Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Lu Yuan heated the porridge, then fetched a basin of water to wash herself. After her own ablutions, she brought another basin for Qi Cheng.

Fearing the porridge might burn, she hurried back down to the small kitchen.

The innkeeper entered with a bundle of firewood. She greeted him, then turned back to stir the porridge, which was perilously close to scorching.

Setting down the firewood, the innkeeper advised, "Some folks at our inn work at the night market and don't return until after midnight, so they're still asleep in the morning. Please keep your movements and conversations quiet, madam."

Lu Yuan smiled and nodded, indicating her understanding.

Just as the innkeeper was about to leave the kitchen, he suddenly recalled the previous night's events. Turning back to her, he remarked, "Your husband is very thoughtful, Mrs. Su."

Lu Yuan was puzzled, turning to him with a questioning look. The innkeeper merely offered a meaningful smile without further explanation before departing.

Lu Yuan cocked her head, her eyes brimming with bewilderment.

What had he done behind her back?

Once the porridge was ready, Lu Yuan scooped it from the inn’s pot back into her own, carried it upstairs, and nudged the door open with her foot. She placed the porridge on the table, then looked at Qi Cheng, who was wiping his face. "Did you speak with the innkeeper yesterday?" she asked.

Qi Cheng paused mid-motion but didn’t turn, simply replying, "You were restless last night, so I went downstairs to ask the innkeeper for a hot water bottle."

Lu Yuan considered this and realized she had indeed clutched something warm during the night.

She walked to the bed, lifted the quilt, and found the hot water bottle.

No wonder she had slept so comfortably in the latter half of the night—it was all thanks to this little item.

But Qi Cheng deserved some credit, too.

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "Thank you."

Qi Cheng rarely had the opportunity to help, so this was the first time he had heard her say those words to him. He was slightly taken aback before responding, "We are husband and wife; there's no need for thanks."

Lu Yuan took out the hot water bottle to examine it and asked, "Do we need to return it later?"

Qi Cheng replied, "The innkeeper said we can return it when we leave. If you're still feeling unwell, you can return it later."

After a moment's thought, Lu Yuan said, "Then let's return it later."

It would be perfect for her to use to soothe her lower back.

She placed the hot water bottle on the table, ladled porridge into two bowls, and said, "There are no side dishes, so we'll make do with this for now. When I have time, I'll use the remaining dried mushrooms to prepare some small dishes."

Qi Cheng turned and walked over, sitting down as he replied, "I'm not picky. As long as it fills my stomach, it's fine."

After finishing the porridge, Lu Yuan gathered a fresh menstrual pad and clean clothes, wrapped them up, and picked up a bucket. She said to Qi Cheng, "I'm going to wash up, and then we can head out together."

Neither of them had washed before bed the previous night. While he hadn't sweated and was fine, she was menstruating and felt generally uncomfortable.

When she had come upstairs earlier, she had cleaned the pot in the small kitchen, filled it halfway with water, and left it by the stove's residual heat. By now, it should be warm.

Qi Cheng said, "The inn is bustling, and even this small inn has male guests. I'll go down with you and stand guard outside to prevent anyone from peeping."

There were four small rooms on the second floor. Besides the one opposite theirs, the other two rooms were occupied by men and women. The room downstairs was also occupied by a man.

Lu Yuan nodded. "That's fine."

Having someone stand guard was better than having no peace of mind.

They went downstairs, with Qi Cheng carrying the bundle while she went into the kitchen to fetch water.

Lu Yuan was afraid she would have to spend money on washing utensils in the city, so she had brought her own bucket and basin from Weishan Village instead of using the inn’s.

She didn’t trust using the inn’s basin—who knew if the last person to use it for foot soaking was a burly man with foot odor?

After fetching the water, she asked the innkeeper for the key to the bathing room.

The inn had only one bathing room, which was unisex.

It was usually locked, and guests had to ask the innkeeper for the key to unlock it. Once inside, they could bolt the door from the inside for safety.

