The Bustle of Sanqing Lane

For two consecutive days, the sky had been overcast, with dark, ink-like clouds gathering above Zhenshan County. Even someone who couldn't read the heavens knew that if it didn't rain tonight, it would certainly rain by morning.

Zhu Fengqin had spread a簸箕 of red chilies to dry on the stone table outside the kitchen. The簸箕 was so large that carrying it in and out was troublesome, so for the past few days Zhu Fengqin had only covered it with a patched rag to keep the un-dried chilies from getting damp with nighttime frost.

Today was different—today she absolutely had to bring the簸箕 inside for safekeeping.

After dinner, a night wind rose in the Mountain Valley. Zhu Fengqin called Zhu Shian over to help, and together they carried the簸箕 to the storage room.

Zhu Fengqin grabbed a handful of chilies and squeezed them. "They're not dry yet, but almost there. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we can spread them out for two or three days to finish drying. If it does rain, we can dry them on the stove after cooking."

Zhu Shian was sleepy and yawned. "There's no rush, right? If you want to dry the chilies more, wait until after the New Year when the weather is good."

"Good spring weather is hard to come by. Spring rain drizzles for a month or more—the thick-fleshed red chilies will mold before they dry." Zhu Fengqin said: "You don't know anything. Don't worry about my business, just wait to eat."

Zhu Fengqin pushed her out and locked the storage room door. As they walked, Zhu Fengqin muttered: "You—ever since Zhu Changbi and the others started sitting in the Medical Hall, you haven't been going to the Medical Hall early in the morning for quite some time. You're more idle than anyone else. How come you don't have the energy to get up early and sit in the Medical Hall like before?"

"I'm busy teaching my apprentice and handling my own affairs."

Watching her yawn one after another, tears forming in her eyes, Zhu Fengqin didn't scold her anymore, her heart aching. "Don't be so busy. Take your time doing what you want. What's the rush?"

"I know, I have a plan. Stop nagging me."

Outside Zhu Shian's room, Zhu Shian waved her hand. "I'm going to sleep."

"Go, go. I'll put breakfast in the steamer for you tomorrow morning. Sleep until you wake up naturally before eating. I won't rush you."

"Okay."

She went inside and closed the door. Under the dim yellow light, Magic Array books were scattered haphazardly across half the table by the window, and on the other half sat a half-basket of Talismans she had accumulated over these days.

Little White lay obediently on the footrest watching her. Zhu Shian didn't even give it a glance. She removed her shoes, socks, and clothes, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Little White raised its head to look at the bed and stuck out its tongue. It had come today specifically to ask its master for incense. The master fell asleep so quickly?

After watching for a while, Little White finally gave up. It wagged its tail, wrapped it around the lamp cord, and pulled—the light in the room went out.

In the middle of the night, the night rain began to drizzle. The cold, damp air crept in through the gaps in the doors and windows, making the room colder than usual. Little White no longer lay on the footrest—it climbed to the cabinet, pulled open the drawer of the clothes chest, coiled into a pile of yellow paper, and continued sleeping.

Zhu Shian was covered with a seven-jin cotton quilt and didn't feel cold. The rain at night actually made for better sleep—she didn't wake up until nearly ten in the morning.

By this time, the Medical Hall had long been open and busy. Zhu Fengqin had eaten breakfast, gone out to the Food Supply Station to buy vegetables, and returned.

The rain was still falling outside. People in the lane who had nothing to do today wouldn't come to the main house—they would stay home, huddled by the fire.

Zhu Fengqin was also preparing to light a brazier. She had just stacked the dry firewood, but before she could light it, someone came to knock on the door, saying a boat from the village had come to the dock to sell fish. If she wanted to buy, she had to hurry and get in line.

"Aiyo, when the weather is good they don't come to sell fish. Why did they choose such a rainy day to sell? It's cold and damp—don't know what they were thinking."

Zhu Fengqin complained, then went inside to get money and the basket for carrying fish.

Zhang Hui also heard about the fish-selling outside. She came to call Zhu Fengqin. Seeing Zhu Fengqin carrying the basket on her back, she smiled and asked: "Such a big阵势, how many fish are you planning to buy?"

"A few more. I want to make some salted fish to store."

"Making salted fish is good. Do you have enough salt?"

"Enough. There's still plenty left from when we cured the bacon last time."

The two talked as they walked and met other families in the lane who were also going to buy fish. They went together.

Zhu Shian woke up and didn't want to get up. No one was rushing her, so she lay in bed until she was fully awake, then sat up and rubbed her face.

"Master, hungry, hungry."

Zhu Shian turned to see Little White's small head topped with a bundle of incense. She laughed: "I specifically wrapped it in paper and put it in the deepest part of the cabinet. You still found it—your nose is really sharp."

"Want it."

"You can't have it even if you want it. This bundle of incense is for ancestor worship during the New Year."

