Chapter 107 City Streets 7

Chapter 107: Town Life 7

On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the New Year was fast approaching.

The eateries in town had already closed their doors. Liu Guyu had given Ming Geer an early holiday and an extra month’s pay, so he could buy some nice things and enjoy a good New Year’s celebration with his grandmother.

Early that morning, the Qin family’s courtyard gate was knocked upon. It turned out that nearby households had brought eggs and red paper, asking Qin Rongshi to help them write Spring Festival couplets and the character "Fu."

In the past, this task had always fallen to Liu Zaiwen. Every year before the New Year, he would set up a table and stools at the courtyard entrance, and villagers would bring eggs, pastries, or a few copper coins to request a pair of Spring Festival couplets.

But now Qin Rongshi had returned—a scholar who had seen the wider world, with the headmaster of Luming Academy as his teacher. His future prospects were surely brighter than Liu Zaiwen’s!

Having him write the couplets would undoubtedly ensure good weather and peace in the coming year!

Once one person took the lead, more and more people lined up.

Qin Rongshi ended up setting up a table and stools in the courtyard as well, writing Spring Festival couplets for the villagers one by one. It took him half the day.

From time to time, Liu Guyu brought him some pastries and tea. She even gave Qin Rongshi a hand warmer in a velvet pouch to keep his hands from stiffening in the cold wind while writing. Of course, there was also a charcoal brazier under the table, so he wouldn’t freeze.

Liu Guyu also placed a large plate of peanuts and melon seeds on the table, inviting the villagers in line to help themselves.

The villagers were touched by the hospitality. In the past, when they asked Young Scholar Liu to write Spring Festival couplets at the Liu household, they had never received such treatment.

Just after noon, having tidied the house with her mother, Banban changed into clean clothes and came out, holding an empty basket.

Liu Guyu asked, "Banban, where are you going?"

Qin Banban turned back and replied, "Brother Liu, I noticed there are two empty vases in the house. I’m going to Little Flow Mountain to pick a couple of plum branches for them!"

Liu Guyu nodded and reminded her, "Be careful on the road. It snowed yesterday, so the mountain path is wet and slippery."

Qin Banban nodded quickly, already heading out as she spoke. "I know! I asked Sister Mai’er to come with me!"

With that, she happily ran out of the courtyard. As she passed Qin Rongshi’s small table, she even snatched a piece of sponge cake from the plate.

"Sister Mai’er, are you ready?"

She knocked on the door across the street, and soon Luo Mai’er emerged as well.

If Banban was delicate and refined, Luo Mai’er was energetic and bold.

A few years ago, this girl hadn’t known how to dress herself. It was always Lin Xingniang who dressed her up as a pretty young lady, buying her skirts and flowers.

But as she grew older, she developed her own preferences. She no longer liked beautiful dresses in blue or pink, nor did she like covering her hair with floral hairpins. Even now, she was wearing a deep green outfit, her hair tied up with a bamboo hairpin, looking very practical and tidy.

If Banban was a gracefully blooming lotus flower, Luo Mai’er was a yucca plant—its leaves sharp as swords, its flower stalk standing straight and tall.

"Let’s go!"

Luo Mai’er waved her hand and walked ahead confidently, hands on her hips.

The two girls made their way up Little Flow Mountain.

Little Flow Mountain wasn’t very big, and the path wasn’t particularly rugged. But it had snowed the day before, and the mountain path, now with melted snow, was still wet and slippery. The two girls held hands as they climbed.

The ground was covered with fallen leaves, crunching with every step they took.

There weren’t many plum trees on Little Flow Mountain. Qin Banban stood on tiptoe, looking around for a good plum tree. Luo Mai’er followed behind, focused on stepping on the dry leaves and broken branches, making sure each step produced a satisfying "crunch."

"Banban, I don’t see any plum trees. There are wild camellias by the roadside—they’re quite pretty too."

Luo Mai’er said.

"Hmm, let’s keep looking. Those wild camellias are white, not festive enough for the New Year. Red plum blossoms are much more fitting!"

As she spoke, Qin Banban glanced back at Luo Mai’er and noticed that she was holding a straight wooden stick almost as tall as a person, swinging it around vigorously.

Qin Banban couldn’t help but laugh. "Sister Mai’er, where did you find that stick?"

