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Chapter 1: Purple Silk Auspicious Cloud Palanquin (Sedan)
1.
A new year has arrived and the abundant sounds of firecrackers booming bustlingly everywhere in Qing Ping. The 32th residence on the eastern street remained silent. Hanging from there was a blue tarpaulin embroidered with two chubby boys carrying a palanquin. It appears very cute and lovely. Besides that, there was a rustic square wooden board with four characters engraving, “ Guang Ji Jiao Hang*”.
The owner of the palanquin store was named Du Wang. From outside appearance, [he] was a modern youth with cleanly cut hair and wore smoky silk robes. [He] looks very elegant. When smiling, would reveal not only canine teeth, but also dimples on the cheeks. He wore silver hawksbill shell-rimmed eyeglasses and has peach-blossom eyes that when female students passed by and glazed, would make the girls blushed and stopped.
* Numerous Records of Palanquin Series
The weather on the 30th is especially beautiful with warm sunshine and snowfall. Du Wang carried a chair and sat at the door. He clutched a book of incense and was voraciously reading it. Neighboring children lined up in groups. One by one they stopped by the street shops to ask for some fruits and pastries, and then gave well wishes. When they arrived at Guang Ji Jiao Hang’s door, the children appeared to have never seen such a handsome boss before as they were a bit shy. Yet, Du Wang was very easy person to talk as he went behind the counter to give each person a bag full of freshly roasted peanuts, and also a coin to each of them. The children were overjoyed and left happily. Du Wang continued to sit on the chair and read the book. Feeling that someone was tugging at his shirt, he looked down at the empty space next to him: “Do you also want to play like those kids? But people can’t see you, so how can you play together?”
“Assistant, I want to order a palanquin. Early tomorrow morning at Zhang family residence in Hexi lane.” The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties who also looked educated.
Du Wang raises his head. The sunlight made him narrowed his eyes slightly: “My palanquin is invite-only and not rented. Each palanquin must be invited personally by the family member. If you want to rent a palanquin, there’s also a ten-year-old shop that rents palanquins toward the west side.” Du Wang smiled: “Also, I am the boss here, and not an assistant.”
The middle-aged man was a little disgruntled: “Is your palanquin a palanquin or a fairy? The palanquins in the west of the city, I know very well. They are all old-fashioned to the point of being torn apart. Early tomorrow morning is the seventy-year birthday of our old man. He wants to see the family light incense at the temple. Name whatever price you want.”
Du Wang returned to the counter and held a wooden tray with carved pear wood. The top has twenty or thirty pieces of large and small wooden pieces engraved with ancient cursive scripts, and many different types of palanquins painted in. Du Wang showed a smile that was not quite one: “If that’s the case, you choose one.”
The middle-aged man found this intriguing. He searched for a while and then chose a card that illustrates a purple silk palanquin. Du Wang smiled: “Purple cloud* coming east, tomorrow morning at Zhang family residence in Hexi lane, I remember it.”
*Auspicious sign in astrology
The man left. Du Wang took the silver coin in his hand, and smiled at the air next to him: “Look, there’s a guest at the door, don’t be lazy you two.”
2.
The next day, Zhang family residence was on Hexi lane.
The elder of the Zhang family – Zhang Bingmei is seventy years old this year. He has lived through point of seven decades. Although his head is white, his eyes are still very sharp. It is said that in the past when Zhang Bingmei became an official, his character was too upright, and so he could not thrive in the official circle, but the paintings he painted of plum blossoms were very beautiful. That year he brought them to the market and sold at extremely high prices.
Du Wang was leaning against the door of the purple silk palanquin, while watching Zhang Bingmei being brought outside by his son. He chewed hard with the bag of peanuts, and muttering to himself: “When this old man was young, he looked even more handsome than his son.”
Du Wang was about to display a friendly appearance as he ran over to greet him when Zhang Bingmei’s son Zhang Huairen suddenly got angry, “What qualifications do you have to come here?”
The peanut seed almost got stuck in Du Wang’s throat. He quickly swallowed it and innocently pointed at himself only to discover that the person Zhang Huairen was looking at was not he. He turned around and saw a girl standing behind him.
