Chapter 6: Changes

Stepping out from Zhang Xian’gu’s room, Zhu San stood in the courtyard bathed in moonlight, turning the whole yard into a small pond. If a poet were here, this scene would inspire a beautiful piece. Unfortunately, it was Zhu San, barely literate, standing there, her mind preoccupied with just one thought: What next?

Zhu San had always been a person with her own ideas but rarely argued with others, so even Zhang Xian'gu didn't know her thoughts, assuming she was just an "obedient" child. Wanting to leave Zhu Village had been Zhu San's long-term plan.

In fact, she vividly remembers wanting to leave Zhu Village at the age of four after being mocked by village children as an "outsider" and for her mother being insulted. She indignantly told Zhang Xian'gu, "Let's go, we don't have to put up with their treatment here. We won't beg from them!"

Zhang Xian'gu immediately rejected the idea and even slapped her, scolding, "What nonsense are you talking? People are looked down upon when they leave their hometown! We belong here; where else would you go? You'd still be an outsider anywhere else and would have to start from scratch!"

As a child, Zhu San would share her feelings with her parents occasionally, but after being dismissed as "weird" or "talking nonsense" and getting punished, she stopped sharing. Her resolve only grew stronger, seeing her parents' lives as not a model to emulate. With no example to follow, Zhu San grew up following her own heart while outwardly appearing to be the compliant child.

The more she grew, the more experiences she had, the firmer her resolve to leave Zhu Village for the county town became – even if it meant continuing to perform as a spirit medium or facing bullying, it was preferable to being treated as an outsider in a place dominated by her own clan. Plus, she wasn't resigned to being a spirit medium her whole life. Why couldn't she support herself doing something else?

Another concern was her identity as a girl being disguised as a boy by Zhang Xian'gu. Zhang Xian'gu's constant reminders felt like a haunting threat: "Remember you're a boy! No one can know you're a girl! It would be disastrous!" Zhang Xian'gu's obsession was partly due to this secret.

She couldn't ignore Zhang Xian'gu. After being beaten one day, Zhang Xian'gu brought home some meaty bones to cook for her, picking the meat for her while herself chewing on the bones. It's heart-wrenching to recall such moments, enough to drive anyone insane.

Zhu San was determined to pull her mother out of that wretched place.

The first step was leaving Zhu Village for the county town.

Then came the matter of household registration. During a visit to the county town for a temple fair, she heard that the government routinely required people to report for household registration. With enough savings for settling down, she planned to rent a place in the town, get officially registered with a bright red seal affirming her as a girl. Confident in her abilities and determination to save quicker than others, she believed she could build a modest livelihood for her family, free from the disdain of villagers. A decent life for the three of them, based on their skills, was surely achievable, wasn't it?

Now, everything had somehow fallen into place step by step; the household registration was in the county town, but...

After watching the moon for a while, Zhu San returned to her room, pulled out the newly issued household registration paper from Yu Ping, and stared at the "male" designation, pressing her forehead.

A blank canvas is easy to paint on, whether it's to depict a dragon or a phoenix. But if the canvas already shows a golden dragon, transforming it into a colorful phoenix would require nothing short of a miracle.

Zhu San jabbed at the "male" designation three times, deciding: once there was news about Zhu Shenhan, she would test Madam Yu's stance. If she could clarify she was a girl, not suited to marry Hua Jie, staying in this town with mutual support would be ideal. If the response was unfavorable, the three of them would leave the county town, abandoning the nonsensical "male" registration for a fresh start in a neighboring county. There's nowhere that wouldn't support life, right? Hadn't she managed just fine up until now?

Zhu San decided to ask Yu Ping for help in finding her father, Zhu Shenhan’s whereabouts tomorrow. Surely the old man couldn’t have gone to the ends of the earth?

Zhu San then took out a modest purse, retrieving a small piece of silver. Since she was four or five, assisting her parents in fortune-telling and exorcism had earned her some extra money due to her good looks. With her various skills, she managed to save some money, most of which she had just given to Zhang Xian’gu, keeping a tiny bit for herself.

That should be enough to buy some roasted goose, pork feet, a jug of wine, and two boxes of rouge—a complete set of four gifts to visit Yu Ping.

Having planned, Zhu San kept the silver in her purse and went to sleep after extinguishing the light and undressing.

…………——

The next day, before Zhu San could leave, Yu Ping, who had recently done a “good deed,” couldn’t wait to visit his aunt with several boxes of pastries.

Upon arrival, his aunt, Madam Yu, was telling stories to Zhu San; Zhang Xian’gu was sewing shoe soles, and Hua Jie was quietly jotting down household expenses. Seeing her daughter, Zhang Xian’gu wished she could pull her aside and ask, “You didn’t say last night, where did you save those silver coins from?!”