Luo Mai’er’s eyes lit up. She hurried over to Qin Banban, holding the stick out like a treasure. "I found it by the roadside! Look, it’s so straight and long—so perfect! I’m taking it home to hit people!"

Clutching the wooden stick, Luo Mai’er looked utterly delighted, holding onto it like a precious item and refusing to let go.

Qin Banban burst out laughing, holding her stomach. "Hahaha... Sister Mai’er, you’re killing me! Hit people? Who are you planning to hit with it?"

Luo Mai’er pursed her lips, leaning on the stick. "Hit that scoundrel Qi Shan!"

Qi Shan—Luo Qingzhu’s former husband. Qin Banban hadn’t heard that name in a long time. She paused for a moment before it registered.

After Luo Qingzhu and Qi Shan separated, the man had rarely shown his face again and hadn’t come to the village to cause trouble. Everyone had assumed the matter was over.

But then, somehow, the man heard about Song Qingfeng and remembered that Song Qingfeng had been present during the separation.

Furious and resentful, he insisted that Luo Qingzhu must have been involved with Song Qingfeng long before, using it as an excuse to separate from him and pinning all the blame on him!

After the separation, Qi Shan changed completely.

His spirit seemed broken, and he was dismissed by his master, a brick and tile maker. He lost his husband and his job, spending his days making trouble at home—either accusing Luo Qingzhu of being heartless or blaming Qi’s mother for ruining his marriage. In short, he made the household anything but peaceful.

Later, he took to drinking heavily, getting drunk every day. Qi Shan’s younger brother couldn’t stand being burdened by him and insisted on dividing the household.

Earlier this year, he somehow heard about Song Qingfeng again. Enraged, he went to Shanghe Village and caused a scene at the Luo family’s doorstep.

At the time, only Luo Qingzhu was home. Fortunately, the two big dogs, Big Black and Ah Huang, protected their master, and even Lucky from across the street came to help. Together, they chased the troublemaker away. Who knows what might have happened otherwise!

Hearing Luo Mai’er’s words, Qin Banban stopped laughing and nodded seriously. "Then he really deserves a beating!"

After saying this, she suddenly fell silent, frowning as she looked back.

Luo Mai’er asked, "What’s wrong?"

Banban looked around a few more times before shaking her head. "I thought I heard something behind us... Maybe I was mistaken. Never mind, let’s hurry. We’ll pick the plum branches and head back."

With that, she took Luo Mai’er’s hand, and the two supported each other as they walked forward, chatting along the way.

Luo Mai’er added, "I really like Brother Song! He’s a hundred, no, a thousand times better than Qi Shan! My brother deserves someone like him! Those past few years were truly a waste of time!"

Qin Banban asked, "Their good news should be coming soon, right?"

Luo Mai’er pouted and mumbled, "Mother and I are both quite satisfied, but this matter is up to my brother... Though I don’t think he’s as opposed to it anymore. Just a few days ago, he specially prepared some cured meat for Brother Song to take home."

...

The two girls chatted and laughed as they walked a bit farther. Finally, they spotted two plum trees by the roadside.

"Ah! Found them!"

Qin Banban exclaimed happily. "Sister Mai’er, wait for me a moment. I’ll quickly fill this basket, and then we can go back!"

Luo Mai’er didn't answer but pulled Qin Banban along as they walked over. Qin Banban snipped flower branches and placed them in the basket, while Luo Mai’er stood on her tiptoes, staring at the blossoms on the branches, plucking two to tuck into Banban's hair.

"Hey, these plum blossoms are blooming so beautifully! Banban, duck down a little, let me pin them in! These flowers perfectly match your outfit today!"

Qin Banban was happy too, standing a little lower and tilting her head to let Luo Mai’er adorn her hair with the flowers.

Just as the two girls were enjoying themselves, Qin Banban, standing opposite Luo Mai’er, suddenly spotted a man emerging from the mountain pass.

He was a young man, around twenty years old, about five feet tall, with average looks, but there was a shifty look in his eyes that made his demeanor even worse.

"Hey, this one's pretty too! Let's pin it as well!"

Mai'er was still arranging the flowers when Qin Banban noticed the man approaching them and immediately tugged at Luo Mai’er's sleeve.

