Unsheathed

Zheng Dafeng visited a wine shop before making his way to the Yang Family’s medicine shop. He was an old acquaintance of the woman selling wine, but he was still some way off becoming old sweethearts with her.

The woman was extremely feisty, and the residents in the small town all referred to her as Second Aunt Huang. People had already forgotten her true name.

Many years ago, a drunken man had knocked on the door of the widow at night, yet the widow had flung open the door and greeted him with a cleaver to the face, almost hacking him to death. She had paid a hefty sum in compensation afterward, but the men squatting on the walls and speaking vulgarity, as well as the men jumping over the walls to steal clothes, had all disappeared for good. Losing one’s life for the sake of satisfying one’s lust was ultimately a terrible deal.

Moreover, Second Aunt Huang didn’t care in the least about people spouting vulgarity and debauchery in her wine shop, and she even engaged in back-and-forth with the men, often causing them to beg for mercy. When she brought wine and food to the table and copped touches to her dainty hands from the drunkards, she would at most kick them and scold them with a smile. This was a good deal.

If relatively handsome young men visited the wine shop to drink, they would enjoy preferential treatment, and those who were bold enough might not even suffer an eye roll from Second Aunt Huang. In fact, it would be difficult to say who was trying to touch whom.

Business was booming at the wine shop, with many customers drinking and purchasing wine. Master Ruan, who had transformed from a blacksmith into an immortal many years ago, also frequented this wine shop, eventually causing Second Aunt Huang’s wine to become a renowned signature product of the small town.

Many outsiders were willing to visit this wine shop, where they could rub shoulders with the immortal qi of Sage Ruan, the chief guest elder of the Great Li Empire. Business was going swimmingly both here and at Dragon Riding Alley’s pastry shop.

Zheng Dafeng felt slightly conflicted as he stood at the entrance of the wine shop. There were so many unkempt drunkards watching on, so Second Aunt Huang most likely wouldn’t be thick-skinned enough to tease him. The wine shop was also bigger now, with two shop attendants helping out. This caused Zheng Dafeng to feel like the wine didn’t taste as good as before.

Things were different when the wine shop was struggling in the past, with Zheng Dafeng being a major customer of the business. Resting her arms and head on the counter, Second Aunt Huang would appear as if she had seen her husband return home when she saw Zheng Dafeng, and she would sway her hips and walk out from behind the counter each time, referring to him as Brother Dafeng. Otherwise, she might pinch his elbow and scold him under her breath, calling him a heartless bastard. He would almost melt in ecstasy upon hearing this.

Second Aunt Huang would also insist on holding his arm and walking into the wine shop together. Did there exist such a hefty secret weapon in the world? This was very dangerous, and Zheng Dafeng was always afraid of hurting his arm. He would rub his arm for a long time after sitting down, not picking up his wine bowl until he was satisfied.

The seven or eight tables were all full, so Zheng Dafeng planned to leave and return when there were fewer customers. One of the tables was unexpectedly occupied by local men, however, and one of them beckoned to him and exclaimed, ”Oh my, if it isn’t Brother Dafeng. Come here and take a seat. But let’s set things straight first: You’re treating us today, seeing that you always drink a lot of free wine when there are weddings and funerals. Now, however, you’re guarding the gates for immortals in the mountains, and just how impressive is that? Sure enough, this man can only stand up straight after getting money in his pockets.”

The hunchbacked Zheng Dafeng jogged over and sat down on the same bench as the person who had spoken, smiling and asking, ”Me? Treating everyone else? I’m saving up to get a wife. In any case, how can I compare to you, Big Eyes Liu? You sold two ancestral residences and bought two large residences in the provincial city, and you bought quite a number of shops on top of that. Just how mighty is that? Me treating everyone? That would be like slapping your wealthy face, Big Eyes Liu.”

Big eyes was a local saying, and it referred to people who looked down on everyone else.

The man with the surname Liu didn’t get angry, especially since he was already accustomed to arguing with Zheng Dafeng. These small barbs were nothing, and whoever became angry would be the loser.

Big Eyes Liu hadn’t visited the small town often over the past few years, especially since he had already sold his two relatively big ancestral residences a long time ago. He didn’t reminisce about his life here either.

In the beginning, he would still take a detour to look at his ancestral residence when he visited the tombs to pay respect, but he was now too lazy to even visit the tombs. They were too far away, so he could simply burn some yellow paper on the street outside his large residence in the provincial city. That would be enough to express his respect and filial piety.

The man lowered his voice and said, ”Do you know that widow from Clay Vase Alley? She’s doing incredibly well right now, and she’s truly enjoying immense wealth and fortune.”

He then raised a thumb and said, ”In terms of wealth, this is that beautiful widow right now.”

