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Глава 17

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Gu Zao held onto the wooden door with one hand, forgetting to close it, and just stared blankly at Yang Hao, who was still standing in the snow.

Yang Hao had gone to Huaiyang to handle some year-end accounting matters before the Lunar New Year. He had just returned home a couple of days ago when he heard rumors that the Little Tyrant wanted to take Gu Erjie as a concubine. Although it didn't happen in the end, he still felt uneasy. After dinner on New Year's Eve, he drank a few more cups of wine and felt a bit hot and irritable. He took his horse and quietly left the Grand Commandant's mansion through a side gate. Because it was New Year's Eve, the streets were deserted. He rode his horse at full gallop, his face covered with snowflakes, which were icy cold but calmed him down a bit. When he came to his senses, he found that he had arrived at Ranyuan Bridge. He couldn't help but dismount and lead his horse to her house. The door was tightly closed, but he could faintly hear voices coming from inside, interspersed with Gu Erjie's cheerful laughter. He was momentarily captivated and stood there, unwilling to leave. He didn't know how much time had passed when his big black horse stomped its hoof, and he finally came to his senses. He had only casually put on a fur coat when he came out, and now he felt a chill. He secretly laughed at himself and was about to leave quietly when he suddenly saw that the courtyard gate was open. In the bright light of the snow, he saw that it was actually Sister Gu. Looking at her expression, she was not as indifferent as he was used to. She seemed to be quite surprised.

Yang Hao felt a surge of excitement and couldn't help but walk a few steps to Gu Zao and immediately grasp her hands.

Gu Zao had just come out of the warm room, her hands still warm. Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a chill on her skin. Looking down, she saw that her hands were enveloped in his. Her heart skipped a beat. She tried to pull her hands away, but they were held tightly, impossible to remove. She heard his soft, slightly hoarse voice again: "Second Sister, I missed you, so I couldn't help but come over. Please don't blame me..."

Gu Zao looked up and met Yang Hao's gaze, which seemed to shimmer like a mirror amidst the swirling snowflakes, reflecting directly into her heart. Noticing a few clusters of snowflakes clinging to his brow, she couldn't resist reaching out a hand to brush them away. Just as her hand touched his brow, she suddenly heard a burst of firecrackers from the direction of the city's palace. Her hand trembled, a chill ran through her, and she quickly withdrew it, slamming the courtyard gate shut and rushing into the house.

Gu Zao entered the house and closed the door. A wave of warmth immediately rushed towards her. She closed her eyes, leaned against the door, and took a couple of breaths before covering her face with her hands. She was unbearably hot.

Inside the outer room, Qingwu was already fast asleep. Gu Zao went over and tucked him in, but she herself was wide awake. She sat in front of the stove, added some more charcoal, and watched it burn until it was blazing brightly before covering it with the lid to prevent the smoke from escaping. She heard neighbors nearby, who were still keeping vigil for the New Year, come out to set off their own firecrackers in response to the firecrackers going off in the palace. Fearing that the man was still standing there dumbfounded and getting cold, she hesitated for a long time before finally quietly leaving the courtyard. Through the gaps in the wooden planks, she could no longer see the man and the horse, only a few footprints that had not yet been covered by the snow.

Gu Zao felt a sense of relief, yet also a faint sense of loss. She finally went back to her room and lay down to sleep. Only after her head hit the pillow did she suddenly remember that she had forgotten to return the bottle of rosewater. She couldn't help but sigh softly, and it took her a long time to fall asleep. That night, even her dreams seemed to be tinged with the faint scent of rose and green apple.

The next morning, Gu Zao was awakened early by the sound of firecrackers outside her door. Sitting up, she saw that it was already bright daylight; her third sister and Fang Shi were already up. It turned out she had slept in much later than ever before. She hurriedly dressed and went outside. The snow had stopped, but the sunlight was blinding. Her two sisters, Qingwu and her third sister, were setting off red firecrackers hanging at the door. Fang Shi, leaning against the door, saw Gu Zao about to come out and quickly stopped her, saying, "Setting off firecrackers on the first day of the lunar new year ensures good fortune for the whole year. Don't step out yet; wait until they've finished."

Seeing that she spoke so seriously, Gu Zao stood there and waited. After the string of firecrackers burned out, there was a strong smell of sulfur in his nose, and the thick snow was covered with red firecracker debris. He subconsciously looked at the spot where the person had stood the night before, but there was no trace of him left. It all seemed like a hazy dream.

