...
As the sun set behind the mountains, pedestrians in pairs and threes made their way home, and the flow of people on Luting Street visibly thinned.
At Yuelai Inn, patrons paid their bills and departed in twos and threes, leaving only a few neighbors from nearby streets lingering in the inn.
After a busy day, Shopkeeper Liu, leaning on a cane in one hand and leading Huang with the other, walked from the backyard to the front hall. He greeted the neighbors chatting over drinks with a cheerful smile, promising to see them again tomorrow.
As he grew older, he had long since stopped staying overnight at the inn. He would wrap up the last bit of business each day and head home before the curfew, leaving the inn in the care of Zhang Erniu and two newly recruited helpers.
Just as he stepped out of the inn’s main gate, he heard the crisp, loud sound of horse hooves approaching. "Clippety clop" came the sound towards the inn.
Instinctively, he flashed a warm smile and turned toward the direction of the hoofbeats, greeting, "Sir, would you like to stay at the inn?"
Upon turning around, his first impression of the newcomer was how magnificent the horse looked.
His second impression was of the person under the bamboo hat, who seemed strangely familiar.
Slowly, Yang Ge removed the bamboo hat, looking at the old shopkeeper with a grin, "Old shopkeeper, why are you still busy at this hour?"
Recognizing his face, Shopkeeper Liu unconsciously rubbed his blurry eyes, then squinted for a clearer look.
"Woof woof woof..."
Huang, already excited, straightened the rope by standing upright and barked frantically, his front paws flailing towards Yang Ge, and his large tail turning like a windmill.
Upon seeing this, Shopkeeper Liu let go of the rope. Huang dashed towards Yang Ge, leapt into his arms, and whimpered plaintively while frantically licking his face.
"Yikes..."
Feigning disgust, Yang Ge pushed the dog’s head away, rubbing vigorously, "That’s quite the breath you’ve got there. You haven’t been eating poop behind my back, have you?"
Huang struggled to free himself from his grip and moved toward his face again, transforming his low whimpers into heart-wrenching howls: "Woof woof woof, woof woof woof..."
He had been waiting for him for a very, very long time.
So long that he thought his old master didn’t want him anymore.
Yang Ge let go of the dog’s head, allowing it to lick his face freely, then carried it slowly towards Shopkeeper Liu, who was teary-eyed. "Old shopkeeper, I’m back!"
Shopkeeper Liu wiped away a tear, grabbed his cane and swung it, scolding, "You scoundrel, where have you been gallivanting? Away for so long without even sending a word home..."
Yang Ge dodged, explaining as he ducked, "I really went too far this time and couldn’t send any message back. Go easy, go easy, don’t hurt yourself!"
"We’re hitting just the right bearlike thing that doesn’t care to come home!" Shopkeeper Liu exclaimed.
"Alright, alright, don’t get excited. Let’s talk about this calmly, calmly..." Yang Ge said.
Shopkeeper Liu chased him, hitting him lightly yet significantly with the cane a few times. Eventually, he set down the cane, glaring at him with a look that promised more if things turned sour, "Are you leaving again after this return?"
"No more, no more, my home is here. Where else could I go?" Yang Ge replied.
Shopkeeper Liu cracked a smile, finally showing satisfaction, pulled him by the arm, and tugged him eagerly towards the inn, "Er Niu, Er Niu, tell Lu not to tidy up yet. Little brother is back. Get Lu to prepare some meat dishes for him..."
The neighbors in the front hall looked up, surprised and delighted to see Yang Ge, "Little brother is back?"
Zhang Erniu, busy in the backyard, wiped his hands and rushed into the front hall, overjoyed, "Little brother is back?"
Mate Lu, also hurried over, poked his head into the front hall for a glance, then turned back towards the kitchen, "Sit down, little brother, the food is on its way!"
Yang Ge pushed Erhei, who had followed him in, back outside the door while smiling and greeting the neighbors in the front hall. Finally, he grabbed Zhang Erniu, who was about to take the bags off Erhei, and said, "I’ll do it myself."
He helped the old shopkeeper sit down and was holding Huang, who was still scurrying around him, when he turned to settle Erhei. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar silhouette behind the counter.
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He looked closer and saw a young woman wrapped in several layers of coarse cloth, her shapely figure still discernible. Her face, darkened with some kind of juice, still couldn’t hide her delicate features.
Upon seeing her, the smile gradually faded from Yang Ge’s face.
Seeing the smile fade from Yang Ge’s face, the young woman also showed a hint of panic in her eyes.
The old shopkeeper noticed Yang Ge’s gaze and cheerfully pulled him over to the counter, warmly pointing at the young woman behind the counter and smiling, "Young man, come and meet her, this is our foster daughter Zhao Miao."
Yang Ge turned his head toward him, his smile returning, "When did you get a foster daughter? Why have I never heard you mention her before?"
The old shopkeeper bristled, "Must I report to you whenever I take a foster daughter?"
Yang Ge was bemused, "That’s not what I meant..."
"Don’t worry about it!"
The old shopkeeper authoritatively waved his hand, cutting him off, "In any case, she is now our foster daughter. Your brother Fuyu treats her like a real sister, and you should do the same. Besides, Miaomiao is skilled in calligraphy and is even quicker with the abacus than us. The inn will be managed by you two from now on. I’m almost seventy, and it’s time I enjoyed some peace."
Seeing the old man so happy, Yang Ge found it hard to say anything else and reluctantly smiled, "Alright, if it makes you happy!"
After speaking, he turned to go and settle Erhei but was abruptly pulled back by the old shopkeeper, who said annoyed, "What kind of brother are you, showing no manners at all?"
Yang Ge scratched his head, immediately regretting not having been firmer earlier in the afternoon...
"Miaomiao has manners," he said reluctantly, bowing, "My name is Yang Ge, I’m the second eldest at home. The old shopkeeper and the others jokingly call me ’Young Fellow,’ so you can call me whatever you like."
Zhao Miao glanced at him and quickly lowered her eyelids, weakly and softly murmuring, "Second... Brother."
"Ah, how pleasant to hear!"
Before Yang Ge could respond, the delighted old shopkeeper clapped his hands and turned to the neighbors in the front hall, saying, "Everyone, look at our foster son and daughter. Don’t they look like a married couple?"
The neighbors teased, "Indeed, indeed, the shopkeeper has keen eyes!"
"When can we celebrate Young Fellow’s wedding?"
"When to celebrate Young Fellow’s wedding—that’s just up to the old shopkeeper!"
The shopkeeper, beaming with joy, slapped his skinny chest, "Well said, well said, we have everything ready. Just say the word!"
"Shouldn’t we find a matchmaker to check on the couple first?"
"And what about the marriage agreement?"
"Are you out of your mind? One is the shopkeeper’s foster son, the other the shopkeeper’s foster daughter, what need is there for a marriage broker’s proof?"
"Then let’s congratulate the old shopkeeper in advance..."
The neighbors, all too familiar with each other, joked without any reservations.
On that side, Zhao Miao’s face turned red, and her small head almost drooped to her chest.
Yang Ge slapped his forehead, wishing he could turn back to Luoyang right now and give that wily fox another beating!