On the tung oil lamp, moths continued to recklessly flutter against the wick.
The monotonous and restless "thump, thump" was the only sound in the main hall.
The night was still young, not yet deep into the evening.
The summer heat of the town had not fully dissipated. Over the courtyard wall, one could hear the slapping of palm-leaf fans and the idle chatter of neighbors in the alleyways.
After Jiang Wan finished her bath, the night breeze blew against her, bringing an indescribable sense of cool comfort.
As she walked out of the kitchen, she saw Madam Yu and Widow Su sitting by the stone table in the courtyard.
The layout of Widow Su's house was rather peculiar.
The shop front facing the street had an extremely narrow opening, but as one walked deeper inside, the space opened up dramatically.
The courtyard was astonishingly large, shaped like a gourd lying on its side.
This layout meant that she could never run a business that required a grand, open storefront. To make a living, Widow Su had gritted her teeth and bought two mules. On ordinary days, she made her living by ferrying townsfolk or nearby villagers back and forth, earning some money for her efforts.
She had watched the rise and fall of Zhou's General Store with her own eyes—from initial envy to the current disdain. The emotions that had accumulated made it impossible for her to grow close to the Zhou family.
Seeing Jiang Wan come out, Madam Yu quickly waved her over and patted the small stool beside her. "Xiao Wan, come sit for a while. This is your Aunt Su."
Jiang Wan obediently walked over. "Hello, Aunt Su."
"Eh, eh, eh, fine, fine, fine." The woman responded in a flurry, but her gaze never once drifted toward Jiang Wan.
She exaggeratedly straightened her back, her brows and eyes scrunching into a knot, and put on a pained expression as she complained to Madam Yu. "Sister, it's not that I don't want to help you. You have no idea—I spent all day yesterday hauling passengers, and my old bones are about to fall apart. My back and legs are aching so much, I can't even say for sure whether I'll be able to get up tomorrow."
As she spoke, she bent down and vigorously rubbed her arms and legs, letting out sharp "hiss, hiss" sounds of discomfort.
"Well—" The smile on Madam Yu's face froze.
She turned to look at Jiang Wan, her eyes filled with unconcealable anxiety and embarrassment.
"Heh…" Jiang Wan let out a soft laugh, the corner of her mouth curling into an amused arc. "Mother, let's not trouble Aunt Su."
She leisurely wrung out her damp hair, and when her eyes met Madam Yu's puzzled gaze, her tone suddenly turned gentle. "Mother, I can see that Aunt Su is truly exhausted. Everyone has their struggles. Let's not bother Aunt Su tomorrow. I remember that Xu Lutou at the end of town is full of energy! He drives his cart steadily too. I think he's a good choice."
The wrinkles on Widow Su's face instantly smoothed out, and she shrilled, "You want to go to Xu Lutou? How could his donkey be better than my mules?!" The affected look of pain had yet to fully recede from her face, making her appear utterly ridiculous at that moment.
She stared at Jiang Wan and rolled her eyes hard at her. "And you, girl—who exactly are you trying to mock with that tone?"
Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow, set down the cloth in her hand, and her gaze turned cold. "Aunt Su, you're not the only one hauling people in this town. My mother was only being kind, thinking that since we're neighbors, we might as well support your business. What's the matter? You don't want the business, but you won't let us find someone else either?"
Before the words had even faded, she rose swiftly, draping the damp cloth over the clothesline with a flick of her wrist. "Mother, I'll go ask the Xu family. Their cart's free—we'll hire the whole thing for Father, no need to put up with anyone's attitude here!"
With that, she turned and strode out of the shop, her steps resolute.
Widow Su's backache and leg pain vanished in an instant. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she shot up from her stool.
She rushed forward and grabbed Jiang Wan by the elbow, refusing to let her leave. "Hey, hey, hey! What's the matter with you? You called me over to talk, but now you won't even discuss it properly—why are you walking away after two sentences?"
Hiring the whole cart was a different price from a single passenger fare!
The livestock wouldn't get tired, and who wouldn't want a job with little work and good pay?
Jiang Wan shook off Widow Su's grip with such force that the woman stumbled back a step.
She straightened the sleeve that had been crumpled by the grab, and retorted with biting clarity: "My mother called you here to do business—we never begged you for anything! Yes, she traded rice with you before, but that was an exchange of goods, not a handout! If you want to talk business, act like it. If you're going to play hard to get with me, you'd better have the standing to back it up!"
"Hey! You, you, you… come back here!"
Behind her came Widow Su's indignant shout.
Jiang Wan paid it no mind, quickening her pace.
After that outburst, she felt light all over.
Walking along the street paved with bluestone slabs, the night breeze was cool against her skin.
Facing the curious or questioning looks from the neighbors, Jiang Wan simply squared her shoulders, unconcerned.
In this world, kicking someone when they're down is common, but so is offering coal in a snowstorm—it all depends on how you see it.
But Jiang Wan was never one to stew in self-doubt. If one path didn't work, she'd simply try another until she found the right one.
Hanging herself from a single tree was never her style!
The pent-up frustration of the past few days had been released in her argument with Widow Su, and she felt light as a feather—even the irritability and suffocation that had weighed on her chest had mostly dissipated.
Arriving at the Xu family's courtyard, she caught the unmistakable smell of a livestock shed before she even stepped through the gate.
Coming out to greet her was Xu Lutou's wife, a brisk and tidy woman.
"Auntie," Jiang Wan called out.
Auntie Xu noticed the damp strands of hair at her temples and quickly ushered her inside, handing her a cup of cool boiled water infused with mint leaves.