After the first day of the lunar new year, on the second day, Fang Shi frequently went to the door to look around early in the morning. It turned out that on the second day, a married daughter was going back to visit her parents. In the past, it wouldn't have been a problem because of the long distance, but now everyone was living in Dongjing City. Gu Zao knew that Fang Shi was looking forward to her eldest daughter, Gu Dajie, coming to visit. Seeing that Fang Shi was getting a little anxious as she waited, Gu Zao pulled her over and asked her to help wash the vegetables, saying that she would be able to prepare some dishes to entertain her eldest daughter when she returned. Only then did Fang Shi sit on a low stool and start washing vegetables.

Sister Gu, thinking of her own family, arrived before noon carrying a pig's head, along with her two daughters, Zhu'er and Chuan'er, both dressed in red shirts and green skirts, looking very cute. Upon seeing Madam Fang, they called her "Grandma," making Madam Fang overjoyed. She quickly took out sweets and pastries, filling the table with them. Third Sister Qingwu was also very happy, playing happily with the two girls until they were giggling all over. Madam Fang smiled and said, "Zhu'er, Chuan'er, you've come! It's just Father alone at home now. Why didn't you come along?"

The slightly older girl, Zhu'er, looked up, but before she could answer, she was pulled aside by Sister Gu, who laughed and said, "He keeps complaining that he's tired from work, so he's been told to rest at home. He asked me to pass on his regards."

Hearing this, Fang was delighted and went up to her eldest sister, asking how the meat business was going. Seeing that her sister was doing well, she was relieved. Gu Zao looked at her; her complexion seemed even worse than it had been a few months ago. Although she was wearing new clothes and had some rouge on her face, making her look rosy, and she was smiling, there was a hint of forced smile. Seeing Fang's happy expression, she didn't say much, but simply smiled and invited Fang and her eldest sister to sit in the inner room and have some private conversation. She then began to prepare the pig's head that her eldest sister had brought. After cleaning and scraping the pig's head and removing its tongue, three catties of sweet wine were added to the water and boiled together. Once boiling, the whole pig's head was placed in the large pot used for making soup, and some boiling water was added to cover the pig's head by an inch. Thirty scallions and a pinch of star anise were added. After boiling for more than two hundred minutes, a large cup each of sauce and wine and a little sugar were added. The pot was then boiled over high heat for about two incense sticks' worth of time before the heat was turned off and simmered over low heat until the soup was reduced. When the soup became a little greasy, the pot was opened. A gentle poke with chopsticks revealed that the pig was thoroughly cooked. The aroma of meat filled the room, attracting Third Sister, Zhu'er, and Chuan'er to stand aside and wait to eat, their mouths watering.

Gu Zao smiled and cut a large plate of meat. Seeing that the others were scrambling to eat it, she cut another plate and sent it to Madam Shen's house next door. When she came back, she finely shredded the cooled pig ears, mixed them with pepper, wine, and sesame oil, and made a cold salad. Then she saw the cut pig tongue, thought for a moment, and sliced it into thin slices. She cooked it with five-spice seasoning, then went to the shed in the corner of the yard, took out a cabbage that she had bought and stored before the New Year, and stir-fried it. Only then did she call Fang Shi and her eldest sister out from the inner room. The whole family ate a midday meal with stewed hot wine.

After finishing their meal, Sister Gu noticed that it was getting dark and couldn't sit still any longer. She said a few more words, then took her two daughters and prepared to leave. Madam Fang packed a bundle of pastries to send out, but Gu Zao stopped her, took the bundle herself, and saw Sister Gu out.

While waiting for the bus at the alley entrance, Gu Zao saw Zhu'er and Chuan'er playing with the colorful paper-cut window decorations that her second sister had made for them. She glanced at her eldest sister beside her and said softly, "Eldest sister, if you have something on your mind, it's fine to keep it from Mother, but you don't even want to tell me?"

Sister Gu's eyelashes trembled slightly. She glanced at Gu Zao and forced a smile, saying, "What could be wrong now? Look at you."

Seeing that she still didn't want to talk, Gu Zao didn't force her. She just said in a low voice, "Big sister, I know you are a strong-willed person. If you don't want to talk, that's fine. But keeping it all inside will make even a living person feel sick. If you want to talk someday, just come to me. You must remember that I am your family and I will always help you."

