The House is Going to Get Busy Again

There's a thief in the house.

Zhu Shian had made Green Incense for three days, and after air-drying only two bundles remained. Before Zhu Shian could ask where the Green Incense had gone, Wang Erzhu drifted over and whispered a complaint: "That Xiaobai snake stole it and hid it. I saw it with my own eyes."

Zhu Shian turned and went to Xiaobai's altar. She didn't even enter, standing at the doorway and immediately spotting a tall stack of incense on the offering table where the censer sat.

Zhu Shian went in, lit three sticks of incense, and inserted them. Xiaobai, who had been sunbathing in some corner, flew back as if fleeing, shouting: "My incense! My incense! Who touched this immortal's incense!"

Fearing the incense would go to waste, it scrambled onto the offering table and assumed a dragon-sucking-water pose, trying to inhale all the scattered incense smoke into its belly.

When the three sticks of incense burned down, Xiaobai lay soft and limp on the offering table, eyes closed, savoring the moment. So this is what top-quality incense is like.

"I made this incense myself, you know."

Xiaobai scrambled up, eyes wide, then flopped down again, but its tail unconsciously curled around the pile of Green Incense beside it.

Zhu Shian snorted lightly: "Did I not give you incense before you asked? You little thief, how dare you steal my incense."

Xiaobai's eyes welled with tears as it begged for mercy: "Master, I won't dare next time. Next time I..." Next time I'll steal less, hide it deeper, and make sure you don't find out.

"Let go of your tail."

Xiaobai reluctantly loosened its tail.

Zhu Shian gathered all the Green Incense and walked to the door. She turned back to Xiaobai with a threatening smile: "If you pull another sneaky stunt, you won't get a single stick of incense from me next time."

"Master~"

Xiaobai whined tearfully, but Zhu Shian ignored it.

She took the incense to the front courtyard, divided it into two portions: one for Yuntai Temple and one for Wangyun Temple. Zhu Shian said to Zhu Changfang: "No rush, pick a nice day to deliver them."

"Got it."

Zhu Changfang put away the incense and told Zhu Shian: "Zhang Hui said that yesterday Zhu Changming spoke to Li Director about that certificate matter. Li Director called people in the city to ask, and they all said they'd never heard of it. But the reconstruction of TCM schools in various places is definitely true. Our city seems to be discussing rebuilding a TCM hospital too, but there's no way it will happen this year. Li Director said they haven't even found a teacher yet."

"If Beijing doesn't even have a plan for this, we definitely won't know any sooner. Just keep an eye on it. Once news breaks, our family must be the first to know."

Zhu Changfang smiled: "Don't worry, big girl. The whole clan is watching this. As soon as there's news, we'll know."

Zhu Shian thought of another matter: "By the way, when delivering the incense, send to Yuntai Temple first. It won't hurt to deliver to Wangyun Temple ten days or half a month later. At that point, you can正好 ask Mingjue Grand Master if there's any result on the matter I asked him to look into."

Zhu Changfang understood immediately: "Alright, I'll keep that in mind."

Zhenshan County is too remote. Mingjue Grand Master helping them gather information will inevitably cause delays. Waiting a while and using the incense delivery as a pretext to follow up also makes it seem less deliberate.

Wu Shenpo, who was sewing a shoe sole beside them, said: "After our family gets that certificate, we'll need to prepare for purchasing medicinal herbs, right? Many good herbs aren't available here—we'll have to source from other places. Will they allow us to do that?"

"That's right. Don't let them treat us as a capitalist tail to be cut off."

"I think we don't need to worry. Since they're giving the certificate, they'll definitely have considered the herb purchasing matter."

"Elder Shouguang and Elder Shouxin returned to the clan yesterday. Both old gentlemen said they want to thoroughly review their medical skills, hoping to pass the exam on their first try."

"If the younger generation isn't as capable as Elder Shouguang and the others, I thought maybe all clan members who know medicine should take the exam. Maybe we'll get lucky and pass."

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing this. Zhu Shian couldn't help but laugh too.

The Zhu Family treated such talk as a joke, but Li Director did not find it funny.

During another round of inspections, seeing Zhu Changming studying medical cases, Li Director spoke to him very seriously and earnestly, hoping he would stay at his post, fulfill his duties, and not neglect his current work for matters that hadn't materialized yet.

Zhu Changming smiled helplessly: "Director, I have no patients right now. If I don't study medical cases, what should I do? I used to study medical cases and discuss them with other doctors. Why didn't you say anything then?"

Li Director realized he had overreacted a bit. He尴尬地 laughed awkwardly: "Look at you, I didn't say you were neglecting your duties. I was just reminding you, and you got upset already."

Zhu Changming: "..."

Li Director's act of shifting blame was not only无语 for Zhu Changming—Li Director himself felt quite embarrassed and rubbed his face: "Don't worry, I'll have someone keep asking around in the city. As soon as there's news about that certificate, I'll tell you. Have your big girl take the exam herself."

