At Her Mercy (GL) - Chapter 5

Alai quickly skipped down the steps and soon reached the base of the mountain.

The water room had been short-staffed, so she was called to work before dawn. After that, she left with Fourth Aunt. It was now noon, and she hadn’t had a sip of water, feeling thirsty, hungry, and sleepy. She only had the two copper coins her mother gave her yesterday.

Clutching these two coins, Alai was very reluctant to spend them.

She knew how hard things were for her mother after her father passed away. To continue staying in the Xie family, her mother had taken over all her father’s gardener work, despite her leg disability.

Although the Xie family was considered an aristocratic household in Suichuan, Suichuan Commandery belonged to the remote northwest.

Among the forty-eight commanderies of Da Yu, it ranked among the lowest in both economic and military development.

The truly renowned and powerful families had long since moved south during the Emperor Wen period to prosperous areas like Julu and Jingji. It was said that the Suichuan Xie family had once considered moving south, but the strong direct line of the Xie clan was in the northern Dongchun Commandery, and the Xie family had no foundation in the south.

Moving south impulsively and trying to establish themselves was not easy, so the Xie family remained in Suichuan.

In this year of famine, everyone was poor. The Xie family, from top to bottom, was also cutting expenses.

The money that trickled down to the gardener’s mother and daughter was minimal. It was already the first month of winter, yet her mother was still wearing the thin jacket bought with money saved three years ago when her father was alive.

The jacket was covered in patches.

Alai had urged her many times to buy herself a fur jacket to ward off the wind, and her mother would always say yes, yes, yes, but never actually did it. All the money saved from careful living went to Alai, so she could eat well, dress warmly, and be carefree.

Thinking of her mother working during the day and being unable to sleep at night due to the pain in her legs, Alai’s nose felt sore. She couldn’t spend these two copper coins casually.

But even if she didn’t spend them, holding onto them was meaningless; two coins were not enough to buy anything except a few steamed buns.

Alai walked toward the marketplace. In front of her, the loud noise of carriages and horses erupted.

A troop of riders wearing silver helmets on scarlet horses cleared the way, followed by several gold-domed carriages. The common people screamed and were driven aside by the riders.

Alai struggled to see, noticing the delicate bronze beasts dangling from the four corners of the carriages.

The carriage procession passed through the marketplace and headed toward the eastern outskirts of the city.

The horses’ hooves trod ostentatiously through the snowy mud. Because the carriages were unfamiliar, the surrounding populace speculated about which high-ranking officials had arrived. Alai thoughtfully turned her head and squeezed into the depths of the market.

Even in this famine year, there were still vendors setting up stalls in Qixian’s market, though customers were few and business was slow. Alai nimbly moved through the crowd and found the familiar steamed bun stall.

Today, Uncle Guang, who usually ran the stall, seemed absent. Only his ten-year-old daughter, Xiao Jiu, was tending the stall alone.

The weather was bitterly cold. Xiao Jiu’s coarse linen clothes were drafty, and two chapped red patches had been blown onto her dark face. Her messy hair stood on top of her head. She casually wiped her running nose and used her child’s voice to try her best to drum up business.

“Xiao Jiu!” Alai ran to her cart and braced herself on the bamboo frame. The frame was filled with steamed buns, covered by a cotton quilt to keep them warm. Alai was so hungry that she could smell the soft, sweet scent of the buns through the quilt.

“Where is your father? Why are you alone?” Alai asked her.

“He fell off the field embankment yesterday and broke his leg. He couldn’t come today.”

“Broke his leg? Did a doctor look at it?”

Xiao Jiu shook her head, looking sad: “We don’t have the spare money. You know all our money goes to treat my mother’s illness. Now even my father is laid up, I… I…”

Xiao Jiu started sniffing, and Alai worriedly told her: “Don’t cry yet.”

Alai knew Uncle Guang and Xiao Jiu were very diligent. Uncle Guang’s wife had been bedridden for several years, and the family relied entirely on Uncle Guang and Xiao Jiu.

