Chapter 26 — The Adviser’s Daily Life
Edited by DancingDolphinsYo
With a garden, Wu Xingzi’s days in Bastion City went quite well.
Not long after Hua Shu left that day, Hei’er led two maids into the house. They were a pair of twins. The elder was called Mint1, and the younger was called Osmanthus2. They were around the age of thirteen, and were locals born and bred in Bastion City. They were quick with their work, and very familiar with handling the garden. Everyday they would collect water to water the plants, remove the weeds, and catch the bugs, and they were even better at the job than Wu Xingzi.
Guan Shanjin seemed to have left some instructions and according to them, the two maids were supposed to go to the main kitchen every two days to collect some vegetables, meat, eggs, rice and noodles. The three of them would then start a fire in the kitchen of Shuanghe Yard, and they never ate anything from the main kitchen.
Wu Xingzi was very satisfied with this. The first day when he ate the noodles that Mint cooked, the noodles were like slippery little white fish. After they were cooked, the water was drained and the noodles were mixed with chili, vinegar, soy sauce, coriander, beansprouts, etc. It was very delicious, but so spicy that it made Wu Xingzi’s lips swell. He did not get a good sleep, and even woke up in the middle of the night with diarrhoea. The next morning, it was as though he had wilted.
Only then did he learn that the food of Bastion City was so heavily seasoned.
This was especially evident with the chili peppers that had been imported from overseas over the past few years. They were red and pointy, and looked adorable. However, who would have thought that they were spicy enough to revive a person from death?! The tongue-piercing pain, however, added a finishing touch to the seasoning, and the spiciness was so addictive that people could not stop eating.
Qingcheng County was located rather far away, it tended to be rather enclosed. On top of that, the people in the past were not too interested in spicy food, and at most, they would only use a little bit of chinese cornel dogwood for flavouring. They barely had any dishes that would use chili peppers, and Wu Xingzi actually never took spicy food.
It was no wonder that Guan Shanjin would specially prepare this small kitchen for Wu Xingzi to cook. If not, if Adviser Wu did not die from the spice, he might have died from diarrhoea.
After that, the food prepared by the two maids was a lot lighter in flavour. They would always meticulously prepare the stock, which enhanced the original flavour of the ingredients further. Wu Xingzi was, at first, worried that the two girls had to accommodate him in the taste of the food, but after seeing how they would pull out a little jar each time during the meal, and added the pickled chili to their own food, he felt more at ease.
Farming, eating, and occasionally strolling about Bastion City with Hei’er, a month passed for Wu Xingzi. In about ten days, the Chinese New Year would soon arrive.
In the past, Wu Xingzi had always spent the New Year alone. His reunion dinner was always very simple, settling it with just a fried fish.
As for the Chinese New Year goods, he never paid special attention to them. After pasting some paper-cuttings on the windows, writing a spring couplet for his door, and buying some dried fruits, his preparations would be done. The dishes that he prepared for the offerings to his ancestors had always been simple, mostly because if he could not finish them himself, they would also be wasted.
During the entire Chinese New Year period, other than visiting some friends and making his prayers on the first day, the rest of his time was spent at home reading. Those books were actually old books that he had read already. Before joining the Peng Society, Adviser Wu had not bought any new books in the past ten years. Each time, he would reread those books that he had fortunately rescued in the past, the books that belonged to his father.
That year when the flood happened, together with the age of the books, no matter how carefully Wu Xingzi took care of the books, the words inside had all started to smudge. Especially the comments that his father wrote, the ink was not of a very good quality. About eleven or twelve years ago, the words had already blurred into an indistinct smudge. However, Wu Xingzi still treasured them, and looked through them annually. After the New Year, he would then carefully wrap them up in a few layers of waxed paper and store them with some insect-repelling herbs.
It seems like it’s too late to go back and take the books this year.
Adviser Wu sighed, feeling a little lost and disappointed.
Right, and what should I do about the offerings? I’m the only one left in the family, to let my parents and my ancestors go hungry this year, as a descendant, how can I do that?!
Wu Xingzi started feeling anxious. Fortunately, Hei’er happened to bring him some Chinese New Year goods, and he hurriedly caught hold of him. “Hei’er, is the general busy recently?”
“Uhh…” Hei’er could not say that the general was not busy, but neither could he say he was. It was just that the general had given all his free time to Mr. Lu. After a moment of silence, Hei’er resolutely shook his head. “He’s not very busy. The New Year is approaching, and so there’s a lot less official duties to handle. If you’d like to see the general, I’ll help you ask him.”
“Thank you, thank you. Please check with him as quickly as possible.” Wu Xingzi heaved a breath of relief. However, he soon quickly wrung his hands uneasily and asked, “What should I do if the general doesn’t have time to see me? Does Vice General Man have the free time to meet me then?”
“I’m afraid Vice General Man is truly too busy.”
After all, the busiest person in Bastion City was Man Yue! Thinking about the man who had again carelessly gained another five kilograms of weight, Hei’er’s face twitched, and he held his laughter back.