This wasn’t to prevent people from using it, but to allow those bathing to lock themselves in safely, especially to protect female guests from any trouble while bathing.

Naturally, most female guests preferred to carry water to their rooms for washing and rarely used the bathing room.

Qi Cheng followed Lu Yuan to the bathing room and stopped when she told him to, handing her the bundle.

The innkeeper looked out and, seeing the husband following his wife so closely, clucked his tongue and shook his head.

He wondered if it was because he was blind that he stuck so close to his wife, or if he was just the type who couldn’t bear to be apart from her.

After a quick rinse, Lu Yuan felt completely refreshed.

She washed her clothes and hung them to dry in the room before heading to the clinic with Qi Cheng.

Qi Cheng needed not only hot compresses but also acupuncture, which was estimated to take about half an hour.

While waiting at the clinic, Lu Yuan started chatting with other patients waiting their turn.

They compared notes on their health issues.

Upon learning that they were locals, Lu Yuan said worriedly, "My husband’s eye treatment costs a lot of money every day, and the inn we’re staying at charges over ten coins a night. I’m thinking of finding a cheaper monthly rental, but the rental agencies I’ve visited don’t seem trustworthy."

A woman who had brought her child said, "If you don’t mind the noise, you could rent a small courtyard near the night market. The night market runs until midnight on alternate days, and while storefronts rent easily, some living quarters in the back are harder to lease."

At the mention of noise, Lu Yuan’s first thought was to dismiss the idea, as patients needed a quiet environment to recuperate.

But after a moment, she realized the key point.

The night market!

This was a great way to make money!

Qi Cheng’s health had improved considerably, and his sleep quality had also gotten better.

He was still young—what was a little working late for a young person?

Lu Yuan began hatching a plan and continued probing, "How expensive is the rent? I can’t afford anything too pricey."

The woman replied, "There should be both cheap and expensive options, depending on the condition of the place. If you’re serious about renting, you should go take a look yourself. If there are places for rent, they’ll usually have notices posted outside."

Lu Yuan took note of this and asked about the night market’s location, planning to check it out after Qi Cheng’s acupuncture session.

Feeling a dull ache in her lower abdomen, Lu Yuan took a sip of the warm water she had brought with her in the morning.

The bamboo tube didn't retain heat well; it had already cooled and was of little use.

After waiting for a while, Qi Cheng finally emerged from the examination room.

When he first woke up a month ago, Qi Cheng was quite thin, with a pale complexion and lips. But after more than a month of recuperation, spending his days eating, sleeping, or sitting, his frame was no longer as gaunt as before.

With a black cloth covering his eyes, his well-defined features and thin lips stood out, instantly drawing the attention of those around him.

Lu Yuan had already grown accustomed to this.

As they left the clinic together, she asked, "How do you feel?"

Qi Cheng replied, "I don't feel much."

Lu Yuan reassured him, "The doctor said it might take a few sessions before we see any results. Let’s wait a bit longer."

Qi Cheng gave a slight nod.

Lu Yuan led him toward the night market.

Qi Cheng seemed to notice something off and asked, "This doesn’t seem like the way back to the inn, does it?"

Lu Yuan said, surprised, "We’ve only been from the inn to the clinic twice, and you’ve already memorized the route?"

Qi Cheng explained, "I spent years hunting in the mountains. To avoid getting lost in the woods, I always memorized paths. Over time, it became a habit. Even though I can’t see now, I rely on my hearing and sense of smell to determine if it’s the same route."

Lu Yuan said, "I knew it! You’re less likely to get lost than I am. The old lady even reminded me to take good care of you."

Qi Cheng replied helplessly, "I only remember shorter routes. If it’s too far, I still can’t recognize the way."

Then he asked, "Where are you planning to go?"

Lu Yuan said, "I chatted with some people at the clinic earlier and found out that housing near the night market is cheaper. I thought I’d go check it out."

"At first, I considered your situation and hesitated, but then I thought, if we’re in a bustling area, I could set up a small stall without having to travel back and forth. It’d be much more convenient."

