Morning frost still lingered on the stone-paved paths of Cyan Ox Village. The moment Zhang Yifan's team of Wooden Ox and Gliding Horse rounded the mountain bend, Huwa's shrill voice rang out: "Brother Fan is back! The Wooden Oxen scared all the sparrows away!" The old scholar tree at the entrance of the village was tied with red strings, and Xiaoxiu stood on tiptoe, hanging sachets on the horns of each Wooden Ox. When she saw him, her glazed hairpin shone brighter in the morning light than the stars of the Western Regions.
"Xiaoxiu, this is for you!" Zhang Yifan pulled a string of glass grapes from his bamboo basket, but Huwa intercepted it halfway. Huwa popped one into his mouth, only to discover it was merely an ornament, making him pucker his lips from the sourness. The Old Cyan Ox let out a "moo" and charged over, giving the rump of a Wooden Ox a hard shove—having not seen him for three months, the old fellow had actually grown jealous of the Wooden Oxen.
"Stop messing around, Old Cyan Ox!" Zhang Yifan stroked the ox's damp nose, suddenly noticing a brocade pouch tied to the saddle. Inside were Xiaoxiu's newly dried osmanthus flowers, along with an "Anti-Ox-Shoving Talisman" carved by Huwa—a crooked ghost face scrawled onto a piece of bark, which looked rather like the twin brother of a Wooden Ox. Old Man Wang shuffled over, carrying his long-stemmed pipe with an insect-repellent sachet dangling from the mouthpiece. Pulling a long face, he said, "Brother Fan, your sache…
Chapter 22