As the hour of the dog came to an end, night fell.
The adoptive mother, having had a good cry, emerged from the room to help clean up the table. Ying Xiaoman was seeing Yan Seventh Young Master off. The two held hands, reluctant to part.
Zhi was the happiest, holding Yan Seventh Young Master's hand and bouncing as she opened the door.
"Will Seventh Brother come tomorrow? Aunt said from now on, don't listen to Sister. Whenever you knock, we'll open the door for you."
Yan Seventh Young Master bent down to speak with Zhi: "Maybe not tomorrow night, but I'll come whenever I'm free. What fruit should I bring for Zhi next time?"
Zhi was indeed delighted and exclaimed repeatedly: "Grapes, grapes~!"
"You little glutton." Ying Xiaoman tapped her forehead, "Those Western Crystal grapes cost one string of cash per bunch, even more expensive than the first cherries of the season. Ask Seventh Brother for something else."
Zhi said dejectedly: "Then... pomegranates, I guess."
"One string of cash per bunch of Western Crystal grapes" reminded Yan Seventh Young Master of something.
"In midsummer, grapes won't be as expensive as when they first come to market. Xiaoman, you should ask at that same stall where you bought grapes last time. The vendor might have stockpiled many grapes he can't sell. Rather than let them rot, he might sell them to you at a discount since you're a regular customer."
"Really?" Ying Xiaoman was pleased to hear this. "I'll go ask in a few days when I'm in the area."
As they walked to the entrance of the lane to see him off, they noticed the neighboring Shen family's door was half open late at night. Outside stood the house broker they hadn't seen in a while, holding a lantern. Inside stood Shen's Wife.
The Shen family's eldest son wasn't home recently, having returned to the Imperial Academy to study. Shen's Wife had recently recovered from a sudden illness, but her complexion was still wan. As she stood at the door talking to the broker, it was clear she had lost a lot of weight.
Ying Xiaoman didn't dare linger, fearing she might overhear her neighbor's troubles. She quickly walked back inside.
But as she closed the door, she still heard the broker sighing and urging, "Last month's rent is already late into this month, it's getting difficult for me to explain..."
"The Shen family might have to move," she told her adoptive mother when she got home. "They can't keep delaying the rent payments. If they look to the west or south, they could find a quiet little courtyard for much cheaper."
The adoptive mother shook her head: "Not necessarily. Those officials think differently from us common folk. Face is everything to them. They might not be willing to move in front of all their official neighbors."
Talking about the Shen family inevitably led to mentioning the Zhou family to the west, who had committed similar offenses.
"A sixth-rank minor official managing the Ministry of Justice's storehouse, keeping a cook and a groom at home, the chief clerk's wife wearing gold and silver, coming and going with servants in tow. I always suspected this official was corrupt. How else could he support such a large household? You weren't here at noon when they confiscated the Zhou family's property. They carted away a full load of chests and trunks. It was a frightening sight."
In fact, Ying Xiaoman had been there during the confiscation. She was at the entrance of the lane and saw that the full cart was loaded with books and scrolls. She didn't tell her mother about this.
The Zhou official was indeed corrupt. Both clever and greedy. He didn't spend a penny at the ghost market, wanting to trade stolen goods for her fan.
She now knew the going rates for valuable items in the capital. A good ivory fan would be priced at thirty strings of cash or more. Back then, not knowing the market price, she had almost let Zhou the Fat swindle her, nearly giving away a fan worth thirty to fifty strings of cash for nothing.
"The crafty devil!" Ying Xiaoman snorted, "He deserves to be caught."
Ever since Zhou the Fat was arrested, she didn't feel safe keeping the stolen grappling hook at home. She tied the leather pouch containing the hook to the underside of her small cart with hemp rope, securing it tightly against the wooden bottom, and usually kept it at the butcher shop.
If anything seemed amiss, she would push the cart out and throw the grappling hook into the Bian River, letting the evidence disappear downstream.
Her adoptive mother called her.
"Child, go to the Shen family for me and give this basket to Shen's Wife. Don't say we're giving it to her, just say our family is returning what we borrowed from the Shens."