Qi Cheng frowned slightly and said, "But night markets are more chaotic than day markets, and they’re often close to pleasure districts. There are all sorts of people there. As a woman, it might not be safe for you."

Lu Yuan looked at him and said, "But I have you, don’t I? Unless you’re not planning to help me at the stall?"

Qi Cheng was taken aback and then replied, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll just be in the way?"

Lu Yuan said, "With you there, we might even attract more customers!"

Handsome men and beautiful women always draw more business.

Qi Cheng clearly had the same thought and frowned, "That’s not the right way to think. We need to be practical. Even if my appearance is decent, it’s not a long-term solution."

Lu Yuan said, "I know, I know. In the end, it’s the quality of our goods that will keep customers coming back."

Following the directions they’d been given, they found the night market.

During the day, unlike the East and West Markets, the night market was quiet. However, the uncleared mess on the streets clearly indicated how lively it had been the night before.

They hadn’t yet reached the busiest part of the night market. The buildings on both sides were relatively small. The pavilions of the entertainment district were just ahead, brightly lit at night but so quiet during the day they seemed deserted.

Lu Yuan and Qi Cheng walked into the alley, looking around. On the side doors of some houses in the back alleys, they saw rental notices with rates negotiable. Those interested in renting were instructed to inquire at the front shops during the night market on market days.

After walking around, they found all the notices were the same. They would have to wait until the next market day.

On their way back, Lu Yuan bought some meat and vegetables to cook at the inn.

Before going upstairs, she asked the innkeeper, "I plan to prepare a midday meal. Will it disturb the other guests resting?"

The innkeeper said, "As long as it’s not noisy in the morning, cooking at noon is normal. The other guests shouldn’t have a problem."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan felt relieved.

She and Qi Cheng went upstairs. Just then, the door of the room across from them suddenly opened. Lu Yuan glanced over and saw the woman they had met yesterday, Huang Li, without her makeup, her hair tied loosely behind her back. She seemed to have just woken up.

Without makeup, slight wrinkles were visible at the corners of her eyes.

She didn’t look to be in her early twenties; she looked about thirty.

For some reason, she stared fixedly at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan was about to enter her room when Huang Li spoke coolly, "I asked around, and they told me that ‘owl-hearted and oriole-tongued’ isn’t a compliment."

Lu Yuan turned around and smiled, "I never said you were owl-hearted and oriole-tongued. I only mentioned the ‘oriole-tongued’ part."

Huang Li chuckled softly and then said in a gentle tone, "I’m not here to blame you. I actually wanted to offer the two of you a money-making opportunity."

Lu Yuan firmly believed that unsolicited kindness hints at ill intent and was about to refuse.

But Qi Cheng stopped her and replied calmly, "No need. We have our own plans."

With that, he pulled Lu Yuan into their room and closed the door.

Once inside, Qi Cheng said, "That woman is a dancer from the pleasure quarters. Don’t get too close to her."

Lu Yuan asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Qi Cheng explained, "Yesterday, I noticed a strong scent of face powder on her. It was a market day, and when she left her room again, I heard faint bells, the kind dancers wear on their ankles when they perform. Only dancers in the entertainment districts wear those."

He added, "When you saw her yesterday, was she heavily made up?"

Lu Yuan exclaimed, "Amazing! You didn’t even see her, yet you noticed so much."

Qi Cheng said, "It’s just a habit from hunting—observing prey carefully sharpened my senses."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Lu Yuan opened it and saw Huang Li again. She sighed, "What is it now?"

Huang Li said, "Why not hear me out about the job first? You can always refuse later."

Lu Yuan paused and said, "Go on, then."

She figured Huang Li would just talk through the door anyway, so it was better to let her finish and refuse outright.

Huang Li’s gaze shifted to the man behind Lu Yuan and said, "I’m a dancer at the Qingyun Dance Studio."

Lu Yuan was startled—Qi Cheng had been right.