“Oh…” He could not just let this be. Even a fast horse would need eight to nine days to travel from Bastion City to Qingcheng County. Not knowing how to ride a horse, Wu Xingzi’s journey was bound to delay even more. Making his calculations, if he wanted to go home for the Chinese New Year to pray to his ancestors as well as change the insect repellent sachet for his pengornis drawings, he had to leave within the next couple of days. “Please help me tell the general, I’d just like to tell him something.”
“Definitely, I would live up to my words.” In Hei’er’s heart, he believed that Adviser Wu was missing the general. Having been in Bastion City for so many days, the two had not even seen each other once. No matter how composed the adviser was, he would definitely feel a little resentful!
Hei’er really did not know what the general was thinking. Since he had made arrangements to bring Adviser Wu here, why did he forget all about him now? Also, since he had already forgotten about him, why would he ask after the adviser every few days? Hei’er admitted that his brain was not too intelligent, and after contemplating about this a few times, he decided to just stop and no longer think about it anymore.
“Thank you, thank you.” Wu Xingzi bowed a few times to express his gratitude, forcing Hei’er to run away from Shuanghe Yard before he stopped thanking him.
The two girls were listening nearby. Seeing that Hei’er had left, Mint then asked, “Sir, are you thinking about the general?”
The reason why Mint would ask this was because over the past one month, the two sisters had never seen nor heard this gentle, friendly master ever mention the general even once. Instead, he mentioned the grave that he had selected three times already, talking about what trees there were, about the shade available, the luxuriant grass and plants, and that it was truly a great place to be laid to rest.
They did not understand what he was describing, as the dead in Bastion City were cremated and buried under the beds.
When Vice General Man had selected them to serve Mr. Wu, they had thought that he was the general’s lover. Although he was somewhat older, the girls really liked his gentle, friendly aura. As compared to Master Hua and Mr. Lu, he was so much better.
But as the days passed, they soon realised that they did not understand what was going on. Mr. Wu came to Bastion City from Qingcheng County because of the general, but the general was accompanying Mr. Lu everyday. When the two sisters went to the main kitchen to collect the groceries, they did see the general being very close to Mr. Lu a few times. There was no difference from the past, and the general’s alluring, amorous eyes were still full of undeniable love.
Why did this sort of general still choose to bring Mr. Wu back?
And what made them even more uncertain was how apparent Mr. Wu’s lack of interest in the general was.
No matter how they looked at it, these two people looked completely like strangers! How did they end up together?
“Not exactly…” Wu Xingzi scratched at his cheeks, smiling awkwardly. He could not tell these two young girls that he was thinking about his parents, his ancestors, and his pengornis drawings!
“Sir, this time when you see the general, you must grab hold of his heart!” Osmanthus had a solemn look on her face. Her hand that was catching bugs tightened, and a crack was heard.
“That’s right, Sir. Mr. Lu is to get engaged after the New Year. Just endure it for a few years. Spend some quality time with the general, and twist him around your little finger,” Chiming in, Mint looked very excited.
The girls had listened to quite a number of romance stories. Towards love, they were not very clear about it, but they still yearned for it. Especially the stories where the little maid was not only the master’s meticulous caretaker, she would also cleverly help the master by suggesting ideas to gain favour, and they had long been itching to try this out.
Adviser Wu smiled wryly. He did not want to burst the girls’ bubbles directly, but he really did not need any sort of favours! In the end, in front of Guan Shanjin, there was no such thing as pampering or love, but only an extension of their tryst.
“Little girls should work harder and talk less, don’t end up killing off my cucumbers.” Wu Xingzi had no choice but to change the topic, pretending to reproach the two girls.
Having long understood his temperament, Mint and Osmanthus giggled. They were completely unafraid of him, but they also stopped talking about this topic.
In the evening, Wu Xingzi happened to be kneading dough with Mint and Osmanthus. They were preparing to make pies for dinner, when Hei’er again arrived at Shuanghe Yard.
“Adviser.” The sturdy man looked somewhat haggard.
“Hei’er?” They had only not met for a few hours, how did he end up looking like this? Wu Xingzi was shocked. He casually tossed the dough in his hands aside, leaning closer to look at him. “What happened? Are you feeling unwell?”
Silently, Hei’er took half a step back, hanging his head. “Thank you Adviser for your concern, I’m very well. The general has asked me to pass his words. At noon tomorrow, you’ll have lunch together, and anything can be spoken face to face.”
“At noon tomorrow?” Wu Xingzi nodded and remembered it, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He knew that it was very likely that Guan Shanjin had already forgotten about him. If he left without saying anything, it also would not cause any trouble. However, he felt that after living in the other person’s home for a month, he ought to at least express his gratitude, and furthermore, he also needed to borrow a horse. “Thank you very much, Hei’er. Would you like to have dinner with us tonight? The girls are clamouring for pies, and it’s no trouble at all to make a few more.”
“I appreciate your consideration, Adviser.” Cupping his hands, Hei’er took three large steps back, looking a little panicked. “I still have duties to attend to, so I’ll make my farewells first.”
“Oh, I see.” Wu Xingzi was befuddled watching those three steps. These few days, he had gotten quite close to Hei’er, but why was there this distance between them again?
