A black leather boot was flicked up by a horsewhip, tracing a perfect arc through the air before plummeting into the pond under the wide-eyed gaze of two men. The splash scattered the leisurely schooling fish in the water.
The man in white hastily stood up, his left foot already booted while his right remained bare. He stared at the sunken black boot with a hint of despair.
Zhenzhen, smiling brightly, retracted her whip and cupped her hands toward them. "Farewell," she said, then turned and walked away, leaving them to watch her depart with a mix of astonishment and resignation.
The boot falling into the water was no great matter—the pond was shallow and clear, so he could easily retrieve it without loss. However, for the rest of the day, wearing a soggy boot on one foot would be rather uncomfortable—much like how their teasing remarks had made her feel.
After traveling for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a venison shop came into Zhenzhen’s view. It was a courtyard with a storefront, behind which lay a workshop, appearing quite sizable. From a distance, Zhenzhen caught a whiff of a strange odor carried by the wind—like the pungent smell of fermented black beans, yet not entirely so. Upon closer sniffing, the scent was soon overpowered by a rich aroma of black beans. Dismounting, Zhenzhen tied her horse in a shady spot and walked toward the venison shop.
In Pujiang, butcher shops often hung half a freshly slaughtered pig or sheep at the entrance to attract customers, but this shop displayed no fresh venison. Instead, a dried deer head hung beneath its signboard.
As Zhenzhen approached, a burly man around forty greeted her warmly. "Looking to buy venison, miss? We have a full range here—dried, roasted, minced, spiced, sweet and crispy, even meat sauce."
Zhenzhen glanced at the shelves and indeed saw an array of dried meats, a dazzling array filling the room, but no fresh venison was in sight.
That strange foul odor wafted over again in waves, making Zhenzhen instinctively cover her nose. Noticing this, the man immediately pointed to the right and explained, "There’s a fermented black bean workshop nearby, so you might catch a bit of the smell here."
Zhenzhen thought for a moment, then put on a pitiful expression, hesitating and speaking haltingly. "Actually, I’m not here to buy meat... My family situation isn’t good... My brother and sister-in-law think I’m useless and want to kick me out, so... I need to find some work."
The man’s smile faded as he frowned and looked her up and down. Zhenzhen kept her eyes lowered, trying her best to appear meek and harmless. Finally, the man called out toward the backyard, summoning a woman in her fifties or sixties to take Zhenzhen inside for questioning.
The woman inquired closely about Zhenzhen’s background. Zhenzhen gave a false name and fabricated a tragic story. When pressed for details, she managed to avoid revealing any flaws, and if there were occasional slips, she quickly covered them. Finally, the woman asked if she had any culinary skills. Zhenzhen replied, "I’ve helped my sister-in-law make pickled vegetables before, so I know a little."
When asked about the pickling methods, Zhenzhen described the steps used at Suitable Treasure Tower. The woman nodded in approval, then produced a document and asked Zhenzhen to press her fingerprint to seal it.
Zhenzhen took it and was about to examine it closely when she suddenly grew cautious. Handing it back to the woman, she said, "I can’t read. Could you tell me what’s written here?"
The woman explained, "It says that everything you see in the workshop while working here must not be disclosed. If you leak even a word, you’ll face punishment, whether by law or privately, as the shop decides."Zhenzhen was somewhat familiar with the usual employment contracts in Pujiang and knew that many shops indeed required employees not to disclose their craft techniques and processes. However, few used such severe terms as "public or private punishment" to describe the consequences. Growing increasingly curious, Zhenzhen pondered for a moment and still signed the contract.
The old woman put away the contract and verbally informed Zhenzhen of her wages. To Zhenzhen's surprise, the amount was double the standard wage for ordinary laborers in the city.
The old woman led Zhenzhen into the workshop. The courtyard was piled high with baskets of fermented black beans and buckets filled with a muddy substance. As Zhenzhen followed the old woman into the workshop building, the stench grew increasingly intense, becoming especially overpowering inside the room, almost nauseating.
Several large pots were set up in the room, with boiling broth inside. Large chunks of meat tumbled in the dark brown sauce. A sturdy woman around thirty years old stood by the pots, occasionally stirring the bottom.
Beside the stove were several large buckets containing bright red raw meat. Zhenzhen thought to herself that this must be venison. She approached and leaned in for a closer look, but unexpectedly, a wave of putrid odor assaulted her senses, nearly causing her to faint.
The woman stirring the pots noticed her discomfort and smiled at her. "After a couple of days, you'll get used to it."
The old woman introduced Zhenzhen, saying, "This is Sister Sun." She handed Zhenzhen over to Sister Sun, instructing her to learn carefully from her, and then left first.
Sister Sun led Zhenzhen to the courtyard and pointed at several buckets of sludge by the water vat. "The meat is in there. Take it out, clean it thoroughly, and then hand it to me."
