Extra Chapter: Tender Journey Home

After Sushan Market in Huzhou got on track, several of its branches were also managed by capable people, which greatly lightened Pei Qingwu's burden.

In the third spring after the war subsided, everything revived, the canal thawed, and more and more merchants came from the north and south.

A thought lingered in Pei Qingwu's mind for several days, gradually becoming clear—she wanted to go back to Qinzhou for a visit.

That was the original owner's hometown, the starting point of her career, the place where she met and got to know Gu Heng, and the place where everyone went through trials and tribulations together.

Although I know that my hometown may have changed beyond recognition, the feeling of longing for my homeland always lingers in my heart and is hard to let go of.

And there were many of her friends and acquaintances there.

Before going to bed that night, she told Gu Heng about this.

Gu Heng was combing her long hair when he heard this. He didn't stop what he was doing, but replied gently, "Okay. If you want to go, I'll go with you."

Without the slightest hesitation, she spoke as if it were nothing more than a casual outing outside the city the next day.

"The journey is long, and although things are peaceful now, it will still take a month or two. There are things to do at the shop..."

"Don't worry, sister," Gu Heng put down the jade comb, walked to her, squatted down to look her in the eye, and said, "The industrial foundation in Huzhou is stable, and the rules and regulations are in place. Qian Tao and the others are capable of handling it. The accountants we've hired will also take care of things. We'll just treat this as a trip to relax and see if we can revive some of the old business in Qinzhou."

He always managed to consider all her unresolved concerns thoroughly.

Pei Qingwu felt a warmth in her heart and gently stroked his cheek: "It's just that you've had a hard time, having to accompany me on this trip."

Gu Heng held her hand and pressed it against his warm cheek, his eyes smiling: "With my sister by my side, where is not home? What hardship is there?"

Having made the decision, we began preparations.

Half a month later, after arranging everything, Pei Qingwu and Gu Heng, accompanied only by a maid named Yunxiang and two reliable assistants, boarded a passenger ship heading north.

Abandoning the car and boarding the boat, a completely different scene unfolds.

The passenger ship sailed north along the canal. The early spring river breeze carried a cool, moist air, but no longer felt bitterly cold.

The willows on both banks are just beginning to sprout new green leaves, like smoke and mist, with occasional early-blooming peach blossoms dotting the landscape, the red and green complementing each other, full of vitality.

They booked a spacious upper room, from which they could enjoy panoramic views of both sides of the river.

During the day, the two mostly sat facing each other in the cabin. Pei Qingwu would either look at the account books or browse through the local gazetteers he had bought along the way; Gu Heng would sometimes wipe and maintain the self-defense tools he carried with him, and sometimes rest his chin on his hand, gazing at Pei Qingwu with tender eyes.

Sometimes when he was discovered, Pei Qingwu would ask him with a smile what he was looking at.

He would answer, "Because my sister is pretty."

More often than not, when Pei Qingwu grew tired of looking, he would glance up and see Gu Heng's focused profile.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting soft shadows on his straight nose and slightly drooping eyelashes, creating a serene and beautiful scene.

She would put down her book, brew a pot of fresh tea, and hand it to him.

Gu Heng would immediately stop what he was doing, take the teacup, and their fingertips would touch inadvertently, bringing a subtle warmth.

He would look up at her and smile, a smile that was clear and warm, like the spring water rippling outside the window.

“Look, sister,” he would sometimes pull her to the window and point to a village on the shore with smoke rising from its chimneys, or an ancient tree with a peculiar shape: “That place has a great location. If you open a teahouse there, it will surely be a thriving business.”

Or: "Look at that old plum tree. In winter, its gnarled branches reflecting the snow would be so beautiful."

Pei Qingwu looked in the direction he pointed, then leaned against the window and explained to him in detail the local products and customs, where it was suitable for business and where it was suitable for living.

The cabin, though small, became infinitely warm and spacious because of each other's company and whispers.

After several days of sailing, the ship docked at a large pier to resupply.

Gu Heng disembarked some time ago and returned carrying an oil paper package and a small bamboo basket.

"Sister, try this. It's a famous local dish of grilled fish. I've heard it's made with a type of silver threadfin fish that only comes from this section of the river. The meat is extremely tender."

He opened the oil paper package, and the aroma of roasted fish immediately filled the air.

Then, as if presenting a treasure, she opened the bamboo basket, revealing several magnolia buds inside: "I happened to see them for sale on the street, and I thought my sister might like them."