Previously, they had worked together to cultivate two acres of land, which, according to the current farming law, belonged to their family since they were the ones who cleared it.

Uncle Guang and Xiao Jiu worked from dawn till dusk, painstakingly managing their small steamed bun stall, all to cure Xiao Jiu’s mother.

Unexpectedly, in this year of famine, the family’s main laborer had an accident.

“I didn’t sleep all last night and only made this one basket of steamed buns. Even if I sell them all, it won’t be enough for my parents’ medicine money. Sister Alai, I really don’t know what to do.”

Alai licked her chapped lips, her mind racing.

Someone passing by behind her let out a cry of pain, saying they had been hit by a kick from one of those carriages when trying to dodge, dislocating their hip and leaving them unable to stand.

Alai looked back at the old woman, her hand tightening around the two copper coins, when suddenly a brilliant idea flashed across her mind.

Alai turned back to Xiao Jiu and asked, “Do you trust me?”

Hearing her question, Xiao Jiu immediately stopped crying, tears still glistening in her wide eyes. She asked curiously, “I do trust you, sister. Do you have a plan?”

“You usually sell three steamed buns for one copper coin, right?”

Xiao Jiu nodded.

“I have two copper coins. Sell me twelve, and I will bring back a large silver ingot for you.”

Xiao Jiu was startled: “Twelve steamed buns for a silver ingot? How is that possible?”

While Xiao Jiu was still hesitating, Alai had already dropped the two copper coins to her, wrapped twelve steamed buns in a cloth bag, and began rummaging around the stall.

“What are you looking for?”

“Do you have a bucket I can borrow?”

“No, only a few big bowls.”

“That’s fine, bowls will work. And I need to borrow your carrying pole too. I’ll be back in an hour to find you.”

Alai borrowed a pile of bewildering items from her, hoisted the carrying pole, and left.

Was she going to sell goods? But with just twelve steamed buns and a few bowls, how could she earn back a large silver ingot? Xiao Jiu didn’t quite believe it.

Alai walked against the cold wind, using the carrying pole to fetch several bowls of sweet spring water from the warm spring three li outside the market.

She placed the bowls levelly on the pole, covered them with a cotton quilt to keep them warm, and carefully descended the slippery mountain path, heading toward the eastern outskirts of the city.

Upon reaching the eastern outskirts, she indeed saw the carriage procession that had swaggered through the market earlier, parked not far away.

Several men in large cloaks were standing in a field of abandoned farmland.

The robes beneath the cloaks were distinctly embroidered with tigers and cranes—official robes.

Several riders with sharp swords guarded the perimeter of the field, scanning vigilantly, their expressionless faces filled with a cold, murderous aura.

Although the riders and carriages were somewhat discreet, lacking any conspicuous decoration, Alai still spotted a clue from the bronze beasts hanging on the four corners of the carriages.

The official carriages of Da Yu had bronze beasts on their four corners to denote rank and grade. Her family master’s carriage had a Hongshu beast, representing a local official of the local officials level. The bronze beasts on these gold-domed carriages were a Baiyan and a Shanque, indicating that the occupants were the governor and other county officials.

Her mother had once said that during years of famine, everyone from the Emperor to the local officials and even the County Magistrates must personally till the land to sacrifice to the Gods of Five Grains, praying for a good harvest in the coming year. When it was time for this ritual farming, the Emperor would indeed labor personally, and the Inspectors of various commanderies would also come to supervise, but the local officials were often perfunctory.

After accompanying the Inspector for feasting and entertainment, they would casually perform a show of farming in the suburbs, leaving the cleanup to the farmers afterward.

Look, Alai thought, they’re putting on a show again.

Alai set up her little stall. While tearing off a piece of steamed bun and waiting for the big fish to bite, she remembered her sister Ah Xun.

She wondered if her trip with Master Xie to Yanzhou for official business was going smoothly.

It was bitter cold, windy, and extremely dry in the midwinter. These high-ranking nobles, who spent their days working in warm rooms heated by refined charcoal, felt parched and miserable after just the time it took for two sticks of incense to burn while scratching at the field.