Li Director's implicit meaning: Have your big girl take the exam herself. You, with a job at the County Hospital, shouldn't get involved.

Zhu Changming simply clarified: "Don't worry, Director. I'll work well at the County Hospital and won't quit and run off."

The clan had discussed whether he should take the exam. The Zhu Family doesn't lack doctors, so there's no need for him to give up a stable job and get involved in this.

Even if he were to quit his job at the County Hospital and return to work at the family's Medical Hall, he would at least wait until the family clinic was doing well and needed hands before going back.

Li Director pressed closely: "You said it yourself—you'll keep your word, right? You promised you won't quit and run off?"

"Really won't." Zhu Changming explained: "To be honest, there's only the first sign of policy easing now. What will happen in the future is hard to say. Even from the family's perspective, there's no need to put all eggs in one basket."

"That makes sense."

Li Director finally felt relieved. He patted Zhu Changming's shoulder and smiled: "Go on, read your book. I'll go check the neighboring consultation room."

"Take care, Director."

Relatives and friends of the Zhu Family received the news one after another and began moving for the Zhu Family's future. The Zhu clan members weren't idle either—they worked when there was work to do, and studied when there was studying to do.

By the time they reached Li Xia, the busy period was over: rapeseed and wheat were stored, rice seedlings and corn were planted, and everyone's lined jackets had been changed into thin single-layer clothes. The farm work was finally done.

Clan members came to Sanqing Lane to pick up their children. They were quite reluctant to leave, being pulled by their parents yet still turning back to shout loudly that they would come again.

Fengniang was also reluctant to see them go. She followed the group of children all the way to the memorial arch before returning. Upon returning, she sighed: "When they were here, I found them noisy. Now that they're all gone, I feel strangely upset."

Wu Shenpo laughed: "Then wait another month or two. When summer vacation comes, all those little troublemakers from the school will be back. The children from each household on Sanqing Lane, big and small, a dozen or so, will come to the main house to play. It'll be lively for sure."

Zhu Fengqin groaned in refusal: "Wait for their summer vacation? By then it'll be the hottest period of summer. During the dog days, the weather is so hot I get sleepy. I don't even have enough time for my midday nap. How would I have free time to look after those little troublemakers? You handle them yourselves."

The women laughed again. Raising children is just like that—joyful and exhausting.

While Zhu Fengqin and the others were talking, the clan members had already boarded the boat with their children. A few mischievous children were splashing water at the stern of the boat. After being scolded by their parents, they sat properly.

"Yingying, what's that around your neck? Let me see."

Zhu Kangyang spotted something hanging from Yingying's neck. His hand was fast and he grabbed it in one move. Yingying immediately snatched it back, fiercely saying: "Big girl gave this to me. You can't touch it."

"I will anyway."

Yingying protected her thing and dodged: "If you come closer again, I'll kick you into the river."

Yingying was over a year older than Zhu Kangyang and solidly built. She really could kick him into the river. Just as she raised her foot, her father Zhu Changjiang picked her up.

Zhu Changfeng also held his son Zhu Kangyang still: "What's wrong with you two, fighting for no reason?"

Yingying pointed at Zhu Kangyang and said loudly: "He抢我东西."

"I didn't抢, I just wanted to see."

Zhu Changfeng asked the children nearby: "Who started it? Did anyone抢?"

Min Min raised her hand: "Brother抢了."

"Traitor!"

Zhu Kangyang's whole body twisted with anger, wanting to go down and teach his sister a lesson. But his father held him tight and even gave his bottom a slap: "If you're wrong, admit it. Why are you angry at your sister?"

Being hit in front of everyone made him lose face. Yingying even得意地 made a face at him. Zhu Kangyang couldn't hold back anymore and burst out crying, face red and ears burning, which made the adults on the boat laugh.

Zhu Changfeng let his son hide his face on his shoulder to escape the embarrassment. He patted his son's back to soothe him, then smiled and asked Yingying: "Tell伯伯, what were you two fighting over?"

Yingying pulled out a triangular red cloth packet from her collar: "Look, the family head gave it to me. It has a treasure inside, for keeping safe. Feng auntie sewed the red pocket for me."

Zhu Kangyang quietly looked back, got angry again, and wiped his tears while saying: "Why don't I have one?"

Yingying made faces with raised eyebrows and narrowed eyes: "Because you guys weren't good. That's why you don't get any."

Zhu Kangyang twisted all over, wailing at the top of his lungs, then got hit by his father again, told to calm down.

While the children were making a ruckus, the adults' expressions grew heavy. So many children—why did big girl give a Peace Talisman specifically to Yingying?

Zhu Changjiang gently pinched the red cloth packet. The texture inside should be a Peace Talisman.

"Yingying, tell爸爸, what did big girl say when she gave you the Peace Talisman?"

Yingying had been feeling proud, but seeing her father suddenly stop smiling, she thought seriously: "Big girl told me not to go into the mountains."

"Anything else?"

