Chapter 11: The Lady Ghost's Song and Dance
“We'll clear the weeds in the courtyard tomorrow. Today, let's head out first to buy some things before it gets dark.” Song You said to the calico cat. “Do you want to stay in the courtyard and rest, or come with me?”
“I will go with you.”
“Shall I carry you?”
“Hmm?” The calico cat tilted her head and stared at Song You.
Song You smiled at her. “I just noticed you've been walking all day and might be tired.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Alright...” Song You pushed the door open and walked out.
The calico cat followed him with small, quick steps.
This world seemed to be in the midst of transitioning from a “two meals a day” schedule to three meals a day. Depending on one's economic situation, many people have already started eating three meals a day. Some still alternated between two and three meals. At this time of day, those who ate three meals were just beginning their meal, while those eating two meals had long finished eating. Thus there were many idle people sitting under the big trees, chatting and enjoying the cool shade. Some held palm-leaf fans to swat mosquitoes, while others held bowls. The atmosphere was lively.
Seeing Song You emerge from the courtyard, the people resting in the shade stopped chatting in unison. They couldn’t help giving him odd looks.
Seeing that he was wearing a Daoist robe, their gazes became even more curious.
It seemed like he had become the new topic of conversation.
Although Song You was just a temporary resident, he nodded to them in greeting before walking away.
In Great Yan, there was no market district system, so you could buy things anywhere. However, shops were still noticeably concentrated in certain areas. Their current area was primarily residential, so they had to go further down to buy things.
They hadn't walked far before those people resumed their discussions.
Song You didn't listen carefully because it was getting dark soon, and he needed to hurry. He just muttered to himself as he walked, repeating the things he needed to buy.
The priority was not yet bedding.
It was just past Beginning of Autumn, not yet End of Heat[1]. It was still sizzling hot in the city. Since he could endure the cold nights in the mountains, in the city there was nothing to fear.
Song You had a look around before leaving. He saw that the courtyard house still had cleaning tools like brooms and dustpans, and that a lot of furniture items were still in order. However, there were no pots, bowls, ladles, or basins. The most important immediate task was to buy a pot and a bucket. He needed to gather firewood, draw and boil water before it got too late. He needed a hot bath.
Following the straight alley down from the entrance, they soon reached the bustling district of Yidu.
White walls and green tiles, a forest of eaves.
The street was lined with shops on both sides. The shop entrances had all sorts of extremely personalized signboards. It was completely different from depictions in modern period dramas.
Some sign boards were nearly placed in the middle of the street. Some sign boards were enormous. Some shops hung huge banners from the top, while others had their shop names written on enormous curtains hanging down at their entrances. Some even built large gateway arches at their entrances, occupying much of the street. Pedestrians either had to walk around them or duck under these gateway arches. It wasn’t yet dark but some shops had already lit their lantern boxes.
In short, they did everything to appear grand, attract attention, and show off their strengths.
People often said that modern-day ancient towns had become too commercialized. Yet modern-day ancient towns were quite modest compared to this. At least sign board designs were uniform and city regulations prevented shops from extending their signs or gateway arches into the street.
Yet in this era, this was a kind of cultural norm.
“Wow!” Lady Calico exclaimed in amazement upon seeing this, almost forgetting to walk.
When she recovered, Song You had already walked far ahead. From her low vantage point, all the passersby looked similar from the back. It stood there dazed for a while before finding Song You waiting for her further up. She quickly ran to catch up, craning her head to look around curiously as she ran.
They soon came across a shop selling wooden buckets and basins.
Song You bought a bucket and a basin, offhandedly asking the shopkeeper where he could buy cookware. After putting away the bucket and basin, he headed straight over and picked out an iron pot. Iron pots had not been popular for long in this world but were already household essentials due to their superior qualities.
He also bought a pair of wooden clogs in passing.
As they headed back, the sky grew dark.
Some shopfronts had already lit their lantern boxes which were a kind of large floor lamps that functioned as illuminated shop signs. They had started preparing for Great Yan’s night market.
Yes, there was no night curfew here.
“So many lanterns and candles.”
“Do you like them, Lady Calico?”
“So bright!!”
“After we’ve tidied up tomorrow, would you like me to bring you out for a stroll at night?”
“Hmm...” The calico cat didn't answer, but turned to look at Song You. “Do you like glittering nights?”
Song You only smiled without answering.
The nights here were far from bright enough.
***
That night.
Constable Luo sat at the head of his bed. His feet were all red because they had just been soaking in a wooden basin. His wife helped to dry his feet with a cloth.
He said. “I heard someone moved into the courtyard house opposite again? I just heard people talking about it when I got back from work.”
She answered. “I heard it was a young Daoist priest.”
“A young Daoist priest?”
“Yes.” His wife stood up while holding the cloth, and spoke to him face-to-face. “Maybe he has some skills. If he can stay a little longer and bring some peace to that courtyard house from now on, it would be good.”
