Chapter 31 Returning Home in Glory
"Wash your lips." Zheng Sirui gently stroked Yanru's back and handed her a cup of tea. "Didn't you say you weren't seasick last time? Why are you vomiting so badly now?"
Yanru sipped the fragrant, slightly bitter tea, lingering on her tongue, washing away the fatigue of the journey home. She then spit it out, then wiped her face and neck with the towel she had soaked in hot water with the roses. Her spleen and lungs felt refreshed, and she felt much more energetic. Yanru tossed the towel into Caiyuan's hands, who had handed it to her, and asked casually, "Hey, isn't this Yibin's girl? How did she end up in your hands?"
Thinking of Yanru and Yi Bin's relationship, Zheng Sirui made up a lie: "Yi Bin eloped, and the Yi family was angry with Cai Yuan, so they sold her. It just so happened that I was short of a servant, and seeing that she was familiar and suitable, I bought her."
Yanru said enviously, "You can even afford servants. I wonder what I'll be like in the future." Then, she poked at the two military ships flanking their ship, "And you can even have military ships escorting you back and forth. So impressive, so impressive, so impressive."
"The Ministry of Rites stipulates that women are more likely to encounter danger while traveling. Female officials returning home can be escorted by a small army. It's not that I'm showing off." Zheng Sirui never liked to hear her talk about this. "Oh, don't be too pessimistic. Your Liu Lang is just a musician, not a beggar. Even if he were a beggar, he wouldn't let you wash clothes for a living."
"That's right." Yanru smiled happily, "Liu Lang is so talented, he will definitely make a name for himself."
Zheng Sirui said, "Actually, there's no need to wait for him to make it. Can't you do it yourself? Look at those little pieces of jewelry you've strung together, and the veil you made with flower ornaments last time. They're really beautiful. Many of my classmates in that dormitory want me to ask you for help making them. You could open a small shop and do plenty of business."
"I'm a girl!" Yanru exclaimed. "If a woman goes out to work in public, won't she be laughed at? I won't go. It's not like I can't find a husband to support me."
Leaving Baidi in the morning amidst the colorful clouds, I returned to Jiangling, a thousand miles away, in one day. With the wind in my favor, the boat sailed swiftly. Yanru endured for two more days, and finally arrived at Jinling, her hometown, after nearly a year away.
Before the oars touched the water near the shore, the sounds of suona and drums that had sounded in advance on the shore had already crossed the vast river and reached the cabin. Yanru was quick and nimble. She combed Zheng Sirui's hair, pinned a gold and silver crown on her head, and meticulously gave her a dignified yet gentle makeup. Zheng Sirui had been away from home for a longer time. When she stepped out on the deck, she saw her parents' figures hazy in the misty sky and water from afar. She felt even more homesick as she approached. A mixture of emotions surged in her heart, and she sobbed unconsciously. Yanru quickly held her hair crown, pressed a handkerchief under her eyes, and urged: "Look up, look up! Don't smudge your makeup! We're almost at the shore! It took me so much effort to put on your makeup! Don't make me put on another one for you! What's there to cry about? The county magistrate has come out to pick you up personally."
Zheng Sirui looked up, took a deep breath to calm herself, and forced back the tears. The boat drew closer, the sun rising, the mist dissipating. Besides Zheng's father and mother and the county magistrate, a large crowd of people stood on the dock. Yanru recognized that most of the people were prominent figures in Jinling, even the chief steward from the palace was present. All of them were smiling, standing in two layers, just to welcome this golden phoenix from Jinling. As the boat drew closer, the county magistrate raised his hands to the air, and the suona's clamor grew louder. Someone lit a few strings of firecrackers, which crackled and popped. The red paper, blasted by the gunpowder, danced, fluttering in the wind like red rain. Four dancing lions danced in the air, gracefully executing festive steps. Amidst the jubilation, the smell of sulfur lost its pungent odor, becoming a symbol of excitement, adding to the jubilation.
The gold and silver crown on her head weighed her down, and the gold and silver belt around her waist, though only inlaid with a piece of jade, felt heavy. Zheng Sirui wasn't used to carrying so many things, and needed Cai Yuan's support before she could slowly step off the boat and onto the shore. Two years, almost two years since she had seen her parents, Zheng Sirui's eyes welled up with tears, and she threw herself into her mother's arms, "Mom, I'm back. I've done what Dad couldn't do. Our family won't have to live like that anymore, and no one will laugh at us anymore."