It was a woman as gentle as poetry andmist0like as if she stepped out of a Jiangnan ink painting. Her age is actually not young and is probably in her thirties. She wears a moon-white cheongsam that emphasize her slender moon-like eyebrows and graceful posture. The cheongsam was embroidered with plum blossom sprig. Du Wang peer at that plum blossom sprig. For some reason, the biting “crunch” of the peanut in his mouth sounded loudly.
The woman’s face was a little pale, “Today is the first day of the new year. I stopped by to visit teacher.” Her gaze passed through Zhang Huairen’s body to Zhang Bingmei: “Teacher, I brought you some cake.”
Zhang Huairen took two steps forward, grabbed the cake box and was about threw it away, but was stopped by Zhang Bingmei who held his sleeve. Zhang Bingmei looked at the other woman, and his eyes were full of kindness: “Last year you’ve sent a letter and wrote that you were accepted to teach in an all-girls middle school. Were you able to do it? Was it difficult?”
Her eyes welled with tears: “In the past, what teacher has taught me, now I teach those children like that. Today’s little girls, their limbs are much more flexible than mine were back then. They are not like me who was stupid and slow-witted in the past. Whenever teacher is free, teacher can visit the school. Remember to look at the children’s paintings…”
Zhang Bingmei nodded: “That’s good, teaching is hard. Since young, when the weather was cold, you used to cough. Remember to mix the Sichuan fritillary bulb with some loquat. When you’re giving a lecture, take a sip from time to time.”
Zhang Huairen was impatient and shook Zhang Bingmei’s s arm to pull him out of the memory stream as he shouted, “Father.”
The atmosphere was silent momentarily. Zhang Bingmei finally opened his mouth: “I will accept the gift, thank you. Yue Sheng ah, I’m fine, you don’t need to visit this old man.”
The person named Yue Sheng couldn’t help shed a tear due to these words. It rolled down her face. She forcefully endured it and bowed while saying softly, “Yes”. Then she turned to leave.
The father and son watched her back leaving. Zhang Huairen couldn’t help but snorted and cursed: “Shameless person.”
Zhang Bingmei’s lips trembled a little: “It’s because I am a bad father. She is also considered your sister.”
Zhang Huairen said decisively: “I don’t have such a shameless sister, father really is…” The words were about to come out of his mouth, but when Zhang Huairen looked up and saw Du Wang, he hastily swallowed them down. He turned to Zhang Bingmei and said: “Father, you see that the palanquin has arrived. Can you go alone?”
Zhang Bingmei smiled lightly: “It is just going to light incense at the temple. If you are busy, go first.”
Zhang Huairen “en” one sound, nodded slightly to Du Wang, and then hurriedly left. Zhang Bingmei supported himself with bamboo crane and walked steadily towards Du Wang: “Little brother, why are you alone, where is the palanquin porter?”
Du Wang smiled with narrow eyes, “Palanquin porter is filling his stomach at the noodle shop next door, and will come soon. Outside the wind is strong. Perhaps you should wait in the palanquin first.” After saying that, Du Wang pulled out a bag of peanuts from his sleeve and gave them to Zhang Bingmei: “Will you have a bite, old man?”
3.
This palanquin is really exquisite. Purple silk curtains are embroidered with graceful auspicious clouds and appeared very delicate looking as dark and light flowed all over. Underneath the silk is dark gray string that is looking quite rich and noble. Zhang Bingmei lifted the silk curtain of the palanquin and chatted with Du Wang for a few sentences. Du Wang on the side chatted while watching Zhang Bingmei chew peanuts. He couldn’t help but laugh: “Old man’s teeth are really good.”
Zhang Bingmei also replied with a smile: “I didn’t like to eat them at first, but in the past Yue Sheng used to beg me to let her eat these, so I gradually liked them.”
Du Wang deliberately asked: “Who is Yue Sheng?”
Zhang Bingmei was silent for a moment: “(She) is my disciple. She learned to paint at the age of five. It was I who taught her for about twenty years.”
Du Wang changed the subject: “Sit down securely old man, we’re about to start moving the palanquin.”
