The next morning.
Ding Songyan and Xu Chang'an left Chengyu Lane together, heading toward Dangkang Temple.
As they passed a stone bridge, Xu Chang'an suddenly stopped and cupped his hands in a salute to Ding Songyan:
"Second Brother Ding, I must take my leave."
As the shade of the locust trees swayed, Ding Songyan asked in confusion:
"Where are you off to?"
"Have you forgotten?" Xu Chang'an looked astonished. He darted his eyes left and right, then lowered his voice: "To my master’s place. I have to be examined every five days."
If that’s the case, why did you come to find me, just to walk together for less time than it takes to finish a cup of tea? Then again, you didn’t come for me at all; you just wanted to take the opportunity to see Qingyan... Ding Songyan gave a silent "heh" in his heart.
Watching Xu Chang'an turn off the path by the stone bridge into a nearby alley, Ding Songyan continued on his way, carrying his bamboo basket—which held his teapot, folding fan, and other items—along with his folding stool and table.
These were his tools of the trade.
His original set had gone missing the day before yesterday, so he had to cobble these together at home, though some pieces were still lacking.
When Ding Songyan arrived at the yellow-walled, brown-tiled Dangkang Temple, the area was already bustling. The sounds of various hawkers filled his ears:
"Selling hawthorn strips! Fresh hawthorn strips!"
"Songyang persimmons, all distinct, moistening the lungs and clearing the heat. Wuping dates are the best of all, chew them fine to soothe the stomach. If you are a lonely soul or a lovelorn heart, buy some and eat, and you shall find your perfect match!"
"Bamboo winnowing baskets, woven without a seam; iron-hooked carrying poles, crafted by the Lu workshop!"
...
Before Ding Songyan even reached his designated patch of open ground, he spotted his "God of Wealth" from afar.
The young lady had changed her attire today. A single jade hairpin held her dark hair in a simple bun, and she wore a light purple two-piece skirt with a deep purple, front-opening jacket over it. The jacket was embroidered with flowers and grasses in vertical patterns, giving her a slender and delicate air—a different charm compared to yesterday.
"Second Brother Ding!" She raised her right hand and waved. Her eyes, with their upturned corners, crinkled into crescents as she smiled, causing passersby—young or old, man or woman—to linger for a brief moment.
She actually came early to wait for me; that’s a good sign. It means my storytelling yesterday wasn't bad... Ding Songyan felt his heart lighten slightly and walked up to meet her, amidst the envious and jealous gazes of those around them.
The young lady and her maid had come prepared, bringing two bamboo-woven stools, and they sat down in the front row without a hint of hesitation.
Ding Songyan set up his small table under the thick shade of the trees, arranged his teapot, and sat down.
He picked up his folding fan, snapped it open, and without waiting for more onlookers to gather, he began directly:
"Picking up where we left off last time..."
With his detailed outline and draft, he spoke more fluently and calmly this time. He added many details, and during the intermission, he didn't ask for tips, simply drinking water to moisten his throat.
The crowd of listeners grew larger, drawn in by a story so different from the current legends and romances. The young lady in the purple silk robe rested her chin on one hand, listening with intense focus. Her expression shifted along with the development of the plot:
When Lady White used her magic to create a small illness to improve the pharmacy's business, she furrowed her delicate brows. When Xu Xian’s actions moved Lady White, granting her a "human heart," she clasped her hands in relief. When Lady White and Xiaoqing used their supernatural abilities to punish evil, promote good, and help the poor, her right arm moved slightly, as if she wished she could do the same...
When Fahai appeared again, tricking Xu Xian into using realgar wine to test Lady White, both the sixteen-or-seventeen-year-old lady and her maid, along with the other onlookers, wore expressions of tension, worry, and a mix of anger and hatred.
Ding Songyan did not waver in the slightest, letting Xu Xian—after an internal struggle—finally hand that cup of realgar wine to Lady White.
Blinded by love and deceived by Fahai’s manipulation of the heavenly secrets, Lady White did not notice the wine was tainted. After drinking it, she realized something was wrong and rushed into the room, trying to seal herself off, but it was too late. Xu Xian, half-concerned and half-driven by a need to confirm the truth, followed her in, saw her reveal her true form, and died of fright on the spot.
As the effects of the wine wore off, Lady White regained her senses. Looking at the corpse of Xu Xian, she was overcome with grief, dazed and despairing.
