Chapter 7
The crowd received the imperial decree and took their leave in an orderly manner, whether they were performing the traditional bow or expressing their good wishes. They exited the garden just as they had entered. The leading eunuch, carrying a lantern, guided the way ahead, while the garden was filled with water and had many embankments. The gentlemen, having indulged a bit too much, might inadvertently stumble into the ditch in the dark, which would be quite a serious matter
Upon getting into the vehicle, one feels relaxed, leaning against the car's enclosure, as the horse begins to move. The main roads of the capital at midnight are not bustling with people as they are during the day. The bluestone road stretches ahead, and under the bright moon, the surface emits a faint blue glow. Having drunk too much, one feels lightheaded; in one corner of the carriage, there is an incense burner shaped like a starry sky, with an incense tower burning, and the curling smoke rises directly to the forehead. Raising the bamboo curtain allows a cool breeze to blow in, helping one to feel more awake. Having drunk too much, one feels lightheaded; in one corner of the carriage, there is an incense burner shaped like a starry sky, with an incense tower burning, and the curling smoke rises directly to the forehead. Raising the bamboo curtain allows a cool breeze to blow in, helping one to feel more awake.
This master has not had an easy time; both of his apprentices are around ten years old and were raised by him, making him almost like a second mother. Despite his rough and burly appearance, he is quite meticulous when it comes to details. Not only is he attentive, but he is also fiercely protective of his apprentices. Anyone who dares to provoke them will find themselves facing his wrath. Ding Yi and Xia Zhi sometimes find him a bit nagging, yet they care for him deeply. He constantly reminds them, "Don't worry about us; take care of yourself out there. You shouldn't run around under the scorching sun; it's particularly hot this year. If you happen to fall ill, that would be unacceptable." Ding Yi and Xia Zhi sometimes find him a bit nagging, yet they care for him deeply. He constantly reminds them, "Don't worry about us; take care of yourself out there. You shouldn't run around under the scorching sun; it's particularly hot this year. If you happen to fall ill, that would be unacceptable."
It is not frightening when confused individuals do not understand; what is truly concerning is when those who are clear-minded pretend to be confused. The Empress Dowager and the Empress are both perceptive individuals; upon realizing that there is no hope, they choose to remain silent.
When will the master leave?" Ding Yi asked in a steady voice, "It takes four days to go to Miaofeng Mountain. In such hot weather, where will we stay? What about food? How will we manage meals?"
What is there to have fun with, I am busy! The money must be wrapped in red silk, one portion at a time, with names written on them and placed there, so as not to get mixed up. If it gets mixed up, the Buddha will be confused, and who will the merit be attributed to?
He glanced at him and said, "Virtue, you are just thinking about getting a daughter-in-law!"
Isn't it urgent to go out and look for the dog? What soup is there to drink
Everyone has had their fill of food and drink, yet Master Eleven here is still hungry! He does not argue but instead asks the peony flower, "Do you have any snacks? Please send some over to tide me over, I've been hungry for quite a while, and even in prison, they serve meals!"
Xiazhi said: "It's not like we do this every day; once it's well taken care of, it can last for several years! The poor have no choice but to find ways to make a living, unlike the royal family and the members of the clan who receive monthly allowances and won't go hungry even if they lie down all day"
Continuing straight along Dengshikou Street and turning a corner leads to Tongfu Alley. This alley was named after a general who once lived here, but later the general's family fell into decline, and this area became the residence of common people. The population in the imperial city is large, and having a small siheyuan is considered relatively well-off. Those who are less affluent or of lower status live in large communal residences, and it is likely that they would reside in such places alongside their masters.
The gate of the courtyard creaked open, and the two individuals along with a dog squeezed through the gap, heading straight towards the west room
What a stubbornness! There's no way out, let's just go along with it, looking here and there, passing through the Ritan area, the street is bustling with activity, and the iron pot is clanging loudly. With patience, we head towards Fangcaodi, just around the corner, we see a dog squatting by the doorstep of a fried liver shop. The dog is extremely thin, with long and slender legs. It's hot outside, panting heavily, with its mouth open and tongue out, drooling on one side while staring intently at people with a fierce expression. I've truly never seen such a menacing-looking dog.
"I won't die." He set down his chopsticks, heard someone calling from outside, took a straw hat from the wall and put it on, slung the mud-yellow bag over his shoulder, and then went out.
Two disciples were sent to the door, and upon looking, they were astonished to see a large cart with its front and back connected. Four mules were harnessed at the front, and the cart was filled with men, women, and children. Upon seeing Wu Chang-geng, everyone offered him their seats. He was the leader, sitting at the very front to issue commands. Once everyone was settled, the driver cracked the whip, and with a "crack," the cart exited the Tongfu alley.
In the capital, there are many temple fairs. On a day like today, with the blazing sun, no one dares to set up stalls during the day; everyone waits until the evening to go out and earn a living. The area around the Tianqiao and the Ritan is bustling; as soon as evening falls, all sorts of people come out, like a pack of wolves and a group of dogs. There are wrestling matches, vendors selling peanuts and mung bean juice, and those selling incense and birds. There is nothing you cannot find, only things you might not think of wanting.
