A Gallop on the Embankment with Spring Breeze - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Both Tension and Relaxation Should Be Emphasized

Translator: Zhou Yang

Proofread by Fu Tianying

Ma Tian’en decided to go out to play but was afraid of being stopped by Wu Zhong. Suddenly she came up with an idea and hurriedly called on a servant girl, “Yanzi, come here.” Yanzi’s mother is the steward of the kitchen and her father is in charge of some shopping of Ma family. She and Ma Tian’en grew up together. Although she looks ugly and is all thumbs while running errands. But she has been serving Ma Tian’en since she was a little girl. It was the arrangement of Ma Tian’en’s father. Few people knew Ma Tian’en is a girl, but Yanzi is an exception. According to Ma Tian’en’s father, a servant girl doesn’t need to be clever, which is better and safe for the whole family.

As Yanzi hurriedly ran up and served Ma Tian’en for dressing she was suddenly pulled by Ma Tian’en. Hearing Ma Tian’en’s whisper, Yanzi was so frightened that she shook her heads. Ma Tian’en took her hands in pettish,” Yanzi, please help me this time. I am getting so bored. And I am losing weight and looks slim. For the sake of good sisterhood, please help me go out to play half a day and I will bring you some desserts from Rui Fangzhai. By the way, the Qianceng Cake I brought you the last time was shipped from Huazhou. Yesterday, the boat reached the port again. If I don’t buy it this time, I must wait for a long time.”

“But, if Mr. Wu finds out, Master Ma must punish us.”

“Relax. He can’t. How dare he lift my quilt?! You ask A’shun to lie on my bed and say I feel uncomfortable. I will be back soon when I buy the desserts.”

“But, it is daytime. How can you go out without being stopped at the door?”

“You needn’t worry about this. I have my own way.”

Of course, Yanzi couldn’t withstand Ma Tian’en’s pestering. She had no choice but to compromise. Then she called manservant A’shun to come here, finally forcing him to lie on Ma Tian’en’s bed by means of temptation and threatening, and then Ma Tian’en sneaked out.

It was just dawning. Ma Tian’en escaped from the dog hole skillfully and went out to the street. Feeling a little hungry, she suddenly wanted to eat the old Chen’s enema.

Regarding the old Chen’s enema, it can be regarded as the characteristic in the Second Dam. Although it is called enema, it is made up of parched flour and red yeast. “Pig intestine and red powder is fried together for a while, and everyone says it is fresh with spicy garlic and salt.” It emphasizes the freshness. But this kind of freshness, not only means it is delicious, but refers to its color as well. Starch and red yeast are rolled into intestine-shaped and then steamed into a “powder enema”. It looks like the real pig intestines but the price is much lower. The cutting skills of the Old Chen is unique. He does not put the enema on the cutting board. Instead, he takes the knife by one hand and takes the enema by another. The knife edge is from bottom to top, and cuts the enema into thin and thick pieces. One enema can be cut into exactly fifty pieces and then be fried; the thin ones are crispy while the thick ones are tender. A bowl of enema has two flavors. When you eat with some garlic sauce, it tastes oily but not greasy.

Ma Tian’en likes eating it. On the one hand, it is because of the desire for delicious food; on the other hand, it is because there are a lot of dock workers coming here. These people are good at telling funny stories and often tell all kind of stories they heard in different regions to Tian’en.

There is a saying called falling into a snare by oneself. Another goes, “the heaven has a road, but you don’t go; the hell has no door, but you break in.” Those sayings can specifically describe the current situation of Ma Tian’en

Ma Tian’en sneaked out from the house like a thief. She couldn’t have time to enjoy the scenery outside and ran to Old Chen’s enema. But then, she was frozen.

Who is that? A man is in blue gown, elegant and gentle. The first sunshine sprinkles on his face. It is unknown that whether it is the glory of the sun or his own glory. It has turned into a vivid painting even though he eats enema. Every move shows a sense of typical elegance that only scholars has.

But this is not the point. The point is, that man is Wu Zhong, the man he painstakingly avoids after so many difficulties.

Wu Zhong looked up and saw Ma Tian’en running towards himself. She looked at him as if she was fixed. He naturally pointed at the seat in front of him and said, “Sit down.”

Ma Tian’en sat down with some guilt. Old Chen recognized Ma Tian’en. Before she spoke, he said directly, “Here comes Young Master Ma. Wait a minute; it will be ready for a moment.”

“Hmm…What a coincidence,” Ma Tian’en had to start a talk.

“Yeah, I don’t expect we have the same tastes. How early you came here to eat! Have you done your morning reading?” Wu Zhong put down the chopsticks and looked at Ma Tian’en.

“I have read. In fact, I came across an unfamiliar word and came here for your answer. I am not intended for the enema.” Ma Tian’en turned her mind and immediately got an idea.

“I don’t know what words made you walk such a long way to ask me?”

“There is a phrase in The Book of Rites: Both tension and Relaxation Should Be Emphasized. I don’t know what it means, so I came to ask you.”

“Oh, that means you have been idle for too long. Now you need to be tense. How about dictating 100 words every day?”

At this time, the old Chen served the enema with garlic juice. Looking at the food she usually likes, Ma Tian’en suddenly felt that she has no appetite. She took a long sigh with the chopsticks in her hand. When picking another piece of enema, she sighed once again. Noticing Ma Tian’en was frowned and sad, Wu Zhong suddenly felt that he was very cute. After all, it was his tricks to enter Ma’s. Everyone is unique. You cannot expect everyone to be a scholar. Reading is more about knowing courtesy and others.

“Since you have read books for a while, I think it is better to change our class today. How about going to Jishuitan to see the lotus and make poems?” Wu Zhong said seriously. When Ma heard this, he shouted cheerfully, “Good. Ah, I like poetry the most.” Then, he gobbled down the enema.