Chen Ping’an, carrying his water buckets, walked towards the iron-chained well. He passed several breakfast stalls in Apricot Blossom Lane, and his stomach, without so much as a greeting, began to grumble. However, his purse was light, and the young man could only steel himself to join the queue for water. Three families were ahead of him. Just as it was his turn, Zhigui suddenly cut in line, wielding a small bucket. The people behind him immediately voiced their displeasure.

Though no one resorted to outright curses, their words were far from pleasant. Especially one hunchbacked old woman, known as Granny Ma. Her two sons were both successful, each owning a dragon kiln, albeit small ones, at the bottom of the thirty-odd kilns. Yet, in Apricot Blossom Lane, they were considered among the wealthiest families. However, for some reason, the old woman couldn’t get along with her daughters-in-law. Her sons and their wives had long since moved to Peach Leaf Lane, leaving the old woman to live alone in the ancestral home in Apricot Blossom Lane. In the eyes of Chen Ping’an and Liu Xianyang’s generation, Granny Ma was a fearsome elder, quick to scold and notoriously stingy. Even the snow piled outside her courtyard in the dead of winter, she grudged others using, wanting to scoop it into her own home. If any child used the snow in front of her house for a snowball fight, or dared to knock down the icicles hanging from her eaves, she would chase after them with a broom, scolding and beating them for streets without tiring.

In the past, of all the alleys on the west side of town, only Gu Can’s mother could quell Granny Ma’s arrogance. Now that Widow Gu had reportedly followed a distant relative of her late husband to his hometown, Granny Ma, who had mellowed slightly in recent years, immediately sprang back to life, rejuvenated and ready to cause trouble. She found fault with everyone. So when Song Jixin’s maid dared to cut in line, Granny Ma immediately started speaking in veiled barbs, her voice quiet, her smile insincere, deliberately chatting with the women around her. She said some young ladies were finally old enough to have their faces “opened” and their eyebrows plucked. After all, they couldn’t even walk with their legs together anymore. It was a joyous occasion, and they no longer had the body of a maid but the fate of a mistress, able to be called “Madam” openly.

Chen Ping’an felt his scalp prickle, but he couldn’t bring himself to chase away Zhigui, who was, after all, his neighbor of many years. After filling Liu Xianyang’s two buckets, he quickly lifted one bucket for her, hoping to leave this gossiping gaggle of women as soon as possible. Granny Ma, seeing that the little hussy from the Song family was pretending not to hear, became even more incensed.

The battles of experts were like this, most fearing when the opponent refused to engage. Possessing great martial skill was useless without a target.

In the past, when the old woman argued with Widow Gu, that harlot, she always lost. Yet, each time, the old woman felt her skills had improved, and she was certain to win the next argument. But this little slut from Mud Bottle Alley always remained silent, yet her gaze as she left held an uncomfortable meaning that made the old woman’s teeth itch. She wanted to grab her face and scratch it raw, so that the boys and young men in the nearby alleys wouldn’t hang their souls on that shameless maid’s waist.

Especially her grandson. Though he was seen as a fool by outsiders, even his own grandmother felt he had truly gone mad recently. He constantly spouted nonsense, always saying he would marry that maid from Mud Bottle Alley, and then punch a hole in the sky.

Seeing that the hateful maid didn’t react, Granny Ma turned her attention to the impoverished young man, clicking her tongue. “Shameless, worthless piece of mud! You had the nerve to live in this world after killing your parents. Knowing you’re destined to be unable to marry a wife, you shamelessly seduce other people’s maids. A match made in heaven, a pair of dogs! After all, Mud Bottle Alley is just a place for trash and worthless vermin. The children born from such a union might actually become kings and overlords in Mud Bottle Alley.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, then bent over to put down the buckets on his shoulders.

The maid, Zhigui, had already set down her bucket. She strode towards the confident old woman. Without a word, she delivered a slap that made Granny Ma spin around, dizzy. She was caught by the women nearby before she could fall. Before the old woman could recover, Zhigui stepped forward again and delivered another slap, scolding, “You old hag! I’ve been putting up with you for a long time!”

The old woman shook her head, furious. She was about to retaliate, but perhaps it was her imagination, the support from the two women beside her was too…

(End of this chapter, please turn the page)

…too attentive and vigorous, preventing her from breaking free. As a result, she suffered a third humiliation. The maid struck a third time, bending her fingers and knocking hard on the old woman’s forehead. “If you dare to curse again, I’ll pull out your long tongue, you gossiping hag! For every word you say, I’ll stab you with a needle!”

The old woman was frightened, forgetting to argue, let alone retaliate.

The maid turned and walked away quickly. She saw the neighboring young man had already picked up her bucket. She smiled and walked with him back to Mud Bottle Alley.

Before Chen Ping’an could speak, the maid cut him off. “Don’t thank me. My scolding had nothing to do with you.”

Chen Ping’an was speechless.

The maid, empty-handed, muttered to herself, not intending to take the bucket from the grass sandal boy.

Beside the iron-chained well’s winch, the old woman sat on the ground and wailed, “A thousand cuts for that little hussy! She’ll be struck by lightning! My life is so bitter! The heavens are blind! Why doesn’t a bolt of lightning come down and strike that little slut to death!”

The maid’s steps were light, her hands pushing towards the sky, a strange gesture.

Fortunately, Chen Ping’an, having been her neighbor for so many years, didn’t find it strange.

As they passed the breakfast stalls, Chen Ping’an saw a familiar figure. She was not tall, wearing a green dress, and buying freshly baked meat buns, steaming hot, their fragrance filling the street.

Chen Ping’an…

This morning, the clouds were hanging low, unusually thick, like a wealthy family’s quilt spread out to dry in the sun.