This was both the pain of betrayal and the sorrow of losing her beloved.
Just then, Ding Songyan snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it against his palm:
"As the saying goes: Beneath Mount Qingcheng, Bai Suzhen, in the cave for a thousand years, cultivated this body... Through diligent practice, she attained the Way, shedding her old form to become human..."
The song began. It spoke of a heart set on the Way with no other thoughts; it spoke of taking refuge in the Three Jewels to seek a golden body. It formed a sharp contrast with Bai Suzhen’s current plight and her surging emotions, making the sentiment feel more distant and the emptiness and despair more visceral.
The sharp-chinned young lady and everyone around her were left in a daze, completely immersed in the artistic conception Ding Songyan wanted to convey, never once feeling that this musical style or singing method was unorthodox.
At that moment, their feelings were incredibly complex. They weren't quite crying, but they felt a dull ache in their hearts, a sense of loss and melancholy.
Ding Songyan observed their reactions and was very satisfied.
His only regret was that the song would have sounded better with a female voice—one that was cold, ethereal, and transcendent.
After finishing "Beneath Mount Qingcheng, Bai Suzhen," Ding Songyan put down his fan, stood up, and cupped his hands to the crowd:
"Honored guests, if you wish to know what happens next, please listen to the next installment.
"I did not ask for tips yesterday, but today, I ask that you all help me earn a meal."
The young lady immediately tossed a silver ingot into Ding Songyan’s bamboo basket.
Ding Songyan weighed it slightly and estimated it was likely worth one tael.
Although he wasn't telling The Legend of the White Snake for the money, having income was excellent—when he eventually sought a master to learn martial arts, he would need tuition, and saving up in advance was never a bad idea.
"The young lady is generous!" Ding Songyan followed the professional code and praised his "God of Wealth."
With the young lady leading the way, the other onlookers also tossed copper coins into the basket, totaling fifty or sixty pieces.
Ding Songyan set down the basket and prepared to pack up his stall, but he noticed the young lady, her maid, and the other onlookers hadn't dispersed; they remained where they were.
It’s already noon... He cupped his hands again:
"Please come early tomorrow, everyone."
"You aren't telling any more today?" The young lady in the purple silk robe looked at him as if to say, "How could you do this?" "Not even in the afternoon?"
Ding Songyan said sincerely:
"I still need to review the script for the subsequent parts; I haven't fully mastered them yet."
I’ve already pushed the pace incredibly fast. If this were a television drama, what I told today would have lasted you a whole week!
I even cut out quite a few plot points just to rush to the Dragon Boat Festival realgar wine incident to keep you hooked. How could I spoil the rest now?
If I don't leave you tossing and turning in bed tonight, unable to sleep, how can I make a lasting impression?
The other onlookers left one after another, disappointed, leaving only the young lady and her maid, who glared at Ding Songyan, puffed up with indignation.
She seems to have a decent temper; not as spoiled as I imagined... Ding Songyan made a judgment based on this.
"You, what about that difficult matter you mentioned yesterday?" The young lady thought for a long time and decided to offer help in exchange for the rest of the story.
Talking about money is too vulgar!
"Thank you for your concern, young heroine, it has already been resolved." Ding Songyan saw the nearby medicine peddlers and other storytellers paying attention to their conversation, so he deliberately said, "It’s just that I suffered a head injury and forgot many things. I don't even remember who harmed me, so I have to rely on others to investigate. Young heroine, it’s truly not that I don't want to tell the story; I really don't remember it. I have to go back and flip through my books. I spent all my energy yesterday just to remember what I told today."
He was taking this opportunity to spread the word about his "soul-loss illness," so that the true provider of the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas would no longer have to worry about him and come looking for trouble.
Seeing Ding Songyan speak so earnestly, the young lady in purple waved her hand in disappointment and helplessness:
"Then hurry home and rest. I’ll ask around these next few days to see who can treat this kind of illness."
Better not to treat it; if I’m cured, I won't be me anymore... Ding Songyan muttered as he bid farewell to the young lady and her maid.
After entrusting his tools to someone to watch, he spent six copper coins on a sesame seed cake with a crispy crust and minced pork filling. He ate it as he headed toward the Zhen Mansion on North Water Street.
