Drive away the bad luck from yesterday!
The legendary physician Bian Que once had a saying about “six types of incurable patients.” One of them was “those who trust in sorcery over medicine.” If a patient believes in superstition more than medical science, then no matter how hard the doctor tries, the treatment will never be truly effective.
Madam Li was precisely someone who trusted sorcery over medicine to the extreme.
Yu Jinnian couldn’t help but wonder what the monk in white held that made Madam Li so utterly devoted to him.
Madam Li wailed, revealing that she had eaten a baby’s heart in hopes of conceiving. Yang Cai’s legs went weak at the revelation, but he managed to stay standing, trembling. After all, Madam Li’s madness wasn’t new, and how many would believe the words of a madwoman?
The monk in white moved his sleeve slightly, and a tiny black pill the size of a green bean appeared between his fingers, seemingly a reward for Madam Li. Madam Li looked disappointed, as the pill was much smaller than what she had been given before. She showed a pleading expression but didn’t dare complain. Her hands trembled painfully as she tried to catch the pill, but it slipped through her fingers, rolling along the cracks between the pebbles and stopping at Yu Jinnian’s feet.
He picked up the tiny pill, and with a little force between his fingers, a faint bitter and musty smell wafted up.
Yu Jinnian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the scent, then exclaimed in surprise, “Opium?”
Perhaps due to the rush of time, the pill wasn’t processed finely, leaving some of the crude, bitter scent that Yu Jinnian could detect. Had it been properly refined, the smell would have been sweet and fragrant, much like the scent he had noticed when he first entered Yixin’s room. But that scent had been masked by the incense that Yixin later burned.
No wonder Madam Li’s pain was relieved by these so-called miraculous pills. Opium is derived from poppy resin and contains morphine, which can relieve pain. After taking it for a long time, she must have developed a dependence on it, which explained why she no longer trusted regular doctors. Though this pill contained opium, its scent was faint, indicating it wasn’t pure and was mixed with other substances.
Since the pill had been crushed, the monk in white took out another one for Madam Li.
This time, Madam Li didn’t dare be careless. She carefully cupped the pill in both hands and hurriedly swallowed it.
Behind them, Yang Cai picked up a stone from the ground, raising his hand as if to strike Madam Li. “You crazy woman! What does eating hearts have to do with me? Don’t try to drag me down with you! I’ll beat you to death, you—”
“Master, save me!” Madam Li had been tormented by the ghostly child in her belly for too long. In her heightened state of agitation, she spoke recklessly. Seeing Yang Cai about to hit her, she became terrified and clung to the monk’s legs, hiding behind him while shouting, “Yang Cai! Do you think I don’t know about you and that Zhao harlot? Would you dare let that child be born? I trusted your wickedness, so I let the ghostly child use my womb! Yang Jin, you’re a fool, not even knowing the child isn’t yours. You’re all idiots…”
“You foul-mouthed shrew!” Yang Cai cursed, rushing over to grab Madam Li by the hair and pulling her out from behind the monk, slapping her hard across the face.
At that moment, Qing Huan, who had been helping in the kitchen, came looking for Brother Nian. Seeing the violent scene, she was so shocked she hid behind Ji Hong, whispering, “What’s happening…”
Ji Hong said softly, “Don’t ask, don’t look. There’s nothing more here. You should go back to the noodle shop.”
Qing Huan murmured an “Oh” and, still full of questions, went home.
Madam Li, slapped several times across the face, shrieked and suddenly turned her head, spotting a reddish-brown tabby cat with blood on its mouth perched on the wall. She burst into wild laughter. “None of you will have peace! That demon cat is back, hahaha… it’s back! Even tigers don’t eat their cubs, Yang Cai! You cut open your own child—this is your punishment!”
Yu Jinnian also glanced up. The tortoiseshell-colored tabby was large, even bigger than his own cat, Dingdang. A small cloth pouch hung around its neck. It seemed to have just eaten raw meat, as the fur around its mouth was stained with blood.
The tabby cat, with its little bundle, leaped down and slipped into the Orchid Laurel Courtyard. A small, stick-like object fell from its pouch. A brave servant picked it up and found it to be a tiny leg bone, which he immediately dropped in fear.
