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The First Ridge, Steamroll Street, Wonton Alley.
Inside a small, snug house, the mistress moved about as though the walls themselves were listening. She lifted the lid of a tin chest, peeped inside, and then opened the little wooden box hidden within. From it, she scooped out two bowls of rice before quickly closing everything again. The lids were shut firmly, as if the rice might try to escape if given the chance.
Her husband stood nearby in the kitchen, flyswatter raised, staring at the air with great caution.
After the rice was washed and dropped into the pot, the pair relaxed, just a little.
The man wiped the sweat from his brow. "It has been half a month since we last saw a mosquito. I think those things are really gone for good."
"Who knows?" the woman replied, not believing a single word. "Didn't Lu Dongjun say the same thing last time, that he would wipe them all out? And what happened then? They came right back. And where did he disappear afterward? If I hadn't been quick and saved this bit of rice, you would have starved to death already, you big oaf."
The man leaned over and planted a hard kiss on her cheek. "That's why I always say you are such a virtuous and good wife. You start cooking first. I will head out to buy some incense."
"What are you buying incense for?" she asked. "Do we even have spare money?"
"Just a little," he said. "We need to pay our respects to Lord Qi. Everyone outside is saying it was Lord Qi who put a stop to the mosquito plague. Every household is offering incense. They say if you are not sincere enough, the mosquitoes will come back to your home next year."
At the mention of mosquitoes,...
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