"Make new ones."

"Can't make new ones lately. I'm not free."

Little White kept acting cute and coaxing, but Zhu Shian wouldn't budge. It reluctantly carried the incense and circled around Zhu Shian with its head bowed.

"Not allowed. Wait a bit more. After the New Year, I'll make more incense and build you an incense tower so you can eat your fill."

"Okay, I'll put it back."

Little White obeyed and put the incense back in the cabinet.

"Good child."

Zhu Shian praised it, patted its head, and turned to leave.

Breakfast was left for her in the kitchen—a bowl of porridge, two boiled eggs, and a dish of side dishes. After eating and washing the dishes, Zhu Shian went to the front hall to stroll.

No one else was in the mansion. She wasn't afraid of the cold either. She sat on a chair in the doorway, lazily listening to the wind and rain.

While her body was idle, Zhu Shian's mind was not. She was thinking about high-level Magic Arrays—most of these high-level Magic Arrays had been taught to her by Senior Sister.

If her speculation was correct, that Xiong Mountain was truly where Senior Sister fell, then the杀人于无形的法阵 that Ding Mao mentioned inside Xiong Mountain should all have been crafted by Senior Sister.

She quietly looked at the plum tree in the corner of the courtyard. A yellow stamen was gently swaying in the cold wind and rain. Distractedly, that stamen looked like a butterfly spreading its wings.

Senior Sister said that Magic Arrays, despite their countless variations, all boiled to one thing—borrowing power to kill. The difference between Magic Arrays was whether they borrowed power from heaven and earth, or from immortals and gods.

Borrowing power wasn't free either. These lethal Magic Arrays either used Spiritual Energy as the catalyst, or human life or something else as the sacrifice—there was always some cost.

From the perspective of Dao Cultivation, Dao Cultivators didn't walk the path of cultivation through their own abilities—they were more like being chosen by something unseen.

Chosen Dao Cultivators seemed capable of connecting heaven and earth, but Dao Cultivators were still human after all. To resist gods, ghosts, demons, and monsters, to resist the Mandate Of Heaven with their physical bodies—very, very few in the Xuan Sect could avoid backlash and end well.

Even more, the more talented a Dao Cultivator was, the more likely they were to die halfway. Conversely, Dao Cultivators with mediocre talents更容易长寿百岁.

When water overflows, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes—this conforms to heaven's way. But from the perspective of talented people dying young and mediocre people living long, it seemed that the rules of heaven understood by talented Dao Cultivators were actually not that impressive after all.

Humans were ultimately humans. Talented people were also human and had to follow the gods' rules.

Zhu Shian coldly watched that yellow plum flower trembling in the wind and rain. Why was she so unwilling to accept this in her heart?

"Big girl, go to the Medical Hall quickly. There's a patient looking for you."

"A patient looking for me? What illness? Can't the others handle it?"

Zhu Xilan came with an umbrella to call her. Zhu Shian sat there not wanting to move.

Zhu Xilan walked over and said: "Actually, any of the doctors could see her, but she doesn't believe them. She specifically wants you, and she says only you can treat her illness. That patient was brought by Fengniang and is waiting at the Medical Hall. Go take a look."

Zhu Shian finally got up. She asked: "What's the patient's relationship with Fengniang?"

"No relationship. That patient is from the village across the river. She and the village people delivered fish to the dock to sell. Fengniang went to buy fish and got talking with that patient. They somehow got onto the topic of her bad legs and feet. Fengniang warmly invited her to our Medical Hall for treatment, and she came along."

Zhu Xilan whispered: "That patient changed her story at the Medical Hall. She said it's not an illness—she said she encountered a ghost."

Zhu Shian immediately understood why the patient specifically wanted to see her.

"Let's go take a look."

Zhu Shian took the umbrella from Zhu Xilan and held it herself. With her free hand, she put it around Zhu Xilan's shoulder and went out to the Medical Hall.

Zhu Xilan was not as tall as Zhu Shian's shoulder. Being half-hugged by the big girl as they walked, Zhu Xilan's heart swelled with joy. She unknowingly leaned a little more into the big girl's embrace.

The Medical Hall was very quiet at this time. Only two or three patients were waiting to get medicine at the Medicine Cabinet. Only one middle-aged woman in a faded gray cotton jacket was sitting in Consulting Room One.

Zhu Kanglin, Zhu Yongwen, and the other apprentices who didn't have classes after winter break and were helping at the Medical Hall all gave Zhu Shian meaningful looks—that was the patient.

Zhu Shian looked around but didn't see Fengniang. She put the umbrella away and handed it to Zhu Xilan to store. She walked into Consulting Room One.

"My feet can walk and move just fine. There's nothing wrong with me. This definitely isn't an illness—it's definitely something dirty from the river that got attached to me." The patient grabbed Zhu Changbi's hand and wouldn't let go. "Doctor, you can't treat this illness. Go call your family's Master Zhu. Only she can save me."