The wife of the third household, Madam Zhao, nearly collapsed, only saved from falling by her maid’s support. She looked terrified—after all, the cloth pouch was made from the same fabric she had chosen for the burial of her unborn child! Yang Jin glared furiously at his wife. Ever since Madam Zhao lost their child, he had treated her with care, only to find out now that she had been involved with the lecherous Yang Cai!
In the back, some servants whispered, “Wasn’t this about Fourth Young Master? How did it become Second Young Master…”
Suddenly, a golden bell rang, and everyone in the garden fell silent. The monk in white raised his staff and walked toward the Orchid Laurel Courtyard, saying, “Since this is the case, why not discern the truth by the bones?”
Hearing that the monk was going to identify the father by the bones, Yang Jin was the first to follow. Madam Li, enduring her stomach pain, was also supported by her maid as she entered. Madam Zhao and Yang Cai remained—one paralyzed with fear, the other cursing relentlessly.
By now, it was winter, and though it was barely past the hour of the rooster, the sky had already darkened. Several lanterns were lit in the courtyard, their flickering flames making the long-abandoned place feel even more eerie. The tortoiseshell tabby was now crouched on the offering table, licking the orange-glazed yam pudding that Yu Jinnian had made. After stretching lazily, it curled up on the table and began grooming itself.
The monk in white brushed his hand over the cat’s back, untying the little cloth pouch. As soon as the contents saw the light of day, the two red candles on the table flared briefly with a strange, white glow.
He pulled out a needle and said, “I ask both benefactors to offer two drops of blood each, so this infant’s bones may reveal who its true father is.”
Bone blood identification!
Yang Cai, ever the coward, panicked at the mention of this ancient method of proving parentage. He couldn’t keep up his pretense of calm anymore. Of course, he knew whether the child was his or not. If it weren’t for Yang Jin’s incompetence in the bedroom, Zhao would never have turned to him. Who would’ve thought that after his wife had failed to bear a child for three years, just a few fleeting moments with Zhao would result in a pregnancy!
Madam Zhao, blinded by ambition, had tried to pass off this illegitimate child as Yang Jin’s to secure wealth and status for their household. But Yang Cai had no intention of being a pawn in her scheme. Of course, the child had to be dealt with.
As for the Fourth Young Master… how could he have known why Zhao dragged that poor soul into this mess?
Madam Zhao, still paralyzed, couldn’t stand, no matter how the servants tried to help her.
Yang Cai, meanwhile, tried to slink away but was grabbed by the house guards and brought to the offering table. Yang Jin, seething with pent-up rage, stepped forward, grabbed Yang Cai’s hand, and slammed it down on the table. Instead of using the monk’s fine needle, he pulled a broad knife from the waist of one of the guards and slashed Yang Cai’s hand.
“Aaahhh!” Yang Cai screamed as hot blood flowed from his palm onto the infant’s pale bones. Moments later, the blood seeped in.
Seeing Yang Cai’s blood seep into the infant bones, Yang Jin’s eyes turned red with fury. He almost chopped Yang Cai’s hand off with the knife and roared, “What else do you have to say?”
“Impossible, impossible!” Yang Cai shook his head frantically, speaking incoherently, “I buried the baby’s bones on the mountainside of Fengbo Temple myself! I don’t even remember exactly where! How could this demon monk possibly know? He must have just picked any random set of bones to deceive you!”
Moments ago, the monk was a revered master, and now he had become a demon monk.
Upon hearing that Yang Cai had disturbed the baby’s bones, Zhao’s eyes flickered with horror. If Yang Cai had moved the bones, then who had flayed the baby’s skin? Despite her unfaithfulness, Zhao had never considered such a cruel act as skinning or cutting the heart from her unborn child. A shiver ran down her spine.
The monk in white remained calm, pressing his palms together and chanting “Amitabha.” He began his tale: “One day, as I was meditating beneath a tree, I found an injured tabby cat occupying my seat. Its eyes were crying blood, and it wailed sorrowfully. The cat neither ate nor drank for a full day and night, lost in contemplation. Seeing its connection to the Buddha, I spoke with it that night.”
“She said she had been wronged at the foot of the mountain and, now, lonely and dying, asked me to uncover the truth and take care of her child. After she spoke, she wept blood and died, turning into a puff of smoke.” The monk pointed to the tabby cat resting on the altar. “Her child is this cat, guided by its mother’s vengeful spirit to find the infant’s bones.”