Zheng Xiucai hugged his wife and daughter, "Who says my daughter is inferior to his son? My daughter has brought honor to the Zheng family!" He turned back to the crowd behind him, angry with someone unknown, "Who said that my greatest achievement in this life is to give birth to a good daughter so that I can enjoy a peaceful life with a good son-in-law? You are wrong! Our Zheng family's children are good daughters! But I rely on my daughter. My daughter earns her own living. She relies on herself to allow me to enjoy a peaceful life. My daughter is the most amazing!"
After hearing her father's boastful words, Zheng Sirui was so embarrassed that she dug her toes in her official boots. To prevent her feet from scratching the boots, Zheng Sirui hurriedly used the father-daughter ceremony to show her affection and gently pressed her father's hand with her handkerchief, "Dad, Dad, my fifth rank is the proposed rank, and the official approval document hasn't come down yet. Can you keep your voice down? I don't have any salary, and I don't have much money in my pocket. If you call again, everyone will come to our house for dinner. I have to pay for all the rewards given by the court for passing the exam."
Zheng Xiucai pouted.
The county magistrate bowed respectfully to Zheng Sirui and said, "Master Zheng is truly full of vigor and vitality. It's a pleasure to return home with youth as your companion."
Zheng Sirui bowed back, "I thank you, Master Fan. Over the years, it is thanks to you that I have taken such good care of my family. This has allowed my father to work in the government and earn a living, and has allowed me to study in a foreign land with peace of mind."
The county magistrate was delighted and proud at her respect, yet also a little apprehensive. He chuckled twice and pointed to a red silk-draped carriage with two horses tied to it near the dock. He said, "Lord Zheng has come a long way to return home. I have specially prepared a comfortable carriage for your return. It's quite spacious, and you can chat with your family while you're in it."
"Thank you, Lord Fan, for your trouble. I am deeply grateful." Zheng Sirui, hands clasped behind her waist, looked at the carriage and said with a smile, "By the way, Lord Fan, when male officials who used to work in the capital return to Jinling, do you arrange for them to ride on horseback or in a carriage?"
The county magistrate replied, "Usually officials ride horses and their families ride in carriages. Why, what's wrong?"
Zheng Sirui pointed at the horse and said with a smile, "Then please help me untie the white horse. I want to ride into the city."
Dragon and lion dances, gongs and drums blaring, the group gradually drifted away. Yanru emerged from the cabin alone and walked down the deck. The grand reception for Master Zheng was so grand that it made everyone jealous. She didn't want to stand with the high-spirited Zheng Sirui in the spotlight. She volunteered to wait until the crowd dispersed. She piled three or four bags, rented a donkey cart near the dock, and returned home, feeling very emotional.
Except that Yanbao had grown quite a bit taller, the home was still the same home, the yard was still the same yard, and the mother was still the same mother. Before she had finished a peaceful dinner, she asked impatiently, "Look at this outfit, it's so beautiful. How is it, my dear girl? Are you comfortable and well in the capital? It's been almost a year. Have you found a lover with any young man?"
"Not yet, mother, actually I have already thought about it..." Yanru stammered, thinking about how to tell Peilan about herself and Liu Xiang. You Yanbao rushed out of the house, shaking a fan up and down in her hand, and the fan pendant clattered against the silver bracelet on her hand as it swung. Yanru looked closely and saw that Yanbao was playing with the fan given by Xue Jia. She threw down the chopsticks and jumped up, grabbing You Yanbao's arm that looked like a lotus root node: "Little bastard, are you brave? You dare to rummage through my bag to find toys, I will beat you to death." The anger gave rise to great strength, and You Yanbao's wrist turned white and red. Unable to break free, she let her sister pick the fan out from between her fingers. Peilan was dissatisfied with Yanru's rudeness to her own people: "Yanru, sister is just curious about your new toy, why are you so fierce? Yanbao is just a child - come and show your mother this fan."
Yanru reluctantly handed it to her mother. Peilan held the fan, touched the embroidery, gripped the handle, and praised, "What a wonderful thing! What a wonderful thing! My dear girl, who gave this to you?"
