Chen Yuanniang felt curious and directly asked Xu Chenger, “Why are Bianjing people so kind? This is already the seventh person who came to deliver hot tea today.”
But no matter how slowly she sipped, savoring the aroma and sweetness for a long time, a bowl was easily emptied.
She looked at Mother and younger brother beside her. Both had eaten a bowl to fill their stomachs and went off to work. Grandma was eating her second bowl, though slower than the first, it was almost finished.
Chen Yuanniang cautiously glanced at Grandma, her small hand silently reaching for the teapot, which likely contained about half a bowl’s worth.
Just as she stealthily moved the teapot sideways, Granny Wang, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised her eyes and witnessed this sneaky, cautious scene.
Granny Wang shifted her gaze to Yuan Niang’s face, her thick dark eyebrows twitching slightly. She didn’t say a word, but her eyes remained fixed.
Yuan Niang immediately pretended ignorance, flashing a bright smile with her white teeth, “Grandma, I’m not full yet.”
“Hah.” Granny Wang curled one corner of her mouth, showing a half-believing, mocking expression.
Though called pounded tea, it was essentially like porridge.
Moreover, the pounded tea made by Ruan Yu Shi was generously filled with many hazelnuts and even sugar crisp cakes—all very filling stuff, perhaps even more satiating than rice. Yuan Niang wasn’t from a wealthy family in Bianjing and never had the habit of three meals a day; one bowl down likely filled her up long ago.
Now, it was merely craving.
But Granny Wang didn’t stop her; she was too lazy to persuade. Kind words couldn’t stop a craving ghost.
“Let her crave to death.” Granny Wang said disdainfully.
Though the words were harsh, when had Grandma ever spoken kindly in private? Chen Yuanniang’s eyes brightened, knowing Grandma meant permission. She immediately poured the remaining bit of pounded tea into her bowl with swift hands—exactly half a bowl.
She lowered her head to sniff, revealing a satisfied smile, then like before, sipped it sip by sip, drinking slowly with great care.
After finishing the pounded tea, Yuan Niang took on the task of washing bowls. She placed all bowls and spoons in the wooden basin, glanced at the water storage jar, decisively fetched a wooden bucket, and said to Granny Wang with full vigor, “Grandma, let me handle fetching water too!”
Just unsure how far the well was from their home.
No problem!
She drank the most pounded tea and now had strength all over her body—so much she felt she could beat a bear to death!
In this household, Grandma was old, Xi Lang was young, Mother was sickly and weak—who could the whole family rely on?
Of course, her!
A country girl, full of strength, capable and clever…
Before Yuan Niang could finish boosting herself, puffing up her chest and praising herself, Granny Wang interrupted, “Fetch water? Fetch what water? Fetch water from where??”
Yuan Niang was somewhat bewildered but her lips moved smoothly, unconsciously saying, “Just… water…”
Seeing Granny Wang look toward the water jar, Yuan Niang, having sorted her thoughts, explained, “The water in the jar has been sitting for a while, uncovered. I’ll fetch some clean water back.”
Granny Wang believed actions spoke faster than words. She pulled out a clump of stuff from the tipped bamboo tube spout above the water jar, and the empty bamboo spout began flowing with clear water.
She then looked at Yuan Niang, “Isn’t this ready-made water?”
Yuan Niang truly hadn’t seen this before, incredulously stepping forward to examine left and right, reaching out to catch the flow—cool and comfortable to touch.
Chen Yuanniang had seen many novel things along the way, but this time she truly couldn’t hold back, exclaiming in a daze, “Heavens! What kind of heavenly life do the people of Bianjing lead?”
Granny Wang had no patience to explain things to her. She fetched some water with a wooden bucket and went off to clean the house on her own.
In contrast, Madam Cen was gentle and considerate. With one arm softly embracing Yuan Niang, she used her other hand to smooth the girl’s stray hairs. “This is called a bamboo water pipe. It isn’t unique to Bianjing—other places have it too if the local officials are diligent. Actually, it’s not difficult to build. Water is channeled from outside the city into the city, where stone troughs of various sizes are constructed to store it. Then bamboo pipes carry the water to each household.
