Chapter 35 - 1#

Traces (Revised) The mad dog smelled Zhizhi’s scent…#

In the blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival arrived.

This morning, the sky outside the window was still dark when Yan Zhi climbed out of bed.

He closed his eyes, hugging his quilt, and sat on the bed, dazed for a moment.

“Ah—”

Yan Zhi raised his hand, covering his mouth, and gave a long yawn. Then, in one breath, he threw back the quilt and got out of bed.

He picked up the neatly folded clothes in front of the bed, wrapped himself tightly in them, and ran his fingers through his hair a few times, smoothing down the tufts that were sticking up and tying it with a hair ribbon.

Finally, he pushed open the door, walked into the courtyard, and drew half a basin of cold water from the well.

From start to finish, his eyes were closed, as if he were sleepwalking.

It wasn’t until the bone-chilling cold water submerged his hands that Yan Zhi shivered and immediately snapped his eyes open.

Awake! He was awake! Finally awake!

Yan Zhi cupped his face with his freezing hands and looked down to see Tang Gao circling around his feet. He gave it a gentle pat: “Let’s go, we’ll head over now. Don’t wake up Hua Sheng Gao; let it sleep a bit longer.”

“Awoo—”

When Yan Zhi arrived at the neighboring courtyard with Tang Gao, Chu Yu had already been busy for a long time.

The fire in the kitchen stove was blazing, the water in the pot was boiling, and clouds of steam were rising.

Wearing an apron, Chu Yu had already kneaded several large basins of dough. At this moment, he was pouring the batter into a large basin, preparing to steam sponge cakes.

Yan Zhi hurried in: “A-Yu, why did you get up so early today?”

Busy with his work, Chu Yu didn’t even look up: “There’s too much to do, and I couldn’t sleep anyway, so I just got up to start.”

Yan Zhi rolled up his sleeves: “Then I’ll get to work too…”

Chu Yu looked up and glanced at him: “You should go wash up first, so you don’t drop any sleep crust into the batter.”

“Oh…” Yan Zhi pursed his lips and responded dully.

He turned around, about to go get some water, when he heard Chu Yu call out to him: “Isn’t there hot water on the stove? Use the hot water to wash.”

“Mm?” Yan Zhi’s eyes lit up, “Is the hot water for me?”

“Yeah, who else?”

“I thought it was for steaming the cakes.”

Yan Zhi smiled broadly, ran to the stove, scooped out half a ladle of hot water, mixed in some cold water, and comfortably washed his face and wiped his hands.

Chu Yu refilled the water. Once it boiled again, he put the sponge cakes on to steam: “When you’re done, come over and help.”

“Got it.” Yan Zhi quickly tossed out the used water, returned to the kitchen, and began to work.

Chu Yu handled the batter and dough consistency.

Yan Zhi was responsible for dividing the dough into small portions, rolling them into rounds, flattening them, and shaping them.

Since it was the New Year season, the people loved festive things.

Not long ago, Yan Zhi had a sudden inspiration to shape the dough into peach blossoms and steamed a few. As soon as he brought them out, people immediately came to ask about them, and they sold out quickly.

Sensing a business opportunity, Chu Yu took some time to teach him how to shape little bunnies and little goldfish, and Yan Zhi learned quickly.

The two of them discussed it and finally raised the price of the shaped brown sugar cakes by two copper coins, selling them for five copper coins each.

During the festive season, ordinary families wouldn’t mind an extra copper coin or two; buying them to look at at home was festive and made them feel good.

Thus, Yan Zhi and Chu Yu’s income increased a bit more.

A little adds up to a lot. By the time the first lunar month was half over, they had earned more than they did in the entire last month of the previous year.

Yan Zhi’s hands moved swiftly. One little bunny after another hopped out from his hands, and one little goldfish after another swam out from his palms, finally landing in the steamer baskets, lined up neatly.

It was another busy day.

When it got light, Yan Zhi took the steamed pastries to the market to sell.

For the Lantern Festival, although Shiyan had no fireworks or performances to watch, the townspeople would still stroll through the streets and buy lanterns.

While Yan Zhi went out to sell the cakes, Chu Yu stayed at home, continuing to steam brown sugar cakes and sponge cakes.

In the afternoon, the two of them loaded the pastries onto the cart. Once everything was ready, Chu Yu set off for the city.

This was Chu Yu’s first time going to the city to sell cakes, but he had prepared a full three baskets of sponge cakes, five baskets of brown sugar cakes, and some candied mountain hawthorns coated in syrup.

He was full of confidence, intending to make a name for himself in the city in one go.

Yan Zhi, however, was a bit worried, tugging at the donkey’s reins as he saw Chu Yu off at the entrance of the town.

All along the way, Yan Zhi was nagging: “A-Yu, be careful when you’re driving the cart; don’t fall asleep. I told you to take a nap at noon, did you sleep? Are you still sleepy now?”

“If it’s too late when you finish selling the cakes, just find an inn in the city to stay for the night. Come back tomorrow when it’s light; don’t be in a hurry.”

“If it gets very late and you haven’t sold them all, then forget it. Maybe the city people have different tastes from us; you can just bring them back for me to eat.”

Chu Yu draped his newly made rabbit fur cloak over his shoulders: “I know.”

Yan Zhi wrinkled his small face, still seemingly uneasy: “The wind is cold at night; I’ll give you my rabbit fur hat to wear too.”

“No. Your head is too small; your hat only fits you.”

“Then… Uncle Liu, the butcher, is also going to the city tonight. If anything happens, just ask him for help.”

Chu Yu said helplessly: “I’ve known Uncle Liu longer than you have; I’m the one who introduced you two.”

“Oh…” Yan Zhi lowered his head and patted the donkey’s head, “Hua Sheng Gao, I just fed you some fodder; pull the cart well and don’t lose steam halfway.”