*Rumble!* A loud thunderclap echoed overhead.

Granny Ma quickly stood up and hurried home, her small bucket wobbling, spilling well water along the way. She probably wouldn’t have half a bucket left when she arrived home.

Perhaps the old woman knew full well that if the heavens truly opened their eyes, the first lightning bolt would most likely fall on her head.

After hearing the thunder, Chen Ping’an looked up, a little puzzled. It didn’t seem like it was going to rain.

The maid smiled sweetly. “My young master said he read in a book that, according to legend, every early spring, a celestial god, clad in golden armor, drums in the clouds, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, deterring all evil, to herald the New Year.”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “Your young master is indeed well-read.”

The maid sighed. “My young master is good in every way, just a little lazy. And he likes to curse the heavens. I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t have the habit of speaking ill of others behind their backs, so he said nothing. Song Jixin next door had a strange habit that he had maintained for many years: cursing the heavens, just like Granny Ma, cursing the blind old heavens and such. However, a scholar had his principles. Snowy nights, rainy days, when the sky was full of colorful clouds, these were Song Jixin’s three times when he wouldn’t curse. He said he wanted to take advantage of the heavens dozing off to curse him, so the heavens wouldn’t hear and wouldn’t be angry, and he, Song Jixin, could vent his anger and feel comfortable, a win-win situation.

Seeing that Chen Ping’an didn’t respond, Zhigui said seemingly casually, “You didn’t go home last night. You went to Liu Xianyang’s place?”

Chen Ping’an nodded. “We had guests at home. It wasn’t convenient.”

She suddenly asked, “By the way, did Mr. Qi meet you and say anything?”

Chen Ping’an asked back, “Why do you ask?”

She smiled innocently. “Just asking. Because when I went out to fetch water this morning, I happened to meet Mr. Qi. He said he was taking a morning stroll and asked if you were home. I answered truthfully.”

Chen Ping’an smiled. “I accidentally ran into Mr. Qi before. He said a few words about my family, mainly that I should have gone to the school with Liu Xianyang. I could only say that my family was poor, and I couldn’t afford it. Otherwise, I would have been willing to study.”

Zhigui asked doubtfully, “Is that so?”

Chen Ping’an looked into her eyes and smiled. “Or what did you think?”

She laughed it off.

The two parted ways at the street corner. Zhigui took the bucket and went to Mud Bottle Alley. Chen Ping’an returned to Liu Xianyang’s house. After that, he had to go to the east gate to pick up letters, one copper coin per letter. If he had had this business earlier, with Chen Ping’an’s feet that could travel the mountains within a hundred miles, he would probably have saved enough for a wife.

At the entrance of Mud Bottle Alley, Zhigui saw her young master standing there, yawning.

She hurried over, curious. “Young master, why did you come out?”

Song Jixin slowly stretched, yawning lazily. “I was bored.”

She asked softly, “Young master, when is the new superintendent coming back to town? After that, can we go to the capital?”

Song Jixin thought for a moment. “Within ten days or so, I guess.”

Zhigui hesitated, her small bucket swaying.

Song Jixin smiled. “What’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

She said timidly, “Young master, can I borrow that local county gazetteer? Just for a night or two. I want to learn to read, so I won’t be looked down upon when we get to the capital. I don’t want to embarrass you.”

Song Jixin chuckled, thinking it amusing she felt the need to ask. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? But remember to wash your hands before turning the pages. Don’t get dirt on the pages, and be careful not to drip candle wax. There’s nothing else to worry about. It’s just a broken book that’s ‘the end’ of the story.”

Zhigui smiled brightly. “This servant thanks you, young master!”

Song Jixin was amused and laughed heartily. “Come, come, let this young master carry the water for you.”

Zhigui dodged, her face serious. “Young master! Didn’t we agree that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen? How can you touch these trivial matters? If the word gets out, the neighbors will scold me!”

Song Jixin said with a sigh, “Rules, principles, and propriety, you can use those to fool and scare others, but this young master…”

Saying this, this budding scholar born and raised in the slums didn’t continue.

She asked curiously, “This young master is what?”

Song Jixin reverted to his carefree smile, pointing at himself. “This young master is just a farmer, dividing a field into ridges and rows, and then letting people sow seeds and irrigate them. I’m just waiting for the harvest, year after year, that’s all!”

She was confused.

Song Jixin laughed heartily.

The young man suddenly restrained his smile, his face serious. “Zhigui, did someone named Chen carry your bucket all the way here?”

The maid nodded, her eyes innocent.

The young man said earnestly, “A sage once said, ‘Willing to regard a stranger’s small kindness as a rare treasure, but to take all the efforts of those close to you for granted, and ignore them, is wrong.'”

The maid was even more confused. “Huh?”

The young man rubbed his chin, talking to himself. “She didn’t understand my implication at all. How should this young master respond? Should I replace her with a smarter, more beautiful, and understanding little maid when we get to the capital?”

The maid couldn’t help but laugh, not taking her young master’s threats to heart, exposing the truth. “Young master actually wanted me to ask, ‘Who is that learned sage?’ Young master, I know! It’s you!”

Song Jixin laughed heartily. “Those who know me, Zhigui, are you!”

—

Inside the schoolhouse, the middle-aged scholar sat upright. All the black and white pieces on the chessboard before him turned to dust in the sound of thunder.

The town’s young children catching stone slab fish in the stream had a method: holding an iron hammer and hitting the stones in the stream. The fish hiding under the rocks would be stunned by the shock and float to the surface.

This was similar to what the books called “shaking a mountain to scare a tiger.”

But if one wanted to warn a sage, to not act against the heavens, against the principles of the Great Dao, then the most suitable instrument in heaven and earth would be the mighty thunder.

(End of this chapter)