Chapter 10

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Xiao Jie saw everyone looking at him and said with a smile, "This happened just a few days ago in Guiren Lane. There was a family surnamed Xia living there. Xia's daughter fell in love with a young man surnamed Sun from the same lane, but she was too shy to confess her feelings. The girl couldn't read or write, so after much thought, she gave the young man a silk handkerchief."

The young man received the handkerchief but didn't understand its meaning, so he sought help from a scholar in the lane. The scholar took the handkerchief, examined it from all angles, but found no words or drawings on it. He was a bit puzzled. However, after some careful thought, the scholar said to the young man, 'Congratulations, congratulations, the young lady has feelings for you.'"

The men eating noodle soup chattered, "How did the scholar figure it out just from a blank handkerchief?"

Xiao Jie said proudly, "That's what I'm saying, scholars are clever. The scholar said, 'Look, this blank handkerchief, no matter how you look at it, is just silk. Silk means 'thought,' which means the girl likes you. As a result, their relationship was formed.'"

One of the men slapped his thigh and said, "That's right! How could I not think of it? A silk handkerchief, isn't it a sign of affection?"

Xiao Jie's story today was about love, not about officials. If they continued this topic, the morning chat would likely turn into a love story session.

Yang Fan wanted to steer the conversation away from this topic and towards the anecdotes of officials, so he said, "I think the girl who gave the handkerchief didn't think so much. As a girl, she was willing to give her handkerchief to the man, which clearly showed her feelings. It's just that the man she liked was a bit simple-minded and didn't understand. The scholar, however, thought too much, but fortunately, his thoughts were still about love, so he didn't ruin their relationship. Uncle Chen, who works at the Attendant's residence, have you heard any interesting news recently?"

Uncle Chen was busy eating his noodles. He looked up and smiled, just about to speak when a young woman wearing a green waist-length robe and a white overcoat with wide sleeves walked over, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.

The girl walked lightly, like a cat. When someone she knew greeted her from the side, she would look over with a "surprised" expression, then realize and politely greet them.

"Is Uncle Chen here?"

The girl approached and squinted her eyes, asking the group. Five feet in front of her, a rugged man with a beard was leaning against a tree. This was the Uncle Chen Yang Fan had just called. Uncle Chen stood up, greeted the girl, and said with a loud laugh, "Little Dong, you're here. I'm right here."

"Oh, Uncle Chen, your shirt is ready."

Little Dong's scattered gaze seemed to focus, and she walked over to him. A man sitting on a nearby stone quickly moved his leg, afraid of tripping her.

Little Dong approached Uncle Chen with a smile, handed him a shirt, and said softly, "Uncle, your shirt is ready."

This girl not only had a delicate voice but was also rather slim. Her face was quite pretty, with a few playful freckles on her nose and cheeks, though they weren't very noticeable.

Uncle Chen put down his bowl, wiped his hands on his clothes, and took the new shirt. He looked at the fine stitching and neat workmanship and said happily, "Ha, Little Dong, you really made this shirt quickly and well."

Little Dong smiled and said, "Uncle, you're too kind. If you like it, feel free to come to my house for future shirts. We're neighbors, so I'll give you a discount."

Uncle Chen nodded repeatedly, "Of course, of course."

Little Dong hesitated, her face flushing slightly, and she said softly, "I just heard Second Brother's voice. Is Second Brother here?"

Little Dong squinted her eyes and looked at the others sitting under the tree. She had poor eyesight, akin to modern-day severe myopia, so she would squint when looking at people.

Yang Fan lived alone and ate here every day, so he was definitely here. Little Dong was just asking a rhetorical question.

Yang Fan was holding his soup bowl, trying to hide behind someone else.

Ever since he helped Little Dong when she fell, she seemed to have developed feelings for him. Whenever she saw him, she would find excuses to talk to him and stick around. Yang Fan had guessed her feelings but, since she hadn't confessed, he couldn't outright reject her, so he tried to avoid her.