“Does it matter if it's peaceful? She never bothered us. When we have fallen asleep, she has stopped already.” Constable Luo said. “That said, how many skilled Daoist priests are there? Though there are plenty who can catch minor demons and ghosts.”
“It still makes one uneasy.”
“If you don’t do shameful deeds during the day, you won't fear ghosts knocking at your door in the middle of the night. We know all our neighbors. She was a good person while alive so she won't turn bad after death. What are you afraid of?”
She asked. “How long do you think this Daoist priest will be able to stay?”
“Young people are bold. Maybe he'll last a bit longer.”
“How long is a bit longer?”
“Who knows...” Constable Luo sounded tired.
At that moment, a woman's faint singing voice drifted over from across. The song was haunting and mournful. It chilled listeners in the night. It was a sound the nearby neighbors were all familiar with.
The couple immediately stopped what they were doing. They held their breath and looked forward as if they could see through the door and walls into the courtyard opposite.
Constable Luo sighed inwardly.
He figured the young Daoist priest would likely report the ghost to the authorities in the morning. He would have to send someone over as a formality again. He had experienced this several times over the years. In any case, he would never be able to find that lady ghost.
Gradually, he began to feel unexpectedly tranquil. He leaned back against the wall, and actually started listening attentively to the song.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard diagonally opposite…
Song You had just finished taking a hot bath and changed into clean clothes. His body was still damp and his garments were loose. The material of his garments was coarse but did not irritate the skin. They were very comfortable.
Hearing this singing, he paused for a long time at the door. His hand was already on the doorframe but he did not push the door open. Only after the song ended, did he step out. In the courtyard, he saw a shadow flitting vaguely across the white wall. Its long hair extended beyond its waist, a fearful sight.
Song You simply bowed calmly. “Madam has a beautiful voice and excellent singing skills. Could you sing another song?”
The shadow suddenly froze.
Immediately, it vanished with a whoosh.
Song You was momentarily stunned, and couldn’t help shaking his head.
Lowering his gaze, he saw the calico cat crouching at the doorway. It seemed that she had been here watching over him the entire time he was bathing.
“Lady Calico, what are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Weren't you exploring the new house? Why are you sitting here at the door?”
“I've finished exploring. I heard you splashing around in there and was worried you might drown. So I came to the door to wait for you.” The calico cat tilted its head, eyes glinting with curiosity. “What were you doing in there?”
“Taking a bath.”
“Humans are so strange.”
“I won't drown.”
“Strange, strange...”
Song You didn't bother with her. He walked back to his room wearing wooden clogs that creaked with each step.
The room had already been cleaned and the brand new bedding laid out.
In the moonlight, he could vaguely see the cat darting past his feet. It jumped onto the bed before him. She looked back at him and said. "That ghost was talking just now.”
“I heard it.”
“The sound of the talking was strange.”
“That's called singing.”
“What is singing?”
“It's a melodious form of artistic expression.”
“I don't understand.”
“It's okay.” Song You paused, then looked at the calico cat again. “Will you be sleeping next to me tonight again, Lady Calico?”
“You sleep over there.” The calico cat looked at the other end of the bed, indicating where he should sleep. Then she looked away and continued lying down with her legs tucked under her body. “I will sleep in this corner tonight.”
“Alright.”
The bed was quite large.
Song You lay down but couldn't fall asleep right away.
It wasn't because of the lady ghost in the courtyard.
He didn't know the lady ghost's backstory or intention. Anyway, he had rented the house through proper channels and truly couldn't afford another house in the city. He would need to stay here for some time. Since he had to sleep here regardless, he might as well get a good night's sleep first.
It was future plans that troubled him.
His master had sent him down the mountain. She didn’t just want him to cultivate blankly in a new location. However, it was a real headache thinking about how he could find some fun.
Today, he passed by a goulan washe[2] with bright lights while shopping. It seemed to be a comprehensive place of entertainment offering various performances like plays, dancing, storytelling, acrobatics, as well as sports, along with food and drink.
Perhaps he could give it a try.
He should also buy some books to read.
If he could buy a “travel guide,” it would be even better. Not only would it provide plans for the upcoming period, but it could also suggest future destinations.
Before Song You knew it, he had fallen asleep.
There was some vague human movement outside during the night. Under the moonlight, human shadows and tree shadows intertwined dimly on the ground.
This didn't disturb Song You.
It was Lady Calico who really disturbed him.
Though she said she would sleep in the corner of the bed, she was unconsciously drawn to the warmth under Song You's covers. She instinctively crawled under his covers. Cats are light sleepers and active at night. She would crawl out of the covers to check whenever she heard the slightest noise outside. After checking, she would wriggle back in. Sometimes, she would even wake Song You to ask him what to do.
Despite being disturbed like this the whole night, Song You slept unexpectedly well. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t slept in a bed for many days.
He was woken up by the sound of a rooster crowing early in the morning, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
1. 14th of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar ☜
2. This kind of fixed entertainment venues were popular during Song/Yuan dynasties and offered various forms of entertainment such as theater, acrobatics and storytelling. ☜
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