"Sister Wang, don't be impatient. Let me explain. In our Traditional Chinese Medicine, we say that when qi is deficient, there is numbness; when blood is deficient, there is tingling. This refers to deficiency of qi and blood that cannot reach the limbs, so you occasionally feel your legs and feet aren't working well—you—"

"I told you, my legs and feet work perfectly fine. There's a ghost trying to harm me." Sister Wang interrupted Zhu Changbi. "Wang Fugui's youngest son in our village died in the river. Last year at this time, none of us dared go near the river, afraid it would pull us in as replacement victims. I know my own body. Several times I stood on the riverbank and almost fell into the river—there must be a water ghost in the river trying to pull me down."

Zhu Changbi was exhausted. How couldn't this sister understand?

Sister Wang lowered her voice: "This summer, a boy around ten years old drowned by the riverbank. I heard when they pulled him up, his eyes wouldn't close. He died unwillingly. I think it's him trying to pull me as a replacement victim."

Zhu Shian had a general understanding of what was happening. She went in and said to Zhu Changbi: "Let me examine this sister."

Sister Wang should have recognized Zhu Shian. When she saw Zhu Shian, she quickly stood up and greeted her with a smile: "Master Zhu, please help me remove this calamity."

Zhu Shian smiled: "Sit down first. Let me feel your pulse."

"Okay, okay. I'll do whatever you say."

After feeling Sister Wang's pulse, it was a soggy pulse. After diagnosis, looking at her tongue coating—thick, dense, greasy and sticky—the comprehensive diagnosis showed it was a condition of numbness caused by dampness.

Zhu Changbi stood beside her and saw what the big girl wrote in the medical record. It was the same as her judgment—this Sister Wang had the same illness as San Yeye, just that Sister Wang's illness was still mild and she could still walk.

Sister Wang watched Zhu Shian write the prescription and quickly asked: "Master Zhu, is there really a ghost trying to harm me?"

"No, this is just an illness. Illnesses need treatment. It's not serious. With Herbal Decoction and Acupuncture, you'll recover in half a month. It won't cause any future problems."

"Is this really an illness?"

Sister Wang didn't believe. She had cursed that family with the dead son just the other day. If it was an illness, hadn't she wrongly blamed someone?

"Yes. Zhenshan County has many mountains and much water, with heavy dampness. This illness is common in our area."

Sister Wang slapped her thigh. Aiyo, how would she apologize to people later?

Zhu Shian asked Sister Wang: "Are you going to treat it?"

"Treat it. Master Zhu, I still have grandchildren to take care of. You must cure me properly."

Zhu Shian nodded: "Since you want to treat it, let's do an Acupuncture session first. Will you decoct the medicine yourself?"

"I'll decoct it myself. We won't trouble you with that."

Just now she wouldn't listen to reason, and now she was so reasonable. Zhu Changbi thought silently—didn't she and the big girl say the same thing?

Zhu Shian wrote the prescription and told her to go pay and get the medicine, then go to the Acupuncture room for treatment.

Sister Wang took the prescription and walked out. After taking two steps, she felt her legs and feet were quite nimble. She was suspicious, but felt Master Zhu definitely wouldn't lie to her, so she went to pay and get the medicine first.

As soon as Sister Wang left, Zhu Changbi immediately said: "Big girl, let me help you with the Acupuncture later."

Zhu Xiang, the only other female doctor in the Medical Hall, stood at the door seizing the opportunity to speak: "Big girl, Sister Changbi, I want to learn too."

Zhu Shian smiled: "Whoever wants to learn can watch later."

Zhu Kanglin and Zhu Yongwen also wanted to watch, but they knew that a female patient undressing for Acupuncture wouldn't let them in.

Zhu Xilan and Zhu Qiu两个小丫头 giggled and went to the back workshop to get a brazier. It was so cold—they had to make the Acupuncture room warm and cozy before they could do the treatment.

Zhu Kanglin sighed. Why couldn't a male patient come?

Zhu Lin and Zhu Chong in the adjacent consulting rooms thought the same thing as Zhu Kanglin. After watching the big girl do Acupuncture once last time, they had been thinking about watching a second time, but they still hadn't had the chance.

After Sister Wang got her medicine and the Acupuncture room was warmed by the brazier, Zhu Shian told Sister Wang to go inside, undress, and wait.

When Sister Wang was ready, Zhu Shian brought Zhu Changbi and Zhu Xiang in. Zhu Xilan and Zhu Qiu followed right behind.

Zhu Shian said to Zhu Changbi: "You insert the needles. I'll watch you."

"Okay."

Zhu Changbi wasn't as handy with the Golden Needle. She used Silver Needles. The needle prescription was the same one the big girl gave San Yeye last time. After inserting them, she asked Sister Wang how she felt.