Unexpectedly, a man nearby, playing a prank, pushed him forward when he wasn't paying attention. Yang Fan stumbled, "Ouch!" The soup in his bowl splashed out, not only covering his hand but also splashing onto Little Dong's skirt.

"Sorry, sorry! Little Dong, I didn't mean to..."

Yang Fan glared at the man, then turned to apologize to Little Dong. She leaned in, saw his face, and said happily, "It's okay, Second Brother, it wasn't intentional. Don't be so formal. Did you burn yourself?"

Little Dong pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and began to wipe the oil from his hand.

Yang Fan said awkwardly, "Uh... Little Dong, I'm fine. The soup is lukewarm, you don't need to... this... hahaha..."

Little Dong held his hand and wiped it carefully, saying softly, "Second Brother lives alone, you should be more careful. Don't be so careless. Is your shirt dirty? If so, take it off, and I'll wash it for you."

She even tried to take off his outer shirt. Yang Fan was alarmed and waved his hands, "Ah, no, no! Little Dong, you're too kind. I... I only have this one shirt, I can't take it off."

Little Dong sighed softly and said earnestly, "Men have to go out and socialize. You need a decent set of clothes. It's a man's face. Second Brother, come to my house, and I'll measure you for a new shirt."

Yang Fan laughed dryly, "No need, I... I'm quite poor, I can't afford a new shirt right now."

Little Dong said gently, "That's fine. You can pay me when you have the money. Even if you never have the money, it's... no problem..." As she said this, she lowered her head slightly, her face turning a bit red.

Yang Fan, feeling very uncomfortable, said, "Thank you, Little Dong, but I don't need a new shirt for now. When I want to make clothes, I'll definitely ask for your help. Oh, the headman is calling me. He must need me for something. Little Dong, I'll go first, see you later."

Yang Fan picked up his bowl and fled. The men behind him burst into laughter, "Yang Er is unreasonable. This is even clearer than 'silk means thought.' Why is he pretending to be clueless?"

"Exactly, exactly. Yang Er, the knitting shop is very profitable. The old lady only has this one precious daughter. She has deep feelings for you. Why not become a son-in-law and live a life of luxury with a loving wife?"

Everyone laughed heartily. Little Dong's face turned a rosy red, and she stomped her foot in embarrassment, "Oh, you're all talking nonsense. I won't talk to you anymore." She lifted her skirt and ran away. Despite her poor eyesight, she was familiar with the lane and wouldn't have any problems.

As the girl ran away, the laughter under the tree grew even louder.

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The duties of a lane guard were scattered and not fixed. Yang Fan worked here and there, leisurely finishing his tasks for the day. When night fell, he and Ma Qiao locked the lane gate together.

Luoyang City had a curfew. At night, only officials and those with special permission could be on the streets. All residents lived in lanes, which were like residential complexes, surrounded by walls about two zhang high, and the gates were locked at night.

Once the lane gates were locked, all the streets became quiet. When the night was completely dark, the streets were pitch black, with not even a ghost in sight. Each household lit their lamps, like stars in the sky. The constables patrolled the main streets of the lanes, and anyone caught out at night would face punishment.

There were places with bright lights, of course. Wealthy families held grand banquets and entertained guests, or drank and enjoyed music and dance. In the brothels, beauties sang and danced, and no one cared. The curfew only restricted people from being on the streets at night. What you did at home was your own business.

However, rules are made by people, and where there are rules, there are those who break them. In the alleys of the lanes, away from the main streets, the constables often turned a blind eye to residents moving around at night, too lazy to enforce the rules.

Yang Fan's home was at the end of the seventh alley in the first block of Xiufeng Lane. In the deep night, he quietly slipped out of his courtyard, stood in the alley for a moment, and, seeing it was very quiet, cautiously moved forward. At the same time, a shadow emerged from the eighth alley.

"Brother Qiao!"

"Little Fan!"

The two met, looked around cautiously, and Ma Qiao patted Yang Fan's shoulder, "Let's go, time to work!" p: Requesting recommendations!

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