Covering her nose, Zhenzhen picked up a wooden stick by the bucket, probed inside, and fished out a piece of meat. Following Sister Sun's instructions, she poured water into a wooden basin and washed the meat. The meat from the sludge gradually revealed its bright red flesh, appearing as fresh as newly butchered meat, yet the putrid smell was unmistakable—clearly, it had already spoiled.
Looking around, Zhenzhen saw that there were quite a few wooden buckets filled with meat in the courtyard, piled up everywhere. She couldn't help but wonder: Where did this household get so much venison? Venison was scarce in the Central Plains. If it was transported from afar over long distances, why wasn't it made into dried meat or jerky before shipping? Why process spoiled meat here instead?
Suppressing her nausea, Zhenzhen frowned as she cleaned piece after piece of rotten meat. Sister Sun, seeing her expression, laughed and said, "Don't mind the smell now. Once it's cooked with fermented black beans, it'll be delicious."
By noon, the first batch of meat was cooked. Sure enough, the aroma of the cooked meat blended with the salty scent of fermented black beans, merging into a rich, savory fragrance that was mouthwatering. The layered aroma indicated it had been thoroughly infused with flavor.
Sister Sun took out a piece, sliced it, and offered it to Zhenzhen to taste. Zhenzhen hurriedly shook her head and declined, but she discreetly examined the meat. Its texture and fibers resembled beef or horse meat, with no visible signs of spoilage. Presumably, it would taste no different either.
Zhenzhen excused herself by saying she had no appetite and only ate a little vegetables and rice for lunch. Sister Sun, however, had a hearty appetite, devouring several side dishes and three bowls of rice. She also took out a pot of rice wine and poured herself drinks.
Seeing this, Zhenzhen immediately went over to help pour the wine for her. After Sister Sun finished drinking and grew drowsy, Zhenzhen massaged her back and shoulders. Sister Sun laughed heartily, repeatedly praising Zhenzhen for being sensible.
Zhenzhen struck up a conversation with her, saying she had suffered a lot before and never expected to find this job now. The work wasn't tiring, the people she met were kind, and the wages were so generous—it felt like a stroke of incredible luck.
Sister Sun explained that the master's business was thriving, and the meat shop earned substantial profits, which was why the wages were so high.Zhenzhen said, "It sounds good, but venison is a rare commodity. What if there's an occasional shortage, or something goes wrong during long-distance transportation? Wouldn't that affect the business?"
Aunt Sun waved her hand dismissively. "No, it won't. The meat isn't shipped from far away—it's sourced locally. And there won't be any shortages. The supply has been a bit low these past couple of days, but the owner has come up with a solution, and it'll be plentiful again soon."
Zhenzhen was surprised and pressed her about where locally the deer came from, but Aunt Sun didn't answer and simply fell asleep.
While Aunt Sun was sound asleep, Zhenzhen took the opportunity to look around the workshop. Aside from the meat, she saw no other parts like deer heads or hides. Finally, Zhenzhen climbed onto the workshop wall to survey the surroundings and noticed that in the courtyard of the neighboring fermented bean workshop, besides the fermented beans, there were horse hides drying, and in a corner of the yard, a dead horse lay piled up.
Zhenzhen was startled and instantly understood the truth about the "venison": the shop owner purchased dead horses, buried the skinned meat in mud to preserve its bright color, then stewed or roasted it to pass off as venison for sale. Because horse meat's texture closely resembles venison, and the fermented bean stew masked its original flavor, buyers couldn't tell the difference. The shop hired workers from impoverished families, offering generous wages and threatening them with private punishment to ensure those who knew the truth wouldn't expose it, which was how the shop had managed to operate until now.
As sunset approached, the day's meat in the shop had finished stewing. Aunt Sun asked Zhenzhen to stay in the workshop, but Zhenzhen claimed she still had luggage at home to pack and would return the next day. She then bid farewell and hurried to where she had tied her horse.
But the horse was nowhere to be found. Zhenzhen guessed it had likely been stolen by the butcher shop owner but didn't dare confront the matter for now, quickly leaving the area.
After walking about three miles away, she saw in the distance a horse lying on the grass, with a man in a long robe sitting beside it. He was tapping a broken jar at his feet with a horsewhip, singing a sorrowful song.
At that moment, a red sun slowly sank along the horizon where the water and grass met, its golden-red afterglow shining from the direction opposite Zhenzhen onto the man's billowing sleeves, making him look like a silhouette glowing with a halo.
Leaning against the fading sunlight, he tapped the jar and sang, "Whose land is this overgrown with weeds, gathering souls without distinction of virtue or folly? How relentlessly the ghostly lord urges, leaving no time for human life to hesitate..."
Zhenzhen walked slowly toward him and recognized him as the man in white she had met that morning. Now, his attire was neat, his soft-winged Tang-style hat impeccably straight, and his solemn expression carried a hint of sorrow, a stark contrast to his earlier cheerful demeanor. The man in blue, for some reason, was not present.
