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Chapter 16: Night Visitor
A few days later, after several days of light rain, the weather in Yidu began to turn autumnal.
As usual, Song You went out to listen to the old storyteller's stories.
During the afternoon, he spent more than ten copper coins on tea, sipping until he was half full. Engrossed in the captivating stories of the elderly storyteller, he generously added a few more coins as a token of appreciation, perfectly totaling to twenty copper coins spent for the day.
When he returned to the small courtyard, stepping on the damp stone slabs and moist leaves, as soon as he pushed open the door, he saw a calico cat running towards him from the kitchen. As she approached, she slowed down and stared at him, her appearance no different from an ordinary house cat, except that she had more intelligence and could speak human language.
"Daoist, where have you been?"
"The same as the previous few days," Song You honestly replied. "Does Lady Calico want to go out again? I'll take you tomorrow."
"Hmm..." The calico cat hesitated for a moment but did not answer. Instead, she turned her gaze and asked, "What do you have in your hand?"
It seemed that this cat didn't like listening to stories.
Thinking so, Song You took out what was in his hand.
Fresh oranges were in season around Yidu, so he bought two catties from someone selling them cheaply on the roadside on his way back. Later, he couldn't resist purchasing candied haws from another vendor. It wasn't because he was particularly craving them, but rather because he hadn't tasted them in years.
So, the two of them sat down at the stone table.
Song You knew that most cats didn't like the taste of oranges, so he put them aside and only picked up the candied haws, taking one with his hand.
"Does Lady Calico eat candied haws?"
"Fruit."
"Yes, it's fruit, hawthorn."
"Cats don't eat fruit."
"They might eat occasionally."
The calico cat turned her head and stared at him with a look that seemed to say, "Are you a cat or am I a cat?" After a few seconds of contemplation, she said, "Calico cats don't eat it."
Song You understood after careful consideration that "calico cat" here probably meant "Lady Calico," which was her self-proclaimed name.
"Do you really not eat them?"
"Not tasty."
"I find them delicious."
"Then Lady Calico will try one."
Seeing the candied haw approaching her face, the calico cat extended her neck and sniffed carefully, then looked at it, then at Song You. Both her sense of smell and reason conveyed to her that it wasn't tasty, but after hesitating for a while, she still opened her mouth.
Gently taking a bite.
Her small sharp teeth pierced the candied haw easily. The outer layer of sugar gave a crisp sensation, while the inside hawthorn was also bitten open by her.
The calico cat chewed on it slowly, alternating between her teeth on both sides.
However, Song You didn't look at her. He just took one for himself and put it in his mouth.
The sugar coating was easily broken, as if there was a slight crackling sound in his mouth. Then, the hawthorn burst open, releasing both sour and sweet flavors all at once. The hard hawthorn seed kept colliding with his teeth, making a cracking sound.
Song You couldn't help but squint his eyes.
It might take thousands of years or even longer for this era to develop into modern civilization, but the taste of these snacks was almost identical to what he remembered.
He lost himself for a moment.
After a long time, when the sweet and sour tastes had dissipated in his mouth, Song You opened his eyes.
The calico cat had also finished the candied haw, leaving only a few hawthorn seeds on the stone table, two of which were bitten open, not knowing if they had been swallowed.
Song You gathered up all the hawthorn seeds that she had spat out and also spat out his own, putting them together before looking at the cat.
"Was it delicious?"
"What's that on the outside?"
"It's sugar."
"Sugar is delicious."
"What about the hawthorn?"
"Fruit isn't delicious," the calico cat surveyed Song You's expression. "Do you like it?"
"Yes."
"Monkeys like fruit."
"Then do you still want to eat it?"
"Can Lady Calico only eat sugar?"
"Then who will eat the fruit?"
"You eat it. You like it."
"Then wouldn't I be eating what you licked?"
"It's just licked."
"It has your saliva."
"It's just saliva."
"Perhaps it's not suitable."
"Then Lady Calico won't eat."
The calico cat's tone was clear and firm. After saying this, she turned and jumped off the stone table, swaying her hips as she left.
Song You didn't mind and continued to savor the taste of the snacks.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Suddenly, there was a knocking sound from outside.
"Hmm?"
His intuition told him it was Head Constable Luo.
Song You just happened to finish the last candied haw. He placed the bamboo stick on the stone table and got up to open the door.
Sure enough, it was Head Constable Luo who was standing outside the door.
Today, Head Constable Luo was dressed as usual, but there was an iron ruler at his waist, and two people were following him, also dressed in black.
As soon as he saw Song You, he bowed, "Greetings, Master. I've come to express my gratitude and present a token of thanks.”
After a moment's pause, he turned to the people beside him and said, "Why aren't you two greeting the master?"
The two men behind him immediately bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Master."
"Please come in." Song You let them into the courtyard, closed the door, and led them through the courtyard until they sat down in the living room.
Then, he took out the teacups that Head Constable Luo had gifted a few days ago and placed them in front of the three of them. He didn't pour any tea, but the cups gradually filled with tea as if by themselves.
The three men were stunned.
Upon closer inspection, they saw white steam floating on the tea, emitting a tempting aroma. It was evidently a good tea.
"Please enjoy the tea."
"Master, your skills are truly divine!"
"Thank you, Master."
The three men quickly expressed their gratitude and took a sip of tea.
"Based on what you said earlier, it seems like you've captured the underground-fleeing thief, Head Constable." Song You got straight to the point.
"That's right." Head Constable Luo, though reluctant to leave the tea, put down his cup and said excitedly to Song You, "Master, you have amazing foresight. Without even meeting face to face, and with just a few words of guidance from you, the thief's escape technique was rendered ineffective. It's truly admirable."