Sister Wang's voice was muffled as she lay on the bed: "I feel something, but also nothing."

"Let me do it."

Zhu Changbi moved aside. Zhu Shian adjusted the needles at the Geshu point, Weizhong point, and Sanyinjiao point. Sister Wang immediately exclaimed: "I feel it, I feel it. My legs feel warm and toasty."

"Good that you feel it."

Sister Wang exclaimed in surprise: "Ai, just now I thought my legs were fine. Now that my legs are warm, I realize my legs were actually a bit cold."

"Normal. You got used to it. Without comparison, you didn't know your legs had problems. You discovered this early. If you wait until it gets worse later, you won't be able to walk normally."

"Aiyo, I came to the right place. When I'm better, I'll bring two fish to thank you."

Zhu Shian just remembered to ask: "Where did Fengniang go?"

Zhu Changbi said: "Fengniang brought Sister Wang to the Medical Hall door and left. She said she was going to buy some tender ginger to make pickled ginger."

So that's why she hadn't seen Fengniang.

Zhu Shian moved aside and told Zhu Changbi and Zhu Xiang to feel Sister Wang's pulse. Then she used Sister Wang as an example to analyze for them how to insert the Flame Needle Technique to get the right effect.

Zhu Shian taught them hand-in-hand, not missing any of the various details they should pay attention to. Zhu Changbi and Zhu Xiang nodded as they listened.

After teaching all this, it was time to remove the needles.

Zhu Xilan and Zhu Qiu looked at Zhu Shian with admiration. The big girl was really amazing.

Zhu Shian received their enthusiastic gazes and smiled at them: "You two also come feel the patient's pulse."

"Can we?"

"Of course. Didn't you come to the Medical Hall to learn medicine?" Zhu Shian deliberately asked: "You don't dare?"

"We dare, we dare. I dare." Zhu Xilan quickly raised her hand. "I'll go first."

"Okay, you go first."

Zhu Xilan skillfully felt the pulse. As the big girl said, it was a yang pulse. After Zhu Xilan finished, she switched to Zhu Qiu. When both had felt it, Zhu Shian told Zhu Changbi: "Remove the needles."

Zhu Changbi removed the needles. After a while, she felt Sister Wang's pulse again—the pulse had changed, not as strong as before.

Zhu Changbi asked Zhu Shian for guidance: "What should I do to get close to the effect of your Acupuncture?"

"Your basic skills are solid, but you're lacking some experience. What you're doing now is figuring out what illness the patient has, how serious it is, how to insert the needles for Acupuncture, and how deep or shallow to get the best effect. When you understand all this thoroughly and insert the needles accurately, Acupuncture will exert its original effect."

Zhu Shian thought for a moment and said: "You might achieve with ten treatments what I achieve with one, but combined with Herbal Decoction, medicinal baths, food supplements, and other methods, even if it takes longer, most illnesses can achieve ideal treatment effects."

What Zhu Shian said was exactly what Zhu Changbi pursued.

Zhu Changbi said: "You hit the nail on the head. Although I learned medicine from a young age, I've been living in the village the whole time. At most I treat the women and children in the clan. Unlike Zhu Lin and Zhu Chong who went to other counties as barefoot doctors, I lack practical experience."

Zhu Xiang had the same problem—rich experience in learning medicine, but insufficient experience in diagnosing patients.

Zhu Shian smiled and said: "Don't worry. You won't lack patients in the future. See more and practice more. When your experience improves, you'll definitely get better and better."

Zhu Changbi nodded with a smile: "I'll consult more with you and Shouguang Ye and the others."

Zhu Shian agreed: "Communicate more. Everyone progresses together."

After removing the needles, Sister Wang was still sleeping. There weren't many patients needing the Acupuncture room today, so they didn't rush her. Let her sleep a while.

Zhu Shian returned to the main house through the back garden. Zhu Fengqin had already bought the ginger back.

"You went to the Medical Hall? Did you meet that Sister Wang? When I went to buy fish from her, she said her legs and feet weren't good. I told her to come to our Medical Hall for treatment. How did it go?"

"I examined her. She does have some trouble with her legs and feet, but it's not serious. She'll recover in half a month."

"That's good."

After asking, Zhu Fengqin put Sister Wang out of her mind. As she washed the tender ginger, she said: "When I went to buy tender ginger, I met Lu Wen. She said she wants to visit our house on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month in the morning. I thought about it and our family has no plans that day, so I agreed."

"That day is free."

Zhu Fengqin said: "Before, every time the He family sent us festival gifts, they had something to ask of you. I accepted their gifts with a clear conscience. This New Year is different—the normal exchanges of gifts. We should reciprocate. Only by exchanging gifts does a relationship last. Help me think about what gift we should give in return."

Zhu Shian smiled: "I remember you saying before that the He couple are calculating and you don't like dealing with them. Why the change now?"