Sister Gu looked at Gu Zao, her lips trembling, but in the end she could only nod. Gu Zao sighed inwardly, and seeing a rental car coming, she waved it to stop, picked up her two nieces and got in, then said goodbye to her sister and watched her leave. Sister Gu, sitting in the car, kept lifting the curtain and looking back at Gu Zao.

Gu Zao watched the car turn a corner and disappear before turning back, thinking to herself that she must visit Sister Gu's house sometime when she had time to put her mind at ease.

Since the first day of the Lunar New Year yesterday, Tokyo has been bustling with activity. Everywhere in the streets and alleys, people are singing and shouting while selling food, trinkets, fruits, firewood and other items. Colorful tents have been set up at Songmen in the east of the city, Liangmen in the west, Fengqiumen in the north, and the area in the south. There are also dance halls and singing houses everywhere. Carriages and horses gallop on the roads, and everyone seen on the streets, except for beggars, is wearing brand new and clean clothes.

Gu Zao had already asked a trusted broker to help him find a shop before the Lunar New Year. When the broker's shop opened on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Zao went there. He was told that there was indeed a shop on Ma Xing Street, two streets past Panlou East Street, which was currently vacant because the tenants had not renewed their leases last year. The landlord had asked this broker to rent it out, but the rent was not cheap, costing 180 taels of silver a year.

Gu Zao was somewhat surprised to hear this. At that time, the monthly salary of a county magistrate in a large county with more than 10,000 households in various prefectures was only twenty taels of silver. However, such a shop cost one hundred and eighty taels, which was more than half a year's salary for that county magistrate. Last year, his income from running his noodle stall for several months was only slightly higher than that amount, so he hesitated.

The broker noticed her expression and chuckled, "Young lady, is this your first time renting a shop along the street? This isn't even considered expensive in the city. On the old Imperial Street, even the smallest shops cost two or three times as much. You mentioned wanting to rent this place to open a restaurant before the New Year, so I made sure to keep an eye out for you. This Ma Xing Street isn't the busiest, and your shop is located a bit further in, which is why it's this price. Those further out would cost much more. But nearby is Longjin Bridge, where there's a market with a constant flow of people, and the shop there is spacious with a courtyard in the back—perfect for a restaurant. If your food is well-received, you won't have to worry about business."

Gu Zao thought about how he had rented a stall at the Zhouqiao Night Market last year, which cost him sixty taels of silver a year. Although the price was three times higher now, he would have a permanent shop, and his family could move in. In addition to dine-in service, he could also sell takeaway meals. With this in mind, he was quite tempted. He immediately arranged to meet the landlord with the broker to go and see the shop. He found that it was indeed much as described. Although it was a bit far in, he was glad that the shop could accommodate seven or eight tables. He also went to see the backyard. Although it was a bit narrow, it had rooms on three sides and a square courtyard in the middle. There was also a well, which solved the water problem. He was quite satisfied and immediately finalized the rental agreement with the landlord.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Fang Family Hosts a Feast; New Shops on Ma Xing Street

Gu Zao returned home and told Fang Shi about renting the shop, only mentioning that it would cost one hundred taels of silver a year, afraid that telling her the truth would scare her. However, even this one hundred taels of silver caused her a terrible toothache. She kept complaining that the people in Dongjing (Kaifeng) were robbing people, and that the rent for a year's shop could buy ten acres of land in the countryside of Yangzhou. After the toothache subsided, she felt it was a glorious thing, so she wasn't about to keep it to herself. Before long, several of her close friends, including Madam Shen next door, knew that the Gu family was about to move to Ma Xing Street to open a shop and do business. They all came to congratulate her, helped her choose an auspicious day, the sixth day of the month, saying it was the most suitable day for moving. They all agreed to come and help on the day before they dispersed.

The next day, Gu Zao went to the broker's shop as agreed, signed the documents, and paid the rent. The noodle stall owner at Zhouqiao had already been informed at the end of last year, so there were no problems now. However, he hadn't yet mentioned the house he was currently living in to Hu Shi. After finishing his business at the broker's shop, he bought a pair of beautifully decorated fruit gift boxes on the street and carried them to Gu Dajia's shop on Panlou East Street.

Gu Dajia's shop opened for business today. The shop assistant now recognized Gu Zao and was much more polite to her. He invited her into the inner room to sit down and said that Gu Da had gone out early in the morning and was not at home. Hu Shi would be back later, and only Xiu Niang was at home. He sent a maid to call her.