“Pff…”
At this tense moment, a stifled laugh echoed through the courtyard. The monk’s white hat shifted slightly as Yu Jinnian quickly covered his mouth, ducking into Ji Hong’s arms and hiding his face as if to say, “It wasn’t me.”
Ji Hong used his sleeve to shield the boy as they moved to an unnoticed corner. He leaned down and whispered, “Don’t be naughty, or you’ll get in trouble.”
Yu Jinnian made a face, whispering, “I couldn’t help it. This story about a cat weeping blood and finding bones is just too…” He wanted to say it was absurd, but seeing Ji Hong’s serious expression, he asked instead, “Do you believe it?”
“If you don’t believe it, then neither do I,” Ji Hong responded naturally.
Such a lack of principle!
Yu Jinnian chuckled and whispered, pointing at the infant bones, “Those bones are already so decayed that even Yang Cai’s blood—or the blood of any random cat or dog, for that matter—would soak right into them. This so-called bone identification method is just a trick to fool the superstitious Yang family.”
As he spoke, Yu Jinnian considered that perhaps the monk in white knew this method wasn’t valid and had used it to extract a confession. After all, the entire courtyard was falling for the ruse, and even the foolish Yang Cai had spoken the truth, though no one believed him.
Just then, Third Young Master Yang pointed at Zhao and cursed, “You wretch! Someone, lock her up in the ancestral hall. We’ll summon the elders to drown these adulterers in pig cages!”
The servants hesitated, not daring to move until Yang Jin kicked them. Only then did they step forward to restrain Madam Zhao.
“You think you’re any better, Yang Jin?” Madam Zhao, now pressed to the ground, gave up resisting and shouted, “After the child died, who was it that told me to accuse Fourth Young Master? He only napped in your room for an afternoon, but you didn’t care about my reputation and forced me to tell the old master that Fourth Young Master had assaulted me! What are you afraid of? That without a child, Fourth Young Master will inherit the family fortune?”
Restrained by the servants, Madam Zhao turned to the crowd in the courtyard, sneering, “None of you are decent. You’re all animals! No wonder Aunt Lan is seeking revenge!”
She looked at the tabby cat on the altar and shouted, “Fourth Young Master, look at these beasts! They’re the ones who harmed you and your mother! And Yang Cai—he’s the worst of them all!”
Hearing that the cat on the table was supposedly Fourth Young Master, Yang Cai ignored his bleeding hand, dropping to his knees and kowtowing. “Fourth Young Master, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t me! They were all involved! The servant who slandered your mother was hired by the third household, I didn’t know! And, and the ghostly disturbances from back then weren’t caused by me—it was probably Yang Jin, that scoundrel! Fourth Young Master, if you want revenge, go after him, go after him!”
The tabby cat opened its green eyes, casting a cold glance at those gathered around the altar.
Yang Jin, his face flushed with rage, kicked Yang Cai fiercely. “You’re talking nonsense! Wasn’t it you who brought that old Daoist?”
…
What a mess of a farce.
The once-mighty Yang family, now without the towering figure of Yang Jufu to hold them in check, had fallen apart in an instant. The moment their dirty deeds were exposed, they were like wolves stripped of their sheep’s clothing, unable to keep up their pretense of civility. Now, they showed their true nature. Even the once-loyal steward, who had been Yang Jufu’s confidant, was helpless in the face of this chaos. The household had descended into such disorder that his words no longer carried weight.
Yu Jinnian clicked his tongue in disapproval and, losing interest in the scene, didn’t want Ji Hong to witness any more of the crude violence and insults. He grabbed Ji Hong’s hand and, weaving through the crowd, slipped out of the courtyard.
Just as they exited, the little maid who had earlier torn pages from the *Lotus Sutra* chased after them, calling out, “Young Sir!”
Yu Jinnian turned around at her voice.
The maid handed him a pouch of silver ingots, explaining that the steward had instructed her to give it to him for arranging the vegetarian banquet. However, given the current situation, the banquet wouldn’t last three days, implying that Yu Jinnian and Ji Hong should leave the residence soon.
Yu Jinnian was more than happy with this outcome. He didn’t hesitate to take the silver, weighing it in his hand—it felt substantial.
The maid hesitated as Yu Jinnian was about to leave, then mustered the courage to ask, “Young Sir, could you still come to treat our madam in the future?”