“The only concern is clogging. Since it’s hard to see inside the bamboo pipes, each one has small holes the size of mung beans, plugged with bamboo needles. If a clog stops the water flow, you just pull out the bamboo needles along the pipe to figure out which section is blocked.”
Madam Cen spoke unhurriedly, her voice soothing to the ear. Even though she spoke softly, every word was clear and easy to follow.
Yuan Niang understood, and Chen Kuocang beside her also learned from the explanation. Yet Madam Cen’s gaze grew distant, a faint, nostalgic smile appearing on her face.
Before she married, she had rarely even left the gelou. These were just snippets she had heard after marrying her husband and accompanying him to his official post. In his earlier years, he had governed a region and done many practical things for the people—this bamboo water pipe being one of them.
Back then, he personally inspected and supervised the construction, and she had even brought him meals.
Never did she imagine that one day she would use his words to answer the children’s questions. Could this also be considered him teaching the children?
Madam Cen’s expression grew even softer as she smiled. “Although Bianjing uses bamboo water pipes the most widely, it was actually rural folk who first came up with the idea.”
She looked down at her two children and gently instructed them, “Bianjing is prosperous and full of novelties, but coming from a remote place, we need not think poorly of ourselves.”
“Mm!” Yuan Niang nodded vigorously and responded loudly.
Chen Kuocang straightened his chubby little face and said solemnly, “I will remember Mother’s teachings.”
Madam Cen gently touched their little faces and smiled softly, adding, “This winter will be much easier too.”
It wasn’t just the bamboo water pipe—the house also had a floor stove.
But she would let them discover that for themselves in winter. They would probably be even happier then.
Ever since learning about the bamboo water pipe that could channel water, perhaps out of novelty, Yuan Niang became exceptionally enthusiastic about fetching water and cleaning. She could hardly wait to dirty the water in the wooden bucket, pour it out, and then fetch more from the spout of the bamboo pipe.
Even Chen Kuocang, who was usually steady and unlike a typical seven- or eight-year-old child, felt the same.
He considered himself a modern person who had seen technology and knew how convenient life could be. Yet, coming from a closed-off, barren village to Bianjing, he couldn’t help but be amazed by the wisdom of the ancients. A thousand years ago, in the prosperous capital of Bianjing, people already lived with such convenience.
The so-called bamboo water pipe was actually quite similar to modern tap water.
With water flowing from the bamboo pipes, the cleaning went much faster. However, the place had been uninhabited for a long time, so tidying it up wasn’t easy. It wasn’t just a matter of simply wiping the floors and windows—the roof beams were covered in cobwebs, and leaving them untouched wouldn’t do.
Yuan Niang tied a reed broom upside down to a long wooden pole and volunteered to sweep the roof.
Grandma was capable, but after all, she was getting on in years, and keeping her head tilted upward for too long wasn’t good for her. Mother was busy cleaning the black grime on the zao and wouldn’t be free for a while.
As for Xi Lang…
Shorty!
It had to be her.
Yuan Niang continued her self-praise that had been interrupted by Grandma earlier. Indeed, the family had to rely on her.
Young, agile, and with good stamina—she was truly a master at sweeping cobwebs from the beams!
Yuan Niang, Yuan Niang, put in more effort!
You are absolutely amazing!!
With motivation in place, it was just that dust and cobwebs fell frequently, and Yuan Niang always got annoyed sweeping her hair. In a burst of frustration, she put the wooden bucket on her head and continued working.
She had only swept half of the main hall’s ceiling when knocking sounds came from the small door again.
This time, it wasn’t something to fear or overthink, because the person knocking announced herself while doing so.
“Is anyone home? I’m from the Xu Family Medical Shop next door.” The voice outside sounded like a woman, but not frail; she was probably around thirty, with a strong voice, though not as loud as Granny Wang’s shouting.
Chen Yuanniang glanced at Grandma wiping the window frames, saw her nod, immediately dropped the broom, and happily ran to open the door.
