Chapter Sixty: Heart’s Desire

Anzi went out to the garden to practice his martial arts, and Lu Ying naturally followed to his side. Anzi introduced her to Gaoyuan, “This is my master—she’s truly, truly formidable.” Gaoyuan had just witnessed Anzi complete an entire set of moves and already thought him impressive, but to find he had a master must mean she was a true expert. His father had told him that real masters could come and go without a trace. His curiosity piqued, Lu Ying actually gave him a demonstration: with a swift kick and a turn, she landed directly on the rooftop. Then she performed a set of blade techniques, instantly earning herself two devoted admirers.

When midday approached, Gao Peilan rose to go home, but Gaoyuan refused to leave, insisting on staying at Banxia’s house to learn martial arts. He wailed and made a scene, only to be subdued by Gao Peilan’s force and taken home. Truly, one should never trust a boy’s words. Before leaving, he had clung to his mother, cooing, “Mother, you’re my favorite, I want to be with you always.” Now, when it was time to go, it turned into, “I don’t want Mother anymore—she’s a big meanie for not letting me learn martial arts.” Hmph, troublesome child.

Banxia thought that even two miles away, one could probably hear his cries. She exchanged a look with Anzi, and both burst into laughter. Mischievous children, it seems, are the same throughout the ages.

Banxia hurried into the kitchen, for it was getting late, and Gansu would soon need to eat.

Gansu was up front discussing matters with Wei Wenyuan. Now that the county was more or less stable and the collapsed houses mostly rebuilt, the key issue was the children. Some ten or twenty children had become orphans in the earthquake and ensuing epidemic, the eldest barely twelve, the youngest as young as three or four. Wei Wenyuan and Gansu, both fathers themselves, could not help but sympathize and felt compelled to find a solution.

They decided to ready one of the buildings in the county’s library as a temporary shelter, where the children could live and be managed according to age. The youngest would be cared for by matrons, starting literacy lessons at five or six. Should kind-hearted families come forward to adopt, so much the better. The older ones would be taught a trade, for in these times, a skill is the foundation for survival. Both men knew there was little they could truly do—only ensure the children were fed and clothed. Mochi County was not wealthy; even allocating these funds required cutting corners elsewhere. Fortunately, the Emperor had exempted them from two years’ taxes, or life for the people would have been even harsher.

Once the plan was set, Gansu sent people to prepare the library and assigned the steward to oversee it, for spring planting was imminent and he wanted to use the opportunity to visit the surrounding villages—a journey that would keep him away for at least a month. With so much to delegate, when Banxia noticed Gansu hadn’t come home for lunch, she had Hanshui bring his meal to the office, sending extra in case there were more people.

When Hanshui delivered the food, they all realized their hunger. Fortunately, Banxia had sent enough, so the steward and Wei Wenyuan joined in. Lunch was the spicy fish promised to Anzi; Wei Wenyuan couldn’t handle spicy food, yet despite tearing up and sniffling, he couldn’t stop eating. A sweet kind of trouble, that.

In the afternoon, Gansu inspected the library’s arrangements, then visited the sick in the western part of town. After a busy day, he returned home and washed up immediately, worried about bringing back unknown germs.

Clean and seated at his desk, he checked Anzi’s assignments, clarifying anything the boy found confusing. When their discussion neared its end, Anzi suddenly asked, “Brother-in-law, you and Sister will have a baby someday, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then, could you have only a baby girl, not a boy?”

Ah, if only such things could be decided at will. “Weren’t you just telling me the other day that you wanted a little nephew to play with?”

“I’ve realized boys are far too rowdy. Girls are better.”

“What are you two talking about? What’s so good about girls?” Banxia happened to come in with the food and overheard.

“Anzi says he wants you to have a little sister for him, not a brother—boys are too much trouble.”

“Why are you talking about these things with a child?”

“I’m being wronged here—Anzi brought it up first, I was only answering sincerely.”

“Well, you shouldn’t answer, and Anzi shouldn’t ask. Now go invite Master Lu to dinner.”

Anzi and Gansu exchanged glances and then ran off. During the meal, Banxia and Gansu discussed hiring a matron to help with the cooking. Gansu had no objections. “Should we also hire a young maid? Anzi is getting older—a little more help around would be good, especially if you need to go out.”

“I have a junior disciple with nowhere to go,” Lu Ying interjected, uncharacteristically speaking up. Banxia was taken aback. “Your junior?”

“Yes. She knows some medicine and is quite capable. She could assist you as well.”

Such a person, working as a servant? “Wouldn’t that be beneath her?”

“It’s all right. She just needs a place to stay and would be very grateful. You needn’t worry—she’s well-mannered and won’t cause trouble.”

Since things had been put that way, Banxia could hardly refuse. “I must say, though, the monthly wage I offer isn’t high.” She was used to thrift, coming from poverty, and even though Gansu and Wang Xiaoshan were doing business together, it was all under the table—nothing to flaunt—so it was best to be economical.

“That’s no matter. Food and lodging are enough. We folk of the martial world are not particular.”

Was that so?

That night, after her bath, Banxia lay on the bed, and Gansu settled in beside her. “I’m leaving tomorrow to supervise the spring planting. I’ll probably be gone for a month. If you need anything, just ask Brother Wei.”

