Chapter 46: Chastity Archway

The commendation document kept in the pawn shop was awarded to a woman named Cao Yu.

Cao Yu was sold into the Cao household as a slave at age five, made a concubine at sixteen, and on the night she was taken as a concubine, Cao Gong fell ill and died; three years later the Cao family erected a chastity archway and issued the commendation document, after which Cao Yu remained a widow for nearly forty years, bearing no children, and died peacefully in her bed.

This commendation document belonged to the Cao family when they brought it in, and the signature reads Cao Houde.

The man who came today to redeem his pawn is surnamed Wu, called Wu Meng.

I am not clear on Wu Meng's relation to the Cao family, whether he is a descendant or something like that.

If a pawned item is overdue and not redeemed, according to our pawn shop's rules, after five days overdue it is considered automatically forfeited, and the pawned item becomes the property of the pawn shop.

That commendation document is placed inside a red lacquered small box, which sits on the top shelf of the antique display rack.

Perhaps its age is not that great, and it is not like those popular antique paintings and calligraphy, so it has simply remained there untouched.

According to pawn shop rules, Wu Meng is not allowed to redeem his pawn.

But since the pawned item now belongs to the pawn shop, if he truly wants it we can discuss it.

For example, through barter.

Wu Meng clearly does not have that intention.

After I explained the situation and clearly told him that the pawn ticket had long expired and could not be redeemed, he did not pester me endlessly, but said: "Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, actually before I came I already knew this would be the result, but Master Huiquan said, if you are willing to give me face, perhaps I could visit your home."

Master Huiquan?

I hurriedly asked: "Is Master Huiquan now at your home?"

"Something happened at my house, and a few days ago I invited Master Huiquan to perform a rites for the dead," Wu Meng said, "this pawn ticket was found by Master Huiquan's help, and he also directed me to come to Wufu Town to find you."

That makes sense.

I then asked: "May I ask what happened at your home? Could you tell me?"

Wu Meng nodded and recounted the whole story to me.

"When I was young I worked away from home, earned quite a bit of money, and my children had already started their own families, so my wife and I thought about buying a quiet residence to move into for our retirement; after looking around we finally found a suite that suited our wishes.

We old couple moved in and have been living peacefully for nearly three years; this year my young daughter-in-law is pregnant with triplets, but the fetus is somewhat unstable, so my wife brought her over to look after her.

The old house from the late Qing dynasty has an unusually high threshold; my daughter-in-law's body is heavy, making coming and going inconvenient, so I had someone break the threshold of the inner room where she stays and remake it level.

But ever since we touched that threshold, the house…"

Saying this, Wu Meng seemed to recall something extremely terrifying, hard to describe.

"In short, things are very unsettled; my daughter-in-law keeps hearing children's crying in the house, and my son even saw…… saw a woman with bound feet, asking him…… asking him if he had seen her commendation document."

My heart jumped; I turned and glanced at the box on the top shelf of the antique rack that holds the commendation document—could that woman be Cao Yu?

Since Master Huiquan could help Wu Meng find this pawn ticket and lead him to me to redeem it, settling this matter surely requires that commendation document.

But I cannot just take things out for nothing; the pawn shop's rules must be observed.

Looking at the few deals we have made since reopening the pawn shop, which one does not have a heart‑pounding story behind it?

If we do not follow the rules, sooner or later we will fall into chaos.

Yet out of respect for Master Huiquan's face, I cannot stand by and do nothing.

After all, I also have something I would like to ask Master Huiquan for help with.

After thinking it over, I still decided to first go with Wu Meng to his house; as for the commendation document…… we will talk about it after we meet Master Huiquan.

I am about to go out, and Li Qingying insists on coming along no matter what: "Your body hasn't fully recovered yet; I'm not at ease letting you go out alone to handle affairs."

I couldn't refuse her, so I let her lock the door and come with me.

This time Li Qingying drove her own off‑road vehicle to take me.

Wu Meng's residence is in the suburbs of the neighboring county; that area has already been demolished, with rows of buildings standing close together, only the eastern suburb still preserves several old‑style mansions.

Wu Meng's house is the most imposing among them.

The steps at the gate of the mansion are indeed high, almost reaching my knees.

In ancient times they emphasized "a high threshold gathers wealth"; the threshold symbolizes the owner's status and rank.

Of course, there are also rumors that ancient people made thresholds high to ward off evil influences—for example, zombies cannot jump over a high threshold.

Stepping over the threshold, we followed Wu Meng all the way to the rear.

Upon entering the main courtyard, I do not know whether it is because the landscaping is well done, but it instantly felt noticeably cooler.

Master Huiquan was waiting in the main hall; seeing me arrive, he hurriedly came forward with a cheerful smile.

I was about to reach out and shake his hand—after all, the last time we met I acted rashly, failing to recognize Mount Tai—but

before I could extend my hand, Master Huiquan's eyes swept over me and he exclaimed in surprise: "Eh? In just a few days, Xiao Jiu Zhanggui has changed a lot."

My changes during this period are indeed great; Master Huiquan truly has some cultivation, and he noticed at a glance.

I remained calm and said: "Please enlighten me, Master—where exactly has Xiao Jiu changed?"

Master Huiquan stroked his small beard and said: "Many changes; Xiao Jiu Zhanggui has probably encountered a great opportunity lately, but I still say the same thing: if Xiao Jiu Zhanggui does not mind, I would like to calculate your eight characters for you—may I?"

This time I nodded: "I came here precisely for that purpose, but for now I still want to first learn about the Wu family's affairs; afterward I also have something I would like to ask Master Huiquan to help with."

Master Huiquan immediately laughed: "Good, good, good—I am honored as a humble daoist."

While we were chatting, Wu Meng came over holding something.

He placed the item on the table, wrapped in a black cloth, and Master Huiquan gestured for me to open it and have a look.

I lifted the black cloth and saw that inside were two stone carvings.

The carvings are made of bluestone, depicting two lifelike large pomegranates, the mouths of the pomegranates slightly open, revealing seeds packed tightly inside.

I turned them over and over for a long time before cautiously saying: "If I am not mistaken, these two stone carvings should have been taken from the chastity archway, right?"

Chastity archways come in many specifications; some are extremely simple, while others are magnificent, with the archway carved full of various flowers, birds, fish, and insects, each carrying a special meaning.

The pomegranate symbolizes many offspring.

Some women, though widowed, still have children by their side; their husbands died early, they observe widowhood, serve their parents‑in‑law, raise their children, and keep the family line going; on such women's chastity archways, the pomegranate is usually carved in a prominent position on the front.

This is a beautiful auspicious meaning, and also an honor.

But some women have no children, like the Cao Yu Clan; on the chastity arches of such women, there will also be pomegranates.

After all, the Cao Yu Clan bore no children, but she was merely a concubine, a mistress; her husband might have offspring to carry on the line.

On the chastity arches of such women, pomegranates are usually placed at the side corners.

When I just entered the gate, I deliberately looked; around this grand manor and above the doorway, there are no traces of ever having erected a chastity arch.

I then pointed at the pomegranate and asked, "Where did this come from?"

Wu Meng said, "It was found among the broken inner house threshold..."