However, regret immediately washed over his face as he lamented, ”If I had known this earlier, I would have forged a better relationship with her in the past. Otherwise, to say nothing of a few residences and shops in the provincial city, I would already have two or three streets under my name over there!”

Zheng Dafeng poured himself a bowl of wine, which understandably tasted mediocre since it wasn’t being fed to him by Second Aunt Huang. He raised the wine bowl to toast the others at the table, after which he gulped the contents down in a single mouthful. The others at the table were all around the same age as Big Eyes Liu, with all of them being neighbors in the past. And now, they were all running businesses in the provincial city and enjoying lives that they wouldn’t have dared to dream of in the past.

There was year-round commotion between their aging wives and the young and seductive mistresses, and there were also the clever young maidservants who had plans of elevating their statuses. Right now, their ordinary day-to-day lives were even more energetic and boisterous than the New Year celebrations in the past.

Apart from one relatively simple and honest person responding to Zheng Dafeng’s toast, not a single other person at the table moved their wine bowls. They all played deaf and blind.

Zheng Dafeng was unfazed by this. He was only here to drink some free wine, so did he need to maintain any face?

He hurriedly poured himself another bowl of wine before wiping his mouth and replying with a smile, ”I’m not very familiar with her. You’re also aware that I wasn’t closely acquainted with the Gu Family’s widow back then.”

”You know, I find something quite weird. They’re both beautiful widows, but the lady from the Gu Family is soft and gentle, so why don’t you flirt with her? What, are you specifically fond of people like Second Aunt Huang?” Big Eyes Liu asked in amusement.

Zheng Dafeng smiled in response.

A man sitting on another bench had an appearance that shouted shrewdness and philistinism, and he had indeed been widely known for his cheap and miserly nature in the past. He appeared casual and indifferent as he chuckled and asked, ”Dafeng, I’ve heard that you’re deeply involved with that child from Clay Vase Alley now? How successful of you, huh? You’re actually moving further and further backward.

”You were also a gatekeeper back then, but you could at least take things easy and ignore everything. Now, however, you’re actually running errands for a junior who’s several generations younger than you. Do you not feel ashamed or embarrassed? Moreover, just look at yourself now. It doesn’t look like you’ve struck riches alongside him. How about I help you out? We’ve already been good friends for many years, so why don’t I find a wealthy buyer in the provincial city to purchase your small and rundown residence in the eastern region of the small town?”

Zheng Dafeng started to pour himself another bowl of wine, waving his other hand and replying, ”There’s no need. My small residence can stay right where it is. It’s barely enough to house a single person, and a fart on one side of the house will shake the paper windows on the other side. The place is barely worth any money.”

The man shot a glance at Big Eyes Liu, and the latter immediately said persuasively, ”The provincial city is essentially filled with money waiting to be claimed, Brother Dafeng. To be very honest with you, I wouldn’t even bend down to pick up a string of copper coins from the ground now — they need to be at least silver coins or gold coins!

”If you sell that yellow clay house and buy yourself a residence in the provincial city, what kind of beautiful wife won’t you be able to find? Not to mention, the other brothers and I are all living in the provincial city, so we’ll all be able to look after each other if you move over as well. Won’t that be better than working as a gatekeeper for someone else?”

Zheng Dafeng started to mumble and grumble, not turning down their offer and simply dragging things on. This way, he could still get some free wine the next time he encountered them.

In the end, the group of men ran out of patience with Zheng Dafeng and eventually left without paying the bill.

Zheng Dafeng called a familiar face over, and the familiar face also called some of their companions over to drink. After a while, Zheng Dafeng was just about to stand up and flee.

Unexpectedly, however, Second Aunt Huang had a sharp eye, and she smiled widely and said, ”Brother Dafeng, are you short on money, or are you missing your manhood? If you’re short on money and unable to pay the bill, then I can just waive the bill, what with our great relationship. If you’re missing your manhood, however, then I truly can’t help you.”

Zheng Dafeng continued to walk away, pretending to be deaf.

Second Aunt Huang smacked the table and exclaimed, ”Zheng Dafeng! Get your arse back over here! You can feel free to cop a feel if you’re daring enough and aren’t afraid of my cleaver, but you actually dare to leave without paying for your wine? Did the heavens bestow courage upon your cowardly soul?”

People had always been simple and unsophisticated in the small town.

Zheng Dafeng turned around and slowly ambled back to the counter, saying in a quiet voice, ”Yes, yes, I’m short on money, just like always. As for my manhood? Aren’t you well aware of this, Second Aunt Huang? I’m not called the Vigorous Dragon Energetic Tiger Brother Dafeng for nothing.”