Huang Li continued, "Our studio is rehearsing a new Western Regions dance, and we need a man to play the role of a Western Regions monk. Your husband has an outstanding appearance, short hair, and a steady gait. Why not come to our studio for a tryout? We pay a string of cash per performance."

She really had some nerve—Qi Cheng was clearly blind with his eyes covered, yet she wanted him to dance...

Lu Yuan forced a smile and said, "My husband has poor eyesight. We’ll have to pass."

Just as she was about to close the door, Huang Li pressed her hand against it and said, "It just so happens that the role is also for a blind monk. It doesn’t require much movement—just sitting in meditation."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan immediately imagined the scene of Tang Sanzang surrounded by female demons in the Cave of Spider Spirits.

...

She felt her guess was pretty much on the money.

Huang Li smiled and said, "I heard you came to the city to treat his eye disease. Treating an eye disease must cost a lot of money. Why not do a few dances at our troupe? The earnings would cover your expenses in the city."

Qi Cheng pressed his lips together for a long moment before speaking in a low voice, "Please leave."

Huang Li, however, was shameless. She said, "Sir, I imagine you wouldn’t want to be a burden or be called someone who lives off a woman. Why not earn some money to support the household?"

Lu Yuan’s expression darkened. She patted Huang Li’s hand on the door and said, "My husband is too modest for that."

As soon as Huang Li let go, Lu Yuan slammed the door shut in one swift motion.

Hearing her resolute refusal, Qi Cheng quietly sighed in relief.

One string of coins was quite a sum for an ordinary person.

A typical family of five could live on five strings of coins for a whole year.

If she had been tempted and urged him to go, he might actually have agreed.

After all, given their current situation, he truly was a burden to her.

Huang Li outside wasn’t upset.

Their refusal was likely due to the pay not being enough, but she couldn’t make the decision alone. She decided to bring the troupe master over to see him first.

Their dance troupe wasn’t limited to female dancers—they had male dancers too. After all, they had to earn money from both men and women.

The man’s appearance was clearly the type that would make women willing to spend money to support him.

If only his eyes could see.

Their dance troupe had plenty of beautiful women, all better-looking than his wife.

If he could see, they could seduce him with their beauty.

Glancing at the tightly shut door, she felt somewhat unwilling but still turned and returned to her room.

Lu Yuan listened at the door. Hearing the sound of retreating footsteps and a door closing, she turned and muttered, "I thought she had taken a liking to you, but it turns out she just liked your face."

Qi Cheng tentatively asked, "Weren’t you tempted by the offer of one string of coins?"

Lu Yuan thought to herself that one string of coins wasn’t a hundred gold taels—why would she be tempted?

Besides, a monk and dancers—wasn’t this just asking him to perform provocative dances?

If she really agreed to let him go, how was that any different from urging her partner into improper work?

This entertainment quarter really had all sorts of people, even daring to disrespect monks.

"If the old lady found out you went to that dance troupe to perform as a male dancer, she’d hit the roof. I wouldn’t dare consider it."

"Besides, one string of coins isn’t that much."

Qi Cheng reminded her, "One string of coins per performance. If you perform five times a month, that’s five strings of coins, plus additional gratuities. You might even earn ten taels of silver in a month. Your hundred gold taels could be earned in a year."

Lu Yuan looked at him with suspicion, squinting at him.

She felt he was laying a trap for her.

If she dared show even a hint of temptation, he would have leverage against her.

"It’s not like I can’t earn money myself. Why would I make you earn money like that?"

Hearing this, Qi Cheng’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

But before he could feel relieved for more than a few breaths, she questioned, "Wait a minute, you clearly were from Anping Town. How do you know so much about these entertainment quarters?!"

Qi Cheng explained, "I did go there a long time ago."

Lu Yuan widened her eyes. "I thought you were honest and innocent. I never expected you’d also frequented those pleasure quarters!"

Although these entertainment quarters were proper establishments in ancient times, they were also money pits where people gathered, and some underhanded deals took place.

Lu Yuan understood the entertainment quarters, but what she didn’t understand was Qi Cheng.