"Ai, my heart is also made of flesh. They come with smiling faces every time. Should I chase them out? Moreover, a county official can't compare to having connections locally. Our family conducts ourselves properly. Although we're not afraid of others finding fault with us, it's not bad to have a good relationship with the county chief. Furthermore, even if they have something to ask of us, it's not interesting to always one-up them in matters of social obligations."

After washing the tender ginger once, Zhu Fengqin went to the pot to scoop hot water, mixing with cold water for the second wash. She said: "Actually, after such a long time of contact, I've come to understand—the He couple may have more calculations, but they're also honest people with timid dispositions. I don't think they would do something harmful to others for the sake of advancement."

Zhu Shian agreed: "Your judgment of people is accurate."

Zhu Fengqin said loudly: "Of course—I've lived more than twenty years longer than you. I still have some ability to judge people."

However, Zhu Fengqin turned around and said: "But I think the He couple is working for nothing. Coming to our Zhenshan County, they can't climb any higher."

Zhu Shian thought it wasn't certain. He Zaiming and his wife had faces that looked like they would have future blessings. As long as they don't ruin their blessings in the future, they might have a chance to advance someday.

In one's lifetime, until the coffin is closed, there are always changes. You never know when someone might suddenly decide to do something big and lose everything they accumulated in the first half of their life.

The old He Zaiming wouldn't dare say he wouldn't take the wrong path. After knowing Zhu Shian, He Zaiming started believing in Karma and retribution. He wanted to accumulate merit for himself and his descendants. Even if some shortcuts were presented to him, he wouldn't dare take them.

It was the same with Lu Wen. The night when her youngest son was harmed by a ghost and was about to die—she would remember that for the rest of her life. If not for Master Zhu, her son would be gone.

She believed that encountering Master Zhu was definitely the effect of their accumulated merit from before.

In fact, not just He Zaiming and his wife—anyone who had contact with Zhu Shian rarely could ignore merit.

In the adjacent Medical Hall, Sister Wang woke up after sleeping, took her medicine, and went home. On the way home, she kept regretting—how could she have been so confused a few days ago? How could she have spoken without thinking and cursed the Li family?

The rain had long stopped, but the water vapor on the river hadn't dispersed. Sister Wang moved her legs and feet. When she went to the county seat in the morning, she didn't feel numbness and cold in her legs and feet. Now she could feel the chill.

Sister Wang sighed. What should she do about this? She spoke without virtue, cursing a dead person. Would the heavens deduct her merit when they found out?

When the boat reached the shore, Sister Wang saw the monks from Wangyun Temple had set up an altar by the river to perform rituals. The entire Li family and the Captain were standing nearby.

The Captain called out to Sister Wang: "The person who went to sell fish in the county with you said you went to the Zhu Medical Hall for treatment? What illness? How did it go?"

The Li family turned to look at Sister Wang in unison, their eyes very fierce.

Sister Wang had publicly cursed their dead grandson for harming people. The Captain found their family and asked them to pay for the monks from Wangyun Temple to perform rituals for the child, to give an explanation to Sister Wang and the villagers. But just now, the great monk said their child had already gone to the Underworld—there was no need to make a fuss.

The Captain said since the master was already invited, they should do the ritual anyway. At least it would put the villagers at ease.

The Li family wasn't angry about spending money on the ritual. What made them angry was Sister Wang's wild talk that damaged their reputation.

The Li family's old woman glanced at Sister Wang's feet and said sarcastically: "Be careful when getting off the boat. If you slip and fall into the river, don't blame my big grandson again."

Sister Wang got off the boat and quickly lowered her head to apologize to the Li family: "I was sick myself and it had nothing to do with your family's big grandson. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have talked nonsense."

The Captain looked at the medicine package in her hand: "Really not related to that child?"

Sister Wang smiled awkwardly. She bowed to the Li family and said: "I was wrong. I'll pay for the master's ritual fee as compensation. Consider it my apology to you. Is that okay?"

The Li family's old woman coldly smiled and didn't respond.

They were fellow villagers, and they couldn't really make things irreconcilable. Sister Wang apologized so sincerely and was willing to help restore the Li family's reputation. Although the Li family was unhappy, they couldn't keep holding onto it. In the end, the Captain mediated—the ritual fee would be paid by Sister Wang, and Sister Wang would publicly apologize to the Li family. That would settle the matter.

When Sister Wang publicly apologized, the Wang family was also there. After returning home, Wang Daniang said: "Master Zhu is really capable. Whether there's a real ghost or not, she can tell at a glance. She doesn't wrong anyone."

Wang Dasao said: "The Wang daughter-in-law is also a straightforward person. She apologized as soon as she said she would, with a proper attitude. If I were the Li family, I'd also let it go."