The horse lying on the grass was the golden-hued one Zhenzhen had seen earlier in the day, long dead but still with blood and saliva trickling from its mouth and nostrils. Recalling Aunt Sun's words, Zhenzhen guessed that the shop owner had likely poisoned the lush grass and water nearby, causing passing horses to die.
She sighed inwardly and, after the man finished a verse, took out some coins from her person and tossed them clinking into the broken jar.
Startled by the sound, he looked up at her, then at the coins in the jar, somewhat taken aback. "I was singing a dirge for my horse," he said.
"The last person tapping a jar here was a blind man, singing a lotus ballad for his deceased dog," Zhenzhen replied indifferently.
The man in white broke into a smile, actually picking up the coins one by one from the jar. Then he stood up and bowed deeply to Zhenzhen. "In that case, thank you, miss."
Zhenzhen glanced at his feet. "Are your boots dry?"
The man in white replied, "No, but I've worn them from morning till night and have grown quite accustomed to them."Zhenzhen gave a slight smile and added, "Go quickly and find someone to burn your horse... If anyone wants to buy your horse or suggests burying it, absolutely do not agree."
The man in white asked curiously, "Why?"
Zhenzhen turned and walked away, tossing back a sentence, "Just remember these words, it won't do any harm to you or your horse."
Without a horse to ride, Zhenzhen walked alone for nearly half an hour and still hadn't reached the city gate. As dusk fell and the surroundings grew increasingly dim, she began to feel anxious. Suddenly, she heard someone calling from behind, "Miss, wait!"
Turning around, she saw the man in white rushing over, panting heavily.
Zhenzhen waited for him to reach her and asked, "Is the horse settled?"
The man replied, "Yes. After you left, two men came repeatedly trying to persuade me, insisting on buying my dead horse. I refused, so they offered to help dig a pit and bury it, but I didn't agree either. After they left, I called over a few shepherd boys, gave them some money, and asked them to gather firewood to burn the horse."
Zhenzhen nodded but ignored him and continued walking forward. The man followed closely, pressing her about how she knew someone would come to buy or bury the horse. Zhenzhen remained silent, so he smiled and asked, "Could it be that you, miss, are in the same profession as me, also able to foresee the future?"
Zhenzhen stopped and looked him up and down, asking in surprise, "Are you a fortune-teller?"
The man nodded, "I know a little about the Mysterious Gates and the Six Lines divination."
Zhenzhen then asked, "Can you tell what happened to me today?"
The man carefully observed her face, pondered for a moment, and said, "Today, miss, you went to work at a butcher shop."
"Oh?" Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow slightly, "What else?"
"This butcher shop doesn't sell fresh meat, but stewed meat," the man continued.
"Can you tell the purpose of my trip?" Zhenzhen asked again.
The man thought for a moment and then said, "That's a bit difficult. It involves your family background and origins; I would need to read your palm to know."
Zhenzhen thought for a while, but ultimately couldn't resist her curiosity, so she extended her right hand to him. The man gently held her hand and brought it to a slightly brighter spot to examine it carefully. "Miss, your family is well-off. Though not extremely wealthy, you have no worries about food and clothing, and your household income is quite comfortable."
"Can you tell what business my family is in?" Zhenzhen asked calmly.
The man looked at her palm again, frowned for a moment, then gently stroked her palm with his thumb, as if trying to make the lines clearer. This gave Zhenzhen a strange feeling, and she instinctively pulled back slightly.
"Hmm," the man seemed not to notice her reaction and said seriously, "If I'm not mistaken, your parents are likely in business. Judging from your palm, it's related to food and dining—perhaps they own a restaurant? So, the purpose of your trip was originally to buy meat."
Zhenzhen was genuinely surprised, "Your skills are quite good. How long have you been doing this?"
The man replied, "One day."
Zhenzhen was stunned. After a moment of thought, she said, "You look like a scholar. Could it be that you're short on travel funds, so you decided today to switch professions and make a living by reading palms?"
"Not at all," the man laughed, "If I didn't change professions, how could I touch your hand?"
Zhenzhen instantly felt her face flush as if on fire, while his eyes sparkled, calmly gazing at her, a hint of a smile spreading from his eyes to his lips.
Embarrassed and annoyed, Zhenzhen immediately tried to pull her hand away, but he only tightened his grip and whispered in her ear, "If I didn't touch your hand, how could I hold it and run with you?"Zhenzhen was startled. Following his gaze, she turned to look behind her and saw a group of burly men armed with clubs rushing toward them. At the forefront rode a man on a tall horse. Though still some distance away, his clothing faintly revealed him to be the burly man who guarded the butcher shop.
Without another word, the man in white tightly grasped Zhenzhen’s hand and pulled her toward the city gate.
(To be continued)
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