song Dynasty represent an era in which the lives of ordinary people were the most affluent and prosperous compared to all previous dynasties.