Pei Qingwu looked at his cheeks, which were slightly red from the wind, and her heart softened.

She knew, of course, that the so-called "coincidence" was mostly something he had deliberately sought out.

She took the flowers and placed them in the white porcelain vase she carried with her. The delicate fragrance gradually dispelled the stuffiness of the cabin.

The roasted fish was exceptionally delicious, so much so that she ate half a bowl more rice than usual.

Seeing that she liked it, Gu Heng's eyes and brows were filled with a satisfied smile.

When the boat reached a section of turbulent water, it rocked violently.

Although Pei Qingwu was not seasick, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable, leaning against the couch with his brows slightly furrowed.

Seeing this, Gu Heng silently sat down next to her, letting her lean on his shoulder. He held her firmly with one hand and gently pressed the Neiguan acupoint on her wrist with the other.

“When I was little, I would go boating with my mother. She taught me that pressing here can relieve discomfort,” he explained in a low voice, his technique gentle and his pressure just right.

Pei Qingwu leaned against his strong, warm shoulders and arms, the crisp, pleasant scent of his body filling her nostrils, and the warmth of his touch on her wrist. The discomfort gradually dissipated.

Outside the window, the river was rushing and the wind was howling, but inside the cabin, there was a reassuring tranquility.

She closed her eyes, almost falling asleep in his arms.

In a daze, she felt a gentle kiss land on the top of her head, filled with endless tenderness.

The further north you travel, the scenery gradually changes from the gentle beauty of the Jiangnan water towns. The sky and earth become increasingly open, and the mountains take on a rugged, dark green hue.

The closer Pei Qingwu got to Qinzhou, the more pronounced his feeling of being both close to home and apprehensive became.

Although she didn't say anything, Gu Heng keenly sensed it.

That evening, the ship moored at a small town dock for the night.

Gu Heng gave Yunxiang a few instructions, then took Pei Qingwu off the boat.

"Take my sister somewhere."

He led her across the cobblestone streets to a gentle slope outside the town.

The slope was covered with apricot trees, which were in full bloom at the moment. The pink and white flowers were like clouds and rosy clouds, extremely beautiful.

The setting sun cast a warm glow, bathing the entire apricot grove and the distant fields and houses in a golden light.

“Sister, look,” Gu Heng pointed to the tranquil village and the boundless sea of ​​flowers: “The war has ended, the world is the same, and life is reborn. Qinzhou may no longer be the same as we remember it, but the people there, having experienced hardship, will only live on more resiliently.”

"We're going back not to mourn the past, but to visit the new students."

Looking at the peaceful and serene scene before him, Pei Qingwu felt a subtle melancholy and unease that seemed to be quietly soothed by the warm spring breeze and the fragrance of flowers.

She gently rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Aheng, thank you."

Thank you for being with her all the way. Thank you for knowing her and understanding her, and for always providing the most comforting support when she needs it.

After spending more than half a month on the ship, they finally disembarked, boarded a horse-drawn carriage, and set off for the final leg of their journey to Qinzhou City.

A carriage is not as stable as a ship's cabin; it is much more bumpy.

Gu Heng then laid out thick soft cushions in the carriage, and fixed a small table in the corner, on which were placed a water pouch for warm tea and several kinds of snacks that Pei Qingwu liked to eat.

He still sat beside her, letting her lean on him, sometimes reading a book to her, sometimes pointing to the scenery rushing past the window, telling her interesting stories to make her happy.

That afternoon, Pei Qingwu felt drowsy.

In her hazy state, she felt Gu Heng carefully adjust her position to make her more comfortable, and then pick up a thin cloak and gently cover her with it.

His movements were extremely gentle, as if he were afraid of waking her.

She wasn't actually fully asleep, but she could clearly feel his gaze lingering on her face for a long time, a gaze as gentle as moonlight, filled with silent affection.

My heart fluttered, yet I lingered in this tranquil gentleness, keeping my eyes closed and pretending to be fast asleep.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage came to a stop on a bumpy road and suddenly lurched.

Pei Qingwu leaned forward, and Gu Heng immediately reached out to protect her firmly.

She "woke up" and met his concerned gaze.

Did you wake your sister?

Pei Qingwu shook her head, sat up straight, tidied her slightly disheveled hair, and involuntarily curved her lips into a smile: "No, I slept very well..."

She looked out the window, and in the distance, the familiar outline of Qinzhou City was already faintly visible.

