Qingming Festival always came with a bothersome, gloomy drizzle. Streets became less crowded, and even the reg…
Qingming Festival always came with a bothersome, gloomy drizzle. Streets became less crowded, and even the regulars of Blissful Retreat gave up their drinks. On such quiet days, Shopkeeper Han allowed the Young Master to go out and play.
At Heaven's Pier, the Young Master noticed a farmer burning joss paper to honor his ancestors. Finding it amusing, the Young Master approached to watch. Then he grabbed some scrap paper and burned it in the same way. Shopkeeper Han waited and waited for the Young Master to come back, but even as the sun began to set, no sign of him appeared. So, she headed towards Heaven's Pier to find the Young Master, and find him, she did—just not in the way she expected. There was a figure swaying from side to side, feeding scraps of joss paper into the fire and mumbling gibberish.
That evening, many people at Heaven's Pier saw the Young Master being brought back to Blissful Retreat by Shopkeeper Han. As they walked, Shopkeeper Han said, "When I die, you'd better burn more joss paper for me. I'd like a life of plenty in the afterlife too." Her stern words carried a warmth that spread throughout Heaven's Pier. The villagers chuckled, sure that the Young Master was going to catch it yet again tonight. Then, they turned back to prepare dinner.
The next day, the poor Young Master still had puffy eyes, barely able to keep them open. Holding a boiled egg Shopkeeper Han had prepared, the Young Master carried on adventuring.