Xiu Niang was being forced to study poetry at home. The ladies from the music academy were very strict, and Xiu Niang had already received several strokes of the cane, secretly groaning. Hearing that Gu Zao had arrived, she ignored the person beside her, rushed out, and grabbed Gu Zao's hand, looking very happy. The two exchanged a few words, and Gu Zao, remembering her fiancé, couldn't help but ask about him. Xiu Niang blushed and stammered for a long time before finally saying that Hu Qing had been reprimanded by the Ministry of Personnel last time, and now his official position was even more distant. He only came every few days to ask for money, but never mentioned marriage.

Gu Zao pitied Xiu Niang, secretly thinking it best to never employ her again. He reasoned that one day Gu Da and Madam Hu would grow tired of this bottomless pit and perhaps break off the engagement, thus saving Xiu Niang from the fire. However, he also considered that a woman like this, already engaged, would suffer even more damage to her reputation than her third sister had been, making it difficult for her to find a good husband. After much deliberation, he realized neither option was good. He blamed Gu Da and Madam Hu for being foolish and needlessly harming their daughter.

Seeing the pity in Gu Zao's eyes as she looked at her, Xiu Niang was puzzled. She assumed Gu Zao was worried about her engagement being delayed, so she lowered her head and murmured, "Second cousin, I heard that the man isn't very good, and he'd rather not bring up the marriage at all..."

Gu Zao's heart stirred, and she was about to speak when she saw Madam Hu smilingly enter from the outer room. She stood up and greeted her.

These past two days, Madam Hu had been planning to go to Ranyuanqiao to discuss this year's rent, thinking she would raise the price no matter what. When she returned and heard that Gu Zao had arrived, she thought it was perfect timing, as she had delivered herself to the doorstep. However, before she could even speak, she heard Gu Zao say with a smile, "Auntie, you've returned just in time. I came to offer my New Year's greetings, and also to mention that we're not renting out the house in Ranyuanqiao this year. We'll be moving to a new place on the sixth day of the new year. Please ask you to inform the landlord."

Hu was stunned and hadn't reacted yet when she heard Gu Zao say again, "My family has already paid the rent for that house up to the end of last year, and we will settle it in the next few days of the new year. Since it is difficult for anyone to renew the lease immediately, we simply pay half a month's rent at once as a way to express our gratitude to the landlord."

Xiu Niang knew that her mother had been somewhat unfair when she rented the house to her second uncle's family. Hearing what followed, she felt ashamed. Hu Shi, on the other hand, only realized what was going on now. When she learned that Gu Zao's family was going to move to Ma Xing Street, which was not far from her home, and open a restaurant, she suppressed her jealousy and displeasure, but her chin drooped to her chest.

Gu Zao knew she was unhappy, but he didn't take it to heart. He just smiled and handed over the half-month's rent that he had prepared in advance. After saying a few words to Xiu Niang, he took his leave.

After Gu Zao left, Madam Hu craned her neck to look at the two boxes of dried fruit, and muttered under her breath, "Isn't she just a former concubine? Who does she think she is? She even brought these things over as New Year's gifts. She's just like her country bumpkin mother..." As she spoke, she carried them out.

She was so busy nagging that she forgot that she herself had come from the countryside a few years ago. When Xiu Niang saw her carrying the two boxes of dried fruit out, she knew that she was going to consign them to the shop next door. She was so ashamed that she felt she would never be able to face Gu Zao again.

On the sixth day, Gu Zao called a large flatbed cart and parked it at the entrance of the alley. Shen Niangzi and the others also came over, and together they carried all their belongings up the cart. Just as they were about to set off for Ma Xing Street in a lively atmosphere, they saw Liu Hu also bring over a blank signboard that he had just made and painted, saying that it would add to the festive atmosphere.

Gu Zao didn't want to take his things for free, so she smiled and asked the price. Liu Hu became flustered and blushed, only saying that he made them himself. Seeing his reaction, Gu Zao was afraid of hurting his feelings if she refused, so she thought for a moment and then smiled and accepted the gift with thanks. However, she secretly gave Shen Niangzi the money to pass on to Liu Hu's mother.