Zhang Bingmei sat inside and only felt the palanquin being lifted up. It was going very fast but smooth. He was curious and wanted to look outside, but did not expect that the curtains have fallen since then and now he is unable to open it. Next to him, Du Wang laughed loudly: “I have helped you pull down the palanquin curtain. Watch out for strong wind and catching a cold.”
Zhang Bingmei felt a bit strange: “Why did you follow?”
Du Wang said casually: “This is our palanquin rule. The owner must follow in case the palanquin porter is lazy.”
As Du Wang’s low voice fell, Zhang Bingmei vaguely heard the laughter of children. He thought they were children on the street, so he didn’t pay attention. After departing approximately in a stick of incense, the palanquin was lowered. Du Wang was very relaxed: “Old man, we have arrived, get off the palanquin.”
Zhang Bingmei came out and wondered: “Where is the palanquin porter?”
Du Wang casually pointed: “Well, isn’t the porter here?”
At this time, Zhang Bingmei discovered that he did not know when there were two chubby children standing next to Du Wang. They were about five or six years old. They are cute as if they came out of a New Year’s picture. Zhang Bingmei froze, and then suddenly laughed out loud: “Young people really like to joke. The palanquin porter must have not eaten enough before. As soon as the palanquin stopped, porter must have run away to drink some water and eat a piece of cake, right?”
Du Wang smiled but did not answer. He asked in return: “What are you praying at the temple?”
Zhang Bingmei felt a bit strange because Du Wang suddenly does not use honorifics. Although he came from a literary background, he was not strict and was very open-minded. He wholeheartedly said: “Pray for a peaceful family, that Huairen kid will have a good career and a peaceful life…” He looked at Du Wang’s sincere eyes. Suddenly, he revealed the desire hidden deep in his heart: “Yue Sheng finding a good person, and being happy afterwards is happiness.” As soon as these words were said, Zhang Bingmei eyes suddenly felt a bit stingy and he was about to burst into tears. He was a little embarrassed, quickly covered his eyes with his sleeve, and instructed Du Wang: “You stay here and wait for me to burn incense and then come out.” After saying that, he quickly turned and left.
4.
No wonder people say the New Year has a new look as today Zhang Bingmei feels especially refreshed. Although his body is not bad during normal days, he has never been as relaxed as now. He easily climbed all ten steps of the stairs. He suddenly thought that walking with a staff was a bit cumbersome.
Zhang Bingmei took a few incense sticks from the great (temple) master’s hand and suddenly felt a little strange. Normally when he went to the temple for burning incense, the monks saw that he was old and looked sincere, so they gave him a special kind of blessed incense. Yet this time in his hand was just an ordinary incense stick. He was still in a daze when the great master in front of him smiled and indicated that he could bow to Buddha.
Zhang Bingmei leaned his crane against the pole and quietly focused on holding the incense. He bowed three times. He then dignifiedly planted the incense upright in the incense burner. Then he turned to the altar and knelt down on the cushion to sincerely pray for happiness. He respectfully prayed to what he could think of— even the dog owner, the cat and the flower girl at his house he also prayed wholeheartedly for…It could not help that the name Yue Sheng unconsciously poured out in his heart from the prayers of Zhang Bingmei.
This year Zhang Bingmei was seventy years old. Before the age of twenty, he was always passionate about poetry and books. At twenty-eight years old, he immediately won the official court examination, but the journey to become an official was not as desired. His wife has died early and his excitement gradually faded. He only has one son, Huairen, who is not outstanding, but does not have a troublesome personality. In this life, he loved no one, except Yue Sheng.
Yue Sheng is his friend’s daughter. Entrusted by his friend, he wholeheartedly passed on the art of painting to Yue Sheng. Previously, Yue Sheng was only five years old and was a small figure studying. Unable to concentrate on the theories in the book, she fell asleep on the table. At that time he was engrossed in a lecture, and when he looked up, he discovered that Yue Sheng had already fallen asleep. A stream of saliva flowed from the corner of her lips straight down to the page of the book and formed a round wet streak. Zhang Bingmei was both angry and amused. With this, he felt very sorry for his friend’s entrustment in him. He took a book and gently tapped on Yue Sheng’s hair bun. Yue Sheng woke up soon. Head was not in pain but was extremely warm. She wept bitterly. Zhang Bingmei has never taken care of children, especially a little girl like this. He can only constantly comfort: “Teacher is wrong, teacher is wrong.” That year, Zhang Bingmei was forty years old.