"Was the capture smooth?"
"Extremely smooth," Head Constable Luo said. "Three days ago, we came across the thief again and used the phrase you taught us. Then, last night, in the middle of the night, when we found where the thief was hiding once more, he tried to escape using the same trick, but he only managed to sink halfway into the ground and got stuck. So we captured him right then and there."
"That's good."
"Master has done another great deed for the people," Head Constable Luo paused for a moment, and took out a bundle of red cloth from his bosom, "As agreed beforehand, this incident will be treated as if Master caught the thief, so the reward money should belong to Master. Here are twenty taels of silver as the reward mentioned in the notice, and the remaining ten taels of silver are a personal gift from our magistrate. Recently, there has been a lot of pressure from the dignitaries in the city, and our magistrate also has his own difficulties. This is to express our gratitude to Master for helping out."
Song You took the red cloth and opened it to reveal three pieces of axe-head-shaped honeycomb silver ingots, each stamped with the words 'ten taels,' indicating they were official silver ingots from Dayan.
It was heavy in his hand, and heavy in his heart.
This feeling couldn't be compared to paper money, nor to a string of numbers on an electronic screen.
Song You only took two pieces and returned one to Head Constable Luo.
He didn't mention that he had only come up with a plan and shouldn't receive these twenty taels of silver ingots, nor did he mention that the constables had worked tirelessly day and night and should be rewarded. Doing such things that only added complications could be mentally exhausting. Apart from the agreed twenty taels of silver ingots reward, he didn't want to accept the ten taels of silver ingots from the magistrate's private funds.
It was still for the same reason, unwilling to add unnecessary complications.
Head Constable Luo immediately understood and couldn't help looking embarrassed, but he didn't dare to go against Song You’s will, so he had to put it away.
Then he said, "Master Magistrate Liu has heard about your ability from us and admires you greatly. He asked me to pass on his desire to hold a banquet to express his gratitude to you. If you could honor him with your presence, then it'll be settled for tomorrow at noon at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion(天香楼). But I am uncertain if Master......"
Perhaps Head Constable Luo himself didn't notice it, but unconsciously, his attitude towards Song You had become very humble.
Although Song You hadn't done anything.
"I appreciate the invitation, but I must respectfully decline." Song You smiled, but his refusal was very decisive, "I am just a humble recluse living in the mountains, usually preferring tranquillity. I can't accept the magistrate's kindness."
"I understand, Master."
"I'll have to trouble Head Constable to convey my thanks to Magistrate Liu."
"No trouble at all." Head Constable Luo spoke respectfully, finishing the tea in his cup. "We still have official matters to attend to, so we won't disturb you any longer. I'll pass the message to Magistrate Liu, and if there are any developments in this case that may involve you, I will personally come to inform you."
“Thank you, Head Constable.”
“It's my honor."
The other two also quickly got up with him.
Yidu was the capital of Yizhou, the third largest city in the world. The constables here had seen their fair share of the world, but when facing such genuinely skilled individuals, they couldn't help but feel a bit out of their depth.
But they didn't feel ashamed.
After all, even Magistrate Liu needed to carefully arrange introductions to meet Master Song through Constable Luo.
"Squeak~"
The sound of the wooden door hinges was still long and unpleasant.
It sounded really annoying.
Song You frowned as he stood at the doorway.
When he turned around, he saw that the calico cat had woken up at some point, climbed onto the stone table again, and was licking the bamboo stick he had just eaten, which still had sugar on it.
"...?" Song You shook his head and went back inside to do the accounting.
He had been in Yidu for some time now. Yidu was prosperous, but prices were high. His expenses on food, clothing, and other necessities in the city were not small. Coupled with the rent, the recent purchases after moving, and frequent visits to listen to stories, he had probably spent a few thousand copper coins.
His expenses should be less in the future.
The twenty taels of silver ingots he received today should be able to last a long time.
...
Two days later, in the evening.
The weather was cool, perfect for sitting idle.
Song You lit an oil lamp and sat by the window, quietly reading a book.
The window in front of him was wide open, and the full moon in the night sky had risen over the city. In this place devoid of neon lights or traffic noise, only the eaves of ancient buildings shared a solemn connection with the full moon. Their dark tiles reflected its luminance, pure darkness embracing the pure brilliance.
Behind him, the calico cat was quietly lying down, squinting her eyes.
The night was so quiet that only the sound of flipping pages could be heard.
This book, "Records of Land and Geography," also documented the unique charm of this world. In addition to documenting famous mountains, rivers, palaces, and temples, as well as the visits of renowned scenic spots by literati through poetry and articles, it also recorded some fantastical and mysterious places.
Such as the rumored Cloud Summit Mountain(云顶山) where immortals appeared.
The Underground Fire City(地火城) where the Fire Deity slept in mythology.
The descriptions were very detailed.
After a while, as the night deepened and the lamp smoke stung his eyes, Song You decided to stop for today and go to sleep.
Blowing out the reading lamp, he was enveloped in moonlight.
Just as he closed the book under the moonlight, he noticed that the calico cat behind him had woken up at some point, climbed onto the desk, and was staring out the window.
"Hmm?" Song You also noticed the noise outside.
Scratching and scraping sounds came from the courtyard wall, as if someone was climbing it.
But this sound was different from that of climbing walls; it sounded more like a hard object colliding with the wall, sharp objects tearing the wall, the night wind blowing faintly, and the sound of tiles falling and shattering.
There seemed to be a huge and fierce head swaying in the moonlight outside the courtyard wall.
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