When Gu Zao's family arrived at the shops on Ma Xing Street, Madam Shen and the others saw that the Gu family's shops were flanked by respectable noodle shops, gold paper shops, silk shoe shops, bead shops, and so on. The shops were spacious, and the living quarters inside were neat and tidy, far better than the old place near Ran Yuan Bridge. Everyone clicked their tongues in admiration, saying that Madam Fang was lucky to have given birth to such a capable daughter. Madam Fang was so happy that her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she felt that her status had risen considerably. She even said that after everything was settled, she would invite everyone to a feast. Madam Shen and the others thanked her with smiles. Gu Zao, however, was somewhat surprised. It turned out that even her stingy mother could be persuaded to part with a few feathers when flattered.

This man was very efficient. In no time, the entire shop, including the inner rooms and courtyard, had been cleaned spotless. All the utensils that had been moved in were also put away properly. Seeing that it was past noon, Gu Zao locked the shop door and called Shen Niangzi and five or six of his family members to find a tavern on a neighboring street that looked relatively clean. They sat down around a large table in the main hall, and the waiter who took orders immediately came over with a smile to greet them and ask them what they wanted.

Fang had only impulsively offered to treat everyone to dinner, and soon after, she became somewhat uneasy. Now, upon hearing that a single jiao (a unit of currency) of lamb wine cost fifty coins, she felt a sweat creeping down her back. However, since she had offered to treat everyone and was already seated, she couldn't go back on her word and could only sit there silently. Shen Niangzi and the others had been with Gu Zao's family for almost half a year, so they knew her temperament well. They jokingly said that they would take this opportunity to eat the best dishes, but in reality, they all chose the cheaper and more filling food and drinks available at the restaurant, such as meat and vinegar sausage, flatbread, soup bones, stir-fried lungs, and various kinds of buns, each costing only about twenty coins.

Seeing Fang's sweaty appearance, Gu Zao chuckled to himself and felt grateful for the help that Shen Niangzi and the others had always given him. He then called over the waiter who was taking orders and ordered several dishes of braised rabbit with scallions, crab with hand-washed hands, fried quail, and golden thread tripe soup. He also ordered a few cups of hot wine before stopping. However, Fang had secretly kicked his feet under the table several times.

After ordering, the waiter quickly brought over, carrying three bowls in his left hand and stacking six or seven bowls from his shoulder to his hand on his right. He placed them on the table with surprising speed and efficiency, without spilling a drop of soup. Gu Zao couldn't help but praise him, but the waiter said somewhat shyly, "Mine isn't the best. There's someone at Huixianlou who can stack twenty bowls with one hand." Gu Zao immediately decided that she would definitely go and see for herself someday.

When the food and wine were served, everyone ate without ceremony, chatting and laughing until the end, and they were all a little tipsy. After thanking Madam Fang and Gu Zao, they helped each other back home.

Gu Zao paid for the meal and then led her third sister and Qingwu back to their newly rented home on Ma Xing Street. Although Fang Shi hadn't paid for the meal herself, she was still upset about the dishes Gu Zao had ordered later. She kept complaining about it the whole way. Fortunately, it was only one street away, and they arrived in just a few steps. Seeing that Gu Zao was just smiling and ignoring her, she felt a little awkward and stopped talking.

The next day, Gu Zao went to the yamen to obtain a document and license, which cost only ten coins. She then went with her third sister, Qingwu, to purchase all the necessary supplies for the shop and the house in the backyard. They were busy until the tenth of the month, when everything was almost ready. In the shop's main hall, eight neat tables and chairs were arranged, and two rows of stoves were placed against one wall, ready to be used for stewing cooked food. A long row of menus hung on three walls, each tied with a red silk ribbon knot hand-woven by her third sister, in various patterns such as double butterfly knots, ruyi knots, brocade knots, double fish knots, and coffered ceiling knots—all unique and elegant. Gu Zao secretly sighed, realizing that even with ten more fingers, she could never match her third sister's skill. In the backyard, one larger room was used as a work area, and three rooms remained: one for Qingwu, one for her third sister and Liu Zao, and one for Gu Zao and Fang Shi. Although they were all very narrow, they were far better than the Ranyuan Bridge. Fang's three sisters, Qingwu and Fang, were all all smiles.