Although Yue Sheng does not like to read books, she has a natural talent for painting. Zhang Bingmei is also an avid artist, and so he devoted himself to teaching her. At the age of seventeen to eighteen, Yue Sheng painted a few pictures of plum blossoms. Zhang Bingmei felt that they were very meaningful. He immediately worked hard to reward his little student and spent the whole day peeling peanuts and melon seeds open for her to eat. Yue Sheng chewed noisily, and also urged: “Teacher, show me! Master, have you finished peeling them yet?!”
At that time, Zhang Bingmei had soon retired from the government. He spent the whole day at home painting, playing with birds, and in his spare time, taught Yue Sheng a few strokes of the brush. At that time he was fifty years old, but his body was still very good and his figure was thin. So he looked at least forty. That is the time when a man gathers all his experiences and shines brightly. Yue Sheng also reached the age of marriage. It was not long after that her father arranged a marriage. Yue Sheng was extremely angry as she did not want to get married, only wanted to go to a woman’s university. Because she could not convince her father, she can only begged Zhang Bingmei. Yue Sheng was extremely determined, and even cutting off her ponytail into a new type of short hair. Her neighbors immediately teased her. Zhang Bingmei was actually very sad for the long hair, but in front of Yue Sheng still insisted on complimenting. Even he could not shake his friend so that Yue Sheng could focus on studying. His friend only coldly replied: “Wait for the child to grow up and the child will change her mind. Sooner or later will get married. Otherwise, it will be difficult to avoid ruining the family’s reputation. Does brother Zhang think that is correct?”
Zhang Bingmei was stunned by the stare of his friends. An intelligent person understands the hidden meaning of their words. Without needing those people to say much, he made up his mind not to see Yue Sheng’s face anymore.
When Yue Sheng wanted to see Zhang Bingmei, he lied that he was sick and closed the door to refusing the welcome. She brought the kind of cake that Zhang Bingmei likes to eat, stood in front of the window, and her voice lamented with a bit of grievance: “Teacher, come see me.”
Zhang Bingmei’s mind suddenly became tangled in a horde. He could only curl up in a blanket. He suddenly discovered that his friend’s warning was not unreasonable. Zhang Bingmei pretended to be pious, but was sanctimonious hypocrite. Unexpectedly, he has come to like his student.
Summary of Part 5:
Yue Sheng did not get to meet Zhang Bingmei and did not want her father to force her marriage. Thus that entire night, she escaped Qing Ping and signed up to be a female soldier. Her father chased after and due during that chase, has slipped off the horse in the wilderness. When some person has discovered him, he was at his last breath. The birth mother of Yue Sheng has passed away early. After hearing the news, she hurriedly went home for the funeral. In front of her father’s grave, she cried and shred the paper announcing her selection as a female soldier. She knocked her head against the ground and vowed to never leave Qing Ping.
After her father died, Yue Sheng’s family members cursed her. Despite appearing as morally upright, they secretly split the fortune and did not leave anything for Yue Sheng. Zhang Bingmei felt bad for Yue Sheng’s ill fate. He wanted to find her a partner, but her situation became like that and a regular person would not want be involved in that. Despite admirers, she strongly refused in the end.
When she turned twenty, Zhang Bingmei grew angry at Yue Sheng on the possibility that she would lose out on her opportunity of finding love and starting a family. In tears, Yue Sheng shouted out that she does not want to start a family and wanted only to follow Teacher her entire life.
That year, Zhang Bingmei turned fifty-five. Although he could take her as a consort according to the ways back then, he was nearing the end of his life and does not want her to be involved as she is still young. He pretended to be unreasonable and said that he wanted to her to marry Huairen. Huairen was outside as he was about to check in on his father. He heard the part about marrying Yue Sheng and was interested (as she was a pretty lady). Yue Sheng could not refrain from crying and said that teacher does not know that she loves him. Zhang Bingmei was in shock. Zhang Huairen ordered people to move her stuff out the next morning. Zhang Bingmei told Yue Sheng that he has arranged for her to be a tutor and teach a friend’s daughter how to read. Zhang Bingmei thought this was the best path for Yue Sheng. He can only take care of her food, housing and transportation through this. From the outside, it appeared he was angry and disdainful.