“What? You’re leaving tomorrow and only telling me now? I haven’t even packed for you.”

“No rush, no rush—a couple changes of clothes will do. There’s a more pressing matter at hand…”

“What…” Banxia couldn’t finish her sentence as Gansu pressed her into the bed. “I’ll be gone a month, my dear. Soon you’ll see just how much I’ll miss you…”

The next morning, Banxia didn’t wake until the sun was high. Gansu was a beast—last night’s intimacy was relentless, and now she finally understood why the heroine in stories always ended up weak in the knees and sore-backed. Even getting out of bed was an ordeal.

And to make matters worse, she was covered in red marks—Gansu, you scoundrel.

“Achoo!” Gansu let out a massive sneeze.

“Are you all right, sir?” Head Constable Fang asked beside him.

“I’m fine. Must be someone cursing me.”

What an odd county magistrate—smiling when someone’s cursing him. Most magistrates wouldn’t bother touring the fields; they’d just go through the motions. After a round through the villages, he’d probably end up tanned.

Banxia woke later than ever; Anzi had already finished his martial arts practice and was reading in the living room. When he saw her, he asked, “Sister, are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine.”

“But brother-in-law said you were tired and needed rest. What did you do to get so tired?”

“Quiet! Go back to your reading—children shouldn’t ask questions.”

“All right.” Sister was fierce again. Suddenly, Anzi remembered something, took a letter from the table, and handed it to Banxia.

“A letter from brother-in-law.”

Banxia opened it to find a love poem—one that was rather risqué—making her flush bright red. Leaving such a thing with a child, she thought, she might well consider murdering her husband again. Anzi, meanwhile, continued practicing his calligraphy. The second page was more ordinary, instructing her that if Lin Tianyu arrived, she should send him to find Wei Wenyuan and then to seek Gansu in the villages.

Today, Banxia planned to register at the labor agency to hire a cook. Once ready, she found Lu Ying and asked her to look after Anzi. Lu Ying agreed and informed her that she’d already sent word to her junior, who would likely arrive in a few days.

“No need to hurry.”

“She’s in need of a place to stay,” Lu Ying replied.

Banxia could only smile and promise to make arrangements, awaiting the girl’s arrival.

There were quite a few people registered at the labor agency, but none of them satisfied Banxia. The rest was passable, but their hair was not clean—a common issue in ancient times, as people didn’t wash their hair often, just applied hair oil when it got dirty. Banxia could not understand this, especially for someone working with food, where cleanliness was paramount. She didn’t want a cook whose appearance would ruin her appetite.

“Boss Jia, are there no others?”

“Madam, your standards are really high. You want to pick someone, but won’t pay much—how can I find anyone like that? Why don’t you come back another day?” The agency boss, seeing her plain clothes, assumed she was from an ordinary merchant family looking to hire, not buy, a servant, so he was not enthusiastic.

Banxia saw it was unlikely she’d find anyone today, so she decided to try another agency. Just as she stepped out, a woman chased after her.

“Madam, I heard you’re hiring. How about me? I can cook, wash, clean, and work hard—I’m not afraid of hardship.” The woman was about thirty or forty, with a plain white flower pinned in her hair—clearly in mourning. Though her clothes were old, they were clean, as was her hair. Banxia was fairly satisfied.

“I must tell you, the monthly wage is not high.”

“I don’t mind, Madam, but I have one request. I have a daughter—could I bring her with me to your household? I can even forgo the wage, just please take us in.”

Banxia felt she ought to check the almanac—what was with these past few days, everyone wanting to work for her without pay?

“If that’s the case, I can’t accept you. I’m only looking for someone to cook three meals a day, not someone to live in.”

But the woman fell to her knees. “Madam, please, show some mercy and take us in. I truly have no other way—otherwise, my daughter and I will be tormented to death. I beg you, have pity.”

Bad luck, to be entangled like this as soon as she left home. Banxia pressed her forehead, “Let go first—stand up, and we’ll talk to the side.”

The story was brief. The woman had married into her husband’s family and bore only a daughter; her mother-in-law was never pleased with them. Fortunately, her husband was kind, insisted on dividing the family, and their small household lived well enough. But one day, her daughter wanted a candied fruit, and her husband went out to buy it—only to be killed by falling bricks in the earthquake. Her mother-in-law, losing her son, blamed the granddaughter and scolded the child daily. “The girl is only eight. Her father’s death has left her devastated—she no longer speaks. I have no other way but to sell myself, so my child might escape harm.”

“Your registration isn’t with your mother-in-law?”

“We separated when we split the family. Madam, don’t worry—I’ll come quietly with my daughter and keep to ourselves, never causing trouble.”

“Very well. Bring your daughter—I’ll wait here for you.”

The woman nodded gratefully and hurried off. Soon, she returned with a small bundle and a little girl in tow.

“Don’t worry, Madam—my mother-in-law is away visiting relatives. She won’t notice. Let’s go.”

Banxia looked around to make sure no one was following, then led the mother and daughter away.

She could only hope that this small act of kindness wouldn’t bring her trouble.