Zhang Xian’gu herself had earned scant savings over the years through fortune-telling and talisman sales to support the family. Worried her daughter might have taken a wrong path, she was distressed, especially since Zhu San was a girl.

Yu Ping arrived with a smile, greeted everyone, and especially inquired about Zhu San’s adjustment, sharing his own restlessness at Zhu San’s age and the beatings it earned him from his family. He empathized with Zhu San’s confinement.

Zhu San replied, “I can stay put, I’m not bored.”

Madam Yu asked her nephew if he was off duty or had specific business, secretly hoping it involved Zhu Shenhan’s return.

To her disappointment, Yu Ping casually mentioned he was off duty and just wanted to check on his aunt.

Madam Yu accepted his visit warmly.

Their conversation meandered through trivial matters, puzzling even the maid: why would such a busy official have time for idle chatter?

Noticing the new clothes on Zhang Xian’gu and her daughter, though not luxurious, their improved appearance compared to their rural days made Yu Ping feel his decision to withhold news about Zhu Shenhan was indeed a grand gesture.

Seeing Yu Ping in a good mood, Zhang Xian'gu couldn't hold back and asked him with a smile if there was any news about Zhu Shenhan. Yu Ping's expression suddenly turned less pleasant, and he said somewhat reluctantly, "How could it be so soon? I'm still inquiring."

Madam Yu said, "It's good that you remember this matter. Does your wife know you're here?"

Yu Ping quickly replied, "Coming to my aunt's place isn’t going somewhere improper. Does it matter if she knows?"

Madam Yu chuckled, "Little maid, go tell my sister-in-law that I've kept the official here to chat, and invite her to join us for a meal."

Yu Ping jumped up, "Enough, enough, I'm going home now."

Madam Yu laughed again, "Don't be so hasty, walk slowly to appear more dignified." She personally escorted Yu Ping out, then turned around to instruct the maid to close the door, telling Zhang Xian'gu, "This boy might be troubled by some official matters and came here to unwind. Don't worry, I'll ask him once he's less busy."

Zhang Xian'gu had to commend Madam Yu for her tact and no longer pressed the issue. Zhu San also settled down to wait for the official matters mentioned by Madam Yu to resolve.

Madam Yu continued to provide Zhu San and Zhang Xian'gu with good food and occasionally taught Zhu San about life in the county town, showing no sign of urgency—she was enjoying the most comfortable time in months.

Three days later, a messenger who had accompanied Yu Ping to the countryside came urgently knocking, "Madam Yu, something terrible has happened to Master Yu!"

Zhu San, living in the front courtyard, was the first to open the door, "Come in and have some tea, take your time to explain."

The messenger quickly entered the courtyard, exclaiming, "Can't take it slow, oh, Madam Yu!"

Madam Yu hurried over, asking, "What happened?" while Hua Jie thoughtfully brought over a teapot.

After gulping down half a pot of cold tea, the messenger revealed, "It's that damned imperial envoy! While he’s in the state prefecture, he's caused trouble here! Someone, once reprimanded by Master Yu, complained to him, along with some poor folks accusing some well-known clerks. The imperial envoy, hearing this, criticized the 'petty officials' and ordered several people, like Master Yu from various counties, to be arrested. Instead of executing them to set an example, he ordered them to be stripped and beaten with twenty heavy rods in front of their own county yamen, then to be taken to the state prefecture for questioning. They're calling everyone to witness the punishment, and after the beating, they'll be shackled and taken to the imperial envoy’s office. Madam Yu, you better pack some luggage for Master Yu!"

Madam Yu turned pale, "Do you have any way to...?"

"If I had a way, I’d have used it myself. Just to let you know, even Master Yu's father-in-law has taken his daughter home after hearing the news. Don’t expect help from him! Master Yu’s uncle has also been arrested and beaten! There’s no one to rely on!"

Madam Yu asked, "Isn't there a bit of mercy? Aren't we all from the same county yamen? Does the county magistrate just watch without protecting his subordinates? Doesn’t the imperial envoy leave any dignity for the locals?"

"Tch, that's a cold-hearted judge of the underworld for you! Dare not say, dare not say! Heard he took a whole family in the state prefecture for cursing people, including the practitioners, all thrown into the dungeon! Beating them in court every day! Among them, there's a Zhu surnamed sorcerer who confessed to being from our place. The county magistrate said we have no such person here, which angered the imperial envoy, demanding an explanation from the magistrate!"

After delivering the message, the messenger opened the door and ran off, "I still need to attend to my duties at the yamen."

The wind blew the wide-open door banging against the door frame. Zhu San secured the door and turned to seek Madam Yu's opinion, only to find everyone in the house, both masters and servants, staring at her.

Whoosh!

Madam Yu said, "Zhu San, come, let's figure this out together."