"Big girl said, don't be scared if something happens. It's all small matters and won't harm my life." Yingying thought for a while. That should be all.

Min Min added: "Little snake."

Yingying said oh: "Me and Min Min climbed over the threshold to play in the back garden and encountered a Xiaobai. That Xiaobai was so white, so white, it was glowing. I wanted to pick off a piece of white, but the Xiaobai wouldn't let me. It ran onto the beam and bared its teeth at me."

"And then?"

"Then, um..." Yingying scratched her ear: "The family head came out and said I'm incompatible with it. This month, don't see the little snake."

The children's accounts were fragmented, but piecing things together, the meaning was: Yingying is incompatible with snakes this month. She shouldn't go into the mountains to avoid being bitten.

Zhu Changjiang was worried. He said to Zhu Changfeng: "I need to go back and ask big girl what exactly is going on."

"Big girl isn't at Sanqing Lane today. Fengniang said she went to Yuntai Temple yesterday. But although big girl isn't here, you can ask Fengniang." Zhu Changfeng pointed to the Peace Talisman around Yingying's neck: "Didn't you say Fengniang sewed the red cloth packet? She must know the whole story."

"That's right."

Zhu Changjiang was worried about his daughter and couldn't wait a moment. Just then, a bamboo raft happened to be floating downstream toward the county town. He entrusted Yingying to Zhu Changfeng's care, stepped onto the opposite bamboo raft, and returned to the county town.

Zhu Changjiang ran back to Sanqing Lane to ask Fengniang about the Peace Talisman. Zhu Fengqin stamped her foot: "Oh dear, just now it was so chaotic, I actually forgot what An An asked me to tell you."

"What did big girl say?" Zhu Changjiang asked urgently.

"Big girl said this child's 八字 has an unlucky year coming up. The poisonous month is right around the corner next month. She told you parents to watch the child more and not let the child go to places with lots of water or mountains. An An said it's not a major disaster, so don't worry yourselves sick."

Zhu Changjiang's hanging heart finally relaxed. It's not a major disaster—that's good, that's good.

After thanking her repeatedly, Zhu Changjiang left.

Wu Shenpo said quietly: "I old woman was right, wasn't I? The children in this house should often meet big girl. For any kind of misfortune, there needs to be preparation ahead of time. Otherwise, when a big fall happens, it'll be too late to cry."

Several young wives in the hall nodded repeatedly. That was true.

"Not to mention this—yesterday I saw the Food Supply Station started selling fish again. Should we get up early tomorrow and line up to buy some fish?"

"Sure,刚好 my pickled peppers and ginger are flavorful enough. They'll be perfect for making fish."

"Fengniang, let's go together tomorrow."

Fengniang waved her hand: "You go. I'll wait a couple more days. An An isn't back yet."

"No problem. You can buy it and keep it in the water tank. When big girl comes back in a couple days, you can make it then."

"Better not. I'm afraid I'll starve the fish. That wouldn't be worth it."

The women laughed again.

The summer busy period had passed and the weather turned hot. On Spring River, groups of three to five people started catching fish more often. At this time of year, even if you can't buy fish at the Food Supply Station, taking a walk by the river, you can always buy fresh fish from those enthusiastic young fishing boys.

Zhu Fengqin ate something simple at home alone. She wasn't even enthusiastic about going to the Food Supply Station to buy vegetables. She found the fabric that the He Family had given last time, selected a piece with small floral patterns and another piece of lake blue, and asked Zhang Hui to help cut two dresses. She pedaled her sewing machine and finished sewing them in one afternoon.

After the dresses were sewn, they went through another wash and were hung in the back garden to dry. By the time Zhu Shian returned from Yuntai Temple, she could wear them right away.

Zhu Shian saw the two three-quarter-sleeve dresses and smiled: "Fengniang, don't just focus on making for me. Make a couple for yourself too."

"I made some. I made a side-fastening half-sleeve. I don't like wearing those dresses." She showed her: "Look, I also made bound edges. I刚好 used the leftover material from making your dress."

Zhu Shian looked—they were quite nice.

"Right? I think they're nice too. They're suitable for my age."

While the two were admiring the new clothes, Zhu Changfang knocked and entered, smiling: "Oh, don't look anymore. There's a guest at the house."

"Who's here?" Zhu Fengqing asked.

"The Song Family—Song Weiguo's mother and his wife. They said they'd made arrangements with big girl to stay for a while, asking big girl to help regulate their health."

"The summer busy period is over. I was thinking they should be coming soon. Isn't Song Weiguo here?"

"No. I heard he's gone out for business."

Both Zhu Shian and Zhu Fengqin thought about the matter the Zhu Family had asked Song Weiguo to investigate.

Zhu Fengqin quickly said: "Where are they? I'll go welcome them."

"They should be near the memorial arch."

"Let's go, everyone. An An, you too."

Xiaobai slid down from the beam and slipped along the door wall toward the alley entrance to see the novelty. The house is going to get busy again.