She never expected that Qi Cheng, who blushed when teased, had also been to these entertainment quarters. She must have misjudged him.

Sensing her displeasure, Qi Cheng stepped forward, moved toward her voice, and took her hand. "Listen to me carefully."

Lu Yuan tried to shake off his hand but couldn’t.

"Just talk. Don’t get physical."

Qi Cheng led her to the bed and sat her down. "Didn’t I tell you before that I hunted wolves?"

Lu Yuan didn’t respond.

Qi Cheng continued on his own, "I hunted several wolves. The local gentry only wanted one wolf at most, so I brought the rest to the city to sell."

"Someone happened to see me carrying a wolf in the city and directly asked me to deliver it to the entertainment quarter. They even invited me to stay for a meal, wanting others to see the young wolf hunter."

"I was only seventeen or eighteen at the time, green, so I stayed. But then someone spilled food on me, covering me in grease, and I had to change into clothes provided by the entertainment quarter."

Unexpectedly, the person who invited me to stay was one of the owners of the entertainment quarter. He kept me there and had people spread the word that a dashing wolf-slayer had arrived. That night, many guests came, all wanting to see what the handsome wolf hunter looked like."

By this point, Lu Yuan was no longer angry.

He had no reason to lie to her.

"What happened next?" she asked.

Qi Cheng continued, "Next, I was inexplicably shoved on stage, and the dead wolves were brought up too. The audience urged me to describe the process of hunting the wolves, so I had to reluctantly recount the story. Then, money was tossed from all around."

At that time, what Qi Cheng felt wasn’t the joy of earning money but the sensation of being gawked at like a circus act—he was the entertainment.

Lu Yuan frowned. "That’s like driving a duck onto a perch. They should’ve at least asked for your consent. But you had no idea. I bet staining your clothes and making you change was planned from the start."

Qi Cheng nodded. "Later, they offered me a lucrative offer to stay and do easy work at the entertainment quarter, but I didn’t accept."

Lu Yuan immediately smelled a rat. She said, "There are no free lunches. A high salary for easy work—who knows if they had hidden agendas?"

They’d already used the "dashing wolf-slayer" title to do business without his consent—they clearly weren’t good people. If some influential patron took a fancy to him one day, the entertainment quarter owner would probably drug and deliver him to their bed.

At this point, Lu Yuan studied Qi Cheng and sighed, "Whether male or female, being too good-looking isn’t necessarily a good thing."

Qi Cheng didn’t smile, only saying, "I merely have a reasonably striking appearance—not exactly the kind to make heads turn."

Indeed, Qi Cheng was no peerless beauty, but in this remote border town, his looks stood out among the many people weathered by hardship and toil.

Not only was he handsome, but he also had a tall, upright stature and a certain physical bearing that further enhanced his charm.

He carried himself with integrity, sitting and standing with dignity, quite unlike the crude and boisterous men around. He possessed both masculinity and the demeanor of a gentleman.

Lu Yuan took his hand and said, "How about you stay home while I run the stall? What if some powerful person has their eye on you?"

Qi Cheng: …

He had shared his past with her only to assure her that he had no fondness for lingering in pleasure quarters, not to imply that he attracted unwanted attention.

He smiled somewhat helplessly, "Those powerful, high-ranking families already have plenty of beautiful wives and concubines. They wouldn’t defy the law to the point of snatching people."

Besides, what use would they have for abducting a grown man?

After a moment’s thought, Lu Yuan added, "How about you make yourself look less attractive? Maybe put on a fake beard or add a few large moles." As she spoke, she tapped his cheek, considering where to place the moles.

Qi Cheng held her hand, his tone resigned, "Really, it’s not necessary."

Perhaps it was because he had just recovered from a serious illness that she had the mistaken impression he was weak and easily bullied.

Once his eyes returned to normal and his body regained its former strength—not only tall and robust but also skilled in self-defense—others wouldn’t easily dare to provoke him, and she wouldn’t need to worry about him getting pushed around.