The rooster crowed three times, and dawn began to break.
Shopkeeper Liu of Yuelai Inn in Luting County, with sleep still in his eyes and yawning, slowly walked from the back courtyard to the front hall.
Before even entering the door, he heard some noises from the hall. Puzzled, he stepped inside and saw a tall figure, head lowered, diligently wiping the tables and chairs with a cloth.
Each of the twelve neatly organized tables and chairs glistened with moisture…
"Good morning, Shopkeeper!"
Upon hearing footsteps, the tall figure looked up. It was a handsome young face, probably no more than twenty years old, smiling warmly at Shopkeeper Liu.
Greeted by this vibrant smile, a grin also found its way onto the thin, aged face of Shopkeeper Liu, who nodded kindly, "It's you who's early, lad!"
After a pause, his curiosity returned as he asked, "Aren't you supposed to visit the countryside today? Where's that lazy scoundrel Wang Dali?"
The tall figure didn't stop his cleaning as he replied with a smile, "The town has seen a lot of visitors these past few days, business is booming, and Wang alone couldn't keep up..."
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Liu's smile gradually faded and, irritated, he interrupted, "Don't you be making excuses for that sluggard. If he had even a third of your keenness, we'd be truly grateful. Just yesterday, had you not stepped in to cover for him, who knows what trouble he'd have caused. It's only because his father is an old acquaintance of mine..."
The tall figure simply continued wiping the tables and chairs, smiling without engaging in the conversation.
The incessant chatterer Shopkeeper Liu watched him work with growing satisfaction—the young man was literate, alert, handy, sociable, and meticulous...
And genuinely dependable, without a hint of the rashness and unrest common in youth!
Where else could you find such a young man?
Indeed, good deeds do bring good rewards!
After strolling around the front hall with satisfaction, Shopkeeper Liu suddenly slapped his thigh and began, "I almost forgot to tell you. I met the village head yesterday. He said your household registration has been processed for Luting County, and it should be finalized within one or two months!"
The tall figure paused briefly, then pressed his lips together firmly. He set down his broom, and with two steps, approached Shopkeeper Liu and bowed solemnly, "Shopkeeper, I'll remember your tremendous kindness and generosity forever. Even at the cost of grinding myself to dust, I will repay your life-saving grace!"
He was no naïve youth unfamiliar with the ways of the world, well aware of the customs and people here, not like when he had first arrived, blind to it all.
He knew, despite the household registration system in Wei having loosened due to the growing number of vagrants and runaways in recent years.
But it was certainly not something a commoner could easily change with just a few words.
For someone like him, with no relatives, no assets, and not even an understanding of local customs, even if he knocked his brains out at the authorities, he wouldn't be granted a household registration.
To obtain his registration, Shopkeeper Liu must have spent no small amount of silver and pulled many favors...
Not to mention, if it weren't for Shopkeeper Liu taking him in at the Yuelai Inn, he would have died of hunger or cold on the streets.
Wei wouldn't care about his university diploma, or offer him a warm meal on that account...
Shopkeeper Liu, pleased, helped Yang Ge up and, patting his shoulder, laughed, "Well-spoken, like someone who's studied. Unlike that brute Wang Dali, who can only say 'That's just how my dad is!'"
After a sigh, he continued earnestly, "Look at you, you're not some reckless youth too proud to heed advice. Without a household registration, would our household really let you go hungry? Even if the authorities eventually did investigate and pin you as a runaway, a little silver would handle it..."
"But with your registration set, you'll now have to pay taxes, serve labor, and these times are looking turbulent again. The authorities might draft men at any moment, and a strong young loner like you is just the sort they'd conscript. If something happened to you, we wouldn't even need to spend a dime [on your behalf]!"
"Why would you put yourself through this?"
From his own perspective, Shopkeeper Liu genuinely couldn't comprehend Yang Ge's choice.
But the household registration was the one thing Yang Ge had asked for help with since coming to the Yuelai Inn half a year ago, and Liu really couldn't bear to refuse him.
Yang Ge simply smiled and said softly, "I want to have a home..."
Shopkeeper Liu looked at him, and with a sense of resignation said, "Alright, it's getting late. You better head out of the city."
Yang Ge was accustomed to making his monthly trips to the countryside.
Yang Ge nodded, "Then please excuse my absence today. I will return before the city gates close this evening."
Shopkeeper Liu shook his head, "Don't rush back. If you return by dusk tomorrow, that'll be fine."
Yang Ge shook his head as well, yet said no more, and went straight to the corner of the front hall to push out a unicycle cart. After bowing to Shopkeeper Liu, he headed straight out the door.
Shopkeeper Liu's gaze followed the unicycle cart piled high with burlap sacks, watching Yang Ge leave swiftly, and with a sense of wonderment, muttered, "The wages I gave that youngster a few days ago must all be spent here..."
Only after Yang Ge's figure had vanished at the end of the street did a young man with half of his face swollen, haphazardly dressed, walk from the back courtyard to the front hall, mumbling, "Shopkeeper, it's time for breakfast."
Immediately Shopkeeper Liu became infuriated, grabbed a bamboo broom, and started beating him, "Eat, I'll let you eat..."
...
Yang Ge pushed the unicycle, blending into the crowd as he exited the county town.
Once outside the county, he followed the fairly level road to the southeast. Soon, he caught sight of a wide river shimmering like a ribbon of jade.