Yu Jinnian raised his eyebrows, finding the request strange. He wanted to remind her that it wasn’t he who had refused to treat Madam Li, but that Madam Li believed in sorcery over medicine and refused to take his prescriptions.
The maid lowered her head and said, “There’s something I wanted to tell you… Madam used to be kind. She even gave us silver to help our family through difficult times. But later, she became anxious about not having children… and then she fell ill with this stomach pain, always talking about a ghost fetus in her belly…”
Yu Jinnian muttered softly, “It’s definitely a guilty conscience.”
Since they were a bit farther away, the maid didn’t hear him, but Ji Hong did. He gently pinched Yu Jinnian’s waist and gave him a slight frown, silently admonishing him for speaking carelessly in front of others.
The maid continued, “That’s why I went to Fengbo Temple to pray for Madam. On my way, I met the monk Chengkong. After listening to my story, he gave me a box of pills, saying they could cleanse ghostly energy. But…”
She hesitated, glancing nervously at the chaotic Orchid Laurel Courtyard. Seeing that the white-robed monk was still standing there, she finally decided to speak, “Last month, when the monk delivered medicine, I accidentally caught a glimpse of his true face. Although it was just a brief glance, I couldn’t help but think that the monk Chengkong resembled someone…”
“Resembled who?” Yu Jinnian urged her to continue, eager to take Ji Hong home to warm up under the blankets.
The maid stomped her foot, gathering her courage. “He looked like our long-dead Fourth Young Master!”
Yu Jinnian was momentarily stunned, wondering what kind of plot twist this was.
“It’s been many years, and I don’t know what Fourth Young Master would look like as a grown man. But when I saw that monk, I immediately thought of him. Yet, back then, the Daoist priest said both our Fourth Young Master and Concubine Lan were dead…” The maid shuddered, trying to dispel the eerie feeling creeping up her spine. Gathering her courage, she continued, “That day, Young Sir was also there. You heard with your own ears that there was no such person as Monk Chengkong at Fengbo Temple. Yet, the monk claimed he was meditating there… I wonder if Fourth Young Master’s vengeful spirit is still lingering, casting illusions? Madam was once my family’s benefactor, saving us in a time of crisis. I can’t bear to see her deceived like this any longer. Young Sir, you’re a renowned healer, even praised by the great physician Zou. I’m sure you can cure Madam.”
“I don’t dare say for sure, but… I wonder if the thing in the courtyard is even human…”
Just as her voice trailed off, the sound of a golden bell rang faintly behind her. The maid jumped in fright, stumbling forward and falling into Yu Jinnian’s arms. Ji Hong quickly pulled the boy into his embrace, the scent of fresh laundry soap filling the air as Yu Jinnian found himself pressed against Ji Hong’s chest.
Meanwhile, the maid fainted from the shock, collapsing face-first onto the ground.
Yu Jinnian winced, “Ouch.”
Ji Hong, concerned, asked, “Did you get hurt?”
“I was saying ‘ouch’ for her. That fall must have hurt quite a bit.” Yu Jinnian untangled himself from Ji Hong’s arms and crouched down to turn the maid over, relieved to find she had only fainted. He dusted off his hands and remarked, “People really can scare themselves to death sometimes.”
A young voice suddenly laughed, “Boss Yu, how do you know I’m human and not a vengeful spirit?”
“A vengeful spirit wouldn’t come up with such convoluted schemes. It’d just eat them all in one go.” Yu Jinnian, leaning on Ji Hong’s arm for support, looked toward the white-robed monk who had quietly emerged from the shadows. “Isn’t that right, Yixin… or should I say, Fourth Young Master?”
The monk in white chuckled softly, shaking his head as he removed his veil, revealing a youthful face.
It was Yixin.
He still wore that gentle, harmless smile that always seemed to carry a hint of warmth. “Today’s vegetarian banquet was the most sumptuous I’ve seen in years. Boss Yu’s culinary skills remain unparalleled.”
When Yu Jinnian had guessed it was Yixin, he found the situation curious. But now that Yixin had confirmed it, a chill crept down his spine. He instinctively moved closer to Ji Hong and forced himself to calm down. “No matter how good my food is, it can’t compare to your theatrics. Your tricks are far more impressive than my dishes.”
