The next day brought a light, late-spring rain.
Mist hovered over the wet flagstone streets, the fine drizzle weaving a hazy curtain beneath the eaves.
Chen Qing, carrying two salted fish, walked along the damp stone path to the Yang Family's home in Baihua Lane.
KNOCK KNOCK!
"Who is it?" a sharp female voice called from within.
The wooden door opened with a CREAK, revealing a dark, gaunt face.
"What's a brat like you doing here!?"
Chen Jinhua squinted at Chen Qing, her brow furrowed into a knot.
In the past, visits from Chen Qing's family rarely meant good news; they were usually here to borrow money.
Chen Qing said, "Aunt, my mother salted two fish..."
Hearing the words "salted fish," Chen Jinhua's tense expression eased slightly. She turned sideways to open a crack in the doorway. "Come in."
Inside, Yang Tiezhu was stooped over, adding firewood to the stove. Seeing Chen Qing, he quickly wiped a long bench with his sleeve. "Ah Qing, you're here? Have a seat."
In contrast to Chen Jinhua's sharp, caustic nature, Yang Tiezhu was an honest and easygoing man.
"Here, have some water." Yang Tiezhu picked up a chipped pottery kettle from the side of the stove.
As Chen Qing took the kettle, he noticed a bruise on Yang Tiezhu's face and couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, your face..."
Yang Tiezhu looked away evasively and mumbled, "...Fell down by accident a while ago. It's nothing."
The marks were clearly from a fist or a foot. A thought struck Chen Qing. 'Could Aunt have done this?'
Yang Tiezhu clearly didn't want to talk about it, so Chen Qing didn't press him, quickly changing the subject. "Is Cousin Hui Niang not home?"
Chen Jinhua snorted. "That girl went to the cloth mill first thing in the morning. She works her fingers to the bone every day, but her wages..."
She suddenly stopped, her eyes sweeping over Chen Qing. "Why do you ask?"
"Don't think I don't know. I found out she gave you her wages last time."
Chen Jinhua sneered. "That girl... her loyalties lie elsewhere."
She deliberately stressed the word "elsewhere."
The sound of footsteps came from outside the window, followed by the thud of a wooden basin hitting the ground.
Chen Qing turned his head and saw Yang Huien in the courtyard, bending over to pick up scattered clothes.
She was thinner than the last time he'd seen her. Her wrists were so slender you could see the bones, and water dripped from the ends of her hair. She had clearly just returned from doing the laundry.
"Mother, I'm home..."
Yang Huien looked up and saw Chen Qing. Her eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.
She hurried into the house, placing herself between Chen Qing and Chen Jinhua. "Aunt Wang said she needs to borrow our rice sieve..."
Chen Jinhua yanked Yang Huiniang's arm. "What are you hiding for? He came here specifically to see you!"
She glanced sideways at Chen Qing. "Right, Ah Qing?"
Chen Qing said, "Aunt, I just..."
"Just what?" his aunt's voice suddenly rose. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"
She snatched the salted fish from the table. "How much silver are two stinking fish worth?"
"Mother!" Yang Huien interrupted suddenly, her voice trembling. "That money was from my dowry! I can give it to whomever I please."
SMACK!
His aunt slammed the fish onto the ground, where they were instantly covered in dust.
"You wretched girl!" She scowled. "Have you forgotten who raised you?"
Yang Huien bent down to pick them up, but Chen Qing placed a hand on her shoulder.
He slowly bent down, picked up the fish one by one, and gently brushed the dirt off them.
"Aunt." He straightened up, his voice calm. "These were made from the fattest carp at Qinghe Port. My mother said this is your favorite."
At this, Chen Jinhua's expression froze.
Chen Qing re-wrapped the fish, placed them gently on the stove, and then left.
"Ah Qing."
Yang Huiniang quickly ran after him.
Yang Tiezhu said in a low voice, "Ah Qing is a good kid. He might not have many skills, but he's obedient and filial..."