Everything was ready except for the final touch. Things were all set; now all that was left was the signboard. The signboard, of course, was the one Liu Hu had made. However, deciding on a name for the restaurant had given the Gu family quite a headache. Qingwu, being educated, suggested more refined names like Jingyizhou, Yuzhuantang, and Yanyilou, but Gu Zao rejected them all. It wasn't that they were bad, but the target customers were likely the locals and market dwellers; overly elegant names might drive people away. Fang Shi suggested names like Wangcai and Fulai, but those were also rejected before she could finish. As the family racked their brains, the third sister suddenly had a bright idea: "How about calling it Radish Beauty Restaurant? Sister, you already have that nickname; everyone around the Zhouqiao Night Market knows it. It's not far from here, so that's a good name. It will not only let people know our radishes are delicious, attracting regular customers, but it also sounds interesting and memorable!"

The Fang family all thought the third sister's suggestion was good, but Gu Zao felt it was inappropriate. She couldn't think of a suitable alternative name, so she had to put it aside for the time being. Instead, she had Qingwu write two couplets on red paper: the left read, "Sour, sweet, cold, and hot, all things are present"; the right read, "Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, every day is fulfilling." Gu Zao had actually seen these couplets by chance outside a restaurant before, finding them very interesting and memorable. Now, remembering them, she felt they were quite fitting for her own restaurant, so she read them aloud and asked Qingwu to write them down. Qingwu picked up his brush and quickly finished them, creating a surprisingly beautiful and flowing calligraphy. Gu Zao praised him, and Qingwu, somewhat embarrassed, showed a shy expression.

With the Lantern Festival just days away, Gu Zao thought she could open for business in a couple of days. She had already asked Madam Shen to bring Liu Zao here once she returned, but she hadn't seen her return. She even went to Madam Shen's house at Ranyuan Bridge, but Madam Shen said she still hadn't seen Liu Zao return. Gu Zao returned to Ma Xing Street and remembered the bruises on Liu Zao's body when she first arrived, which made her uneasy. The next day, even Madam Fang asked about Liu Zao. Gu Zao thought for a moment and went to the broker who had introduced Liu Zao to ask for her address, deciding to go to Shili Town herself. Qingwu, however, wouldn't go to school until after the Lantern Festival, and said he wanted to go too. Gu Zao knew he was worried about the long distance and didn't feel comfortable letting her go alone. Seeing that he was already quite grown-up, she smiled and agreed.

Chapter 40, Shili Town, Yellow River Ferry

The Gu family had taken two days to travel by water from Shili Town to Tokyo, but now, by hiring a carriage and going through the East Water Gate of the West City, they arrived in town in just over half a day.

Although this place is called a town, apart from a small, bustling market near the riverbank in the center, the rest of the area looks like a large village. Gu Zao and Qingwu carried a large box of sugar cakes they had bought from a shop in town. After asking around, they finally stopped in front of a few mud-brick thatched huts on the edge of the village. The doors were mottled and covered with moss. Two girls, who looked about seven or eight years old, were squatting on the muddy ground playing with pebbles. One of the older girls was wearing the red cotton-padded jacket that Gu Zao had bought for Liu Zao before the winter solstice. However, it was a bit too big for her, and the hem of the jacket was dragging on the ground, covered with black mud.

Qingwu glanced at Gu Zao with some concern, but she only frowned slightly before walking over and asking with a smile, "Is this Liu Zao's home?"

The two girls looked up and exchanged a glance. The older one stood up, craned her neck, and called out a few times into the house. A woman's voice rang out, sounding very impatient: "Er Ya, are you begging again? Didn't I tell you to chase her away? Or are you wailing like a mourner during the Lunar New Year? You've brought bad luck..."

As Gu Zao was speaking, he saw a woman in her thirties come out. Her face was a little sallow, her hair was haphazardly stuck on top of her head, and her clothes were not very neat. However, her belly was already quite round. Gu Zao guessed that she was Liu Zao's stepmother.

The woman was surprised to see Gu Zao and Qing Wu standing at the door, and was speechless for a moment.

Gu Zao nodded slightly to her: "I am from the Gu family in the capital. Your Liu Zao promised to go back to help with the work before the New Year. I noticed that she hasn't returned for a long time, so I came to see her since I have some free time today. If it's convenient, I'll take her back with me."

When the woman heard Gu Zao say this, her expression changed slightly. She quickly waved her hand and laughed, "Liu Zao, that girl said she didn't want to work for you anymore. She just asked about a new job and has only been there for a couple of days."

Gu Zao noticed that her eyes were darting around as she spoke, and she didn't believe it. Just as she was about to ask more questions, Er Ya blurted out, "Mother is talking nonsense. Sister was clearly sold to the matchmaker. She got on the carriage the day before yesterday, and I even saw her crying."

