Sword Arrives

From beyond the courtyard gate, a voice resonated, "Are you selling this maid?"

 Song Jixin hesitated, turning his head towards the source of the sound. His eyes fell upon a smiling young man, adorned in luxurious silk, standing just outside the gate. The young man's face was a complete stranger to him.

 Standing next to the young man was a tall, elderly man with a pale yet kind face. He gently squinted as he observed the youngster in the adjacent courtyards.

 His gaze swept over Chen Ping'an without pause but lingered on Song Jixin and the maid, his smile gradually deepening.

 Song Jixin glanced sideways and declared, "Sell? Absolutely, I'll sell her!"

 The young man's smile widened as he replied, "Name your price."

 The maid's eyes widened in astonishment, resembling a frightened young deer.

 Song Jixin rolled his eyes and held up a single finger, waggling it mischievously. "Ten thousand silver taels!"

 The young man's face remained expressionless as he nodded, "Alright."

 Seeing that the young man wasn't jesting, Song Jixin quickly corrected himself, "I meant ten thousand gold taels!"

 The corner of the young man's mouth curled up in amusement as he said, "Just kidding."

 Song Jixin's face darkened in frustration.

 Ignoring Song Jixin's reaction, the young man turned his gaze towards Chen Ping'an. "Thanks to you, I was able to buy that carp today. After bringing it home, I found myself liking it more and more, so I had to come and thank you in person. That's why I asked Grandpa Wu to bring me here at night."

 He tossed a heavy embroidered bag to Chen Ping'an and beamed with a bright smile, "This is your reward. We're square now."

 Chen Ping'an opened his mouth to speak, but the young man had already turned and left, leaving him with a puzzled expression.

 Chen Ping'an furrowed his brow, recalling the events of the day.

 Earlier, he had casually noticed a middle-aged man carrying a fish basket on the street. Inside was a golden carp, about the length of a palm, jumping vigorously. Chen Ping'an had only glanced at it and felt an aura of good fortune emanating from it. He asked if he could buy it for ten copper coins. The middle-aged man, who had intended to keep it for himself, saw an opportunity for profit and immediately raised the price to thirty copper coins. Chen Ping'an, financially strained, didn't have that much money but couldn't bear to let the golden carp slip away. He followed the middle-aged man, trying to negotiate the price down to fifteen or even twenty copper coins. Just when the middle-aged man showed signs of relenting, the young man in silk and the tall elderly man happened to pass by. Without hesitation, they bought the carp and the basket for fifty copper coins, leaving Chen Ping'an to watch helplessly as they walked away.

 Staring intently at the fading figures of the grandfather and grandson, Song Jixin jumped down from the wall after withdrawing his fierce gaze. He seemed to remember something and said to Chen Ping'an, "Do you remember the lizard from the Lunar New Year?"

 Chen Ping'an nodded, the memory still fresh in his mind.

 According to the centuries-old customs of this town, if a lizard entered one's house, it was considered a good omen, and the owner should never drive it away or kill it. On Lunar New Year's Day, Song Jixin was sitting on the threshold, basking in the warm sunshine. Suddenly, a small lizard, commonly known as a four-legged lizard, darted into the house right under his eyes. Song Jixin grabbed it and threw it into the courtyard. Unexpectedly, the lizard, though stunned, became even more determined to get back in. Infuriated by the lizard's persistence, Song Jixin, who didn't believe in ghosts and gods, threw it into Chen Ping'an's courtyard in a fit of anger. Imagine his surprise when he found the lizard coiled up under his bed the next day.

 Song Jixin noticed the maid tugging on his sleeve, and the young man and she seemed so attuned to each other that he instinctively swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

 He had wanted to say that the ugly lizard recently had a bump on its forehead, resembling a horn growing on its head.

 Instead, Song Jixin said, "Zhigui and I may be leaving here next month."

 Chen Ping'an sighed, "Be careful on your journey."

 Song Jixin replied half-jokingly, "There are some things I definitely can't take with me. Don't dare to steal anything when my house is empty."

 Chen Ping'an shook his head, amused by Song Jixin's playful threat.

 Song Jixin burst into laughter and pointed at Chen Ping'an, saying with a mischievous smile, "You're as timid as a mouse. That's why there are no noblemen born in poor families. Not only will you be bullied in this life, but you might not escape it in the next."

 Chen Ping'an remained silent, the words resonating deeply within him.

 Returning to their respective rooms, Chen Ping'an closed the door and lay on the hard wooden bed. The impoverished youngster closed his eyes and whispered softly, "May you be safe and sound, year after year, may peace accompany you forever..."