"What's the matter? Sit down and catch your breath, have a drink."
Jiang Wan took the cup and drained it in one go.
The cool, refreshing mint hit her right between the eyes.
Seeing Auntie Xu reaching for the kettle to refill, she quickly stopped her and briefly explained her purpose: she wanted to hire the cart to take Zhou Xianggui to Shuangshi Town for medical treatment.
Auntie Xu was a straightforward woman. After hearing her out, she said, "Old Xu's out back tidying the pen. We won't overcharge you—a round trip for a hundred wen will do."
That was a fair price, and Jiang Wan knew it. She nodded in agreement on the spot.
They settled on meeting at the Zhou Family Grocery Shop at the hour of Chen the next morning, then took their leave of each other.
The next day, at the start of the hour of Chen, the sky was clear and bright.
With a crisp jingle of bells, Xu Lutou arrived on schedule, leading his little donkey.
The donkey wasn't large, but its coat gleamed, and its muscles rippled with each step—a pleasing sight indeed.
Stopping at the front of the grocery shop, Xu Lutou gave a flick of the well-worn little whip in his hand, and a sharp crack echoed through the street.
This is the signal to remind the host family that they were departing.
"First thing in the morning! What's all the racket? Got nothing better to do than eat and shout?"
From the neighboring courtyard came Widow Su's piercing scolding. Clearly, Jiang Wan's blatant disregard for her dignity the night before had successfully riled her up.
Xu Lutou paid no heed to the neighbor's clamor. He tucked his whip into his belt and cheerfully helped Xiao He support Zhou Xianggui onto the wooden cart.
Upon hearing that they were taking Zhou Xianggui to Twin Stone Town for medical treatment, he even went out of his way to spread a thick layer of sun-dried straw padding on the back of the cart.
Jiang Wan gratefully handed over half of the payment. "We appreciate your hard work on this journey."
"Of course, of course." Xu Lutou took the money pouch and tucked it into his chest.
As he circled around to the donkey's head to adjust the reins, Xu Lutou remarked loudly, "Old brother, you're a fortunate man! Marrying such a filial and capable daughter-in-law—you just keep living your days, and they'll only get better and better!"
From behind Widow Su's thick wooden door came a sudden dull thud, as if someone had accidentally bumped into it.
Listening more closely, there was only silence.
Xu Lutou let out a disdainful snort through his nose, slapped the donkey's rump with his rough palm, and the stout donkey took the hint and began to move.
The cart creaked as it slowly rolled over the stone-paved road.
"Off we go!" Xu Lutou called out.
Under Madam Yu's reluctant gaze, they slowly departed…
The mountain road leading to Twin Stone Town was rugged.
On downhill stretches, Xiao He and Jiang Wan took turns riding on the cart to rest. On uphill stretches, the two of them worked together to push the cart forward.
Zhou Xianggui kept offering either water or a handkerchief, and even tried to take Jiang Wan's empty bamboo basket—which held only a burlap sack—onto the cart, but Jiang Wan politely declined each time.
Xu Lutou led the rope at the front, occasionally glancing back.
Watching this family support one another, a hint of wistfulness crept into his eyes.
Back in the day, the Zhou family had been a respectable household of some standing in town. Now they had fallen to such a state—such is the times, such is fate…
The sun gradually climbed to its peak, scorching their backs with heat.
After traveling the mountain road for over two hours, the outline of Twin Stone Town finally appeared before them.
Two massive boulders at the town's entrance were especially striking, standing like guardian deities on either side, leaving a wide gap in the middle for people and carts to pass through.
Legend had it:
Several decades ago, a once-in-a-century flash flood broke out here.
Mudslides carrying broken timber and rubble surged toward the town with overwhelming force.
Cries and wails mingled into chaos.
Young people shouldered their belongings, dragging their wives, children, and elders desperately toward higher ground. The town was in utter turmoil.
Just as the flood was about to swallow the town, two giant boulders rolled down from the mountaintop, landing perfectly at the town's entrance, stubbornly blocking the merciless natural disaster.
The townspeople survived by a hair's breadth and came to regard the two stones as blessed spirit rocks, renaming the town "Twin Stone Town."
On the first and fifteenth of each month, people would bring red cords to pray for blessings.
Now, the two towering boulders still stood there, red cords wrapped around them layer upon layer—some faded to white, others still bearing the vivid hue of cinnabar red…
"We're here."
Xu Lutou wiped his face haphazardly and led the group expertly through the gap between the boulders.
Stepping into Twin Stone Town.
The clamor of the bustling streets rushed to meet them.
Unlike Yongxing Town, which only came alive on market days, this place bustled with activity all year round, being less than twenty li from Yongchuan County. Traveling merchants constantly passed through to rest their feet, giving the town a vibrant, worldly atmosphere.
The cries of street vendors, the clanging of peddlers' bells, and the laughter of children playing all mingled together, weaving a dense net that enveloped everyone who entered the town.
Shops lined the streets on both sides—sweet aromas drifted from the pastry shops, tea houses were packed with merchants taking their rest, and bolts of silk in the fabric stores fluttered gently in the breeze…
Xiao He's eyes were wide as saucers, her head darting left and right, yet she still couldn't take in all the bustle of Shuangshi Town.
Xu Lutou, familiar with the place, found a tea house with ease. He tied the donkey cart in the back courtyard, paid the five-coin resting fee, and then busied himself with adding water and feed for the gray donkey.
Jiang Wan took the opportunity to ask the tea house owner for the location of the renowned healer, then helped Zhou Xianggui along, asking for directions as they made their way there…