Yixin tilted his head, curious. “Without such theatrics, how would they ever feel fear and remorse? How else would they understand the suffering they’ve inflicted on others? Those who only see gold and silver need to experience what it’s like to be cold, hungry, and destitute. Must we, who have always followed the Buddha, bear these sins? Shouldn’t they taste the bitterness of freezing winters and empty bellies?”
Yu Jinnian stayed silent, sensing the deep resentment in Yixin’s words, though his expression remained calm and even smiling. The contrast was unsettling.
Ji Hong coldly interrupted, “Your revenge is your business. What does it have to do with us?”
Yixin sighed, “It had nothing to do with you. But the day I met Young Sir, I changed my mind. I’ve lived only for revenge, even traveling abroad to learn alchemy and foreign medicine. These techniques, unseen in the Central Plains, allowed me to make a small fortune along my journey.”
Yu Jinnian raised an eyebrow, surprised. *Small fortune?* This was more like striking gold.
Yixin’s white robe fluttered slightly as he looked down at Yu Jinnian with a serious expression. “My life has been short, and I’ve spent it hiding my true feelings. Today, I want to say something honest: I like Young Sir. For that reason, I’ve never intended to harm you.”
Yu Jinnian: “…?”
Ji Hong immediately grew defensive, stepping forward to pull the dazed Yu Jinnian into his arms, holding him close and silently staking his claim with a cold glare.
Yixin smiled at Ji Hong and said, “No need to be so tense, Young Master Ji. My affection for Young Sir is one of admiration, not desire. I have no intention of doing anything to him. Besides, I lack the ability to keep him safe and carefree, so there’s no need for you to worry.”
*Why does this sound so strange?* Yu Jinnian thought, silently grumbling. *It’s as if I’m some object to be passed around!*
“I’ve done many shameful things in my life, things that dishonor the Buddha and deceive the faithful. My entire life has been short, muddled, and full of wandering. Even with all my wealth, I’ve never had a truly happy day—except for the Cold Clothing Festival.” Yixin’s eyes brightened with an odd light as he continued, “That day was different. I met someone unlike anyone I’ve ever encountered.”
Ji Hong, growing impatient, finally interrupted, “What are you trying to say?”
Yixin snapped out of his reverie, returning to the matter at hand. “Young Sir once cured my illness, and I never paid the consultation fee. I feel guilty about that. So today, I’ve come to settle the debt. In a few days, I’ll also send a gift to thank you for your treatment.”
“What do you mean by that?” Yu Jinnian asked, puzzled.
Yixin smiled mysteriously, “You’ll find out in a couple of days. For now, Young Sir, it’s best if you go home. The night is late, and the road is long. Be careful.”
With that, Yixin turned and walked back into the Orchid Laurel Courtyard, closing the gate behind him. The sounds of shouting and fighting were shut inside with him. After a moment, the faint chime of a lotus staff rang out, its sound solemn. Moments later, a ghostly chant rose from within the courtyard, not like the chanting of monks but more like the eerie singing of spirits.
Yu Jinnian pushed against the courtyard gate, but it wouldn’t budge, as if something was jammed against the latch.
——
The next morning, Yu Jinnian woke up in the noodle shop. Turning over, he snuggled closer to the man beside him, rubbing his head against him, causing his black hair to fluff up. Grabbing a piece of Ji Hong’s collar, he pulled it close to his face and took a deep breath—yes, this was the comforting scent that put him at ease, relaxing both his mind and body.
The memories of the previous day’s events flashed through his mind, and he shivered involuntarily. He quickly jumped out of bed and rushed to the kitchen.
Qing Huan was kneading dough when she saw him and greeted, “Brother Nian, you came home so late last night. Why not sleep a bit longer today?”
Yu Jinnian waved his hands dismissively. “No more sleeping! I’m up to make some glutinous rice snacks to drive away yesterday’s bad luck!”
He muttered to himself as he picked out a bowl of large, plump red dates from the basket, then steamed a pot of glutinous rice. He instructed, “Qing Huan, help me pit these dates. Cut them in half but don’t cut them all the way through. I’m going to pound the glutinous rice.”
“Got it,” Qing Huan replied cheerfully.
She worked swiftly and skillfully, finishing the dates long before Yu Jinnian had finished pounding the rice. Each red date was split open, revealing its soft insides, the vibrant red skin giving off a warm, cheerful vibe that almost looked like they were grinning.
