A raincoat wind and snow to the small garden

Chapter 1 Going to the Capital (I)

When Xiang Xiaoyuan returned to the yard, the moon was already at its zenith.

Her body was stained with the stench of pork, and the knife in her hand was gleaming with a gleaming shine, still stained with scraps of meat. A fifteen-year-old girl, in the prime of her life, dared not wear a jacket or skirt or pearl flowers, fearing that the smell of blood would stain her only new outfit for the New Year.

Perhaps hearing the sound of someone entering the house, someone in the east wing, which had the best lighting, shouted, "Xiang Xiaoyuan! Be quiet when you come back! Are you angry and deliberately disturbing my sleep?!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan pursed her lips and said quickly, "Sister, I'm sorry, I'll be gentler now."

After hearing this, Xiang Xiaoyuan's cousin snorted coldly and stopped cursing.

Xiang Xiaoyuan knew that her cousin was not asleep yet. The east wing was next to the kitchen, and the noise would be too loud if water was boiled. It seemed that she would not be able to use hot water tonight. She might as well fetch water from the well to wash and just make do with it.

Before Xiang Xiaoyuan could bring the bucket of water, the door opened again. This time, an old woman with a long face and a rabbit-fur headband came out.

Her long, mean eyes swept around sternly, finally falling on Xiang Xiaoyuan's fair face.

Her daughter, Aqiao, smeared her face with the Four Seasons Lotion Cream from Linlang Pavilion every day, yet her skin remained rough and dark. Even the wife of the county clerk used this cream. Even the finest of these couldn't match the freshness of Xiang Xiaoyuan's face, which she washed with plain water. Who knew Xiang Xiaoyuan, working at the butcher shop every day, must have eaten a lot of nourishing foods. She had heard that the butcher's eldest son was interested in Xiang Xiaoyuan, and last New Year's, he had eagerly come to give her dried lychee soup.

"Where's today's wages?" Thinking of Xiang Xiaoyuan's cunning tricks, her aunt's jaw tightened and she stretched out her hand to her.

Xiang Xiaoyuan subconsciously reached into her arms for her purse, but before she could take it out, her stomach, which had been hungry all night, suddenly started to ache, forcing her into a cold sweat. She frowned in pain.

The aunt couldn't tell that Xiang Xiaoyuan was unwell. She thought the girl had grown up and become more carefree, and was trying to hide her private money and not want to confiscate it!

She was about to lose her temper when Xiang Xiaoyuan respectfully handed over her purse.

"In addition to the thirty-five coins I received for today's work, Uncle Liu also gave me one coin of silver as a New Year's gift."

The last time Uncle Liu brought her the lychee soup, Xiang Xiaoyuan couldn't even take a sip and gave it all to Sister Qiao. Uncle Liu felt sorry for her, so this time he gave her a few days' wages and asked her to buy some honey for the butcher shop. After all, Xiang Xiaoyuan was a skilled butcher, his butchering skills were exquisite, his cuts clean and precise, the wood being the wood and the fat being the fat. He didn't use any secret scales, and he never cheated on weights. Women who came to buy meat always asked Xiang Xiaoyuan by name to help them divide the meat. The shop's business depended entirely on Xiang Xiaoyuan.

When the aunt heard that Xiang Xiaoyuan not only did not hide the money, but also handed over the extra reward, her expression improved a lot.

She rarely smiled. As she counted the money, she muttered, "As a person, the most important thing is to be grateful and repay kindness. When your family was broken up and you came to your aunt to beg for money, your straw sandals were so tight that one toe was leaking. Was it because your aunt gave you clothes and shoes and a bite to eat that you were able to grow up? Even if you get married in the future, you must take good care of your aunt's family. Your in-laws will never be on the same page with you..."

What my aunt said is not wrong.

It was just that the shoes were the ones that Sister Qiao was about to throw away because the soles were too thin for her to wear, and the clothes were the ones that Sister Qiao didn't want anymore because she thought the color was too tacky.

When Xiang Xiaoyuan went to live alone with her relatives, her aunt often beat and scolded her, treating her like a hired servant, but at least she took her in and kept her fed. Her aunt certainly played an important role in Xiang Xiaoyuan's upbringing in this turbulent world.

It's just that Qiao Jie'er is lazy and likes to eat. She tasted the forbidden fruit and lost her virginity when she was only ten years old with Erniu next door. Now she is promised to a husband and is just waiting to get married in the spring of next year. Her aunt resold the silk thread allocated to the embroiderers in the cloth shop and passed off inferior products as good ones. The shopkeeper found out and stopped accepting her embroidery... The whole family only has Xiang Xiaoyuan working outside to support them. Naturally, the burden of earning money to support the family falls on this skinny and shriveled little girl.

"You should get some rest! Keep quiet at night. Your sister has to see her mother-in-law tomorrow. If she doesn't sleep well, she won't look good..."

The aunt's nagging voice drifted away. Xiang Xiaoyuan said nothing and just washed her face.

The cold water splashed on her face, making her shiver.

He calmly wiped away the water stains in the small garden.