Hua Sheng Gao let out a cry, which could be taken as an agreement.

Yan Zhi looked down and saw Tang Gao following at his feet. A flash of inspiration hit him: “A-Yu, how about letting Tang Gao go with you?”

“Of course Tang Gao has to go with me, otherwise what would I sell—”

Halfway through his sentence, Chu Yu’s brow furrowed as he suddenly realized.

“You’re… not talking about this big black dog, are you?”

“Mm-hmm.” Yan Zhi nodded vigorously, “He can protect you.”

Standing with him, Tang Gao also wagged his tail hard.

As a result, with a “smack,” Tang Gao’s tail hit Chu Yu’s leg squarely. It was like a whip, making him grimace in pain instantly.

“Ouch! It’s so big now; if it’s with me, what customer would dare come near? And it’s so black that you can’t even see it once it gets dark. If I lose it, you’ll definitely be furious with me.”

As Chu Yu spoke, he took two steps back: “Besides, even I’m a little afraid of it.”

Tang Gao also tucked its tail and silently stepped back, continuing to cling to Yan Zhi’s feet.

It didn’t want to go out with this person either.

“Alright then.” Yan Zhi had no other choice and could only hand the willow branch whip to Chu Yu, “Then be extra careful yourself.”

“Fine, you be careful too. Since I’m not home, lock the door early and go to sleep. Don’t drink any wine!”

The image of a muddled, drunken cat-like Yan Zhi from New Year’s Eve was still fresh in his mind.

Chu Yu took the whip, jumped onto the donkey cart, and waved it at him: “I’m off.”

“Have a safe trip!”

Yan Zhi stood at the entrance of the town, watching Chu Yu drive the donkey cart away, waving his hand vigorously at him.

In the late afternoon, the sun slanted westward, shining on Yan Zhi, warm and pleasant.

Yan Zhi stayed in the same spot, and no matter how much Chu Yu waved him back, he didn’t leave.

Not until Chu Yu and the donkey cart disappeared around the bend in the path did he finally turn around with Tang Gao to head back.

“Let’s go, Tang Gao. It’s just the two of us… one person and one dog. I’ll go back and boil a big bone for you to eat.”

“Woof—”

“Ha! You little rascal. Yesterday at the market, I told you to bark for the vegetable-selling granny, and you just went ‘awoo.’ Only when there’s food do you go ‘woof,’ right?”

Tang Gao didn’t answer, nor could it; it just dashed forward.

Yan Zhi quickly lifted the hem of his robe and chased after it.

Back at home.

Yan Zhi lit the fire to boil water and cooked himself a bowl of meat and vegetable congee, and boiled a bone with cartilage for Tang Gao.

During the New Year days, Chu Yu had cooked a lot of heavy meat dishes for him, so tonight he’d change things up and eat something light.

After finishing dinner and washing the dishes, it was almost dark.

Yan Zhi brought a ladder and climbed up to the roof.

As soon as he sat down and looked down, Tang Gao was still circling below.

Having no choice, he had to climb back down and, using all his strength, hug Tang Gao and help its paws onto the ladder.

“Go! Tang Gao, climb up!”

It took a lot of effort and hauling for Yan Zhi to get it onto the roof.

Yan Zhi sat down on the ridge of the roof, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

“A-Yu really wasn’t wrong; you really are growing bigger and bigger. I remember… when that person first brought you back, you were only so tiny, like a little squirrel. I could pick you up with one hand.”

Tang Gao huddled beside him, nuzzling his hand with its warm, moist nose.

Yan Zhi patted its head: “Will you keep growing? If you grow any more, I really won’t be able to carry you.”

Most of the people in Shiyan had gone into the city to see the festivities, and Yan Zhi’s neighbors were no exception.

Tianshui Alley was empty, with only him remaining.

Yan Zhi and Tang Gao snuggled together, gazing at the distant, overlapping mountains.

Yan Zhi asked: “Tang Gao, have you ever seen fireworks?”

“Awoo—”

“They’re very beautiful.” Yan Zhi sat up straight, “Like when we burn wood in the stove, but a bit different. It’s like this—”

He stretched out both hands, clenched them into fists, and then opened them in front of Tang Gao, mimicking a firework: “Boom—”

“And then there’s a ‘crash’ sound, and sparks fly everywhere. It’s very pretty.”

Seeing that Tang Gao had no reaction, Yan Zhi added: “You probably don’t understand when I say it like this, but you’ll know in a bit. Anyway, it’s very beautiful. I hope they last a bit longer this time; don’t let me only see a couple of flashes before they’re gone…”

Before he could finish, on the other side of the mountain, there was a sudden flash like “lightning.”

Immediately after, a muffled “thunder” sound followed.

Yan Zhi quickly pulled Tang Gao and stood up on the roof: “Look!”

Small red fireworks bloomed on the other side of the mountain.

Though they were small, in the pitch-black night sky, they were exceptionally clear and vivid.

Watching the fireworks, Yan Zhi silently counted to three in his heart.

Three— two—

Great! The fireworks didn’t end immediately!

So, he should be able to see his fill this time!

Just then, a gust of wind blew towards him.

Yan Zhi was blown back and wobbled, falling onto the roof ridge on his backside.

“Ouch…”

He rubbed his bottom and hugged Tang Gao tightly: “It’s a good thing you’ve grown big, or else we would have been blown away by the wind.”

“Awoo—”

At this time, Chu Yu was busy as could be in the city.

He had arrived in the city before dusk. He had just found a good spot, unloaded the pastries, and set up his stall. Before he even had a chance to sit down and catch his breath, customers were already coming up to ask about the prices.

So he hurriedly stood up to introduce the pastries to the customers.