179, Alcohol

"The air is dry, be careful with candles and fires... young man, go home early and rest, don't let your family worry."

"Alright, thank you, Uncle."

During the first watch of the night, the aged night patrol, his strength waning, holding a white paper lantern, brushed past Chen Ji.

Chen Ji, cradling the sleeping Wu Yun in his left arm and a jar of liquor in his right, pushed open a crack in the wooden door of Taiping Medical Hall as he passed through Anxi Street.

He hesitated for a moment, as warm orange light spilled through the crack in the door like a rare warmth in the winter days.

Behind the counter, Old Yao was fiddling with an abacus for accounting; the long-absent Crow had returned to the Medical Hall and was standing on his shoulder.

Old Yao glanced over at Chen Ji and asked indifferently, "Why didn't you say 'I'm back' today?"

Chen Ji entered, smiling, "Uncle Crow, long time no see."

Crow lifted its wings, as if to say hello.