"You think I'm just obsessed with money, don't you?"
Chen Jinhua's eyes suddenly reddened, her voice like sandpaper. "Do you think I'm greedy for that little bit of silver?"
She grabbed one of Hui Niang's coarse cloth garments hanging on the line. The fabric was already washed thin and white.
"SIGH!"
Yang Tiezhu's stooped back seemed to bend even further. He silently picked up the fallen fire tongs, the dying embers in the stove casting a mottled light across his face.
.....
「Out on the lane.」
Yang Huiniang grabbed Chen Qing's arm. Her fingertips were cool, but her voice was urgent. "Ah Qing, my mother was just angry. She didn't mean what she said. Don't take it to heart..."
Chen Qing turned his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, I didn't take it to heart."
Chen Jinhua clearly thought he had tricked Yang Huien out of her silver coins.
Yang Huiniang looked up at him, her brow still furrowed. "Really?"
"Really."
He nodded, his voice calm.
Only then did she let out a breath of relief, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "That's good."
Chen Qing's gaze fell to her folded hands. Her knuckles were red and swollen, covered in fine cracks like a dry riverbed, some of them seeping blood.
He frowned. "Are your hands any better?"
Yang Huiniang instinctively pulled her hands into her sleeves and smiled. "Much better. They'll be fine once spring comes and it gets warmer."
"I have some silver here." Chen Qing took out a few pieces of broken silver from his robes and, without another word, pressed them into her palm.
"Ah Qing!" She frantically tried to refuse. "You'll have plenty of expenses in the future! How can I take your money?"
But Chen Qing held her wrist, his grip firm and unyielding. "I told you I would pay you back, with interest."
Her nose tingled. She clutched the silver tightly and said in a low voice, "...The interest wasn't this high. I'll just hold on to it for you. I'll give it back when you need money to get married."
Chen Qing was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Alright."
"Ah Qing, I still have chores at home. I have to get back."
Yang Huien said softly, "It gets a little cold at night. Remember to dress warmly."
After saying this, she hurried back toward her home.
Chen Qing took a deep breath and headed for Qinghe Pier.
Just as he stepped into the rear courtyard of the River Department, waves of cheers came from the Martial Arts Arena.
Following the sound, he saw more than ten Patrols in a semicircle, watching two figures spar in the center. The flurry of their fists and kicks stirred up clouds of dust.
Cheng Ming stood with his arms crossed, watching with great interest.
"Chief!"
Chen Qing walked over. "What's going on here?"
"These two are having a match. I'm just enjoying the show."
Cheng Ming smiled. "The one on the left is Patrol Wang Cheng from the first squad. He previously studied at a Martial Arts Hall and cultivates the Twelve-Path Seven-Star Leg. The one on the right is Zhu Ming, who cultivates the Sea-breaking Fist; it's a family style of Martial Arts. He also worked in the Li Family's Nursing Home for a while. He ended up at the River Department to make a living after offending his masters."
Chen Qing focused his attention on the fight. The two men's techniques were incredibly fierce, and their fists and feet met with dull thuds.
This was different from the sparring at the Zhou Institute, which was always restrained. Every one of these two's moves carried the ruthlessness of a real battle. They had clearly seen true life-or-death combat.
Suddenly, a loud THUD echoed in the arena. Zhu Ming found an opening in Wang Cheng's defense with a "Raging Wave Crashing the Shore" and forced him back several steps.
The crowd of watching Patrols erupted in cheers.
Cheng Ming nodded slightly. "As expected of someone from the Li Mansion's Nursing Home. His Sea-breaking Fist already has some real skill behind it."
At the edge of the arena, a young Patrol whispered to another, "I hear the monthly salary at the Li Mansion is more than five times that of a regular member of a Nursing Home..."
"You need to have real skill for that. Last year, when the Li Family was recruiting for their Nursing Home, they only picked two out of more than thirty applicants..."