She remembered her father, the gentle elder who would specially put both chicken legs into her bowl when her mother made chicken soup.

It’s a pity that my father died at the hands of a villain and is no longer alive.
-
The next day, Xiang Xiaoyuan went to the butcher shop to help as usual.

When she got up, she saw chicken soup still simmering in the iron pot on the stove. It was halfway done, but the fire had been extinguished, leaving only flickering stars in the firewood. Her aunt pretended not to know and brought hot water into Sister Qiao's room to help her daughter dress.

Xiang Xiaoyuan understood that her aunt was afraid that she would secretly drink the chicken soup when she woke up, so she deliberately simmered it until it was half-cooked and then turned off the heat. When Xiang Xiaoyuan went out to work, her aunt would continue to stew it. In this way, the whole pot of nourishing chicken soup could be left for the two of them.

Xiang Xiaoyuan did not argue with her aunt about the benefits of these trivial matters. She just picked up a hard steamed bun that had been left overnight, took the butcher knife with many notches on the blade and went out.

The wild boar was bled and slaughtered yesterday. One front leg was ordered by the family of Zhang Zhubu of the county government before the New Year, and the two hind legs were left to the county magistrate's family. The remaining pork was left in the oil shed as a shelter from the rain.

Xiang Xiaoyuan didn't wait for Uncle Liu to start, before deftly chopping the meat. She fished the pig's offal out of the water, separated the heart, scallops, and tripe, then chopped the meat along the ribs. She had pork lard for the fattiest and pork tenderloin for the leanest. On the cart, the various parts of meat were neatly arranged and sorted.

Helping Xiaoyuan to move the door of the shop, Uncle Liu shouted, "Fresh wild boar! The county magistrate ordered two of the whole leg of pork! If you miss this opportunity, you'll miss this shop!"

After the autumn harvest comes the depths of winter. The grain in the fields is sold, and the sons of boatmen and peddlers from other places return home. Everyone has some spare money to buy meat.

Soon, the neighbors who were watching Xiang Xiaoyuan chopping meat gathered around. They knew that Xiang Xiaoyuan only killed castrated pigs without any smell and the blood was drained cleanly, so they immediately scrambled to pick the meat, fearing that if they didn't prepare it now, there would be no fresh pork to eat during the New Year.

Soon the pork was sold out, and Uncle Liu couldn't stop smiling.

Xiang Xiaoyuan's slender figure was busy in the butcher's shop, and her clothes were now soaked with sweat. She put down her knife, washed the blood from her hands, and fished out a copper coin, intending to buy a naan from the Hu Bing shop at the corner of the alley to make do with a meal.

Uncle Liu stopped her and said, "Hey, don't be in such a hurry to leave! Xiaoyuan, come to Uncle Liu's house for lunch. Auntie has specially stewed some braised pig's trotters for you!"

Pork is expensive, especially pork trotters. Xiang Xiaoyuan felt embarrassed to take advantage of Uncle Liu and kept making excuses: "No, Uncle Liu, I also have a chicken stewed at home, so I have some meat to eat. You don't have to cook for me all the time."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Liu snorted coldly, "I don't know your aunt. Even the chicken soup I gave you was watered down. How rude! It just so happens that Juncheng is back. Don't you have something to ask him? It's perfect for you to come to our house for dinner."

Liu Juncheng, Uncle Liu's eldest son, now taught at a private school in Qiao County. Xiang Xiaoyuan was able to read and write thanks to Liu Juncheng's generous instruction. Xiang Xiaoyuan thought of something and, without refusing, went home with Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu was overjoyed.

Uncle Liu liked Xiang Xiaoyuan, a lively young woman who was quick and efficient. She had worked at the butcher shop for so many years without ever being dishonest or taking meat home. Xiang Xiaoyuan and Liu Juncheng got along well, so marrying into their family would be a perfect match.

As soon as they arrived at Liu's house, Liu Juncheng invited Xiang Xiaoyuan to go to the side room to talk.

Aunt Liu rolled her eyes at her son, not even bothering to serve the sweet soup in her hand, and scolded him, "Juncheng, why don't you let Xiaoyuan have some soup first before we talk? You're usually so steady when teaching, but when you see Xiaoyuan, you don't know how to treat her!"

After saying that, she and Uncle Liu looked at each other, and the two old people laughed secretly.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was called away by Liu Juncheng. As she stepped over the threshold, she returned to him the books on law and autopsy, such as "The Turtle Mirror for Judging Cases" and "Criminal Law", which she had hidden in her arms.

Xiang Xiaoyuan smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Brother Liu, for your kindness in enlightening me over the years. I have prepared a gift of tuition for you and will send it to your private school in a few days."

Liu Juncheng knew Xiang Xiaoyuan's temper well and didn't refuse. He simply asked how the autopsy exam went a few days ago. Xiang Xiaoyuan replied that it was an A-grade exam.

Liu Juncheng frowned: "Xiaoyuan, do you really want to apply to be a coroner under the Xuanqi Division?"

