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墨書 Inktalez
"The Eastern Emperor Bell is one of the Ten Great Artifacts in Xuanyuan Sword!" Elder Brother Li was practically beside himself with excitement when he heard the name "Eastern Emperor Bell" from the light.
"It is said that the Eastern Emperor Bell possesses the greatest power among the Ten Great Artifacts, capable of destroying the earth and devouring all. Moreover, the Eastern Emperor Bell can create worlds; the Mountain and Sea Realm and Cloud Realm were both created by it. No wonder our Porcelain Jar can connect to so many worlds! Such magic is truly not limited by time and space."
Hanno was just as excited as Elder Brother Li. "It is rumored that the Eastern Emperor Bell is a gateway to other realms. Perhaps we could ascend to Nine Above!"
How about that? Surprised, right? A trash can transformed into an ancient artifact of great stature—who could have imagined? As for how one jar turned into two Porcelain Jars, couldn't someone just create a clone? However, the current Eastern Emperor Bell was severely damaged, its power reduced to less than two layers. Aside from tossing garbage into other time and spaces or enabling video chats for the main characters, it had little other use left. Destroying the earth? By the time the main characters could use the Eastern Emperor Bell to travel to legendary realms, they wouldn't be able to do much.
"My earlier guesses about Causality and Merit were true! I never expected that your random garbage tossing would earn us so much Merit. With this Merit protecting us, we won't face any tribulations until we reach Nascent Soul," Elder Brother Li said happily.
Hanno chuckled, "Actually, I'm quite curious about experiencing tribulation! If we were to face tribulation in modern society, how would this world's Dao strike me? Would I be captured by modern satellites? Would people discuss it online? Hehe, I really want to know how modern people would react if they found out that Cultivators actually undergo tribulations. It must be quite interesting."
"Absolutely do not attempt it!" Elder Brother Li quickly stopped his beloved's wild idea. "It's best to prioritize safety."
Hanno pouted. "You've been in ancient times for too long; your speech has become so formal."
Elder Brother Li scratched his head and smiled. "Isn't it because there's a scholar living in my home? His speech is even more formal than mine; naturally, I've been influenced by him."
"A scholar? Who?" Hanno asked curiously.
"Guan Rulin, have you heard of him?" Elder Brother Li inquired.
Hanno furrowed her brows in thought. "That name sounds familiar... Ah, I remember! He's the teacher from Aoyama Village, hired by Zhou Le and Li Yishu. I've heard he's quite knowledgeable and has already passed the imperial examination."
Elder Brother Li nodded. "That's right, the Spring Examination is about to begin. Guan Rulin is coming to the capital to take the exam, and he is unfamiliar with the city. Zi Xia wrote him a recommendation letter, asking me to take him in during this time."
Hanno asked, "What about his abilities and talents?"
Elder Brother Li replied, "I'm not sure about his talents, but he does have some abilities. Zi Xia speaks highly of his character."
Hanno said, "Then it's worth making an effort to befriend him. This way, you'll have someone to rely on in the civil service."
Elder Brother Li smiled. "There's no need for that much trouble. Once Zi Xia and Li Yishu pass their exams and enter officialdom, I can join forces with them."
Hanno advised, "Having one more friend means one more layer of security. We should do our best to befriend Guan Rulin."
Elder Brother Li responded amiably, "Alright, I'll do as you suggest."
The two excitedly chatted until dawn. Elder Brother Li returned to the military camp to train the soldiers while Hanno climbed into bed for some extra sleep. Han Dad and Mom Han had gone on a tour to soak in hot springs—an event specifically organized for the elderly. For two nights, all expenses were covered, costing only two hundred yuan per person. Hanno immediately signed up Han Dad and Mom Han—since they were away from home, Hanno didn’t have to get up to cook dinner or lunch and slept until three in the afternoon.
After waking up, Hanno leisurely drank a glass of milk to fill his stomach and found the business card of the moving company from when they relocated. He called them to discuss the time and price. The house in the village was already renovated and would be ready for moving in a week. Since they would often return to this place, they only needed to move some personal belongings. Although Mom Han didn’t want to hire a moving company, Hanno didn’t listen to her and went ahead with it.
Sitting on the sofa, Hanno thought about how he had delayed things today; there were many tasks to accomplish tomorrow. First, he needed to go to the furniture store to buy furniture, then head to the appliance market for household appliances, and finally apply for internet installation with the telecommunications company… After that, he would have to stay at the new house waiting for people to deliver furniture and install appliances and internet—there was so much to do!
On the second day of February, known as Dragon Raising Its Head Day, it was also the birthday of the Earth God. The Han family chose this day to move. Aunt Yao and Aunt came over to help; all the furniture in their new home was polished until it shone brightly, and everything was cleaned thoroughly. As soon as the Han family stepped through their new door, they felt a sense of comfort wash over them. The kitchen had already been put into use; moving into a new home required inviting neighbors over for a welcoming meal. After Aunt Yao reminded Hanno about this tradition, he entrusted her with sending out invitations and gave money to Cousin-in-law so they could cook.
