Ms. Xu: Let me see ... Everything's sorted. Not many customers today, so I can handle things on my own.
Ms. Xu: Why don't you wear something lighter?
Jiu Niangzi: It's ok. I'm used to this. It's my delivery outfit.
Jiu Niangzi: I'm a fast runner. My clothes won't slow me down.
Ms. Xu: Last night, I had your shoes resoled. Oh, and I put new insoles inside.
Ms. Xu: Hopefully, they'll be more comfortable than before.
Jiǔ Niángzǐ looks down and presses into the floor with the tip of her foot. She then paces back and forth a few times.
Jiu Niangzi: Oh, that's why they feel so much softer today. They're much easier to walk on than before. Thank you, Ms. Xǔ.
Jiu Niangzi: They won't chafe when I'm running now.
As the conversation unfolds, someone approaches from outside the tavern.
Poet: Hey, Ms. Xǔ, Jiǔ Niángzǐ. Are you going out?
Poet: Today isn't a liquor ban day. I'd like a bowl of Earth Spring to get some inspiration for my poem.
Ms. Xu: Sorry, not many people have come today due to the festoon race.
Ms. Xu: And Jiǔ Niángzǐ has signed up for the race. So I just decided to close up and go cheer her on.
Poet: Well, it is indeed the most lively day of the year. Everyone's gathered on the street.
Poet: But if you close your door, where can we drinkers go to kill time?
Ms. Xu: Sorry, but it's not every day that I'll get to see Jiǔ Niángzǐ participate in a race.
Poet: Alright. Then, I suppose, I'll take a look too.
She locks the door, and they head out onto the street together.
On most days, only a handful of people can be found by the city gates, but today, the area is alive with townspeople.
This is the starting line of the festoon race. All manner of people are waiting at the line—from fruit vendors to the old nightwatchman. They are stretching and rubbing their hands together in anticipation, eager for the event to begin.
Lizheng: Hmm. There seem to be many more contestants than in previous years.
Lizheng: Presumably, a number of them are newcomers to the city.
Facao: Recent years have been kind, and life has been good. The citizens have had a plentiful harvest and very little disease.
Facao: Of course more of them are willing to join the race.
Lizheng: Food comes first for the people. Only a full stomach and warmth can make one wealthy. Even this tradition started as a ceremony to pray for a good harvest for the next year.
Lizheng: Since you're standing by my side, I assume you won't be joining the race this year?
Facao: I haven't done so for years. But I recommended a few members of the patrol team join.
Facao: Oh, and I heard Jiǔ Niángzǐ from the tavern signed up.
Lizheng: Is that so? I thought she was joking. She truly is a brave girl.
Ms. Xu: Excuse me! Make way!
Ms. Xu: Sorry, excuse me! We have a contestant here!
Passing by these robust men only serves to highlight her delicate stature.
With her agile frame, Jiǔ Niángzǐ weaves through the crowd.
Jiu Niangzi: So many people ...
Jiu Niangzi: Please, excuse me! Let me through!
Jiǔ Niángzǐ becomes as nimble as a loach, threading her way forward, striving to swim to the fore.
Jiu Niangzi: Finally here. So many people have joined the race ...
Jiu Niangzi: Not sure I can win.
Jiu Niangzi: But if I want to become a Xiángruì, I have to try ...
As the starting time draws closer, everyone holds their breath in anticipation, waiting for the signal to start.
Amidst the throng of burly men in coarse brown clothes, a streak of green catches the eye.
Ms. Xu: Jiǔ! Run faster, run!
Poet: Hurry up, people! Let's get this race started!
With the blast of the starting signal, the participants bolt like runaway steeds.
They go different ways. Some choose main roads, some choose alleys, and some through courtyards. Different speeds, different distances.
Jiu Niangzi: I know every street in the city, and I run fast. I just need to find the best route ...
Jiu Niangzi: panting
Jiu Niangzi: Faster, run faster! There's nothing faster than a Lùshǔ.
Jiu Niangzi: The purple festoon is at the butcher's on West Street, the yellow one is near the tea room in South Alley ... So the Bǎodài Bridge is the fastest way through!
Should one gaze down upon Pèi City from above, one would spy several black spots rushing forward—each a former victor of the race. Blessed with swift feet and an intimate knowledge of the city's layout, these participants are leading the pack.
In the time that it takes for an incense stick to burn, several participants are already clutching silk in their hands. They each hold a different color, grabbed from flagpoles in varying parts of the city, as each participant has taken their own route.
Jiu Niangzi: panting
Jiu Niangzi: Now I have the green one, too. For the blue one ... is North Street closer? No, I should go to Mr. Shěn's house.
Jiu Niangzi: Come on, Jiǔ, hurry, hurry! If you win this, you're one step closer to becoming a Xiángruì.
Half an hour has passed, and by now, everyone has moved to the main street intersection.
Here, a flagpole has been erected, atop which flutters a single red festoon. The victor's coveted prize.
Lizheng: Indeed, the red festoon should be hung on the main street. It looks more festive here.