Ying Xiaoman looked through the small bamboo basket. Inside were eight homemade corn buns, half a catty of mutton, and two one-string paper notes hidden under a piece of white cotton cloth.
The adoptive mother said: "A while back when the Shen family's son was home taking care of his mother, I wasn't feeling well. Sometimes when my youngest was naughty and ran out to play, the Shen boy would help me look for him all over. He was a big help to our family."
"These capital officials are prone to getting into trouble, but when they don't, their salaries are quite generous. I hear a seventh-rank official gets over ten strings of cash monthly. Once her husband is released, the Shen family will be able to get by."
The adoptive mother pointed at the basket and said: "We don't have much to spare. Two strings of cash will cover a month's rent, at least helping the Shen family hold on for another month. Who knows, maybe her husband will be released next month."
Ying Xiaoman didn't say anything out loud, but thought to herself that this censor from the Shen family was said to have stirred up quite a fuss with one memorial. He wouldn't be released for at least a year or two.
But her mother had a point. It was only right to help good neighbors in need.
She picked up the small bamboo basket and went to the Shen family. Zhi was too excited to sleep tonight and held her sister's hand to help her open the door.
The house broker outside the Shen's door hadn't left yet, unable to collect the rent. The two sides were at an impasse. Ying Xiaoman lifted the white gauze in front of them, revealing the two strings of paper notes at the bottom of the basket.
"My mother said that while we have some extra money, we should repay what we owe the Shen family today. There are also some thank-you gifts in the basket. Please accept them, Madam Shen."
She pushed the bamboo basket into the still-stunned Shen's Wife's hands.
The broker, sharp-eyed, had already spotted the paper notes and immediately broke into a smile.
"So you do have money. Madam Shen, why didn't you say so earlier, instead of pleading poverty to me? It's a good thing your neighbor Miss Ying heard the commotion and came to repay the debt..."
After sending the broker away, Shen's Wife stood uneasily at the door holding the basket, wanting to express her gratitude but not knowing what to say. After hesitating for a moment, she went inside and grabbed a handful of preserved plum candy, stuffing it into Zhi's hands. Then she said to Ying Xiaoman, "I must thank Mrs. Ying in person."
Ying Xiaoman couldn't stop her. Shen's Wife, supporting her sickly body, prepared four gifts, carefully placed them in a gift box, and resolutely came to the Ying family to speak with the adoptive mother.
The adoptive mother hurriedly welcomed her in and busied herself preparing ginger tea.
"I saw that Madam Shen hasn't been feeling well lately and didn't want to tire you out, so I had Xiaoman deliver the basket. You should have just accepted it. There was no need to prepare gifts and come thank us in person. We're neighbors living in the same place, there's no need for such formalities..."
Shen's Wife's weak voice came through the open window: "Mrs. Ying is so kind-hearted. The Shen family has seen and deeply appreciates all your thoughtful gestures..."
Zhi sat at the table sharing her handful of candies with her sister, saying between bites: "I like Madam Shen."
Ying Xiaoman, sucking on a sweet lychee pastille, said, "Madam Shen likes you too. But Madam Shen is ill, so don't go bothering her."
"Aunt is ill too."
"People get sick when they worry too much and get older," Ying Xiaoman tweaked Zhi's little nose. "Be good, don't run around after dark, and don't make Aunt worry about you."
"Mm!" Zhi lowered her head to eat a few more sweets, then suddenly perked up her ears: "Madam Shen mentioned you, Sister."
Ying Xiaoman: "If you heard it, of course I heard it too."
"Madam Shen also mentioned the Shen family's brother. Sister, will you marry the Shen family's brother..."
Ying Xiaoman gave her little head a tap. "Focus on eating your candy."
Shen's Wife had made a special effort to come see the Ying family's adoptive mother despite her poor health, and it clearly wasn't just to express thanks.
Sure enough, in the course of the conversation, she brought up the young people of both families.