Summary of Part 6:
When he turned sixty, Zhang Bingmei got severely sick and Huairen even heartbrokenly prepared a coffin for him. Yue Sheng found out and immediately came to visit. She cried at his bed and Zhang Bingmei who was unconscious for three days, was able to ask in whispers on whether Yue Sheng has come. Yue Sheng held his hand and replied that she is here. Huairen saw such scene and was speechless. He realized that the relation between them was not merely a teacher-student relation.
Yue Sheng took care of Zhang Bingmei carefully for three months until he has recovered and she left. Only on holidays would she ordered someone to bring a box of cake and does not show herself. Zhang Bingmei knew that this year he has turned seventy and so Yue Sheng brought the cake herself. She thought she couldn’t see him outside of this or even be able to have a conversation.
Zhang Bingmei prayed for Yue Sheng to meet someone and not experience difficulties in her life.
After he finished praying, he felt something soft below his feet and found a pink handkerchief embroidered with a flower. That was not his and a beautiful face of a maiden grew red. She thanked him and stretched out her hand. Zhang Bingmei was confused and the maiden pointed that the handkerchief was hers.
He returned the handkerchief to her and the maiden shyly peered at him. She wanted to start a conversation, but was pulled away by her friend. Zhang Bingmei her friend whispered that the maiden’s bravery was large. “It’s a pity for your effort as despite his handsome appearance, who can expect that it was a stupid gentleman!”
A gentleman who is stupid?
Zhang Bingmei was bewildered for a while and then remembered he has to get his staff. When he looked up, he saw his appearance on a gold pillar. It was clearly his appearance when young!
Summary of Part 7:
Zhang Bingmei ran down the stairs without using the staff. His legs bend about fine and he felt his senses were clearer. Du Wang stood in front of him and the two kids were standing on the side. They were hugging his pants and revealed a smile.
Du Wang placed one finger on Zhang Bingmei’s lips and whispered “Guang Ji Jiao Hang, welcome your patronage.”
Within a blink of an eye, Du Wang, the palanquin, and the two chubby kids have disappeared within the crowded temple. Yet, no one was surprised as it appeared as if only he could see them. Zhang Bingmei was stupefied at the spot and felt his heart was not satisfied. He stood upward.
He wants to find a person!
Yue Sheng was trying to clean the paint on her clothes at the school she was teaching when a man entered the schoolroom after school has ended. At first, the man did not say anything, but eventually said he has come to find her. Her wrist was grabbed and the person said with a single tear following down, “Do not dot the apricot blossoms too much as it will loose the spirit of them. Has taught you many times, how come you don’t follow?”
After silence and suspicion that the person could not possibly be that other person based on behavior and the words, she used her strength to hold strongly onto her wrist. She suddenly heard Zhang Bingmei say, “I also like you Yue Sheng.”
“Teacher…”
Summary Part 8,9,10:
Some time has passed to Lantern Festival. Zhang Bingmei and Yue Sheng gifted a lantern that Zhang Bingmei has painted to Du Wang.
It turns out only Zhang Bingmei can see the two kids, named Rong and He. Du Wang pointed out that only people who have sat in the palanquin could see the two kids. The kids asked why not invite Yue Sheng jiejie to sit in one.
Du Wang shoo away the two kids to the side and said not all who sits in our palanquin is a good matter.
They found a drunk Zhang Huairen who came over to ask how to turn his dad back. If Du Wang does not say then he will burn this weird store!
Du Wang told him to go back as whom does he think he is that he can burn the store? “Everything has its consequences as it was you who came to my store, and picked out the palanquin for your father. Who can you blame, go home!”
A He pitied him, but Du Wang smiled as he said, “Many people in this world are more pitiful by a lot. Are we not pitiful when we open this store?”