Before Er Ya could finish speaking, her mother grabbed her ear and started crying.

Gu Zao was startled. Over the past six months, she had come to regard Liu Zao as family. Although she had been somewhat apprehensive before coming, hearing that Liu Zao had been sold to that human trafficker sent a chill down her spine. Just as she was about to ask for more details, the woman grabbed a maid in each hand, turned around, and walked into the house, slamming the door shut.

"Sister, Liuzao has been sold? What should we do?" Qingwu looked anxious as he stared blankly at Gu Zao.

Gu Zao suppressed her anger and noticed a woman peeking out from the doorway of a nearby house, watching the commotion. After thinking for a moment, she went over and asked her for details.

The woman, who had always been at odds with the Liu family's wife, was eager to talk to Gu Zao. Seeing that Gu Zao had come to ask, she launched into a long, rambling monologue, finally whispering in Gu Zao's ear, "That old woman Wang goes to this area every year around this time to buy girls. If they were sold to respectable families as servants, that would be fine; at worst, they could be sold as prostitutes. But she takes them to the outskirts of Hebei Road and Hedong Road. What chance do they have there? They're just sent to brothels to be ruined."

At this time, both Hedong Road and Hebei Road were close to the Liao Kingdom, with a fierce and warlike populace and a large Song Dynasty garrison. The area was remote and desolate, and the burly men naturally had an exceptionally high demand for sex. However, there were few official prostitutes, so private brothels flourished everywhere. Brokers bought poor girls, greedy and reckless, for a slightly higher price and sent them there, earning much more than if they were sold elsewhere. Granny Wang, who bought Liuzao, specialized in this line of business.

Gu Zao was shocked and stamped his foot angrily. He turned around and went to Liu Zao's house. Ignoring the fact that the door was still closed, he kicked it open. Liu's wife came out when she heard the noise. This time, she was followed by a man, who was Liu Zao's father, whom she had met once before.

Just as Liu was about to start cursing, she saw that Gu Zao had returned, and then angrily said, "You are so rude, why are you kicking my door for no reason?"

Gu Zao glared at her, then glanced at Liu Zao's father, who was cowering behind her, and said coldly, "You're really clueless. That red cotton-padded jacket was clearly bought for Liu Zao! But you took it off and gave it to the little one! There are plenty of mothers in this world, but this is the first time I've seen one like you!"

The woman from the Liu family was momentarily speechless, a suspicious blush rising on her sallow face. She stammered a few times before finally saying, "This is my family matter. What are you, an outsider, doing here making irresponsible remarks?"

Gu Zao looked at the two of them and sneered, "Liu Zao called me 'sister' once, and I treated her like a younger sister. She did call you 'father' and 'mother' for several years, and even tigers and wolves know to protect their cubs, yet you didn't treat her like a daughter. If you were truly so poor that you couldn't survive and had to sell her for money, you should at least have chosen a decent place for her. Now you've heartlessly pushed her into that fire pit! Do you really feel at peace with yourselves after getting that little bit of money?!"

The woman lowered her head sheepishly after Gu Zao's words. Behind her, Liu Zao's father's face was also flushed red. He glanced at his wife before whispering, "I heard from that old woman Wang the other day that she's going to continue north along the melon village to recruit more people. She comes every year, and everyone in the villages along the way knows her. Go ask her; maybe you'll still have some information..."

Gu Zao spat at him angrily, then glanced at Er Ya, whose chapped little face was peeking timidly from behind the curtain. It seemed her mother had been too focused on having a son and hadn't taken good care of her. She sighed, took the box of candy from Qing Wu, stuffed it into Er Ya's arms, and turned to leave. After a few steps, she thought for a moment, then turned back to Qing Wu and said, "I'm going north to Guazhuang to find Granny Wang. We'll have to take the main road. Go back and tell Mother, then go find Madam Shen and ask Uncle Shen to send a few people over. Tell her that my sister will make up for the lost wages."

Qingwu was taken aback. Gu Zao knew he was worried about traveling alone, so she smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. Besides, this is the outskirts of the capital, are you afraid I'll be kidnapped and sold? Liu Zao went north with that old woman, I have to catch up quickly, otherwise if I'm too late, I won't be able to find Liu Zao."