"We only have one son, Anu. He's fairly diligent in his studies and will take the imperial examinations next year. If he doesn't pass, we won't speak of it. But if he's lucky enough to pass and become a Jinshi, he'll have a promising future ahead of him. I've noticed that Anu and your Xiaoman are about the same age, and they seem to get along well when they talk..."
The more Ying Xiaoman heard, the more uneasy she felt. Before Shen's Wife could continue her matchmaking, she called out loudly: "We don't get along!"
Shen's Wife: "..."
The adoptive mother sitting across from Shen's Wife: "..."
Shen's Wife was so embarrassed she could hardly speak. The adoptive mother across from her wasn't much better, laughing awkwardly as she said: "This child of mine takes after her father, straightforward and blunt since she was little. It's worryingly foolish. Please don't misunderstand, Madam Shen. Our family has no such intentions. We're just small shopkeepers running a butcher's shop, not worthy of a scholar."
Shen's Wife's face turned bright red as she endured the mortification and said: "Since it's all a misunderstanding... let's not speak of it again. We don't have many nice things at home, but we do have some candy. I saw your little Zhi liked it, so I'll send some more over later."
The adoptive mother felt bad and tried to decline and thank her again.
The two of them had endured much hardship in their youth in the countryside. After moving to the capital, their lives improved somewhat, but unfortunately both had recently fallen ill. As they talked, they found they had endless topics in common, sitting across from each other and wiping their reddened eyes, sighing with mutual sympathy. Zhi was struggling to keep her eyes open with fatigue, while the lamp in the room was still lit.
"I should be going," Madam Shen said reluctantly, looking at the night sky as she stood up. "I'll come back tomorrow to chat more with you, sister-in-law. Let's not keep little Zhi from her sleep."
She then brought over a large package of various sweet fruits.
"When my husband was imprisoned, several close relatives and colleagues came to offer condolences and brought many gifts. My son is too old for these sweets now, so I might as well give them all to little Zhi."
Madam Shen said with a mix of embarrassment and regret: "It's a pity our two families weren't fated to be joined."
Ying Xiaoman placed the assorted sweets on two large porcelain plates and set them on the long table under the tree in the small courtyard.
Zhi, whose eyes had been watery with exhaustion, suddenly opened them wide and circled around the small table. Her adoptive mother laughed and carried her inside, saying: "What's meant for you won't run away. Time for bed now. You can eat them when you wake up in the morning."
That night, as usual, Ying Xiaoman prepared twenty jin of fresh mutton, bolted the courtyard gate, extinguished the oil lamp, and went to bed, thinking it was just an ordinary summer night in the capital.
*
At the end of the third watch, in the dead of night, a fire broke out silently on the west side of Seven Scholars Lane.
The fire started suddenly and violently, engulfing several households on the west side before anyone could react. The flames raged fiercely, threatening the surrounding houses.
Sandstorms were common in the capital during summer.
The hot wind, combined with the fire, could not be stopped by courtyard walls. The rows of trees planted on both sides of the alley intensified the fire. The brick tiles and wooden eaves caught fire, making crackling sounds.
Several awakened households on the west side cried out in panic.
But tonight's fire spread in an eerie manner, developing with lightning speed, instantly devouring a large area of houses, with billowing smoke.
Neighbors who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news threw water from wooden buckets and basins onto the fire, but not only did it fail to extinguish the flames, the fire grew even larger.
Bang! The roof beam collapsed heavily in the flames.
The house of Chief Clerk Zhou on the west side crumbled in the fire.
The tremendous sound of tiles and rubble collapsing finally woke up the Ying family on the east side of the alley.
*
"Mother! Zhi!"
Ying Xiaoman shouted in the thick smoke, groping her way towards the main house. She couldn't see her hand in front of her face, and bumped into something at waist height. She quickly steadied herself against it - it was the water vat in the courtyard.
"Mother! Zhi!"
All around were screams and children crying. Some were faint, coming from distant neighbors' homes. Zhi's cries were close by.
Ying Xiaoman felt her way into the house, coughing incessantly, and grabbed hold of a stumbling figure: "Mother! I'll lead you out!"