Lizheng: I wonder who will win this year. Perhaps one of the Fǎcáo patrol team?
Facao: You're very kind to say so. The patrollers know the city well, and all of them are well-trained. They can certainly run fast.
Facao: But who knows? The city is loaded with talented people.
As they speak, a chorus of voices rises in the distance. Cheers and shouts swell like a tide, rolling down the street—a sure sign that the victor has emerged.
But it appears to be a petite figure in green that is drawing the crowd's attention. Before they can discern the details, the figure, swift as a gust of wind, is already upon them.
Facao: Looks like the winner's arrived. And they've left the others in the dust.
Facao: But I don't remember any of the patrollers wearing green today ...
Facao: Wait, that's not a patroller.
The figure lifts a foot, stepping firmly on the stone guardian by the road and leaps into the air, deftly plucking the red silk festoon from the flagpole.
In an instant, cheers fill the air—this year's champion has been decided. The crowd swarms forward. Amidst them stands Jiǔ Niángzǐ, the silk festoon clutched in her hand.
Ms. Xu: Jiǔ Niángzǐ, you did it! One, two, three ...
Ms. Xu: ... Five festoons in total! You got them all!
Eventually, the crowd splits to form a path. Lǐzhèng strides forth, his satisfaction with this unexpected outcome evident.
Following in his wake are five large sacks brimming with grain—the rightful reward for the triumphant winner.
Lizheng: As you all know, the five colored festoons represent the five kinds of grains. May the collection of the five festoons bring us a bountiful harvest for every year to come!
Lǐzhèng turns around, spreading his arms wide as he proclaims loudly to the assembled crowd.
Lizheng: Citizens, the winner this year is ... Jiǔ Niángzǐ from the tavern!
Lǐzhèng bows slightly and, following the tradition of years past, inquires about the victor's wish.
Lizheng: Tell me your wish, and I shall grant it. Anything within my power.
Lǐzhèng's mind still echoes with Jiǔ Niángzǐ's inquiry that day, her heart set on visiting the county archive to delve into matters related to the Xiángruì.
If this is her wish, a mere word to the keeper of the county archive would suffice. Lǐzhèng contemplates this privately, internally commending Jiǔ Niángzǐ's thirst for knowledge.
Jiu Niangzi: Then ...
Jiu Niangzi: My wish is ...
Jiu Niangzi: I wish for the liquor ban to be lifted.
The once bustling street now lies under a spell of silence. Not even Fǎcáo utters a word. The liquor ban is something no one would dare bring up to the officials.
The circle of onlookers first fixes their gaze upon Jiǔ Niángzǐ, then turns their attention to Lǐzhèng.
Ms. Xu: Oh dear, forgive her, Lǐzhèng. She must have run so fast that she lost her mind!
Ms. Xu: Jiǔ Niángzǐ! What are you talking about?! Just ask for a few loads of rice!
Unlike his usual prompt replies, Lǐzhèng takes some time to contemplate. Then, with a wave of his hand, he instructs Fǎcáo to hasten back to the government office.
Before long, Fǎcáo returns from the outer street, clutching a document in hand. It bears a red seal.
Lǐzhèng slowly unfurls the document, reciting each word and each sentence with great deliberation.
Lizheng: The Regulations on Liquor Sale and Consumption were issued due to the many natural disasters and food shortages of previous years, which have persisted until recent times.
Lizheng: However, due to the positive turn in the weather and the abundance of crops of late and, upon hearing Jiǔ Niángzǐ's wish, which I'm sure represents the voice of many ...
All heads crane forward, listening intently.
Lizheng: Henceforth, the liquor ban shall be lifted! Starting with the merchant hub, selling and drinking liquor will not be restricted. Other districts will follow suit in due time.
With the speech concluded, the members of the crowd look at one another in stunned silence. After a long pause, whispers begin to ripple.
The murmurs grow louder, gradually coalescing into cheers. The news travels from here to the end of the street and then throughout the entire city.
Citizen I: Really?
Citizen II: We can drink anytime we want?
Citizen III: Jiǔ Niángzǐ! Jiǔ Niángzǐ!
The crowd celebrates uproariously, as if this were the main event of the festival. The movement of the crowd squeezes Fǎcáo and Lǐzhèng onto the steps at the street's edge. Both wear smiles, observing the jubilant citizens before them.
Facao: Sorry to ask, but I don't understand what happened just now. Had you discussed this with her earlier?
Lizheng: It's not like that. It's simply a coincidence.
Lizheng: The abolishment of the liquor regulations was already on the agenda. We had planned to put up signs after the Dùshuò Festival. Jiǔ Niángzǐ's impulsive wish just so happened to align with our goals.
Lizheng: As the ancient saying goes, "there is no time like the present." Why not seize the moment and announce the news a little earlier than planned?
Facao: I see ...
Facao: Still, it takes gumption to do so.
From this day forward, the citizens of Pèi City can drink at any time.
The taverns all over the city start to see better days.
