To her surprise, this grey rat spirit seemed a bit different now.
It had a blade of grass perched on its head and was wrapped in a large lotus leaf with four holes poked through it. It stood upright on its hind legs, its front paws tucked against its chest, attempting to walk like a human.
Unfortunately, it was top-heavy. As it walked, its plump body wobbled and swayed, making for a rather comical sight.
Upon seeing Nan Zhi, the grey rat bowed low, its paws coming together in a proper formal greeting.
“Shu Jiulang greets his benefactor.”
“You took your thirty-seven rat pups to seek refuge with your seventeenth uncle. Did everything go smoothly?”
Nan Zhi was inwardly amazed. She crouched down and smiled. “I told Qiao Niangzi about your situation. She already knows it was you who saved her. However, if you're thinking of moving back, I’m afraid that’s no longer possible.”
“No need to move back, no need to move back! This little demon is living quite comfortably here! My seventeenth uncle, Shu Shiqilang, has been recognized as the godson of Grandpa Mud Ghost at the City God Temple. All the spirits and ghosts who pass by have to give me a bit of respect.”
The whiskers near Shu Jiulang’s mouth twitched as he scratched his snout with his paws. “Nan Zhi Niangzi has shown us a kindness as vast as the heavens! That Painted Skin Ghost was a fierce and evil spirit. Ever since she entered Dingyuan County, no one knows how many little demons she captured to skin and de-bone. She’d use the bones to make brush handles, tail hair for the tips, and she’d grind up hearts and livers to make pigments... I had ruined her plans several times before. If she were still around and caught me, she would have certainly skinned me alive.”
At this point, the large rat shuddered violently.
Nan Zhi didn't know where Shu Jiulang had learned such flowery, formal language, and he had clearly only half-mastered it. Still, she could understand his meaning.
The two of them had spoken at length, but to Nan Ye’s ears, it was just Nan Zhi talking to herself while Shu Jiulang made a series of frantic squeaks.
“Sister Zhi, can you really understand what the demon is saying?”
Nan Ye’s eyes were sparkling, filled with a mix of tension and excitement. She tentatively addressed the grey rat spirit. “Rat, rat, do you still remember me? If you do, spin in a circle on the ground.”
Shu Jiulang naturally recognized Nan Ye, but because the bone in his throat had not yet been transformed, he could not speak human tongue. He simply stood tall and spun in a circle on the ground.
“Oh my!”
Nan Ye was ecstatic. She grabbed Nan Zhi’s arm and shook it. “Look, Sister! This big rat really knows me. He truly has some spiritual intelligence!”
“Shu Jiulang has lived in Dingyuan for over a decade. He might even be older than you.”
Nan Zhi flicked Nan Ye’s forehead before turning back to Shu Jiulang. “Since you are called Shu Jiulang, why is Shu Shiqilang your seventeenth uncle?”
Shu Jiulang, Shu Shiqilang.
From the names alone, one could tell that these demons named themselves in a very simple and crude manner, entirely based on their birth order.
A hint of bashfulness appeared in Shu Jiulang’s bead-like black eyes. “I hope I don't make Nan Zhi Niangzi laugh, hehehe. We demons aren't as particular about names as you humans. In a large family, whichever one is the ninth to develop spiritual awareness is called the ninth son or ninth daughter. However, there are distinctions. For instance, I am the Shu Jiulang from the Qiao family tofu shop in Dingyuan. If you go under the dry goods shop in the east, the bridge tunnel in the west, or the rafters of the Liu family manor in the north, you’re bound to find others called Shu Jiulang as well. Little demons like us, who haven't achieved much, have short lives. If I die one day, a new Shu Jiulang will take my place. There are some powerful demons who give themselves proper names, but I’ve never met one.”
The large rat twisted its waist and pulled the blade of grass off its head to show Nan Zhi. “In the future, if it’s hard for Nan Zhi Niangzi to tell us apart, just look for a tuft of red hair on the rat’s head. It’s very easy to spot.”
Sure enough, Nan Zhi saw a patch of fur on its head that had a faint reddish tint.
So that was how it worked.