Second Aunt Huang leaned against the counter and snacked on roasted seeds, asking, ”Why aren’t you gambling anymore? Have you fallen into a pen of sows after entering the mountains?”

Zheng Dafeng smiled sheepishly and replied, ”I only gamble for entertainment, and I never seek to win money. Have you ever seen me win a bet?”

He then continued in a heartfelt manner, ”Riches earned from the gambling table are nothing more than fields beside the river, money of life and death that change hands and only lasts sixty years. An outstanding skill and money earned through talent, something that can be passed down for three generations. A small piece of land and money earned through farming, something that is sustainable and very long-lasting.”

Second Aunt Huang rolled her eyes and scoffed, ”Yes, keep pretending to be a scholar, why don’t you?”

Zheng Dafeng glanced at her clothes and reached over, remarking, ”Which store did you buy this cloth from, young lady? It looks so nice and durable. Here, let me have a touch.”

Second Aunt Huang continued to snack on roasted seeds, not dodging his grimy hands. She was confident that he wouldn’t dare to touch the cloth near her chest.

Sure enough, Zheng Dafeng huffed and pulled back his hand, finding an out for himself and pretending to wipe the counter.

”Don’t blame your older brother for rambling, little sister, but don’t you know to find yourself a diligent shop attendant?” he grumbled. ”Just look at the oil stains on the table. Even flies will get stuck if they land here. And if they’re not careful, they’ll just about be squished to death by two huge mountains.”

Second Aunt Huang chuckled coldly and said, ”You still have the face to call me little sister? Take out your fingers and count — how long have you supported my shop already?”

Zheng Dafeng leaned against the counter and glanced back at the noisy wine shop, replying with a smile, ”Do you still need my support? A few bowls of wine won’t change anything.”

Second Aunt Huang’s eyes reddened as the hunchbacked man looked elsewhere, but she quickly hid her emotions.

It was as if many years had gone by in the blink of an eye.

She was only a young woman when she opened this wine shop, and she had also been slightly more beautiful than she was now. There hadn’t been any wrinkles near the corners of her eyes, and her hands had also been extremely smooth and supple.

Thinking back to all those years ago, she had needed to muster her courage to bring wine to the customers’ table, and almost all of the drunkards’ eyes would hover over her chest. Only a single young man had enjoyed glancing at both her chest and her dainty hands, and he would also say many pleasing and endearing things, appearing as if he were reciting from a scholarly book. She couldn’t really understand him, but she couldn’t help but feel happy.

The hunchbacked man had helped the wine shop a lot during its most difficult period, helping it to survive and flourish. His help had been more than just drinking wine.

However, during the period in life when Second Aunt Huang had been the most beautiful, she had mostly just felt embarrassed and angry by the vulgar comments and lecherous eyes of the drunkards. After growing older and understanding more about the world and its relationships, however, she was already no longer as beautiful as before.

Back then, she had simply felt like Zheng Dafeng was different from the other men.

His eyes and mouth were also lecherous and vulgar, but his hands were very well-behaved and honest.

It was only much later that she had come to a realization — as it turned out, Zheng Dafeng was an example of a genuinely honest person.

Zheng Dafeng turned back around and said, ”Let’s do the same as always and add this to my bill. Oh, and bring me another bowl of wine while you’re at it.”

Second Aunt Huang threw a bowl onto the counter before personally walking away to ladle wine from a vat. She was facing away from the counter, and she knew that Zheng Dafeng was definitely looking at her as she turned around and bent down.

After pouring the wine into the bowl, Second Aunt Huang continued to lean against the counter as she watched the hunchbacked man slowly sip wine.

”Big Eyes Liu and the others are coveting your residence, so make sure to be careful,” she said in a quiet voice. ”It’s entirely possible that they specifically returned to the small town to target you.”

”You’ve always been so caring and considerate, little sister,” Zheng Dafeng said with a nod.

”I’m being serious with you!”

Second Aunt Huang frowned and spoke in a slightly more solemn manner, continuing, ”Don’t treat this carelessly. I’ve heard that Big Eyes Liu and his companions are very loose with rules and regulations after becoming rich and starting to do business in the provincial city. Good people with money become gallant heroes, while these immoral people with money become merchants of evil.

”Your rundown residence might be small, but it’s located in a good area of our town. To the east is the immortal tomb, which has now transformed into the martial sage temple. Just how many high-ranking officials visit this temple to offer incense and pay their respects each year? Just how impressive is it? Are you not aware of this?

”However, I have to give you one more warning. You shouldn’t be too picky, and you should sell your residence as soon as you find a suitable buyer. Otherwise, be careful of the local government coming over to buy your residence. The price they offer will most likely be much lower, so will you still sell your residence at that time? If you don’t, then can you withstand the constant harassment in the future?”

