Looking at the empty medicine jar, Yin Song lay back, resigned. Trapped by poverty and illness, his home was a…
Looking at the empty medicine jar, Yin Song lay back, resigned. Trapped by poverty and illness, his home was already bare. His son had gone up the mountain to gather herbs a few years back and fallen down a cliff.
He didn't blame fate. He just didn't want to keep struggling on alone anymore.
Yin Song came from Jingchu, where shamanism was revered, with soul-summoning rituals being normal. Hearing that the great shamans of the Miluo River had once used a sacrifice called "pepper and rice," Yin Song decided to emulate them, inviting the spirits to guide him to his son before he died.
He searched every corner, finding only half a bowl of dried millet left in the rice jar. However, rituals for the spirits couldn't be slighted. He would go to the market to buy the finest Qin pepper.
Speaking of the best Qin pepper in Skybrim Market, it had to be from Old Li's. The old man had a knack; his peppers were red and fragrant. Only such good stuff could please the spirits.
But when he reached Skybrim Market, Yin Song saw that Old Li, the pepper grower, had transformed into the owner of a hot pot stall.
Watching Old Li's face flushed with bustling joy, smelling the aroma of peppers awakened by hot oil, Yin Song clenched the hem of his clothes but couldn't help swallowing.
"Hey! Old Yin! You came! Quick, sit, I'll make you a bowl of hot pot, you try it!"
"No, no... Old Li, I... I want to buy some Qin pepper..." Yin Song took out his last few copper coins. "Look, just this much... just a little is fine." He paused. "Your peppers are good. I'll use them to cook an offering."
"Brother, peppers are cheap this year, but with this..." Yao Zhaobu mentally calculated and knew this sale wouldn't work.
"Say no more." Li Baiyuan cut him off. "Old Zhang, scoop a bowl of peppers. Sis, make a bowl of hot pot."
Li Baiyuan then crouched, fiddled with something behind the stall, and handed Yin Song a cloth bag and a food box.
"Here are the peppers. Open them at home, careful they don't spill."
"This is the hot pot. There are two portions of guagua inside too. But this food box is quite valuable, please return it later, alright?"
"If you like it, come again."
Yin Song tried to refuse a hundred ways, but the others insisted he take it. Ashamed, he took the food box and left.
If I die at home today, who will I trouble to return this box?
Yin Song thought for a moment. Better to return the box first, then go find my son.