But her adoptive mother struggled free, turning back to continue searching, "I can walk on my own, find the little one! She just fell off the kang bed, I can't find her!"
"I'll go in to find her, you go out first!" Ying Xiaoman stuffed the damp cloth she had been covering her mouth with to her adoptive mother, supporting her as they groped their way towards the courtyard gate in the billowing smoke.
Unable to pull free from her, when they reached the gate, her adoptive mother clutched her tightly, refusing to let go. Her voice trembled as she cried, overwhelmed by an immense sense of fear.
"If you can't find the little one, child, you must make it out safely yourself, promise me..."
Ying Xiaoman had no time to comfort her mother.
She quickly tore off a piece of her skirt, felt her way back to the water vat in the small courtyard, soaked the fabric thoroughly, and covered her nose and mouth. She used the wooden ladle hanging on the vat to scoop up water and pour it directly over herself.
The fire had only been burning for a short while, how could there be so much smoke?
Zhi was so young, if she choked on the smoke for too long, it could be life-threatening.
"Zhi."
Amidst the overwhelming, acrid smoke, she fought back coughs as she felt her way around, calling out based on her memory of the main hall's layout, "Zhi."
Her leg struck something hard, causing intense pain. She kicked it aside with her foot - it was the long bench that stood in the center of the hall.
Coughing, she waved away the smoke and pressed on.
The previously pitch-black surroundings began to glow, which was not a good sign at a fire scene. She warily watched the spots where flames were starting to appear.
Her eyes quickly became too irritated to see clearly. She continued to feel her way deeper, bending down to search every nook and corner. "Zhi, can you hear me? Come to sister. Sister will take you out."
A faint crying sound reached her ears.
Zhi was whimpering weakly: "Sister, where are you? I can't see, sister." The little girl had been badly affected by the smoke, letting out a series of short, hacking coughs.
Fortunately, amid the misfortune, this bout of continuous coughing from the smoke allowed Ying Xiaoman to pinpoint her location.
She quickly turned left, stumbling through the main hall amidst the thick smoke, feeling her way to the long kang bed in the inner room, then along the bed to search for the little girl's position.
"Zhi, come out quickly. Sister is here now." She too was choking badly, her eyes stinging and unable to see clearly. With the damp cloth covering her nose and mouth, she coughed intermittently, her voice unknowingly becoming hoarse, "Where are you..."
A small dark figure darted out of the dense smoke. Zhi emerged crying from her hiding place like a headless fly, groping around with outstretched arms, "Sister!"
Ying Xiaoman rushed towards the crying sound into the depths of the smoke, waving away large clouds as she went. Fighting back violent coughs, she grabbed hold of the soft little body and felt her way towards the door in the increasingly hot smoke.
The wooden door felt burning hot to the touch.
When she had entered, there had been only a few small fires starting. Now they were burning in earnest.
The houses in Seven Scholars Lane were all brick and tile with wooden frames, easily ignited in the dry summer heat. The fire by the courtyard gate was growing larger and larger, making crackling sounds.
Ying Xiaoman covered Zhi's nose and mouth with the damp cloth and rushed towards the courtyard gate, stepping over the burning threshold in one stride.
The fire in Seven Scholars Lane had initially spread from the west side. By now, the westernmost houses were engulfed in huge flames.
The raging fire lit up half the sky, with occasional terrifying sounds of collapsing bricks and tiles.
Fire Watch Towers were set up in all directions of the capital city. Shortly after the fire broke out, the northern tower noticed something was amiss, and several dozen fire brigade soldiers had already arrived at Seven Scholars Lane to fight the blaze. Nearby patrolling officers had also come to assist with maintaining order.
The residents of Seven Scholars Lane who had narrowly escaped gathered in one place, their expressions still showing traces of fear as they pointed and commented on the shocking fire before them.
"It started from the Zhou house first..."
"I heard it wasn't an accident, someone poured oil! That's why it spread so quickly, engulfing everything in moments. Water was useless, it only made the fire bigger."