In the dead of night, it is indeed unusual that they are still awake in this house. In the past few days, there has been a meeting, and they need to go to the temple to pay their respects to the deities. The temple is holding a fire offering, and one cannot go empty-handed; it is necessary to bring money, clothing, and other offerings. Half of the residents here are officials from the government, dealing with matters of life and death every day, and they particularly believe in this. Thus, Uncle Wu took the lead, and everyone contributed to form a fund to go to Miaofeng Mountain for the gathering in a couple of days.
Wu Chang-geng was picking vegetables when he saw a piece of meat. He scooped it into her bowl and said slowly: "I have taken a few days off, and I will leave today. The carriage is ready outside, and we will head out through the city gate; it will be cool traveling at night. We can find a place to set up a tent in the latter half of the night; it doesn't matter where we stay. As for food, there are places along the way that offer porridge and steamed buns, and if you want to cool off, there is green bean soup waiting for you!" After finishing, he pointed his chopsticks at the two of them and said, "While I am away, you both must be diligent and not cause any trouble. Xia Zhi, you are the senior brother; take good care of Xiao Shu and manage your duties well. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible, understand?"
It is reasonable to say that one cannot outsmart him. Having spent a long time in the marketplace, in order to earn a little money for food, who wouldn't have some ulterior motives? If stealing is what it takes, then so be it; after all, it is only this one time, and she will never do it again.
Regardless of whether it is the palace or Changchun Garden, whenever a banquet is held, it cannot conclude until the hour of Hai. Everyone is putting in their efforts, and after much hard work, it is nearly time. The Emperor Emeritus, feeling fatigued, announces: "Everyone, you may return now. Go back and rest well, so as not to delay tomorrow's affairs." Having reached an advanced age, he is concerned about state matters, yet his words lack sharpness, as if he has become indifferent, caring more for his descendants in front of him
Upon arriving at the Hall of the Nine Classics and Three Affairs, everyone was amused. Master Eleven stood in the hall with the Side Consort, maintaining a proper posture, his head drooping and his face long, resembling a wilted cucumber
It was somewhat difficult to decide; I wanted to go but couldn't bring myself to do it. I glanced at the master's expression, who, being quite magnanimous, lazily said, "Go ahead, but don't cause any trouble." The two senior brothers quickly responded with a sound of acknowledgment and sneaked out from the corner of the wall
The British Empire is different from before; throughout history, there have been curfews, but not in the British Empire. The gates of the inner and outer city are bolted, but as long as one does not leave the city, one can stroll freely within the inner precincts
"Zhai Mao" refers not to the ordinary act of removing a hat from one's head, but is a colloquial term used among badger catchers. When ordinary people seek to make money, they can think of all sorts of methods, utilizing everything that flies in the sky or runs on the ground. Catching badgers is a profession, but relying solely on human effort is insufficient; two legs cannot outrun four. Therefore, one must enlist the help of dogs. Good dogs are always in demand; during the day, they scout around, identifying those owned by others, and at night, they are stolen away. Once a dog is caught, it is not immediately put to work; prior preparation is necessary. To prevent the ears from flapping and making noise while running, the droopy upper half must be trimmed to make them stand upright. Additionally, the tail, which can whip like a whip when it wags, must have the crooked part chopped off; only those with a good appearance qualify as proper badger dogs. This process of ear trimming and tail chopping is referred to as "Zhai Mao".
With the tightening spell lifted, the two brothers were overjoyed. They hurried back to tidy up, leaving the bowls unwashed, soaking in the bucket. They took a rope and tucked away a piece of meat laced with a sleeping drug, planning to scout for a good dog in the streets before nightfall, ready to act once darkness fell
The Summer Solstice said in a roundabout way: "You might regret not looking at it. Do you know what 'taking off the hat' means? Let me show you."
The summer solstice brought an unusual excitement, "Hey, luck is on my side, I've encountered a fine specimen! This is a slippery one, a master at catching rabbits. Without a leash around its neck, it might belong to someone who lost it, what a bargain!" As soon as the words were spoken, without waiting to think it over, he threw the meat out, found a good spot to hide, and just waited for the dog to lie down.
Do not steal, let's take a stroll at the bird market, isn't there a stall selling dogs? We can buy one.
The moonlight was bright and clear, allowing one to see several zhang ahead with ease. At this hour, logically, there should be no one else moving about except for the night watchman. However, in the blink of an eye, I saw two people walking a dog coming out of the alley. Under the moon's shadow, they quickly vanished from sight.
Two individuals spat on the window paper, poked a hole to look inside. The room was dimly lit by an oil lamp, and they saw one person holding the dog's mouth while the other was cutting with a knife. After finishing, they cauterized the wound with a red-hot iron lump. The dog, in pain, could not cry out and merely gasped for breath.
