Chapter 010: Night Exploration of the Soul Town
Yang Han, using the light, found his way to the table, lit the candle on it, and put away the fire starter. He raised it slightly to take a look and saw two wooden platforms that held corpses. In this room at night, the light from a single candle illuminated only a little over ten feet around him. The base of this tower-like structure was quite spacious, surrounded by a void of darkness that was inevitably unsettling. However, since Li Tongpan was the host and You Ge'er was his companion, Yang Han's fear was not particularly great.
Seeing this, Li Gongfu laughed and scolded them, allowing them to go on their way
Li Gongfu replied readily: "It is settled, the document will be printed and returned tomorrow. I fear it may be after noon, and it will not be very convenient to leave. We shall set out the day after tomorrow. Please consider this carefully."
It seemed that the position of the fallen wooden bolt had been found. Yang Han pressed the tip of his knife against it and lifted it upward, finally managing to open the window. The window opened outward, and Yang Han took a deep breath, drawing in his abdomen, and squeezed through the narrow gap. After carefully closing the window, he took out a fire starter encased in a copper tube from his pocket, shook it vigorously a few times, and blew forcefully. With a whoosh, a flame sprang forth.
His hand trembled slightly, causing the candle in his grasp to tilt. A drop of wax fell onto the back of his hand, stinging him and bringing him back to his senses. Only then did he realize that his face was wet, having unknowingly shed two streams of tears.
But... that was ten years ago, how old was Xu Xuan then? Although he was studying medicine, at such a young age, who would trust him to practice medicine? With no business to do and lacking other skills, perhaps doing something unconventional was truly his only choice.
Li Gongfu arrived at Xu Xuan's home, and the uncle and nephew brewed tea and chatted for a while. Xu Xuan recounted the events of the past ten years, and Li Gongfu could not help but shed tears. He once again suggested that his nephew move to Lin'an so that they could take care of each other.
Li Gongfu could not help but scold, "You child, how foolish you are. With both parents gone, you still have me as your uncle. You came to me of your own accord, so why did you go and act in defiance? At that time, you were only sixteen or seventeen years old, still so young. If you wanted to practice medicine, naturally no one would trust you. But even if you studied diligently at home, could your uncle not afford to provide you with a meal?"
Xu Xuan's face flushed red and then pale, and after a long while, he lowered his head and said with embarrassment: "Uncle knows that my father was originally a physician who helped the world by healing the sick, but I, his nephew, am incompetent. After my parents died in that great plague, I, in order to make a living, ... ... entered the government and became a lowly official."
The constable, the executioner, and the torturer, although they are public officials, occupy the lowest social status and are considered menial roles. Among the three, the constable is somewhat better off, while the torturer and the executioner are less fortunate, as they are professions that are despised by both people and ghosts. The physician, on the other hand, is a profession that commands considerable respect. Xu Xuan, being a descendant of physicians, has ultimately fallen to such a state, which is naturally a sign of his decline
This matter was temporarily set aside, and everyone began to engage in casual conversation over drinks. Once the banquet was over and they descended the stairs, several constables started to make a ruckus, saying: "Chief, you haven't seen your nephew in ten years; why not stay at his place tonight and catch up? We'll head back to the inn ourselves." As they spoke, they exchanged knowing glances, clearly indicating that returning to the inn was just a pretext, and their true intention was to seek some amusement while the chief was away.
Xu Xuan actually had nothing to hold on to in his hometown. However, he had been born in Jinling and had never been to other places. People of that time were not like those in modern times; the thought of going to a completely unfamiliar place inevitably caused some anxiety, leading to numerous concerns. Xu Xuan agreed to respond to his uncle after he had thought it through by tomorrow, and then arranged for him to stay in the west wing.
The government office at night appeared particularly desolate, with towering buildings and a series of overlapping doorways exuding an eerie atmosphere under the night sky. The moon, shaped like a crescent, hung above the treetops, casting a gentle light over the courtyard. Yang Han, having finished a bun filled with pickled vegetables while crouching in a corner, finally began to take action
A constable suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Hey! If it weren't for us, how could there be so many grievances in this world that could be vindicated? Yet, it is unfortunate that we are not well-received. I say, Doctor Xu, your uncle is now one of the eight chief constables of Lin'an Prefecture, a person of considerable influence. Why do you still remain here as a coroner? Why not go to Lin'an and practice medicine under a sign? The scenery of West Lake in Lin'an is elegant; isn't it more comfortable than living in this stony city? Furthermore, you could stand tall and live with integrity."
This yamen is not the imperial palace; with so many people coming and going every day, who would keep a detailed record of their entries and exits? Therefore, after Yang Han and the kitchen master chatted idly for half a day, when the cooking began, he picked up his shoulder pole and plunged into the half-open storeroom
Li Gongfu indeed nodded slightly and said gently: "Yes, nephew, your parents have both passed away, I wonder if you have a wife now, and whether you would be willing to move to Lin'an with you"
The corpse closest to the edge of the table belonged to Miss Youge, so when Yang Han walked over, the first thing he saw was her. Lifting the white cloth that covered her, he immediately caught sight of Miss Youge's face, and he was instantly captivated.
Yang Han deliberately walked in the shadows, avoiding the night watchman, and reached the base of the tower-like structure. Cautiously glancing around, he quickly darted to the window, drew a sharp knife from his boot, and began to pry open the window slightly.
Upon hearing this, Li Gongfu and several constables beside him exclaimed in unison, suddenly enlightened
Another constable said: "Indeed, our Chief Li has never married and has no children at all. Your nephew is just like a son to him. Now that we have our Chief to look after us, when he grows older, you will also be able to show him filial piety."
Xu Xuan said tearfully: "At that time, a great plague swept across the land, with corpses left everywhere on the roads, too many to handle. I do not know if my nephew could possibly reach Lin'an, nor do I understand the situation on my uncle's side. I can only... After engaging in this disgraceful profession, bringing shame to my ancestors, I no longer wish to seek out my relatives, feeling unworthy to face my friends and family again"
Xu Xuan hesitated for a moment and said: "As a nephew engaged in this humble profession, it is not easy to seek a wife; until now, I remain a solitary man. Wherever I go, it is entirely up to myself, but I am considering moving to Lin'an... Uncle, may I ask for your understanding and allow me to think it over once more"
By the evening, after locking the kitchen door and leaving, he remained quietly inside until the moon was high in the sky. Only then did he squeeze out through the window and stealthily make his way to the location indicated by the master during the day. In the night, the spire of the soul-conserving tower was also quite prominent, so he was not afraid of losing his way.
Xu Xuan returned to his bedroom and listened carefully to the sounds coming from his uncle's side. Li Gongfu had a straightforward personality and fell asleep quickly; before long, the sound of snoring began to resonate. Xu Xuan nodded slightly and tiptoed out, gently lifting the door latch to open the door, then cautiously pulling it tight before hurriedly disappearing into the night.
Several constables looked towards Li Gongfu, as this matter naturally required his consent. However, Li Gongfu had never married and remained solitary throughout his life. According to several reliable accounts from older officials, it was said that in his youth, he was injured in a critical area while apprehending a thief, rendering him unable to engage in intimate relations. Now that he had found his long-lost nephew, it was only reasonable to take him back for care and support in his old age.