Wang Daniang nodded: "Their闹这么一出 also benefits us. The villagers are all discussing the Li and Wang matters. No one mentions our Er Zhu anymore."

The family looked at each other. Wang Daniang quietly asked: "Er Zhu hasn't been sending you dreams, has he?"

Wang Dashan and his wife shook their heads.

Wang Daniang relaxed: "That's good. Our Er Zhu has also become sensible."

Wang Fugui said: "The Li family invited the great monk to perform rituals and no one stopped them. We don't need to hide either. The New Year is coming. Later, find that old woman in the front village who knows how to make paper crafts and buy a paper house to burn for Er Zhu."

The whole family nodded. They could do that.

The New Year was coming soon. Visiting ancestors and relatives—all this could be prepared in advance.

Last year they just reopened the College Entrance Exam. This year, reform and opening up had happened. The atmosphere in the city was getting better day by day. This New Year would definitely be more lively than last year.

Zhenshan County celebrated Little New Year on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month. After Little New Year, on the twenty-fifth, the county committee notified that the city had approved the temporary business licenses. Those whose applications passed could now go to the county committee to get their documents.

Suddenly, Sanqing Lane became lively. Several half-grown boys ran and jumped to the dock to take boats, busy delivering messages for the clan. People like Zhu Changkun who were originally in the county put down their work and immediately ran to the county committee.

When Zhu Changkun ran off, the people waiting to buy pastries quickly called out to Zhu Changfang: "When will your brother be back? Are you selling the pastries today or not?"

Zhu Changfang quickly smiled and said: "The pastries are all in the steamer. We'll definitely sell.估计还有十几分钟, please wait."

A regular customer asked: "Selling today, will you sell tomorrow?"

"Selling. Tomorrow you don't need to wait at the Medical Hall. After getting the license today, we'll move to sell at the pastry shop at the lane entrance tomorrow."

"When I came just now, I saw the pastry shop's signboard was already hung. I guess the shop will open soon. By the way, are you open during the New Year?"

"Open."

A few days ago, after the clan decided which families to rent the shops to—whether single families renting one shop or several families sharing one—all were busy in their shops.

These days, after each shop was cleaned and organized, goods and staff were ready. They were just waiting to get the license and open.

Everyone happily talked about the New Year and the shop openings. Regular customers said they would definitely bring their families to Sanqing Lane to have fun during the New Year.

In the Zhu main house next to the Medical Hall, Zhu Shian and Zhu Fengqin were receiving Lu Wen. Lu Wen had already heard the news. She smiled and said to Zhu Shian: "Your family's temporary business license application was fully approved. Don't worry, big girl."

Zhu Fengqin quickly asked: "Which other families didn't get approved?"

"There are. I heard from my old He that one family wanting to run a theater troupe and one wanting to open a winery were both rejected. They said it wasn't appropriate."

"We understand not allowing individuals to open wineries—people can't even fill their bellies, using grain to make wine isn't appropriate. But why not allow theater? Didn't they say things were opening up?"

"We don't know either. The city doesn't allow it, so we can only follow."

Zhu Fengqin said: "What a pity. If they allowed theater, how much more liveliness would it add to the New Year."

"That's fine. Not allowed now doesn't mean not allowed in the future."

Zhu Fengqin knew Lu Wen had matters in the afternoon, so she didn't invite her to stay for lunch. They drank two cups of tea and chatted for a while. When Lu Wen said she had to go back, Zhu Fengqin put the return gifts she had packed yesterday into Lu Wen's empty basket.

Zhu Shian saw Lu Wen to the door: "Give our regards to your parents. Wish the elders a good New Year."

"Thank you, Master Zhu. Also wish Master Zhu a good New Year."

"Don't be so formal from now on. You're older than me. From now on, call me big girl like Fengniang does."

Lu Wen immediately smiled: "Okay, big girl. See you after the New Year."

"See you."

On the way back from the Zhu family, Lu Wen's heart was practically flying with joy.

Originally, they had been the ones clinging to Master Zhu to maintain this relationship. She had accepted that their family would be one level lower than the Zhu family. She didn't expect that not only did the Zhu family give them return gifts today, but Master Zhu also said words to draw closer the relationship. Lu Wen was almost crazy with happiness.

Lu Wen wasn't just happy for herself. She couldn't wait for He Zaiming to get off work. She made lunch and delivered it to the county committee, excitedly telling her husband about the visit to the Zhu family today.

He Zaiming was a bit surprised but not too surprised. He said: "Master Zhu is a sensible person. I felt before that since they were willing to accept our gifts, they must think our family has good character. With such exchanges, the relationship between the two families will become closer sooner or later."

Lu Wen couldn't agree more: "The Zhu family also has good character. They're not like those families that take advantage and never show gratitude. My father's former superior—that Director Jia, do you remember? His face was so thick. He thought you should give him gifts. Whenever you didn't give enough, he held grudges."

