Chapter 1, The Wild Inn

Having transformed into a small cabbage, the first thing I did was to find myself a thicker thigh.

Jiao San said to Zhou Kang: "Zhou, although that kid at the dock mentioned a shortcut this way, we are still unfamiliar with the area, and night is approaching. In my opinion, it would be better to return to the official road and head back to the small town by the dock. Although it is not as comfortable as Qinghe County, at least there is an inn there, which is much better than this desolate mountain wilderness"

The man immediately withdrew his head and said: "I have only worked as a cook, never as a waiter. You all hurry up!"

Jiao Si felt a bit uneasy in his heart: "This... this can't be will-o'-the-wisps, can it?!" He had heard similar stories from the elders.

Qiu Da was merely concerned about his safety and, seeing that he had legitimate reasons, did not dare to insist further. However, he still felt somewhat dissatisfied with the master's arrangements: "Although the master has a point, when going out, one should always bring along a few more attendants. If the maid is clumsy, it would be fine to bring along two nimble young servants; at least there would be someone to serve the master tea and water, cook meals, and make the bed. I am getting old, and I am not as agile as I used to be; my hands and feet are also a bit clumsy. Those two brothers behind are sent by the master-in-law... they have their eyes on the top of their heads and are not easily commanded; what use are they? We cannot expect the master to do the work himself!"

Zhou Kang found it amusing, so he smiled and waited for him to continue, causing the scene to momentarily freeze. Suddenly, a small hand patted each of the young boy and the woman on the shoulder, and they immediately made way. A little girl, about ten years old, emerged from the kitchen behind them.

Qiu Dayi immediately became anxious: "My lord! Under normal circumstances, you could enjoy the scenery as you please, but now the sky is almost dark. If we do not reach Qinghe County before nightfall, we will have to spend the night in the mountains! How can this be acceptable!"

Zhou Kang turned his head and indeed saw, not far from the riverbank, an open space with a courtyard that appeared to be a newly constructed house. The wooden boards had not yet been painted, and the exterior was surrounded by a fence made of branches, enclosing a large courtyard. In front, there was a porch, and on the door hung a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Tongfu Inn," with a large red lantern hanging on each side. The lights they had seen in the forest earlier were the glow emitted by these two lanterns. In front, there was a porch, and on the door hung a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Tongfu Inn," with a large red lantern hanging on each side. The lights they had seen in the forest earlier were the glow emitted by these two lanterns

Zhou Kang frowned, and Qiu Dabi stepped forward and spat, "Don't fool people! The city gate is closed, but are there not any households outside the city? Even if we find a family to stay with, it is more reliable than your wild inn! We can enter the city at first light, and it won't delay anything!"

Qiu called out to Zhou Kang, "Sir, look, those two lanterns were originally hung by the inn!"

Qiu, with his white beard trembling in anger, said: "Do not stir up discord here! The lady is a person of propriety; her courteous treatment of you is a sign of her kindness. Do you really think you are something special? You are merely a caretaker..."

In early spring, the weather is suddenly warm yet still chilly; if one is in the mountains and forests, this chill is even more pronounced

On the east side of the store is the counter, which is empty inside, but standing by the counter are two middle-aged women, both dressed in coarse cloth dresses, without any visible patches. Their heads and hands are tidy and clean, yet they wear a look of helplessness. Upon seeing a customer enter, they seem unsure of how to position their hands. Just moments ago, that young boy quickly ran to one of the women, standing there in a daze and no longer speaking.

Zhou Kang merely smiled: "That doesn't matter, we have tried spending the night in the mountains before. I don't see this mountain as being home to wild beasts, besides, this forest is not far from the main road."

Qiu hesitated and turned to Zhou Kang: "My lord, how about we have our meal here first? We can send someone to the bridge to investigate. If there is indeed a risk, then we can stay for the night"

Zhou Kang did not respond; he gazed thoughtfully at the road, then carefully observed the brand-new buildings of the Tongfu Inn, and smiled faintly.

Zhou Kang remained unconvinced: "When one is away from home, it is naturally not as comfortable as being at home, so one must make do. I intend to travel incognito, also because the issues in Qinghe County have persisted for many years. Not to mention the chaos caused by the feudal lords, there are also corrupt officials who act with impunity, leading to turmoil among the populace and a life of hardship for the people. Although the former county magistrate has been punished, he held power here for many years and had a hand in everything, so there are certainly many of his minions still remaining. If I were to reveal my identity and travel with a large entourage, it would inevitably alert the snakes in the grass, giving them the opportunity to take precautions and deceive me. It is better to travel lightly and with few companions, to first visit Qinghe County and investigate a few matters, so that in the future I will not be easily misled."