What greeted her was a square-faced woman around thirty, wearing a light reddish-brown top with a collar, a lake-blue short beizi, her hair styled in a wrapped bun, adorned with several pearl Zanzi, even the dangling earrings were studded with pearls.
She also had a pearl dotted on her forehead, which wasn’t unusual, because women in Bianjing all loved pearl makeup.
But seeing all her jewelry embedded with pearls, it seemed her preference was just that.
This square-faced woman who loved pearls immediately gave Yuan Niang a hearty smile upon seeing her, “Such a pretty young lady, where are your elders?”
No one disliked being praised, especially when it was sincere and genuine. Yuan Niang smiled even sweeter, pointing charmingly at Granny Wang inside wiping the window frames on a short stool, “There!”
Granny Wang rinsed and wrung the cloth she had wiped with, shook off water droplets from her rough red hands, wiped them on the apron cloth around her waist, then smilingly stepped forward while responding, “You’re from the Xu Family Medical Shop? Speaking of which, it’s shameful; recently we’ve been busy moving, earlier your family kindly helped, telling the child to relay the message, we saved so many guan, yet haven’t visited your home.”
The square-faced woman waved her hand dismissively, “We’re neighbors, no need for such courtesy, we’ll surely interact often later.”
The square-faced woman nodded backward, and a maid wearing gray coarse cloth, holding a broom and bucket, stepped up, bowed with a bent knee, then silently started cleaning proactively.
This was likely a maid from the Xu family. The Xu family had practiced medicine for generations in Bianjing, having extra silver to hire two or three maids or elderly women wasn’t strange.
Although living next door, the Xu Family Medical Shop, including the shop and residence, was about two or three times larger than Chen Yuanniang’s home.
And from behind the square-faced woman’s waist popped out a round face, tilting to look toward Chen Yuanniang’s direction. Two young ladies of similar age secretly met eyes, unconsciously chuckled together, both feeling quite cheerful.
The square-faced woman continued speaking, “My maiden surname is Hui, neighbors all call me Hui Niang, how should I address you?”
Granny Wang was straightforward, direct and blunt, “My maiden surname is Wang, from my previous residence, everyone called me Granny Wang.
“I’m not afraid you’ll look down on me; my husband’s surname is Chen, but both my husband and only son died early, leaving a family of orphans and widows…”
She clarified upfront, also to avoid initial closeness, later knowing and feeling it unlucky, then avoiding like plague.
But Madam Hui showed no sign of awkwardness, nor did she stiffly change the subject with an apology. Instead, she stepped forward to support Granny Wang, her words tumbling out like a string of beads. “Heavens, you must have truly suffered, managing the whole family. Now that we’re neighbors, if there’s anything you need in the future, just say the word. We’ll help each other out.”
This Madam Hui was truly a remarkable person.
Direct, generous, and warm-hearted—Chen Yuanniang had never encountered such a character in the countryside.
Of course, there were good and bad people in the countryside, kind and warm-hearted ones too. But perhaps due to the isolation of rural areas, women rarely appeared in public. Even those in the county who were forced by circumstances to step out often hid a sense of self-abandonment beneath their clever, smooth-talking façades.
Beneath Madam Hui’s enthusiastic and eloquent words, however, was a different kind of vitality—a sense of bustling energy and hopefulness, as if life were full of promise.
She also lacked the reserved dignity typical of a household matron. Seeing that the Chen family truly only had a few women and children, she simply rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a broom, and began helping. Granny Wang tried to stop her but couldn’t prevail.
Even Xu Chenger, who had originally come to play with Yuan Niang, joined in.
But carrying wooden buckets or ending up covered in cobwebs wasn’t exactly dignified. Xu Chenger went home and fetched two bamboo hats, one for Yuan Niang and one for herself. This made things much easier, and the two girls worked with extra enthusiasm.
Seeing this, Madam Hui beside them was so annoyed that the pearls on her earrings swayed violently. She scolded loudly, “You silly child, you went all the way home and didn’t think to bring more hats?”
Xu Chenger glanced at her angry mother, stuck out her tongue, then turned to exchange a look with Yuan Niang. The two shared a smile, held hands, and ran off together.