Speaking of Director Jia made Lu Wen unhappy.

He Zaiming smiled: "Director Jia was stripped of his position and sent to labor reform. It's all in the past. Don't think about unrelated people anymore."

"Hmph, I'm not thinking about him. I just want to骂一骂 him."

Lu Wen happily told He Zaiming: "There are two Peace Talismans in the Zhu family's return gifts."

"Good things. Don't give them away randomly. Let's keep them for ourselves."

"Of course I won't give them away. You're a public servant. Giving Peace Talismans to others would be looking for trouble."

"You really think things through." He Zaiming praised.

Lu Wen said with a teasing smile: "Go on, at least put some heart into praising me."

He Zaiming couldn't help but laugh.

The He couple talked enthusiastically. At this time, Sanqing Lane was even more lively. After getting the temporary business licenses, every shop on the main street took down their boards, opening the shops for everyone to see.

Leading the way were Xu Tang and Xu Mei from Zhu Changfang's family. A string of more than twenty children of various sizes ran from one end of the lane to the other, diving into one shop and then out of another, laughing and playing like hide-and-seek.

Children with spare money in their pockets went to buy things. They only had one mao but pointed at a porcelain basin that cost one yuan and said: Give me ten.

"Go play outside. Don't cause trouble."

Four-year-old Zhu Kangyang held out his money and stuffed it into the shopkeeper's pocket: "Uncle, I want to buy ten basins—one for me, one for my sister, one for my dad, one for my mom, and one for my grandma and grandpa, my maternal grandparents, my uncle..."

Zhu Kangyang's little sister Min Min said: "Give one to big girl. I like big girl."

"Okay, then give big girl one more."

The clan member selling ceramic basins stood at the door and shouted toward the Medical Hall: "Zhu Changfeng, come control your children! They have one mao and want to buy ten basins from me. I didn't know your family was so good at business!"

The clan members in the nearby shops all laughed loudly.

Zhu Changfeng was busy doing accounts. When he heard someone calling him, he stuck his head out halfway: "Zhu Kangyang, Zhu Kang敏, you two go home. If you keep making trouble, I'll beat you."

Xu Tang and Xu Mei sisters ran to the Medical Hall and shouted for their mother as soon as they entered.

"What are you shouting about?"

"Mom gave us money. We want to buy a wooden box to store things."

"Don't we have wooden boxes at home? Why buy another wooden box? What stuff do you have that needs storing?"

The two sisters didn't listen. Each grabbed one of their mother's sleeves and acted spoiled: "We want it, we just want it. That box is so beautiful—it has carvings."

When Zhu Changfang heard about carvings, she became even more unwilling to buy: "A decent wooden box costs at least ten to twenty yuan. A box with carvings probably costs twenty to thirty? Your father and I's monthly salary is how much? Buying such an expensive box, will we not eat next month? Will we all drink the northwest wind?"

"Mom, buy one, please?"

"No." Zhu Changfang ruthlessly refused.

The people watching added fuel to the fire: "Changfang, if the children want it, just buy one. Boxes don't go bad. When the sisters grow up and get married, they can take them out as dowry."

Zhu Changfang glared at the speaker: "We have only two girls. We're not marrying them out—we're bringing sons-in-law to stay."

"That's good. Marrying daughters to other families causes enough worry." Zhu Changbi, who herself had brought a son-in-law, repeatedly agreed with Zhu Changfang.

Xu Tang and Xu Mei didn't care what the adults were saying—they just wanted that carved box.

"Mom~"

"I said no means no. If you keep making trouble, I'll beat people."

Seeing their mother really wouldn't agree, the sisters ran off to find their dad at the Renmin Restaurant.

Yingying was helping her mother watch the fire in the Medical Hall's back workshop. When the medicine was ready, she also ran off: "Sister Tangtang, Sister Meimei, wait for me."

It wasn't just the Zhu family who got temporary business licenses today. The streets outside Sanqing Lane were also lively, but not as lively as Sanqing Lane.

Xu Tang, Xu Mei, and Yingying three little girls ran to the Renmin Restaurant. Xu Zhong was cooking in the back kitchen and had no time to deal with the children. He stuffed one mao into each of the three children for them to buy candy, then told them to go home quickly.

"Dad, not enough. I want twenty—no, thirty yuan."

Xu Zhong was startled: "Thirty yuan? Are you moving the entire supply and marketing cooperative's candy to our home?"

The master watching the other two stove eyes laughed loudly, and said to the Xu sisters: "Your maternal uncle's family doesn't sell pastries? Could they lack candy? If I were you, I'd go to your uncle's house for candy. How much better to save the pocket money your dad gives you."

"But uncle, we want to buy a carved box. How long do we have to save to buy a box?"

"A carved box." The master clicked his tongue: "Well, it's still better to beg your dad. In two days your dad will get his salary. That's when he can buy a good box for you two sisters."