Although it seems strange to have an inn in such a place, it is, after all, right under the nose of the county town, not exactly a chaotic area. Zhou Kang and his companions all breathed a sigh of relief, and Jiao Si even joked, "It turns out to be a wild inn; what is the owner thinking? In the wilderness, even if it is close to the city, who would come to stay here?"

The young girl stepped forward, bowed slightly, and smiled as she said: "Esteemed guest, please forgive us. The staff in our establishment are all newcomers, and upon seeing your distinguished presence, they were afraid of being impolite and did not dare to speak. I hope you will not take offense. May I ask if you wish to stay overnight or just have a meal? If you choose to stay, we have clean guest rooms in the back courtyard, with four rooms available, all with new bedding that was just aired in the sun today. The cost for one night is only 30 wen; we also have a dormitory style accommodation for 8 wen per night, though I assume that may not meet your standards. If you are here for a meal, we offer white rice, millet porridge, our own sun-dried goods, pickled vegetables, fresh fish caught from the river outside, and vegetables from our garden, along with plenty of chicken and duck meat, as well as our homemade rice wine. If you are not accustomed to these, we also have hot noodle soup. Our Aunt Ma in the kitchen is an expert at making white dough, and her skills are well-known throughout Qinghe County!"

The man busily smiled and said: "I am the shopkeeper. This is not... The bridge has been built over the river nearby, allowing merchants heading to Qinghe to enter the county town via this mountain path, no longer needing to take a long detour. I was thinking of opening an inn here; perhaps I could earn a living. Please, esteemed guest, come in quickly..."

Zhou Kang and two others entered the inn, and a short, stout man in his thirties or forties, also dressed in a coarse short brown garment, came out to greet them. He had a face full of honest simplicity and seemed somewhat at a loss, only knowing to bow and nod while smiling apologetically: "Esteemed guest... please, please come in..." Then, a young boy ran out from inside, grinning foolishly and said: "We have... hot soup noodles, as well as side dishes, meat, and fish!"

The innkeeper smiled and said, "You have misunderstood, sir. Crossing the river to Qinghe County, that is the west city gate, which is not as lively as the main city gate. Outside the city, there is a vast expanse of wasteland, where are the households? Even if there are, they are merely a few dilapidated earthen houses. With someone as esteemed as your master, how could he possibly find that acceptable? Our small inn has ready guest rooms, as well as hot meals. If you wish, you can even take a hot shower. Once dawn breaks, you can cross the bridge into the city, and it will not delay your matters at all"

The short and sturdy man hurriedly stepped forward to lead the horse, while Zhou Kang paid no mind, handing the reins to him and allowing Qiu Da to instruct him on feeding the horse. He then slowly walked into the shop, finding it indeed brand new, with even the tables and chairs freshly made, exuding the fragrant scent of wood. The shop was not large, containing only eight sets of tables and chairs, all consisting of eight immortals' tables paired with four long benches. The floor was spotless, and the walls were adorned with strings of dried red chili peppers, two sets of raincoats, and a table displaying the God of Wealth and an incense burner.

Jiao San agreed, but he looked at the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper, being quick-witted, hurriedly said: "I will lead the way for the esteemed guests, please, gentlemen, go ahead and sit in the shop for a while." He then raised his voice and called out: "Guests have arrived! Quickly heat the soup and water, and prepare the best wine and dishes!" After that, he bent down and bowed, leading Jiao San towards the direction of the bridge.

Zhou Kang slowly nodded and instructed Jiao San: "Please, Master Jiao San, take a trip."

"Let's keep the conversation brief!" Zhou Kang interrupted him, his good mood significantly diminished

Zhou Kang rode his horse along the small path in the mountains, enjoying the spring scenery by the roadside, feeling quite pleased. At this time, the remnants of winter had passed, and the mountains were covered with newly sprouted green buds and tender shoots, as if a thin layer of green veil had been draped over the earth, creating a unique atmosphere. Unfortunately, the wind blowing directly at him was truly cold, causing him to shiver involuntarily, prompting him to tighten his cloak a bit more.

The young girl, keenly observing the situation, hurriedly said: "This is wild tea grown in the mountains. We specifically had someone roast it, and it is exclusively offered to our esteemed guests in the shop. Although it may not compare to the finest teas available outside, it is indeed a unique local specialty! If you were to visit the county town and mention the wild tea from the mountains, I assure you everyone would praise it. There are others in the city selling this tea, but none can match the fragrance of what we have in our shop!" As she praised the tea, she subtly gestured to the two women to pour tea for Jiao Si, who was standing nearby.

