Gu Ning'an spent the entire afternoon repairing the roof and courtyard walls.
By the time he finished, the previously run-down residence had undergone a complete transformation, looking almost brand new.
Standing in the courtyard, Gu Ning'an took a moment to survey the renovated space. Just as he was debating whether to go out and buy some groceries or take a break with a cup of tea, the courtyard gate was knocked on once again.
"Teacher! Teacher, I'm here!"
That familiar, childlike voice could only belong to Hu Shi.
Opening the gate, Gu Ning'an saw the small, thin figure of Hu Shi carrying two large bundles, both bulging with items.
"Teacher, my grandfather asked me to deliver these gifts to you!" Hu Shi declared earnestly as he handed over the two bundles.
Gu Ning'an casually took the bundle in Hu Shi's right hand and smiled. "I'll accept the dried sweet potatoes, but have your grandfather return the writing supplies. Trading two pigs for these is hardly worth it."
Swish!
Hu Shi's head shot up in shock. He couldn't believe that without even opening the bundles, Gu Ning'an already knew what was inside both of them—and even how the writing supplies had been obtained!
Could this be the ability of an immortal?
It took Hu Shi a long moment to process his amazement before he finally nodded. "The dried sweet potatoes were my insistence. I just knew Teacher wouldn't want the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Gu Ning'an waved dismissively. "Alright, off you go. If you're any later, your family's two pigs might not make it through the day."
"Ah!" Hu Shi let out a startled cry before hurriedly shouting, "Goodbye, Teacher!"
In a flash, the small figure darted away like a gust of wind.
"Seems like those two pigs are dear to him," Gu Ning'an remarked with a chuckle. Pulling a handful of dried sweet potatoes from the bundle, he placed the rest in the courtyard, closed the gate, and headed out while nibbling on the snack.
...
"Are you saying that the one who returned to Ansi Courtyard is really the poor scholar from back then?" Jin Wan asked, disbelief practically written across his face.
Butcher Liu puffed leisurely on his pipe, his expression calm as he replied, "I could tell right away that Mr. Gu had an extraordinary air about him. And sure enough, he turned out to be no ordinary person!"
"Not aging a day in over twenty years—if I weren't a butcher by trade, I might've pissed myself on the spot."
Didn't I hear that you were so scared you almost did anyway?
Jin Wan grumbled inwardly but made sure not to show any disdain. Instead, ever the opportunist, he gave Butcher Liu a hearty thumbs-up, showering him with exaggerated praise for his "bravery."
"Alright, enough flattery!" Liu waved him off. "You still haven't told me why you're digging into all this."
As he spoke, Liu tapped his pipe to empty out the burnt tobacco before refilling it with fresh tobacco from an oiled paper pouch.
Jin Wan's eyes darted shrewdly. "Ah, you know me—I love hearing about strange and unusual stories. You should know that by now!"
He fanned away the smoke lingering around him and added, "Well, I'll be off then. Take your time enjoying that tobacco. If you ever want more, just come to me, your dear nephew."
"Alright, alright, alright!"
"If you've got questions, come straight to your uncle!"
Though Butcher Liu wasn't particularly fond of Jin Wan, it was hard to dislike someone so "considerate." After all, the tobacco Jin Wan had brought him was worth dozens of copper coins per pound in the market.
Who wouldn't appreciate such a thoughtful gesture?
"Alright, you stay here; I'll take my leave." With a polite bow, Jin Wan offered a final smile before striding away from Butcher Liu's residence.
Butcher Liu stood at his door, grinning as he watched this "convenient nephew" depart.
Once Jin Wan had left the courtyard, however, the smile on his face vanished in an instant. The speed of his expression change was so startling that a stray dog passing by whimpered in fear and scurried off with its tail between its legs.
Slap!
After a long period of silent contemplation, Jin Wan suddenly raised his head, clenched his left hand into a fist, and struck his right palm with a loud smack.
"My luck has finally turned!"
"This is my chance to bring glory to the Jin family!"
Unable to suppress the grin creeping onto his face, Jin Wan glanced in the direction of Ansi Courtyard. Then, without hesitation, he turned and walked briskly in the opposite direction.
...
After wandering around for half the day, Gu Ning'an had finished off all the dried sweet potatoes he had been nibbling on, but he still couldn't find the elderly Granny Sun at her usual stall locations.
By now, the sun was sinking lower in the western sky. At this late hour, it was unlikely Granny Sun would still be setting up shop.
Accepting this, Gu Ning'an decided to head toward the county's bustling evening market, known for its wide variety of food stalls.
Even before the sun had fully set, the vendors at the night market had already set up their stalls, ready to welcome customers.
Most of the stalls were simple pushcarts with two wooden tables nearby, serving as makeshift dining areas. The rest were brick-and-mortar shops owned by wealthier merchants. Conveniently located within the government-designated night market area, these shops were far pricier to rent or buy than properties in other parts of town—an expense most people couldn't afford.
Naturally, dining in these shops cost significantly more than at the food stalls.
Gu Ning'an, having recently earned five taels of silver, had already spent one on repaying Granny Sun for the mutton stew, and two more on bricks, tiles, and durable provisions like rice, flour, and vegetables. With only two taels left, he was unwilling to splurge on these "high-end" establishments.
After scouting around, he chose a reasonably appealing stir-fried noodle stall, ordered a bowl, and began eating.
The crispy aroma of fried green onions mixed with the smooth texture of the noodles made it nearly impossible to stop eating.
"Excuse me, sir," a voice interrupted him mid-bite.
"May I ask where your fine green robe was made?"
Gu Ning'an looked up at the speaker, scanning him briefly.
The man appeared to be in his early thirties. While his attire wasn't exactly luxurious, the quality of the fabric suggested he came from a wealthy background.
"This was made by an old tailor. If he hasn't moved his shop, he should still be at the end of the alley just past the night market," Gu Ning'an replied before returning to his noodles.
"Would this old tailor happen to be named Ma?"
Gu Ning'an frowned slightly. Although the man was polite, interrupting someone's meal repeatedly was still a bit rude.
"Hmm," he responded curtly, swallowing the last bite of noodles from his bowl.
"Sir! One last question… are you, by any chance, surnamed Gu?" The man's voice trembled slightly as he asked this.
Hearing this, Gu Ning'an realized the man might recognize him, though he himself couldn't recall ever meeting this person.
Politely, Gu Ning'an clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "I am indeed surnamed Gu. May I ask who you are, sir?"