Brand new dragon flags fluttered on the city walls, and the flow of vehicles and people at the city gate was orderly, exuding the vitality of rebirth after the calamity.

She took a deep breath, no longer feeling lost, only the calm of returning home and a hint of anticipation.

She reached out and took Gu Heng's hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Aheng, we're home."

Gu Heng held her hand tightly, his grip firm yet warm. Her image was reflected in his clear eyes, and he replied with a smile, "Yes, let's go home."

Following the path in their memories, the two found their way to Anyefang, the original site of Sushan Market.

They were in such a hurry to escape that day that they didn't pay attention to who they gave the goods to, and now that they're going back, it's just a revisit to the same old place.

If the new owner doesn't manage the business well, it's understandable to buy it back.

The courtyard is still the same as I remember it, almost unchanged, except that the sign has been changed to "Dark Fragrance Manor". From the outside, it seems to sell rouge and incense.

It's quite novel.

Before Pei Qingwu could react, the shop door opened and a slender young woman walked out.

The young woman stood gracefully, her posture elegant. She wore a lake-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her clothes fluttering in the breeze. Her black hair was like clouds, and on her oval face, her bright eyes were as clear as autumn water. She had willow-leaf eyebrows, red lips, cheeks like fresh lychees, and a nose as smooth as goose fat.

It was none other than Li Yinzhu.

Pei Qingwu was taken aback. Just then, Li Yinzhu also looked over, and she clearly recognized Pei Qingwu immediately.

"Qing..." Li Yinzhu was both surprised and delighted. She quickly walked over, then seemed to remember something and teased, "Greetings, Princess Jianing! May you be well!"

Pei Qingwu laughed: "You little rascal, Yinzhu, after all these years, you're still teasing me."

Seeing an old friend again was incredibly exciting.

After a big hug, Pei Qingwu asked in confusion, "Yinzhu, this shop... is it yours?"

"Yes," Li Yinzhu admitted frankly.

It turned out that after the outbreak of war, the situation in the world was turbulent. Li Yinzhu's father had a past relationship with Huan Wang, the eleventh son of the late emperor. After Huan Wang fled to Qinzhou, he took him in for a period of time.

Unexpectedly, King Huan later harbored rebellious intentions and launched a rebellion, which implicated the Li family. Li's father was stripped of his official position and died in despair. The mistress then took her children and went to live with her brother.

But the feeling of living under someone else's roof was unbearable. When she heard that her "uncle" wanted to send Li Yinzhu to curry favor with his superiors, she refused to stay any longer. With the help of her brothers and sisters, she escaped and returned to Qinzhou.

“My mother is kind and managed to send all my dowry over, so I took over this shop. Coincidentally, I also have some skills, so I started a business just like you.”

Li Yinzhu spoke lightly, but Pei Qingwu knew that she must have suffered a lot.

"Yinzhu, you've suffered so much..."

She was once the young lady of a noble family, living a life of luxury and privilege. But in a single day, she fell from grace. What a dramatic fall from grace!

"Oh, that's all in the past. Besides, life's not bad now, and all the money I earn is mine." Li Yinzhu smiled. "Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"

"Then it would be impolite of me to refuse."

As soon as I entered the shop, two familiar people came to greet me.

"Master, you're finally back."

It was Manager Zhou and his wife.

“After you left, the two of them went back to their own homes to stay and guard the place, so I hired them to help me with the business,” Li Yinzhu explained.

Seeing that Manager Zhou and his wife hadn't changed much, Pei Qingwu was filled with emotion and exchanged pleasantries for a while.

After speaking, Li Yinzhu sat down with them in the house in the backyard.

"Since you've come today, we must drink until we drop." She specially brought out her treasured fine wine.

"Alright, let's drink until we drop."

As he drank one cup of wine after another, Pei Qingwu learned about his old friend from Qinzhou.

The princess and her husband were fine, and now they have returned to Chang'an, where they have a son and a daughter.

Because of his merit in exposing Murong Chengen, Zhao Shijun is now serving as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince in Chang'an. Zhao Wan has been engaged and has already married the second son of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Zhang Jian Gong also passed away peacefully a year ago.

"It's just that Zhao Xuqi is so stubborn. He's refused to get married and has been delaying his marriage until he's old. He's devoted himself entirely to military affairs. I even suspect that he might be a homosexual..."

Before Pei Qingwu could say anything, Gu Heng was already jealous and pinched her fingers lightly twice.

Pei Qingwu smiled and grasped his hand in return: "Don't worry."

In her heart, there was only him.