Qiu Da felt a bit of a headache and glanced at the two tall and strong attendants following behind him, unable to help but complain: "It is all the master's folly, saying something about traveling incognito, insisting on leaving behind the followers and a large pile of luggage, taking only a few people to set off first. If we had brought enough luggage, with a carriage, bedding, and sufficient manpower, we wouldn't fear spending the night in the mountains. Now, with no one and nothing, how can the master endure this hardship!"

The two fiery red lights drew closer, and at the same time, they heard a series of booming sounds, the source of which was unknown, growing increasingly louder. Once they emerged from the forest, they discovered that not far ahead was a rushing stream, cascading down from the mountain top towards the foot of the mountain. About twenty zhang ahead of them, the water made a turn, and its flow became somewhat gentler, forming a river approximately three to four zhang wide. Based on the scenery observed on their way, it was inferred that this river was likely a tributary of the Baili River, flowing directly to the dock before merging with the Baili River.

The young girl is dressed in a blue floral coat, with coarse blue trousers below, and a gray-blue apron wrapped around her waist. Her black hair is styled into two braided pigtails that hang down her back, with red ribbons tied at the ends. Although her attire is that of a rural girl, it is quite clean and tidy. She has an oval face, delicately arched eyebrows, and a pair of eyes that curve into a crescent shape when she smiles. The corners of her mouth are charmingly upturned, and there is a small dimple on her left cheek.

They were both talking and gesturing, and the people in the inn had already heard the commotion and hurried out to greet them: "Esteemed guest, please come in and take a seat! Our establishment is newly opened, and the rooms and furniture are all brand new, the cleanest you can find. Whether you wish to rest or dine, we guarantee that you will feel right at home!" While speaking, they eagerly invited Zhou Kang and the others inside.

Two women, as if awakening from a dream, hurriedly brought out a kettle of tea and some teacups from the kitchen. The tea set, though ordinary with its white base and blue floral patterns, was very clean. As soon as the tea was poured into the cups, a rich aroma wafted through the air. Zhou Kang took a small sip from his cup and found that this tea was surprisingly on par with the good tea he was accustomed to drinking, thinking to himself that he must be extremely thirsty.

The young girl had a very open and confident demeanor, speaking fluent Mandarin, which was not at all characteristic of a girl raised in a rural household. Not only did she mention many advantages of the inn, but she also kept herself busy, taking a white cloth to wipe down a table, then moving a long bench to invite Zhou Kang to sit. After that, she turned to the two women and said, "Aunties, please bring some hot tea!"

Since there are people around, perhaps the county town is not far away. At night, there is no need to sleep in the mountains and forests. Compared to returning four or five miles to stay in a small inn in the town, Qinghe County town is a more appealing option. Thus, they all led their horses and quickened their pace.

Zhou Kang, upon seeing this, couldn't help but chuckle silently, while Qiu Da looked down upon the situation: "There is only one clever shopkeeper in this store, so why hire this group of country bumpkins? What are they standing there dumbfounded for? Shouldn't they hurry up and help with the horses?"

Zhou Kang smiled and waved his hand: "Jiao San and Jiao Si are capable individuals under my father-in-law's command, sent to ensure my safe journey. How could I treat them as mere servants? Uncle Qiu, you can rest assured, I can handle this small matter. In a couple of days, my family will arrive in the county town to meet me, and this little effort is nothing."

Qiu glared at him and said: "Have you ever seen red ghost fire? That is a lantern! A big red lantern! Our master has already said that there must be someone ahead!"

The young girl hesitated for a moment, then smiled sweetly: "My name is Qingyun, and everyone here calls me Sister Qing!"

Upon hearing his brother's words, Jiao Si immediately understood his intention and quickly held his tongue. Qiu Da still had some reservations, but Jiao San reminded him that it would soon be dark, and this was not the time for a quarrel

Zhou Kang, however, was not in a hurry; he merely glanced at the newcomer a few times. Seeing that the person was in his twenties, dressed in a coarse blue cloth short coat, with a face full of smiles, he looked no different from an ordinary peasant in the countryside. However, he was tidy and clean all over, and from the way he spoke, it was clear that he was quite clever. Zhou Kang then smiled and asked him: "Are you the owner of this inn or a waiter? How did you come to open a shop here?"

Zhou Kang stroked his goatee and said, "We have just walked half a mile along the main road; it is unlikely that we are truly lost. That lad once mentioned that after passing through the forest, we would be able to see the city walls of Qinghe County. How big can this forest be? We will see when we get there. " He looked around again and added, "Moreover, taking the time to appreciate the mountain scenery has its own charm."