The summer solstice does not believe in the supernatural, "The meat will surely spoil by tomorrow, it must be fed out tonight."
People gathered together to contribute money, and Xia Zhi was like a monkey holding a lamp, unable to help much, just adding to the crowd. Unable to calm his mind, he fanned himself vigorously, shaking his head and looking around. When he glanced out the window, he was immediately captivated and quietly crept out. Ding Yi was sitting next to the master, helping to count the money. She caught a glimpse of Xia Zhi's small movements but did not pay much attention. After a while, he came back in, leaned against her and tugged at her sleeve, lowering his voice to say: "There’s something fun, want to take a look?" Ding Yi was sitting next to the master, helping to count the money. She caught a glimpse of Xia Zhi's small movements but did not pay much attention. After a while, he came back in, leaned against her and tugged at her sleeve, lowering his voice to say: "There’s something fun, want to take a look?"
A mere penny can drive a hero to despair, this is an opportunity, yet I am troubled, where can I find a dog?
"Enough, stop talking nonsense," she replied distractedly, waving her hands a couple of times. Then she thought to herself that she indeed lacked money. To go to Changbai Mountain, one needed funds. The man of the wet nurse often came to the city to find her, opening his mouth to say he couldn't make ends meet and needed money. If she didn't give it? He would threaten to expose her background! You are the son of Wen Lu, your father has committed a capital crime, and yet you pretend to be a good citizen working in the government office? It would either be the death of the fish or the breaking of the net, so she had to pay him hush money to prevent him from ruining her livelihood. After all, the executioner also had a legitimate business to run.
Hong Ce glanced over but did not speak, and together with Guan Zhaojing, they exited the main palace gate
The next day, the officials returned to the yamen, first washing their clothes. Once everything was cleaned and hung up to dry, the meal was also prepared at the summer solstice. The three master and apprentice sat down to eat, but the two brothers hardly touched the dishes, instead shoveling rice into their mouths with great effort. Wu Changgen looked on in astonishment, "What is going on? Eat slowly, don't choke. Here, have some soup..."
Third Master just laughed, "It's not that I'm criticizing you, but you don't choose your days well. Everyone is here today, and the old man has been waiting for you for an hour." While speaking, he shook his head, "You really shouldn't be raising birds; you should apprentice as a jade craftsman. With one hand holding a water chisel and the other a file, you could spend half a day just carving a groove on a petal. With this slow temperament, it's a pity not to open a jade workshop."
During the summer solstice, the fan clapped against the back with a crisp sound. "Those sold there are all dogs for the enjoyment of the nobility, such as Pekingese, Shih Tzus, and Tibetan Mastiffs... You should buy one. Selling you wouldn't even be worth that much. To catch rabbits or badgers, there's no need for famous dogs; just those local mutts will do. Feed it a piece of meat, and it will frolic all over the place, easy to raise and easy to please."
On the summer solstice, he sighed, "You are not a girl; if you were a girl and married me, I would have no worries."
"If everyone steals, then it is no longer considered stealing. Moreover, if you can steal, that is your skill," Xia Zhi reassured her. "If a watchdog can't even keep track of itself, the owner won't care anymore. How foolish is that, right? Asking someone for a child to raise again, it only takes a few months to take over the family business."
Ding Yi scratched his head, "Are there really that many badgers to catch?"
In the watermelon fields and around the graves, there are badger dens everywhere. This month, the male badgers are looking for females, running around all night. A dog that has lost its hat is fiercer than an ordinary dog, charging in with red eyes to bite, and can catch four or five in one night. Summer brought her to the crooked tree to discuss, "Let’s do some calculations. The fur and meat can be sold, badger oil can treat burns. Not to mention selling to pharmacies, even setting up a stall under the overpass wouldn’t be a problem. Look, it’s all money; one badger can be exchanged for at least three coins. A night’s work would earn us more than wielding knives." One side spoke while nudging her with his shoulder, "We can’t be so single-minded. We’re not young anymore, our family background is weak, and we’ll need to spend money to marry in the future. Money doesn’t just fall from the sky; we have to earn it ourselves. Catching badgers is much simpler, requiring no capital—just one dog, two steel forks, and two baskets will do. Let’s give it a try; if we don’t catch anything, we can just have fun outside for a night. If we do catch one, that would be unexpected wealth, what a great thing that would be."
Ding Yi felt a bit scared, "What is this thing? Is it the original of the Celestial Dog?"
Ding Yi covered his ears and said, "Ouch, that hurts so much. These two people are really lacking in virtue."
"Is it not stealing?" She still hesitated, "That wouldn't be good."
It is advisable to wander outside during the summer solstice, moving from one alley to another. The sound of barking dogs can be heard, as several families have them tied up, making it difficult to form any plans. As we walk, fatigue sets in, and the initial warmth in my heart dissipates. Lazily, I say: "Senior brother, let us find a tea stall to rest for a while. Let’s have a bowl of tea and listen to a segment of the drum story, and then we can head home after that."