"There’s still some meat juice left, and they added some pickled mustard greens... Not bad, not bad..." Ding Songyan was quite satisfied with today’s meal.
Upon entering the Zhen Mansion and arriving at the Lotus Pond Courtyard, he not only saw Cousin Nansheng and her maid Cuihe, but also his "cheap" brother-in-law, Zhen Quanwang.
Zhen Quanwang was in his thirties, wearing a dark-colored zhiduo robe and a Taoist-style chunyang cap. His upper body leaned slightly forward, and his face was clean-shaven, though visible fine hairs remained, and his ears resembled those of a macaque.
Ding Songyan expressed his family's gratitude for the recent events to Qin Nansheng and Zhen Quanwang, then took two items from his robes.
One was a hand-copied Buddhist sutra, and the other was a folded yellow talisman.
"Brother-in-law, Cousin Nansheng, we know the Zhen Mansion is wealthy and lacks for nothing, so my mother simply hand-copied a volume of scriptures in the family shrine, hoping to bless you with peace and prosperity. And this protective talisman—my father went to the Songfeng Temple outside the city to pray for it. It is for many children and many blessings."
According to Ding Shengyi and Liu Yuzao, although Qin Nansheng was highly favored by Zhen Quanwang, she had been in the mansion for over two years without bearing a single child, a source of great anxiety for her.
Zhen Quanwang and Qin Nansheng accepted the gifts with great satisfaction.
As Ding Songyan had said, what did the Zhen family lack? It was the gesture that mattered.
After some polite small talk, Zhen Quanwang had to entertain distinguished guests and left the Lotus Pond Courtyard. Ding Songyan blew on the water-driven fan wheel, feeling the deep-autumn chill in the room, and finally had the chance to tell Qin Nansheng the general situation. However, he did not mention the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas, as he was unsure if that was also a secret to Qin Nansheng.
He asked at the end:
"Cousin Nansheng, do you know where Mr. Yu is? I would like to thank him in person and offer a small gift."
Qin Nansheng thought for a moment and said:
"Mr. Yu has been very busy these past few days. When he is free, I will send someone to let you know."
Unable to see Mr. Yu to probe for information, Ding Songyan thought for a moment and took the initiative to say:
"Cousin Nansheng, after this incident, I feel... I feel that a man in this world must learn some martial arts. Otherwise, he cannot protect his parents above, nor can he protect himself below. Do you... do you have any connections?"
With the thick skin he had developed from years of entrepreneurship and debating investors, his stutter was clearly an act.
Qin Nansheng listened with furrowed brows and said slowly:
"Brother Yan, I understand your thoughts, but learning martial arts is incredibly expensive if no one is willing to sponsor you. You must be prepared for that.
"Don't be in a rush. I will ask around for you. If you can enter the Zhen Mansion or learn martial arts under a retainer like Mr. Yu, that would be far better than going to a martial arts school."
"Is the Xiaoming Sect not an option?" Ding Songyan did not hide his thoughts, showing no shame.
I’ve already got "soul-loss illness," so what do I know about propriety?
Qin Nansheng laughed in spite of herself:
"The Xiaoming Sect only recruits disciples once a year, at the end of the year. Ordinarily, unless a master from the Xiaoming Sect takes a liking to you and wants to take you as a disciple, don't even think about it. And even at the end of the year, their recruitment is very strict. At your age, if you don't have innate talent, it is very, very difficult."
Do I have to wait until the end of the year? Fortunately, I have the Secret Classic of Mountains and Seas; perhaps I can use it as a bargaining chip... Ding Songyan pondered for a few breaths and asked:
"Exactly how old am I?"
Qin Nansheng was startled for a moment, then smiled bitterly:
"You were born in the nineteenth year of Xingping; you have just turned twenty. For practicing martial arts, this is actually not too late. Disciples of those great sects, in order not to affect their physical growth, also wait until they are eighteen to complete body tempering and qi cultivation before they begin opening their acupoints."
"What rank is that?" Ding Songyan asked curiously.
Qin Nansheng laughed:
"Not yet ranked."
***
Note 1: Adapted from the lyrics in the Yuan dynasty variety play Wang Huan at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. This play was very popular at the time, to the point where these lyrics became a standard routine for hawkers.
Note 2: Quoted from the song "Beneath Mount Qingcheng, Bai Suzhen."
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