Qiu frowned again, about to persuade, but he was getting old and somewhat hard of hearing. He thought he was speaking softly, but his voice was loud enough for the two men following behind to hear. The pair of brothers, both sporting sideburns, exchanged glances, and the younger one stepped forward and said: "Qiu, do not speak nonsense! Lord Zhou has given orders; when have we brothers ever disobeyed? We are the guards of the old marquis, receiving the provisions from the marquis's residence. Even the young lady treats us with some courtesy. We simply did not address you as 'Grandpa Qiu' and did not flatter you like those sycophants, yet you have repeatedly belittled us. Do you think you have more face in the Zhou family than our young lady?"

On the opposite bank of the river, even in the dim light, the city walls of Qinghe County can be clearly seen, merely two or three li away. Compared to taking the official road and making a large detour, this is indeed a shortcut, which shows that the lad at the dock was not speaking nonsense. However, the river is swift and turbulent; how can one cross it

Zhou Kang stood for a while before a woman softly said, "Please have a seat, esteemed guest," with a strong northern accent. After she spoke, she nudged her companion beside her, who was even more timid and immediately wanted to shrink back. The door behind her likely led to the kitchen, and a round-faced man holding a spatula peeked out. They immediately called out to him: "Uncle Zhang, you have worked in an inn before, quickly... quickly help with the reception..."

Jiao Si also chimed in: "Indeed, Master Zhou, it does not matter that we are rough people, but you are a noble person who cannot endure hardship. It would be better to turn back; at least you can sleep in a warm bed tonight and have a hot meal. It is still not too late to return now; the mountain path will be harder to navigate once it gets darker!" After a pause, he added: "There is nothing to see in the dark anyway; you might as well wait until tomorrow morning to look!"

The trees in the forest gradually thickened, and the outstretched branches caused much inconvenience for those riding on horseback. On the ground lay some branches and trunks of unknown origin, felled by someone. Zhou Kang dismounted, and the few people following him did the same. The old servant Qiu Da, who had served the Zhou family for many years, hurried over and said: "My lord, in this desolate mountain wilderness, where does it look like there is a road? That young man we encountered at the dock must have been talking nonsense! Had we known this, we should have taken the main roads and official paths, so we wouldn't be wandering aimlessly in this mountain!"

There is a bridge ahead, but it is a suspension bridge. It is already dark, and I fear you may not walk steadily. If you are not in a hurry to continue your journey, it would be better to rest for the night at the small inn. By the time you reach the city, the city gates will have already closed.

Everyone was taken aback, and following the direction of his finger, they indeed saw a flickering light at the end of the forest. After a while, it became still, and not long after, another point of light appeared, bright red, standing out prominently in the gradually dimming mountain woods

Zhou Kang, however, did not speak, but simply raised his hand and pointed ahead: "Look, is that a light? There must be someone ahead! It has gotten dark, so they have turned on the lights."

His wife, of the Wang family, hailed from the Marquis of Yushan's household, being a daughter born of a concubine. Although her temperament was gentle and gracious, she took pride in her illustrious family background, displaying a hint of self-satisfaction. He considered himself to be of noble descent as well; although the title of his ancestors had long been lost, the legacy of scholarly tradition was not inferior to that of the Wang family. However, out of respect for their many years of marriage and the fact that Wang had borne him a son and a daughter, he did not take it to heart. Yet, this time, amidst the turmoil in the capital, he inadvertently became embroiled in the situation and was issued a decree transferring him from the position of a sixth-rank official to the magistrate of Qinghe County. Although he remained at the seventh rank, his power and status had plummeted drastically, prompting the Wang family to show him their displeasure. Even when he took up his post in Qinghe, his wife did not accompany him with their children, and an old servant, whom he had always regarded as family, was unexpectedly subjected to the disdain of two guards from the Wang family.

Jiao San clearly noticed that Zhou Kang's expression was not quite right, so he stepped forward to mediate: "Since Zhou has spoken, let us all say a little less. Grandpa Qiu, my brother has a rough temperament and does not know how to speak well, so please do not take offense. Right now, it is more important to find a place to spend the night; we cannot let Zhou be put in a difficult position, can we"

The two women were extremely anxious and could only push the half-grown boy, but the boy, apart from grinning foolishly, just scratched his head and repeated what he had just said: "We have steaming hot noodle soup, as well as side dishes, meat, and fish"

Zhou Kang smiled, put down his cup, and looked up at the little girl: "You are quite an interesting child, what is your name?"

Is there a bridge over the river?" Zhou Kang interrupted him, "Where is the bridge? If there were a bridge, he would have gone into the city by now, and there would be no need to stay in this mountain inn.