The two sisters looked at their dad with starry eyes. Xu Zhong helplessly said to the master: "Please don't add chaos. My salary is managed by my wife. Have you ever seen me have big money?"

The master laughed again.

Xu Tang and Xu Mei disappointedly hung their heads. It seemed they still had to find their mom.

The back kitchen was smoky and fiery, so the sisters took Yingying and ran off again.

These few days during the New Year were all good days. There were many people buying things before the New Year, and the crowd was lively. They didn't need to specifically pick a day. The day after getting the license, on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month, all the shops in Sanqing Lane set off a string of firecrackers. After the crackle and bang, they officially opened for business.

"Big tables, long benches, low tables; porcelain basins, porcelain bowls, clay pots;簸箕, back baskets, bamboo chairs... Welcome neighbors to come look and buy!"

"Take a look, look—braised fish, stir-fried dishes, spicy tofu... Our shop is opening today. Ordering dishes comes with a dish of pickled vegetables free."

A Dama passing by outside shouted: "Why isn't there meat?"

"What are you saying? Buying meat needs meat tickets, right? We don't have those. But although we don't have meat dishes for now, if you bring meat to the shop we can help process it—for a processing fee."

"Our family also doesn't have meat tickets. Can't buy any."

"Hurry to the pastry shop to get in line. Eight Treasures Cake is sold out. I heard there's only yams cake and sesame cake left."

"Aiyo, I was going to browse around before buying. How did it sell so fast?"

"It's the festival season. People with a bit more flexibility in hand want to buy something good for their families to try. Selling fast is normal."

He Zaiming brought the county committee's propaganda department to inspect Sanqing Lane. Although supplies were still not abundant, the thriving scene of Sanqing Lane was still heartening.

Whether the policy was good could be seen from the people's reactions. Reform and opening up would surely be supported by more and more people.

Most shops in Sanqing Lane were lively, but some were quiet, like the medicinal herb shop.

The medicinal herb shop was the foundation of the Zhu family. Now it was managed by Zhu Changfeng in his spare time. Knowing that no one would come to sell medicinal herbs today for the opening, the shop was still open to match the festive atmosphere.

Zhu Changfeng wasn't sitting idle in the shop either. He took the accounts he hadn't finished yesterday to the shop to continue calculating. He stayed in the shop until noon. When the accounts were almost done, he packed up and was about to close and go home for lunch.

At that moment, someone arrived.

"Congratulations, boss. Big opening!"

When Zhu Changfeng saw who it was, it was Bai Dasao. He quickly smiled: "Thank you for your good words. Please come in for tea."

Bai Dasao didn't come alone today. Like last time, Bai Dasao brought more than twenty people, carrying and carrying on their backs. They came to sell medicinal herbs.

Bai Dasao entered laughing: "Last time we were originally going to sell medicinal herbs to Nanjiang County. Your Medical Hall bought all the medicinal herbs, saving us trouble. But we can't break off relations with Nanjiang County. We planned to send a batch of medicinal herbs to Nanjiang County before the New Year. Unexpectedly, as soon as we came down the mountain, we heard your family was opening. We came at just the right time."

Zhu Changfeng poured tea for Bai Dasao and smiled: "Better to seize the day than to choose an auspicious day. Since you brought all the medicinal herbs today, and it's winter, I think instead of carrying them to Nanjiang County, just sell them all to us."

"Take all?"

"Of course take all."

"Regardless of type and quantity?"

"Regardless. As long as they're good medicinal herbs, we want them."

The clan had already contacted the Song family from Wushan County. The Song family bought three boats and was repairing them. It was expected that they would start taking business after the New Year. With the Song family's boats, the Zhu family's medicinal herb business could also slowly get going.

Bai Dasao praised: "The Zhu family has魄力!"

Zhu Changfeng smiled and said: "Last time you said you were willing to do business with the Zhu family. At that time, we didn't know if the trade could work, so we didn't dare agree. Now the pharmacy is open. Let's discuss today in detail how to conduct the business, okay?"

Zhu Changfeng added: "We're in business, so let's talk business. Small-scale medicinal herb trading and large-scale trading naturally have different terms and prices. You understand, right?"

Bai Dasao nodded: "That's right. Let's discuss today."

The Zhu family had been doing medicinal herb trading for generations and naturally understood the ins and outs of the trade. Bai Dasao wasn't inexperienced either. They couldn't finish discussing in a short time. Zhu Changfeng invited Bai Dasao and the people who came with her to the front food shop to eat while they talked.

All the way to the food shop, people kept greeting Zhu Changfeng. Everywhere was lively, as if everything was about to revive.

The people in Bai Dasao's group all felt it was time to consider bringing their elderly and children down from the mountain.

Every time they came down the mountain, there were new changes. If they don't come soon, they might fall behind and miss the opportunity.