Third Cousin wasn’t great at studying but loved cooking; later on, he went to a big restaurant in the Provincial Capital to learn culinary skills before returning home. Initially, he opened a small eatery in town but eventually returned to the village while also taking on catering jobs for nearby villages during festive occasions. The term “red and white” refers to meat dishes and noodle dishes respectively; red dishes are entirely meat-based—Braised Pork, Crispy Meat, Honey Meat, Marinated Meat, Spare Ribs… prepared using various cooking methods like stir-frying, braising, frying, stewing—all served in large bowls with great sincerity; white dishes include making noodles, pancakes, and snacks which are common in rural areas. Although making white dishes is simpler than red ones, it still requires skill.
Villagers came one after another to congratulate them. Mom Han often visited the countryside when she was younger and continued doing so as she grew up; later on, her grandparents were buried there. The Han family visited twice a year and knew everyone in the village well. Therefore, when guests arrived, Hanno felt somewhat out of place while Mom Han and Han Dad chatted comfortably with everyone.
Hanno sneaked back into the kitchen and grabbed some freshly fried crispy meat made by Third Cousin. Freshly fried crispy meat is always the best! Amidst Third Cousin's and Aunt's amused gazes, Hanno calmly finished eating his crispy meat before clapping his hands together and picking up a variety of snacks prepared by Third Cousin: spicy peanuts, boiled peanuts in salt water, fried peanuts, marinated chicken wings, braised duck feet, pickled kumquats, and fried soybeans as he walked out of the kitchen toward the living room. How could he carry all this? He chuckled—had they ever seen a juggler? Did they watch Ranma ½? When Ranma worked at Shanpu’s ramen shop, he balanced bowls of ramen on both arms while holding more bowls in his hands and even one on his head—he could carry seven bowls at once! Now Hanno looked just like him as he walked steadily forward while Third Cousin nearly burned the crispy meat in the pot from being distracted by Hanno's antics.
The guests in the living room were equally stunned. Mom Han was serving everyone sunflower seeds and fruit when a middle-aged woman pointed at the front door and exclaimed, "What’s that lying there?" Everyone looked up, completely dumbfounded. Had they walked into a circus?
It was Mom Han who reacted first. She walked over to Hanno, took the four plates from her arms, and placed them on the coffee table while scolding her, "What are you doing, girl? Aren't you afraid of breaking the plates?"
"Let them break if they do. Shattered plates bring peace and good fortune," Hanno replied with a playful stick of her tongue, placing the other three plates on the coffee table. "Besides, my skills are nimble; I won't break a single plate."
Mom Han poked Hanno on the head with her finger and stuffed a stack of red envelopes into her arms. "Alright, you don't need to help here. Hurry up and register the red envelopes."
In the past, when rural families hosted meals, guests would bring gifts like pots, bowls, or bed linens. Nowadays, people found it troublesome and simply gave red envelopes instead. Hanno's job was to record the names of those giving red envelopes and the amounts for future reference. This way, when others hosted banquets for weddings or funerals, the Han family could reciprocate with red envelopes based on this record. It was essential for maintaining social ties.
This task was easy; Hanno finished registering in no time. Since she wasn't familiar with the guests, she decided to help out in the kitchen. Helping out actually meant sneaking bites; every time Third Cousin prepared a dish, Hanno was always the first to taste it. However, she did assist Third Cousin significantly; although she didn’t cook, her speed in washing and chopping vegetables earned her aunt's admiration, allowing Third Cousin to complete all the dishes in half the planned time.
The meal was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests. After this gathering, the Han family officially became residents of the village, and they would be included in all village activities. Han Dad and Mom Han each found activities they enjoyed; every afternoon, Han Dad would go to the Village Office activity room to play chess with other elderly villagers—whether it was Go or Chinese chess, he played whichever he preferred. Mom Han occasionally played mahjong with other women but mostly gathered with them to gossip and do handicrafts. Her crafting skills improved tremendously; she had completed a one-and-a-half-meter cross-stitch depicting blooming flowers—a decent piece even if not perfect. Mom Han framed this work and hung it on the wall of their living room before eagerly starting another piece featuring a red background with golden threads forming a Fortune Character.
On another wall of the living room hung a calligraphy piece—not written by Hanno herself nor an ancient masterpiece she had acquired but rather a work by a well-known modern calligrapher named Chen. This calligrapher was quite famous in contemporary Calligraphy and Painting circles and was a member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association. His works were collected by people from Russia, Southeast Asia, and Japan; among them was "Qinyuan Spring: Snow," which was housed in both the Chinese Historical Museum and Sun Yat-sen Museum. The piece in Hanno's family home had been gifted to her by a friend and featured just a few bold characters that were perfect for hanging in their living room.
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