"Didn't you guess it? Such an expensive thing, could it be that I bought it myself? Or was it given to me by a man?" Yanru was unhappy, with something stuck in her heart, and she had no interest in chatting with her mother.
Pei Lan was very satisfied with the answer she wanted. "My dear girl is really amazing. She hooked a great young man and received such a wonderful item. Oh, I really can't let Yanbao break it. Yanbao, do you hear me? Don't touch my sister's things from now on."
Yanbao made an annoying face, winked and ran away. Peilan poured a glass of wine for Yanru, and urged Yanru to tell her everything about her encounter with Bu Yibo and Xue Jia in the capital. Hearing about her daughter's adventure, she clapped her hands in joy, took her hand and kneaded it lovingly: "Yanru, come here, mother will pick up a piece of chicken wing for you. Oh, I, Qian Peilan, actually gave birth to such a good daughter, who has fascinated the earl and the royal merchant - Oh, oh, Yanru, come here, mother will toast with you."
Her mother and she rarely showed affection, and Yanru was overwhelmed with joy. To receive her mother's tender affection, she only needed to be involved with a prominent man. This was both expected and unexpected. Yanru coveted the beauty of this moment, devoutly hoping it could last longer, longer, purer, purer, without You Yanbao and the inextricable pain of childbirth. Love gave rise to worry, love gave rise to fear. She loved her mother, longing for a mother who satisfied her and was close to her. This love and longing gave rise to Yanru's fear and sorrow. If she told Pei Lan about Liu Xiang now, she would never again have this tender moment between mother and daughter.
No, no, please forgive my pitiful greed, but please push a little longer, let this moment last a little longer. Yanru put down her chopsticks and collapsed onto Peilan's lap, burying her head in her arms. Yanru often did this with Ji Mingxiu, and Yanbao often did it with Peilan, but Yanru hadn't been able to do this with Peilan in years. Yanru buried herself between her mother's knees, insatiably plundering the scent of the moisturizing ointment on her mother's body. A sharp breath brought the scent of magnolia, which faded lightly, becoming the scent of herbs and a hint of milk—yes, every mother transformed into a scent that penetrated her daughter's nose, carrying the scent of milk. This was the comfort God gave her children, but Yanru's comfort was hard to come by, and she could only hide and deceive something to get the reward. If temporarily playing the role of a successful money-making man-girl in exchange for being a pitiful daughter beloved by her mother, why wouldn't she do it?
Yanru said in a muffled voice: "Mother, I'm so tired of dealing with them. Can I find someone who treats her as well as my uncle does, just like my aunt, without all the jewelry and servants?"
Pei Lan felt a pang of dismay at her words and wanted to pull her down and give her a lecture. Seeing Yanru's exhausted face, she felt sorry for her travel fatigue and couldn't bear it. She combed her hair roughly with her fingers, "Yanru, why envy Doufufen when there are so many people you can envy? You flirt with your uncle all day long and make your uncle useless. What's a good life? You don't have to be like your mother, staying with your cowardly father. You don't have to be like your mother, embroidering until you get dizzy every day. If you want to find a husband, you have to find someone rich who spends money on you freely. That's what's considered a good life. Being nice to you is just talk and action, and it will be gone when the sun rises tomorrow. But a rich son-in-law is different. You can live in the house he gives you, touch the things he buys for you, and find people to serve you. You don't have to work every day, just make your husband happy. That's a truly good life."
Yanru remained silent. Clearly, she didn't want to hear such clichés that would shake her already fragile resolve. She stood up, saying, "I'm tired of eating. I'm going out for some fresh air," and slipped out of the yard.
You Yanbao squatted in her neighbor's yard. She rolled up her sleeves, thrust her bare arms in front of the neighbor's little girl, and made an absurd request: "Scratch it, scratch it hard."
The girl next door didn't dare to do it: "Why do you scratch a few wounds when your sister comes back?"
Yan Bao raised her chin and said proudly, "My sister brought back a nice fan, but she didn't want to give it to me. Last time, I was waiting for her to come home on the 15th holiday. I showed her the nail marks I asked Xiao Dong from the street to scratch me, saying they were from a fight for her, so she'd feel sorry for me and give me some benefits. Unexpectedly, she came back a few days early, and it happened to be my birthday. I asked her for a gift, but she refused. I used the injury on my arm to plead my pity for her in advance, and guess what? She immediately gave me a hairpin!"