"Sis Mai'er! Sis Mai'er!"

Hearing the caution in Banban's tone, Luo Mai’er quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes went wide, and she turned to look, immediately spotting the man heading their way.

Luo Mai’er didn't speak but tightened her grip on the stick she'd found, pulling Banban behind the tree to hide.

...There was only this one path nearby; he might just be cutting through.

Luo Mai’er thought this to herself, but with every step the man took closer, her grip on the stick tightened.

Luo Mai’er might not have known, but Qin Banban recognized exactly who this man was!

His name was Zhu Wanzhang, twenty-seven years old, notorious in the village for being a layabout.

Since Qin Banban turned fifteen, the Qin family's doorstep had nearly been worn down by matchmakers, with many good families from the village and town coming to propose marriage. Zhu Wanzhang was one of them.

Though Cui Lanfang wasn't willing for the others, she had always sent them off nicely. But this one was different—she drove him out with a big stick and even sicced Lucky on him.

Nearly ten years older than Banban, almost thirty with nothing to his name, he spent his days hanging around the village without a proper livelihood.

Like this? And he still dared to have designs on her daughter!

It infuriated the good-tempered Cui Lanfang so much she couldn't sleep for days, and every time she saw Lin Xingniang, she'd pull her aside to gripe about it together.

Zhu Wanzhang wasn't just passing by; he headed straight for the two girls, adjusting his jacket as he grinned and asked, "Banban, you here hiking too? Picking flowers? Aiya, which ones do you like? I can help you!"

Luo Mai’er had a short fuse and flared up at once, scolding immediately, "Ugh! Who are you calling Banban! You have no right to say my sister's name! Scram!"

Zhu Wanzhang glanced at Luo Mai’er displeased, sneering, "What's it to you? Luo Mai’er, look at your nasty temper—nothing like your brother's! See who'd ever want you in the future!"

Mai'er was furious, glaring and about to lunge at him, but the next moment Qin Banban pulled her back.

Banban was angry too, but she was also scared.

Though Zhu Wanzhang wasn't tall, he was still a man. If things turned physical, she and Sis Mai'er were no match for a grown man's strength and would surely suffer badly!

Better to leave first; she could always complain to her second brother later!

She quickly held Mai'er back and whispered, "Sis Mai'er, don't argue with him, let's go back."

Luo Mai’er was still fuming, but being tugged by Qin Banban brought back her senses, knowing they couldn't win against Zhu Wanzhang head-on.

She nodded and pulled Qin Banban to head down the mountain.

Who knew Zhu Wanzhang would reach out and grab Qin Banban's arm, leering, "Why leave so soon? Don't go! Banban... weren't you picking flowers? I'll take you to that patch of trees over there—there are way more flowers there!"

Qin Banban, caught off guard, had her wrist seized by Zhu Wanzhang, making her scream in fright.

"Ah! What are you doing! Let go! I'm not going!"

Luo Mai’er was also startled. Though braver than most girls her age, she was still a young woman. Seeing Zhu Wanzhang grabbing Qin Banban and trying to drag her into the woods, her face paled with fear.

She struck Zhu Wanzhang's arm with her stick, making him release his grip in pain, then jabbed him hard between the legs with the stick. Immediately, Zhu Wanzhang clutched his crotch and let out a scream like a stuck pig.

Qin Banban was stunned, her round almond eyes wide open, never expecting something like this.

"Run! Why are you still standing there!"

Luo Mai’er grabbed Qin Banban and pulled her downhill, even forgetting the flower basket left by the tree.

This was the first time Luo Mai’er had used this move, and she started blushing a second later, though her running speed didn't slow.

As she ran, she glanced back at the equally flushed Qin Banban and explained softly, "I—I learned this from Brother Song! Last time when Qi Shan came making trouble, Brother Song secretly taught this move to my brother, and I picked it up while I was hiding nearby!"

Qin Banban nodded, her face red, and whispered back, "Mmm... it, it seems pretty effective."

Effective it was, it bought them time to escape, but Luo Mai’er had been so panicked her hands shook, she'd lost half her strength. Zhu Wanzhang doubled over on the ground howling in pain for a long time but eventually stood up, yelling curses as he chased after them.

"Run! Let's see how far you can go! Stop right there!"