Although Qingwu was still worried, he knew that this was the only way. He repeatedly told Gu Zao to be careful before he hurriedly headed towards Tokyo to report the news.

Gu Zao had planned to buy some jujubes before leaving, so he carried some money with him. Upon arriving at the bustling market, he found a carriage and agreed that the journey might take one or two days. The driver, seeing the high price, readily agreed and whipped the carriage towards the melon village. They didn't arrive until dusk. Asking several villagers along the way, he learned that Granny Wang had stayed there for a day, taken in two maids, and had just left that afternoon, heading north along the main road.

The coachman was a generous man. Knowing the reason for Gu Zao's trip, he already had some respect for her. Seeing that Gu Zao looked worried, he said, "Young lady, don't worry. If you go north, you'll reach Fengyao Ferry on the Yellow River. That old woman must be going to cross the river. I'll take you to that ferry now, and maybe you can catch up with her."

Gu Zao was overjoyed. He thanked the coachman and continued north along the official road for about an hour before arriving at Fengyao Ferry.

As it was already late, the ferry had long since closed. Several inns had been set up nearby for travelers who couldn't cross the river that night to stay overnight. Gu Zao glanced around at the carriages and horses parked outside the inns and asked the people inside. He learned that Granny Wang had already taken the last ferry across the river. He was both anxious and angry, but there was nothing he could do. He had no choice but to spend the night with the driver in the inn and wait to cross the river again the next morning to catch up with her.

The blankets at the inn were damp and cold, and smelled strange. Gu Zao had no choice but to lie there fully clothed and cover herself with them. She drifted off to sleep until midnight, when she was woken up by the cold. When she got up, she saw that it had started snowing heavily again, even more so than the snowfall before the New Year. Gu Zao couldn't fall back asleep, so she simply sat on the bed all night. She finally managed to endure until dawn, and after eating some hot soup noodles at the inn with the driver, she and the cart took the first ferry across the river.

The snow fell even heavier, piling up thickly on both sides of the official road. Only the middle section, trampled by passing carts and horses, had become a wet and slippery muddy ground, making the mule pull the cart much slower. It was nearly noon, and they still hadn't caught up with Wang Po's cart. They inquired and found out they were all just a step too late. Gu Zao, anxious, couldn't help but urge the driver on. The driver whipped the mule harder, and suddenly the mule slipped and fell to the ground, whimpering and unable to stand. It had broken its leg.

Helpless, Gu Zao had no choice but to temporarily settle the driver at a nearby farmhouse, give him some extra money, and let him go home on his own. He then thought about calling another vehicle. However, there were only a few scattered farmhouses along the official road, and after asking around, he couldn't find any mules available for rent. He had no choice but to stand by the roadside in the wind and snow, hoping to catch a ride with Uncle Shen and his group or get lucky and hitch a ride.

Although Gu Zao was wearing thick clothes when she came out, she still felt cold standing in the wind and snow. But thinking that if she gave up and went back, the Liu family would be truly ruined, she gritted her teeth and waited.

Just as she was getting anxious, she finally spotted a faint black dot in the snow in the distance. Gu Zao's spirits lifted, thinking that if it was a carriage, she would definitely stop it and hitch a ride. But as she got closer, she realized that it was just a lone horse, and there seemed to be a man wearing a cloak sitting on it. She couldn't hitch a ride with him.

Gu was already disappointed and lowered her head slightly. The horse came very quickly, galloping past her with a whoosh, kicking up a cloud of icy mud, some of which splashed onto her face, leaving a cool sensation.

Chapter 41 Liu Zao is rescued, and red bean millet rice is served at the wild temple.

Gu Zao was too exhausted to argue with anyone. She simply raised her arm to wipe her face, which was red from the cold, and then covered her numb ears. Suddenly, she saw the horse brake abruptly and return to her in the blink of an eye, kicking up a cloud of mud that splattered her skirt. She looked up and froze. The rider was none other than Master Yang! But now, he was looking at her with his brows furrowed and a displeased expression on his face.

Before Gu Zao could react, the man had already pulled her onto the horse. She struggled slightly, and a thick fur cloak covered her from head to toe, instantly enveloping her in warmth.

Gu Zao trembled, finally ceasing her struggle and no longer trying to figure out how Master Yang had suddenly appeared there. She simply turned around and said anxiously, "Liu Zao has been sold to a matchmaker. If we hurry, we should be able to catch up with her."