Blasted by the fierce northwest wind, their frail bodies swayed precariously. However, since the inspecting Inspector was still watching, they couldn’t leave immediately and had to hold out a little longer.

County Deputy He was over fifty and came from a humble background.

He had no ambition for a higher position and was content to manage the public order of Qixian and pass the rest of his life.

He was physically weak, coughing three times every time he swung his hoe.

At this moment, he was thirsty, hungry, and dizzy.

His subordinates were truly worried for him.

To maintain a facade of hardship and earn a good reputation before the Inspector, County Deputy He had deliberately brought very little water and food, which he had offered entirely to his superiors.

Now, he was left without a sip of water.

The eastern outskirts were desolate; where could he find food when there were no villages nearby?

“Search! Search!” County Deputy He supported his old waist, unable to catch his breath. Smoke seemed to rise from his throat, and he weakly instructed his subordinates: “Go search outside! Look further away to see if there are any homes! Oh, just find a drink of water, this is killing me…”

The subordinates were in a difficult position. This area was desolate.

Even if they found homes, they would be poor. They couldn’t possibly snatch the people’s life-saving provisions, could they?

Driving back to the city would take at least half an hour round trip, and by the time they returned, the officials would likely be gone.

They couldn’t disobey the County Deputy’s order, so the subordinates had to search the vicinity, hoping for luck.

And luck was indeed on their side.

From a distance, they saw a young girl sitting under a bare tree, happily eating steamed buns and drinking water with such gusto that it made them slightly envious.

When they approached, they saw that the girl was actually selling steamed buns. A bamboo frame hung on both ends of her carrying pole, covered with a cotton quilt.

A corner lifted slightly revealed a large bag of steamed buns and several bowls of water hidden inside.

The officials went up and asked her the price of the buns and water; they wanted to buy it all. But the young girl refused.

“My mother said that the remaining twelve steamed buns must be sent to my grandparents today, and if one is missing, she will break one of my legs. These few bowls are warm spring water I worked hard to find in the mountain wilderness, and they are still hot. I have to deliver them all; I can’t sell them to you.”

The officials found the young girl’s simple, earnest demeanor amusing. She treated a few scraps of bread like treasure.

“How much to sell them?”

“I won’t sell them for any price!”

The leading official squatted in front of her, pulling out two large, dazzling silver ingots from his robe: “See this? This can buy you an entire steamed bun shop. You take these two silver ingots back and show them to your mother. She’ll be so happy she’ll faint and definitely won’t break your leg. Leave the water too. You can go now.”

Alai looked at the silver ingots as if she barely understood. The officials took the entire carrying pole. County Deputy He devoured the steamed buns with warm spring water, eating with immense gratitude.

The silver ingot flashed in Xiao Jiu’s eyes, almost making her jaw drop.

“Ah? Is this real? I’ve never seen a complete silver ingot in my life!” Xiao Jiu exclaimed, holding the ingot. “Sister Alai! You are amazing! How did you do it?”

Xiao Jiu clung to Alai begging her to share the secret of exchanging twelve steamed buns for a large silver ingot. Alai was tugged and pulled, her clothes becoming askew, but she wouldn’t speak.

Her mother had repeatedly warned her not to cause trouble outside, and if this incident reached her mother’s ears, she would likely receive a good beating.

Although her mother had limited use of her legs, the strength in her hands was surprisingly great.

She had once personally seen her mother split firewood with the edge of her hand when the cleaver broke.

Every time her mother spanked her left a deep impression, so no matter how much Xiao Jiu pestered her, Alai remained determinedly silent.

Xiao Jiu grew tired of asking.

Seeing her resolute secrecy, she stopped pressing, instead continuously thanking Alai, tears welling in her eyes: “My father and mother are both saved!”

Alai grabbed a steamed bun to fill her stomach, then carefully tucked the remaining silver ingot into her bosom, already planning how to spend it in installments so her mother wouldn’t notice.