In the past, coroners were held by the lower classes, and even their descendants were considered inferior and barred from imperial examinations. Although the current emperor had reformed the system, establishing the Xuanqisi secret service to recruit talented individuals from across the land as his minions, most high-ranking positions were held by the sons of aristocratic families in the capital. Only lowly positions like coroners were recruited from the common people. But Xiang Xiaoyuan, a girl and a coroner, would likely endure countless grievances if chosen by the emperor and appointed to the imperial court. Liu Juncheng couldn't understand why she insisted on enduring such hardships.

He nodded to Xiaoyuan and said, "Brother Liu, I must go to Beijing! I have a reason why I must go."

Liu Juncheng simply assumed Xiang Xiaoyuan was yearning for a larger city and said no more. It made sense, then, that the capital, nestled beneath the emperor's feet, boasted splendid mountains and charming rivers, abundant resources and a prosperous people. Every student in the world would have lofty ambitions, eager to join the sphere of power and influence... Xiang Xiaoyuan wasn't the only one who wanted to go to the capital; he wanted to, too.

Uncle Liu didn't pick out new pigs in the afternoon. He picked and raised each piglet personally. According to Uncle Liu, that was the result of a deep friendship accumulated over time. He couldn't bear to kill the pigs without giving them a good meal.

Xiang Xiaoyuan had nothing to do, so he left work early.

It was evening, and the streets and alleys were filled with people hurrying home, carrying roast chicken, cakes, and liquor they had bought. Their steps were brisk, and the occasional sound of laughter could be heard. Only Xiang Xiaoyuan was slow to move, not wanting to even step foot inside that house.

After walking around for a while, she finally turned into the Hu Bing shop and bought a sesame pancake. She broke the fragrant sesame pancake with her hands, licked it with the tip of her tongue until it melted, and then slowly put it into her mouth.

The temperature began to drop and snow began to fall at night. The heavy snow fell on the upturned black eaves of the houses, and soon the sky and the earth were covered in silver.

Xiang Xiaoyuan remembered that Qiao Jie'er's mother-in-law was visiting their home today, probably to discuss the wedding banquet. They complained that Qiao Jie'er's dowry was too small: just two wedding quilts and a bolt of silk, not even enough for a box. The last time Xiang Xiaoyuan was home, her mother-in-law had pointedly said that Qiao Jie'er didn't work and that marrying a lazy woman would be better than marrying someone like Xiang Xiaoyuan, who could earn money by slaughtering pigs.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was frightened and ran back to the house immediately. However, Qiao Jie'er was so angry that she cried. In the middle of the night, she pointed at her and scolded her, saying that Xiang Xiaoyuan was so coquettish at such a young age and was flirting with her brother Erniu.

Xiang Xiaoyuan finished the last bite of the pancake with embarrassment. She was not stupid, so she would not go home so early and make herself unhappy!
By the time Xiang Xiaoyuan stepped into the house, it was already dark. Before she could hand the wages to her aunt, she was scolded sharply.

"Xiang Xiaoyuan, where did you get the money to buy the inkstone?! I told you you were a traitor! Have you grown wings?!"

At that moment, Xiang Xiaoyuan's head was confused, his blood was boiling, and the heat rushed to his face.

She looked up at the inkstone tightly held in her aunt's hand. It had a landscape pattern and was extremely elegant and simple. Xiang Xiaoyuan had caught her eye at the temple fair and had saved up money to buy it for Liu Juncheng as a thank-you gift for his teacher.

"Aunt, that's mine, give it back to me!"

She only has this one thing, she gave everything to her aunt, she worked hard like an old ox plowing the fields, she never complained, she just wanted to repay every favor, what did she do wrong?

The aunt was caught off guard by Xiaoyuan's collision, and she stared at the little girl in disbelief.

Xiang Xiaoyuan's grape-like eyes were wide open, and she had a butcher knife on her waist. My aunt stared at her, feeling inexplicably frightened.

She couldn't help but sneer, "Alright, now I know how cruel you are, you jinx! It's not enough that you killed your parents, you even come to my aunt's house to bully me? I should have just let you freeze to death outside!"

Her aunt could scold her, but she could never humiliate her parents.

Xiang Xiaoyuan gritted his teeth and said, "I didn't kill my parents!"

"How dare you talk back!"

With a loud slap, Xiang Xiaoyuan fell to the ground. Blood was oozing from the corner of her mouth and her cheeks were red and swollen.

My aunt was still not satisfied. Her chest was heaving with anger, and her already mean face looked even more ferocious at this moment.

She wanted to fight again, but she felt a strong push on her back and she fell unexpectedly into the firewood pile. The flesh on her palm was pierced by the splinters and blood was dripping all over.

The woman cried out in pain, but before she could even open her mouth to curse, she was carried up by the yamen runners holding killing sticks. Behind the huge crowd, the county magistrate entered with a eunuch from the capital.

"You shrew! You dare to hit an official from the Xuanlin Division appointed by the Heavenly Family? You're really courting death!"

When the county magistrate saw the slap mark on Xiang Xiaoyuan's face, he was so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet, pointing at his aunt's nose and cursing.

　Muah, Lili has started writing~

　　
　
(End of this chapter)