After he finished speaking, smelled a burnt smell. He hurriedly ran toward the counter and merely saw the card of the Purple Silk Auspicious Cloud Palanquin burning one black line on the wooden tray. Du Wang grew angry and gritted his teeth as he said “Alright Zhang Huairen, you are burn the card from Guang Ji Jiao Hang of mine!”
The next morning, Du Wang found Zhang Bingmei who has returned back to his original appearance. He did not dare wake Yue Sheng and was happy these past few days. He wanted an explanation for how things turn out to be this way. Du Wang explained that Zhang Huairen has burned away the Purple Silk Auspicious Cloud palanquin. “This palanquin was the one he invited you in and he held the card. It was my carelessness as I have forgotten to instruct you to take the card back. The person who sat in the Purple Silk Auspicious Cloud palanquin will reverse to youth (rejuvenated). Thus, when the palanquin has been burned, the magic on you also disappeared.”
Zhang Bingmei was surprised and asked if he can make another palanquin. Du Wang was displeased and said that each palanquin here are not like each other. “Once invite then has invited and once burned then has burned. “
At his place, he has no way for Zhang Bingmei to turn back to youth.
Du Wang said Yue Sheng does not mind such appearance, but Zhang Bingmei covered his gaze and said he minded. Zhang Bingmei left.
After three days, Yue Sheng came to Guang Ji Jiao Hang as she did not see Zhang Bingmei when she went to visit him. She cried and Du Wang said to not cry as he cannot bear to see a woman cry. She said that after searching throughout Qing Ping she finally discovered that he has come back peacefully, but has closed doors and does not want to welcome her. She received a paper that has the poem:
“A night of winter wind, the plum blossoms fell
The bright moon has no need for oneself to fall in love”
Du Wang kneeled and knocked head on the ground saying that he does not want to see her and she knows that Du Wang is not a mortal. She hopes he can explain to her.
Du Wang felt a little awkward and scratched his head. Eventually, he agreed to sit down and explain the situation to Yue Sheng.
At Guang Ji Jiao Hang courtyard, there is Purple Silk Auspicious Cloud palanquin just like before, but the cloud pattern was embroidered in reverse.
Du Wang asked if she has thought it out carefully to which Yue Sheng replied that she has thought of it carefully.
After she entered the palanquin, Du Wang gave her the palanquin card and said that she has to keep it carefully.
“With only a little bit later and this will not be our store’s palanquin anymore. Even if later on this palanquin card gets burned, the magic will not disappeared. Have you really thought carefully?”
“Has thought carefully and asks that owner Du move the palanquin.”
Once the palanquin has arrived at destination after a stick of incense time and Yue Sheng has exited the palanquin at Zhang family residence courtyard. She saw the two kids and said they were cute just like what teacher has said.
Yue Sheng went to Zhang Bingmei’s door and slowly knocked. She continued to knock when no one has answered. Zhang Huairen was carrying a bowl of rice and curiously came toward Yue Sheng out of curiosity. He accessed her and asked her if she is an old acquaintance of his father and does the old madam know his father?
Yue Sheng did not turn around to reply and continue to knock slowly. Her raspy voice of a sixty-year-old woman finally sounded, “Teacher, Yue Sheng has come.”
The purple silk auspicious cloud palanquin that was embroidered in reverse did not turn old back to youth, but accelerated the age.
The bowl of rice fell from Zhang Huairen and he retreated a few steps, “You are Yue Sheng? You are Yue Sheng?!”
Zhang Bingmei’s opened the door and when he saw Yue Sheng’s appearance, tears came out like rain.
Yue Sheng gently smiled, causing the wrinkles on her face to look like a blooming flower. She softly said, “Even if plum blossoms are bare and moon is not full, I still wish to always serve teacher.”
Hope the readers get an idea of Du Wang’s palanquin store and what he does. For those who are reading this for the drama (Thousand Years of You), they are not adapting this novel in full. The production is likely taking some things here and there, but will mainly do their own story since they have changed the character names. It’s a bit unlikely that this first chapter story would get fully written into the drama. The one of the main character is Xie Xiaojuan (shows up in chapter 2) along with Du Wang.
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