Yu Jinnian mashed the glutinous rice until it became soft and sticky, with the individual grains disappearing, just like making *ci ba* (sticky rice cake). He then showed Qing Huan how to pinch off small portions, rolling them into short, thick strips and stuffing them into the split-open red dates.
“Steam the dates now,” he instructed while licking the sticky rice off his fingers, gesturing for Qing Huan to put the dates on the steamer.
While the dates were steaming, Yu Jinnian prepared a simple, refreshing shrimp and cabbage soup.
When he figured the dates were about ready, he took them out of the steamer. Each one was glossy and bright red, as if they had been coated with a layer of oil, round and plump. The sweet aroma of the dates blended perfectly with the fragrance of the glutinous rice. Fresh out of the steamer, the smell was both sweet and enticing, tickling the nose.
Qing Huan couldn’t resist and grabbed one to eat, though she hissed in pain as the heat burned her mouth.
Yu Jinnian laughed at her impatience and took out some osmanthus honey he had prepared earlier. He drizzled a thin layer over the dates and said, “Now they’re perfect.”
The vibrant red dates stuffed with soft white glutinous rice, topped with golden osmanthus honey, looked good enough to be served at a high-end restaurant. Qing Huan ate two more, licking the sticky honey from her fingers, unwilling to waste a single drop.
Yu Jinnian carried the plate of stuffed dates and the shrimp and cabbage soup back to the bedroom just as Ji Hong was waking up.
He rushed over with the plate of dates, beaming, “Open your mouth, ah!”
Ji Hong turned his head slightly. “I haven’t rinsed my mouth yet.”
“I don’t mind!” Yu Jinnian persisted, determined to feed him. Perhaps it was the unpleasant events of the previous day that had him acting superstitiously, but he urged, “Come on, hurry, the osmanthus honey is about to drip—it’s all sticky.”
Ji Hong had no choice but to take a small bite.
True to his word, Yu Jinnian didn’t mind at all and stuffed the rest of the date into his own mouth. The sticky rice clung to his teeth, making a slight crunching sound as he chewed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he hurried Ji Hong to get up and wash up. But as he rambled on, a warm body pressed against his back, cutting him off mid-sentence.
He froze.
Ji Hong wrapped them both in the blanket, leaning his head against Yu Jinnian’s shoulder, his nose gently brushing against the soft skin of the boy’s neck. After spending the morning in the small kitchen steaming dates, Yu Jinnian had absorbed the sweet scent of dates, making him even more fragrant than the dish itself.
Unable to resist, Ji Hong bit down lightly. Yu Jinnian shuddered and fell backward, kicking off his shoes and pulling the blanket over them both. They rolled together under the covers, with Yu Jinnian playfully nibbling Ji Hong’s neck in retaliation for the bite he had received at the Yang residence the day before.
The only sounds that came from the blanket were the creaking of the bed, Ji Hong’s deep breaths, and Yu Jinnian’s bright laughter.
Just as things were getting heated, a sudden “quack!” sounded from outside the window.
“Huh?” Yu Jinnian poked his head out of the blanket, listening intently. “What was that? A duck? Since when did we have ducks in the noodle shop? Maybe I’m hearing things… I should go check—”
Before he could finish his sentence, a hand reached out from under the blanket, pulling him back in. It wasn’t long before the sound of sticky, wet kisses filled the air, with strands of their dark hair tangling together on the pillow.
Panting, Yu Jinnian muttered, “Where are you biting? Wait, wait, let me catch my breath…”
A deep voice responded, “Focus.”
Yu Jinnian grumbled, “No, seriously, I really heard a duck quacking!”
Ji Hong simply replied, “Quiet.”
No sooner had Yu Jinnian obediently closed his mouth than the sound of “quack, quack, quack” erupted from outside, as if a whole flock of ducks had descended on the courtyard.
“See! I told you there were ducks!” Yu Jinnian exclaimed, pushing the now thoroughly frustrated Ji Hong aside as he jumped out of bed, hurriedly putting on his shoes and running outside, leaving Ji Hong alone under the blanket. After a moment in the courtyard, Yu Jinnian’s excited voice rang out, “Ah, Ahong, come out and see! It’s a big white goose!”
Ji Hong sighed in exasperation from the bed.
*A white goose? What’s so special about a goose?*