Zheng Dafeng nodded in understanding.

It was clear that there were many unjust and infuriating matters in the mortal world as well, and which family or person didn’t have experiences with these terrible matters? On the flip side, there were also many smart and kind-hearted people in the mortal world. Which family didn’t have some strengths and positives?

”I’m getting old,” Second Aunt Huang suddenly said in a melancholic voice.

”That’s true,” Zheng Dafeng concurred with a smile. ”Your son has already become a scholar now, and I’ve heard that his nickname is Little Champion Scholar? What do you say? Your Big Brother Dafeng never lies to you, does he? That young boy is clearly a proper scholar with good potential, and even the proper-looking spring couplets at this wine shop are written by him. Just wait to enjoy fortune in the future, little sister. The most valuable family heirloom isn’t money or treasure; it’s accumulating virtue and doing good deeds.”

Second Aunt Huang took a glance at him.

Zheng Dafeng purposely acted coy, using his wine bowl to block his face as he said, ”Your gaze feels somewhat inappropriate, little sister. I feel like I’m standing here naked.”

Second Aunt Huang was completely helpless against this.

She genuinely needed to thank Zheng Dafeng with regard to the education of her child. The young widow had needed to provide for her little child back then, and she had done everything in her ability to feed him well and keep him warm. She hadn’t been willing to scold him or beat him after he grew a little older, and this had resulted in the young boy going astray, even daring to skip classes at the private school.

Second Aunt Huang knew this wasn’t good, but she hadn’t been able to come up with any good ideas to address this. She had tried to lecture and persuade her son, but he had simply nodded and agreed without actually fixing his bad habits. He had continued to frequently skip class, going to the river to catch fish or venturing into the mountains to catch snakes.

When drinking wine one time, Zheng Dafeng had hidden a message amidst his many vulgar comments, saying, ”Making money requires shrewdness, dealing with others requires generosity, and teaching children requires strict discipline.”

Second Aunt Huang had taken this to heart, and a good, solid beating had beaten some sense and discipline into her child.

”Half-hearted and fickle, wavering back and forth, putting on airs, at sixes and sevens — these qualities just about embody a useless coward,” she suddenly said.

This was how Zheng Dafeng had once scolded people while drinking at the wine shop.

In reality, this was a very limp and ineffective way to scold someone, given that it betrayed a sense of jealousy.

However, Second Aunt Huang found it fairly interesting, which was why she had committed it to memory. This manner of scolding people appeared different from how women would curse each other before scratching one another’s faces, and it was also different from how men in the fields would curse and argue.

Zheng Dafeng feigned ignorance, and he even started to mope in self-pity, lamenting, ”The pains of being single, the biting chill of being alone. Even mice move houses when hungry, and even mosquitoes enjoy wine through blood. Yet, which fair maiden is willing to knock on my door once I’ve saved enough for a betrothal gift?”

”How old should the fair maiden be?” Second Aunt Huang asked with a smile.

Zheng Dafeng glanced at her and chuckled, responding, ”How old? Not too old and not too young. Of course, she can be slightly older if need be.”

Second Aunt Huang threw a handful of roasted seeds at the hunchbacked man.

Zheng Dafeng dodged her attack.

No bowl of wine would last forever, and he put down his empty wine bowl and lightly slapped his face, clicking his tongue in wonder and remarking, ”Ahhh... Drinking like a giant whale inhaling the vast lands, drunk like a jade mountain about to collapse. You were truly able to feast your eyes, little sister.”

”You’re nothing but a tool,” Second Aunt Huang replied with a snigger. ”After you fall into the toilet drunk, you can feel free to either drown to death or feast to death.”

”Okay, okay. I’m off now. I’ll definitely pay off my bill in the future,” Zheng Dafeng said.

”You’re going on another distant trip?” Second Aunt Huang suddenly asked.

”It’s not too distant,” Zheng Dafeng replied.

The Lotus Root Blessed Land was close in the sense that it was at Downtrodden Mountain, but it was also distant in the sense that it was another world.

”Haven’t you suffered enough yet? What’s so good about the outside world?” Second Aunt Huang asked in a low voice.

Zheng Dafeng turned around and replied with a smile, ”I once read a phrase in some book that went: The flowers at Fourth Aunt Huang’s house cover the footpaths. However, she can’t compare to Second Aunt Huang.”

”Can you not leave?” Second Aunt Huang asked. ”You can leave the bill for the wine unpaid.”

Zheng Dafeng shook his head in response before eventually leaving the wine shop.

Second Aunt Huang kept her eyes on the hunchbacked man who was slowly disappearing into the distance, his figure already becoming blurry.