When is friendship best forged? Naturally, when being scolded in public and escaping together with a friend.
Chen Yuanniang and Xu Chenger were soon chatting and laughing. Xu Chenger often complained about how strict Madam Hui was with her, while Yuan Niang spoke of Granny Wang. Truth be told, although Madam Hui and Granny Wang were far apart in age, their personalities were quite similar.
During the cleaning breaks, the small gate was knocked on many more times, all by neighbors from the surrounding area.
Most came to offer hot tea, some brought dried fruits or homemade snacks, and others lent a hand moving things. But the only one who stayed to help for so long was Madam Hui.
Unlike the polite exchanges of the elders, the children spoke much more casually.
Chen Yuanniang, feeling curious, asked Xu Chenger directly, “Why are the people of Bianjing so kind? You’re already the seventh person to bring hot tea today.”
Since the roof had been swept clean, the two girls crouched in front of a large, freshly washed water vat, brushing dust and cobwebs off each other.
While carefully brushing cobwebs from Yuan Niang’s hair, Xu Chenger replied casually, “It’s a custom here. Whenever new neighbors move in, people bring hot tea.
“But almost everyone living in our alley runs a shop or has some other business. Those who open their doors for trade emphasize harmony to prosper, so they’re naturally warm toward their neighbors. Besides, having a bit of extra money makes people more inclined to act kindly, less likely to haggle over every penny.
“Your family doesn’t have a grown man in charge, so moving here was really the right choice. If you’d gone for cheaper housing near the New Caomen area, you’d likely attract unwanted attention. It wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is here.”
Chen Yuanniang had always been considered exceptionally clever in the countryside—never losing an argument and handling farmwork with efficiency. But seeing Xu Chenger’s natural, composed expression as she spoke so eloquently, she suddenly felt the gap between them.
She had never thought about these things before, nor had she ever heard anyone mention them.
She had only listened to storytellers in the marketplace, where tales always ended with good people rewarded and bad people punished. She had never known that those who did business or had extra money were more likely to speak kindly and gently.
Yuan Niang listened, lost in thought, and it took her a long moment to react. Her eyes sparkled as if she were gazing upon the smartest person in the world, and she said sincerely, “Cheng’er, you’re so clever! You know everything!”
Xu Chenger felt a bit shy under her earnest gaze, but her temperament was like Madam Hui’s—naturally bold and straightforward—so she didn’t rush to deny it.
“This is all thanks to my grandfather. He passed the Juren examination—he’s really amazing! In the future, I’ll take you to see him more often. Just listen to him talk, and you’ll become smarter too!”
Chen Yuanniang nodded vigorously, clutching Xu Chenger’s sleeve. “Sister Cheng’er, you’re so kind.”
They had just compared their ages earlier and realized that although Xu Chenger’s round face made her look younger, she was actually a year older than Yuan Niang.
Under Chen Yuanniang’s gaze—her beautiful, fair face, her bright eyes, and the repeated calls of “Sister Cheng’er”—Xu Chenger felt her face grow warm and couldn’t help but feel a little giddy, as if floating on clouds.
Good heavens, so this is what it feels like to have a pretty little sister by your side.
Why did her mother have to give birth to a younger brother? All he ever did was play in the mud, run around with snot hanging from his nose, and smell awful.
Once, she had gathered a plate of pastries and Ke Shui during the afternoon, hoping to imitate the wealthy young ladies in the storybooks by enjoying snacks and admiring flowers. She had asked her younger brother to join her, but that rascal had simply gulped down the Ke Shui and devoured the pastries in one go, not even minding how rich they were. Then he fidgeted, unable to sit still, always wanting to run off. It had infuriated her.
If it were Sister Yuan Niang instead…
Just the thought was delightful.
But now probably wasn’t the time for flower-viewing. Still, it didn’t matter—she had something else in mind!
Xu Chenger took Yuan Niang’s hand and whispered that they should go outside to take a look.
Yuan Niang agreed immediately, tiptoeing out the door with great cooperation.