He wanted to ask, but he could not bring himself to ask so directly. As such, he could only cup his hands back at Hei’er, bidding him farewell. Returning back to the girls a little glumly, he kneaded the dough with even more vigour.
Detecting that Wu Xingzi was not in a good mood, the girls did not disturb him. Consciously, they left the dough to him and went to the side to prepare the meat filling.
Still, Adviser Wu was not the sort to hold himself down to memories. As he kneaded the dough, his mood improved, and while waiting for the dough to proof, he even taught the girls to recite poems.
“The cooked meat from the pig, the fragrance wafting through the village. The hungry crows gather around the trees, and the old people stand by the temple gates. Although there were not many offerings, the ancient customs still remain. Drunk, they thought about the meat, leaving it for their young ones.”3
The girls did not know how to read, and listened to Wu Xingzi explain as he recited it. Mint covered her mouth and laughed, “It’s already winter, and the year is coming to an end. All the meat is already gone.”
“Although there’s no meat, but since the pork comes from the pig, it’s also good to try gaining some luck.” Wu Xingzi had started reciting poetry on impulse. Now, he was chatting happily with Mint and Osmanthus, and had forgotten about that tiny unhappy matter with regards to Hei’er.
Naturally, he also did not know that outside the yard, a pair of eyes were glued to his reddened, smiling face. Those eyes were on a quite gloomy face.
“You’re not going in?” Man Yue was holding onto a court bulletin that he had only read halfway, and he glanced over at Guan Shanjin.
“We’ll meet tomorrow at noon anyway.” Guan Shanjin was still dressed in black like usual. With his half-lidded eyes, he looked somewhat indolent, but it was to conceal the glumness in his eyes.
“Then you could have just waited! Why did you have to drag me here to peep at him?” Man Yue was so busy that he desperately wished he could grow another pair of hands and four more pairs of eyes. He did not have the time to stroll about with the general!
“I wanted to come and see why he suddenly wanted to look for me.”
Man Yue could not help but look at him disdainfully, and he replied, annoyed. “You’re really very simple minded! What if Adviser Wu were to ask why you’re ignoring him in front of Mr. Lu tomorrow, what do you plan to do then?”
“Would he ask?” Guan Shanjin gritted his teeth. He had deliberately ignored Wu Xingzi for so many days, but he did not expect that this old thing would still live so happily. There was no trace of haggardness on him at all, and he even got so close with Hei’er! Guan Shanjin snorted. He had seen Hei’er’s pengornis before, how could it compare to the Southern Garrison General’s épée?
“What sort of dirty things are you thinking about again?” Man Yue really knew Guan Shanjin too well. Only with a glance, he frowned, scorning him.
“Pengornis.” Guan Shanjin snorted coldly in reply. Man Yue’s hand shook, and he nearly dropped the bulletin in his hand, coughing a few times unnaturally.
“The night is still young. If you’re really capable, just ask Mr. Lu to pull his out and let you admire it.”
“What nonsense are you saying!” Spitting, General Guan’s brows creased. His eyes were again drawn to that thin figure in the yard.
Wu Xingzi really had a strange body. Despite eating more and eating better, he seemed to lose even more weight. Guan Shanjin kept looking at him for quite some time. Until Wu Xingzi carried a large tray of pie into the kitchen, only then did Guan Shanjin look away.
“So did you manage to find any gold?” Finally done with the bulletin, Man Yue looked up, the mockery evident in his words.
“I found an old quail.” Guan Shanjin was slightly speechless. He too did not understand why he dragged Man Yue over to peep into the yard. In the end, Wu Xingzi was only a shadow of Mr. Lu, but recently, they seemed more and more different.
At first, with Mr. Lu next to him, and with how Mr. Lu’s traces were vanishing in Wu Xingzi, he should have long since thrown him back to Qingcheng County. However, why was he so resistant in doing so? Unless, it was because of Mr. Lu’s impending marriage? Was he looking for someone to fill his place?
It probably was like this! Barely managing to convince himself, Guan Shanjin left, dragging Man Yue with him.
Mr. Lu had yet to fully recover. Whenever he swallowed his food, his chest would always hurt. Guan Shanjin felt worried about leaving Hua Shu to take care of him, so he had to go back and feed Mr. Lu his meal. Any delays were not good for his body.
“Hah, I bet Mr. Lu must be anxiously waiting for you today.” Man Yue allowed Guan Shanjin to drag him along, but he threw this sentence out.
“What nonsense are you saying.” Pinching Man Yue’s fleshy chin, Guan Shanjin secretly wished that Mr. Lu would feel anxious. However, he was very aware of how indifferent Mr. Lu’s character was. Mr. Lu had always been very tactful in handling matters and people, so much so that Guan Shanjin hated it, so how could he ever feel anxious about him being a few minutes late?
Man Yue snorted and flung off Guan Shanjin’s hand, urging him on in vexation. “Go, go, go, go feed that darling of yours with the broken leg. I’m hungry as well, I won’t accompany you anymore!” With a nimbleness that no one could imagine, Man Yue vanished into the night.
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