The little girl next door asked, "Well, didn't you tell your sister that you got it accidentally during a fight? How come you said you let Xiaodong scratch you on purpose? Was it intentional or was it an accident?"
"It's intentional." Yanbao urged, "Hurry up and scratch it. It's okay. Scratch it hard—but don't scratch it too hard. Wait until my sister gives me the fan, and I'll treat you to candied yams."
The little girl next door ignored her and stared at the man and woman she saw through the gap in the fence. She urged Yanbao to turn around: "Yanbao, look over there, over there, there are two people under the tree. Is the woman your sister?"
Yanbao looked in the direction indicated. It was already late at night, and under a large tree at the entrance of the alley, a couple was hiding affectionately. The blood connection made it easy for Yanbao to recognize that it was her sister. She jumped up from the ground and crouched down to peek through the crack of the neighbor's bamboo fence.
Yanru had left the house, thinking of taking a leisurely stroll and finding some peace and quiet. She walked to the big tree at the entrance of the alley across from her house and stared blankly at the moon. There was no moon or wind tonight, her small wish unfulfilled. Yanru leaned against the tree trunk in disgust, remembering a time in the capital when she had slipped out and waited for Liu Xiang to finish work at the Imperial College gate. It was also a night like this, windless and moonless. The autumn heat had made people feverish, and Liu Xiang had fanned her with his newly bought book. Yanru regretted that the moon was too dull. Liu Xiang tore a circle from the manuscript paper he brought with him and held it high, pretending to be the moon in the sky:
"Does this count as a reunion under the full moon and beautiful flowers?"
A rough, torn paper plate blocked her view. The words from her memories came back to life, ringing vividly in her ears. Yanru was surprised and delighted. She turned around and saw the man she missed was right in front of her. She jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, "Liu Lang? Why are you here?"
"You wanted to go back to Jinling, but you didn't even bother to see me. You just threw a letter to the gatekeeper of the Imperial College and left without caring that I missed you. You're truly heartless." Liu Xiang gently pinched Yanru's shoulder. "I was so scared I thought you were going to break up with me, but you wrote in the letter that you wanted to be my musician and no longer ask me to take the imperial examinations. Yanru, you're so kind. I couldn't bear to wait until you returned to the capital to see you, so I asked for leave from my teacher and hurried to Jinling. I found a place to stay and made some inquiries before finally finding your family."
Yanru smiled and said, "It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. Besides, Si Rui's ship was in a hurry, so how could I have time to chat with you? Hey, you don't know, Rui Rui's return this time is such a grand affair!" She danced with joy and described to Liu Xiang the grand and joyous scene of today in vivid detail. She was happy for Zheng Si Rui's rebirth, but also felt envy and yearning. She hoped that such noble and respectable return home in glory would finally move Liu Xiang and make him change his mind and take the imperial examination.
Liu Xiang was unmoved. He loosened his arms around Yanru, opened the small package he had been holding, and handed it to Yanru: "Look, this is what I bought for you."
Yanru took one look and was overjoyed: "It's a jacket! Why did you think of giving me new clothes?"
Liu Xiang said, "Firstly, you didn't have a maid to help you pack and prepare. I'm afraid you were in such a hurry to leave that you didn't take anything with you. Secondly, as the saying goes, respect your clothes before you respect others. It's a rare trip back home, so you should definitely have some time to spend with family and old friends. You can't wear that fox fur in this weather, so I'll buy you a nice jacket just in case."
They looked at each other, their affectionate eyes shining like sparks. Yanru couldn't help herself and gave Liu Xiang a light kiss on his dusty face.
Yanru didn't know that in the dark night, a pair of sad and gloomy eyes were staring at her intently. Yanbao pulled Peilan's arm and took credit: "Mom, look, the man You Yanru found seems very handsome! I want to find someone as good-looking as him in the future."
"Shut up! How dare you? Shame on you!" Pei Lan gritted her teeth and slapped Yan Bao. Fury, mixed with unprovoked hatred and jealousy, coursed through her veins. Pei Lan couldn't tell whether she was scolding her elder sister or her younger sister.
"You Yanru, you little bastard, you didn't make a move on the imperial merchant, but chose this sneaky poor boy as your lover, right? Okay, little bastard, you don't listen to your mother and want to imitate your devilish aunt, right? You Yanru, don't regret it."
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