She had learned something new. Perhaps because she had a treasure-seeking mouse at home, she didn't find rats as repulsive as she used to. At the very least, the actions of the Shu Jiulang before her were worthy of being called a loyal rat.
“That’s a very distinct feature. This way, even if a whole swarm of rats surrounds me in the future, I’ll be able to recognize you.”
Nan Zhi couldn't help but laugh. She translated the explanation for Nan Ye, and the two sisters burst into laughter together.
...
...
Knowing that Shu Jiulang was doing well, Nan Zhi felt relieved. Since it was still early, the two sisters decided to wander through the nearby market.
Although there were some discrepancies with the Northern Song dynasty she knew, the streets were still bustling with activity. The doors of the tea houses were wide open, and storytellers held folding fans, their expressions impassioned as they happened to be narrating the Civet Cat for Crown Prince mystery.
“It is said that in the palace of the late Emperor, there were two consorts. Consort Liu was treacherous, while Consort Li was kind-hearted. Both were pregnant at the same time—”
No one knew how many times this story had been told, yet the customers in the tea house never grew tired of it. They all sat with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the stage, terrified of missing a single detail.
Across from the tea house was a shop specializing in pastries and fruits. Walking past the front, one could smell a sweet, fragrant aroma. Next to it was a wine shop, its blue-bordered banner hanging diagonally to let everyone know that good wine was sold there.
The street was even more lively.
“Fine satins, high-quality silks from the south! Come and have a look!”
“New summer drinks! Honeyed Peach Brew! An old recipe from Desheng Tower in Dongjingfu! Come in and try some!”
“Guanpu, Guanpu! Five wen a turn, fair prices for all! Would the young ladies like to try their luck?”
“The Wang family is getting married! The groom is here!”
The workers from the tea houses and wine shops shouted to attract customers, and the idle men running the Guanpu games by the roadside were not to be outdone. From the north came a wedding procession accompanied by the sounds of clashing cymbals and drums. The groom rode a bay horse, his handsome face beaming with pride.
“I am getting married today! Come to my house for wine, come for wine! Hahaha!”
The wedding procession was very grand, consisting of dozens of people. Some carried three large redwood chests containing the bride’s dowry, while over a dozen others blew suonas and beat gongs and drums. The momentum was enormous.
Following behind the groom’s horse was a four-person sedan chair. The sedan was exquisitely carved, covered in patterns of mandarin ducks playing in water and magpies perched on branches. The lower half was carved with patterns of fragrant orchids, red beans, and lilies.
“Young Master Wang is getting married! Master Wang has declared that the Wang family distillery will sell its fine wines at half price today!”
A woman dressed as a matchmaker grinned from ear to ear as she scattered peanuts and malt candy from her handkerchief onto the roadside. This action drew many children, who skipped and hopped behind the sedan chair, making the scene incredibly lively.
“Hoh, Master Wang is truly generous! I wonder which family’s daughter he’s marrying?”
“Tsk! What do you know? Master Wang only has this one son. Naturally, the wedding must be grand.”
“Who doesn't know that Young Master Wang is the only child of the Wang family? He’s like the God of Literature descended to earth, a natural scholar. He became a scholar at such a young age!”
“The bride is the daughter of the Ma Family Shops in Wen County. I heard she’s exceptionally beautiful. She and Young Master Wang are truly a match made in heaven!”
The passersby were gossiping fervently. Nan Zhi listened in and handed the dates and peanuts she had just caught to Nan Ye.
“Sister Ye, is this Wang family very famous?”
“Of course.” Nan Ye happily accepted the snacks and nodded. “The Wang family distillery is very famous. Their Immortal Brew is said to have been tasted by actual immortals! Young Master Wang is quite refined, and many girls in the city liked him. However...”
Nan Ye frowned and whispered into Nan Zhi’s ear. “I remember when a servant from the Wang family came to the butcher shop to buy meat. That gossipy old maid mentioned that Young Master Wang had been engaged to the Qu family daughter since childhood. Why has the bride suddenly become the daughter of the Ma family?”
The Qu family daughter?
Wanniang’s surname... happened to be Qu.
Nan Zhi rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Rate on N.U.