Two women at the adjacent stall were passionately weeping about something. At first, Alai paid no mind until the words “refugees” clearly reached her ears. Tearing at the now hardened steamed bun, she joined the crowd of local people.

The Xizhou refugees, after entering the city, were settled temporarily at Qingshui Temple. Their massive numbers overwhelmed the century-old temple.

The monks, to make space for the refugees, had all moved further up the mountain, causing several to fall ill from the cold.

Although the government provided grain and supplies, the sheer number of refugees meant the small amount of food was far from enough.

They began to sneak out of the temple at night to search for food in nearby homes.

The people of Qixian were traditionally simple and charitable. Seeing the many elderly, weak, and women and children among the refugees, they felt pity and started leaving food outside their doors for the refugees to take before going to sleep.

The two weeping women were from two of the households that had shown this kindness.

They said they lived at the foot of Qingshui Temple on Nanshan.

Their families had been influenced by Buddhist teachings for years, and their in-laws and husbands were all devout Buddhists, often speaking of compassion.

Initially, the refugees were grateful, weeping and saying kind words upon receiving the food. But gradually, the scattered food left outside could not satisfy the refugees’ hunger.

They began to forcibly break into homes at night, robbing and wasting the grain. They would eat half of the good rice and spill the other half, wasting more steamed buns than they ate!

Chickens kept for laying eggs were seized and butchered instantly. The fierce yellow dogs kept for protection were left as nothing but bloody heads. Not to mention the loss of oxen for farming and goats raised for sale. Furthermore, some families even had children stolen or were victims of rape.

Since there were no young, strong men at home, they were utterly unable to resist.

The people who were initially willing to offer aid quickly locked their doors and windows; no one was willing to help the disaster victims anymore.

As they recounted this, the two women cried even harder. One had lost her child, and the other was nearly assaulted.

The surrounding populace sighed softly, exchanging worried glances, feeling grief, fear, and confusion. They started debating feverishly:

“Why would they steal children?”

“Could it be… cannibalism?”

“Stop talking! These beasts! Why were they ever allowed into the city? Is Sun Mingyi an idiot? They are savage barbarians! Letting them into Qixian is clearly a case of wolves entering a sheepfold! How are we defenseless common people supposed to survive!”

Alai and Xiao Jiu stood in the crowd, their hearts pounding, their nerves seized by panic.

“We can’t let them continue to harm people! Go! Let’s find Sun Mingyi! We must drive these barbarians out!” A group of people passionately started heading toward the County Yamen. Alai and Xiao Jiu started to follow to add to the pressure. On the way, they continued to hear discussions:

“How could the small Qingshui Temple possibly hold twenty thousand refugees? Has Sun Mingyi gone mad!”

“I heard it wasn’t the Magistrate’s idea. He guarded the city for three days and nights. In the end, it was the eldest son of Master Xie who intervened and let them in.”

Xiao Jiu glanced at Alai, who blushed and lowered her head.

“I heard some refugees are moving toward us now. Qingshui Temple can’t hold any more. They are moving to other temples.”

“Other temples? Qixian only has two temples: Qingshui Temple on Nanshan and Taoyuan Temple on North City.”

“Yes, they are going to Taoyuan Temple. Taoyuan Temple is a little better; there aren’t many nearby homes. But this is no solution! If we don’t drive these tribal bandits out, Qixian will never have peace!”

Taoyuan Temple?

Alai’s heart sank, and she stopped in her tracks.

“What’s wrong, Alai?” Xiao Jiu asked worriedly, seeing her face instantly turn pale.

“Oh no,” Alai cried out softly, “Oh no!”

She quickly pushed through the crowd and ran out. After running for a few steps, she turned back, grabbed Xiao Jiu’s slender shoulders, and urgently warned her:

“Stock up on food and stay home! Don’t go out! Bolt the door and don’t open it for anyone who knocks! It’s best to prepare two heavy sticks for protection for your parents and yourself! Remember this!”

Before Xiao Jiu could react, Alai turned around again and sprinted toward Taoyuan Temple.