Everyone was shocked and dismayed. "How could the Zhou family have provoked such a terrible disaster! To suffer such a vicious attack in the night! The Chief Clerk's wife..."
Several of the more perceptive people shook their heads: "Look at the state of the Zhou house fire. How could they have had time to escape? Not just the Chief Clerk's wife, but their two children, the hired servants, the cook, the coachman, the brick and tile and wooden beams, every blade of grass and splinter of wood, all consumed by the flames..."
Some officers arrived from an unknown direction. The lead military official shouted orders loudly, but amidst the surrounding commotion and the dense crowd of people drawn by the fire that packed the disaster site, it was impossible to hear what commands were being issued.
Ying Xiaoman held Zhi, whose face was covered in black soot. She herself was also covered in soot from head to toe. All she could see was the officers quickly dividing into several teams, using their bodies as human walls to block both ends of Seven Scholars Lane, prohibiting idle onlookers from entering or leaving, only allowing the professional fire brigade soldiers to go in and out as they brought in large piles of wet soil to contain the fire.
Several officials who had hurried to the scene stood at a distance, watching the alley burn fiercely.
Suddenly a commotion broke out in the crowd.
Someone was trying to break through the human wall of officers.
He looked like a young scholar, bare-handed. How could he possibly break through the officers' blockade? After a moment, he was dragged off to the side.
The night wind carried the young man's shouts, "My mother is still inside the alley! Let me in! I need to help my mother out!" His voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Zhi, who had been sobbing, stopped crying and turned her head curiously to look, asking Ying Xiaoman, "Is that the Shen family's elder brother?"
Ying Xiaoman thought it sounded like him too.
Not wanting to alarm Zhi, she pressed the little girl's head against her shoulder while she peered into the distance in the torchlight. The young man who had been pulled to the side was indeed the Shen family's eldest son, Shen Junqing.
Shen Junqing's robes were in disarray, as if he had run all the way back from the Imperial Academy. He struggled and shouted: "My mother is in poor health, she couldn't have escaped, she's still inside the alley! Let me go, let me in to save my mother!"
Several officers restrained him as an official from the Shuntian Prefecture tried to reason with him.
"Your filial piety is commendable, but look at the intensity of the fire! Tonight, someone doused the place with oil and set it ablaze. Your mother couldn't make it out, so the household has already lost one person. If you rush in to save her, the family will lose two!"
Shen Junqing was still shouting, "The fire is on the west side, my house is on the east! The fire hasn't reached my home yet!"
In reality, the fire had already spread. Even the Ying family's house, adjacent to the east of the Shen residence, was sprouting flames in various places.
The house to the west of the Shen family had its roof beams burning fiercely. The Shen house was engulfed in thick smoke, with flames licking up the wooden door frames, and dangerous red hues showing through the black smoke.
Ying Xiaoman stared at the Shen house as it was consumed by fire, thinking in a daze, where's Mother? It's been so long, why hasn't she been seen among the crowd?
*
Deep within the Ministry of Justice compound, a row of official buildings remained brightly lit late into the night.
The duty officer hurried into the building, urgently seeking Vice Minister Yan, who was still reviewing case files in the Ministry of Justice late at night, to deliver urgent news from Shuntian Prefecture.
"The convicted official Zhou Family's house is on fire?"
"Burned to the ground in one fell swoop. Everyone in the residence, along with all possessions, was completely incinerated." The Ministry of Justice official wiped his sweat in relief: "Fortunately, we went there this morning and managed to retrieve some documents and evidence in advance."
"Only the Zhou Family's house burned?"
"Oil was poured and the fire was set deliberately, how could it only burn one house? The summer is dry and windy. When the Fire Watch Tower to the north noticed, the fire at the Zhou house had just started; by the time the firefighters arrived, three or four neighboring houses were already engulfed in flames. The news just urgently relayed by Shuntian Prefecture is that the entire lane is on fire. Officials are preparing wet soil piles to block both ends of Seven Scholars Lane to prevent the fire from spreading further—"
Before he could finish, Yan Seventh Young Master suddenly stood up and strode quickly towards the exit of the compound: "Prepare a horse."