Chapter 115: A Grand Honeymoon for You, From Jiangnan to the Desert and the Milky Way!
Spring goes and autumn comes, another year has passed.
Their child, Lu Nian'an, is already six months old.
The little guy has a chubby face and a pair of eyes that look just like Lu Zhanting's—bright, spirited, and very focused when he looks at people.
That evening after dinner, Lu Zhanting was in the yard assembling a rocking horse for his son.
His hands, which had once held guns and locked throats, were now holding a small hammer. His movements were somewhat clumsy, but his expression was extremely serious.
Su Wanqing held the child and sat on a rocking chair not far away, humming a tuneless Jiangnan folk song.
"Qingqing".
Lu Zhanting put down the hammer in his hand and turned to look at her.
"It's time for us to have our honeymoon."
Su Wanqing stopped humming and paused for a moment.
These past two years have been so peaceful and comfortable that she almost forgot that they were missing such a solemn ceremony.
“But… Nian’an is still young.” She hesitated.
“I’ve already talked to my dad, and he’ll come and help us take care of the baby for a while. Aunt Wang will also help out.”
Lu Zhanting walked up to her, squatted down with his tall frame, and looked up at her.
His gaze was calm, and the seriousness within it almost carried a weight, making it impossible to refuse.
"You have sacrificed so much for this family and for me."
"I owe you a proper trip."
"No mission, no crisis, just the two of us."
A warm current surged from the deepest part of Su Wanqing's heart, instantly spreading throughout her body.
She nodded.
"good."
Two weeks later, in Wuzhen, a water town in Jiangnan.
The two refused the special car and escort arranged by the local authorities, and with only simple luggage, they stepped onto the rain-soaked cobblestone path like an ordinary tourist.
It was the season of misty rain.
The fine rain wove a thin veil, shrouding the white walls and black tiles, and rippling across the river.
The willows on the bank sprouted new buds, their green so fresh and tender that it seemed as if you could squeeze water out of them.
Lu Zhanting held up an oil-paper umbrella, shielding most of Su Wanqing's body under it.
The world under the umbrella was quiet, with only the pattering of rain against the oil-paper umbrella and the synchronized breathing of the two people.
They rented a covered boat on the river.
The boatman was a local man in his fifties, dark-skinned and talkative.
Lu Zhanting, however, said he wanted to try it himself.
He imitated the boatman, picked up the heavy oar, and started rowing in a very professional manner.
The boat swayed a bit at first, but with his incredible coordination, it only took a few minutes for the small boat to glide smoothly through the crisscrossing waterways.
Su Wanqing sat at the bow of the boat, reaching out to catch the rainwater dripping from the black-tiled eaves.
The cool touch made her laugh out loud, her clear laughter echoing in the mist.
Lu Zhanting looked at her profile.
In the misty rain, her smile was more captivating than the beautiful spring scenery of Jiangnan.
He felt that all the wind he had tasted and the blood he had swallowed on the battlefield were worth it at this moment.
The small boat passed under a series of ancient stone bridges, with houses built along the water's edge on both banks.
People washing rice and vegetables at the riverbank will give them a kind smile when they see them.
The air is filled with dampness and the faint aroma of food, the most authentic smell of everyday life.
They stopped at a teahouse by the river.
The teahouse was small, with only four or five tables, and the owners were an elderly couple with gray hair.
The old lady brought out two cups of freshly brewed Longjing tea. When she saw Su Wanqing, her eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "You're such a beautiful girl, like someone who stepped out of a painting."
Su Wanqing felt a little embarrassed by the praise, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Lu Zhanting naturally took the teacup and refilled it with water for her.
The old man sat behind the counter, slowly wiping a purple clay teapot with a rag. Looking at them, his eyes were full of smiles: "Back in the day, my wife and I were like this too. I would row the boat, and she would sit at the bow and sing."
The old lady glared at him reproachfully: "You old rascal, still talking about these things."
Although she said that, the wrinkles around her eyes and brows were brimming with happiness.
They chatted casually.
The elderly couple ran a teahouse here all their lives, watching the river and the boats coming and going, living a simple and contented life.
Su Wanqing noticed that the old lady's wrist trembled slightly as she poured water.
"Grandma, does your wrist ache and hurt on rainy days?" she asked softly.
The old lady paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, it's an old problem, rheumatism. It's really uncomfortable on rainy days."
"Let me give you a massage."
As Su Wanqing spoke, she grasped the old woman's hand, which was marked by the passage of time.
She didn't use any advanced techniques, just the most basic massage. She found a few acupoints and applied the pressure slowly, gradually increasing the intensity.
A few minutes later, the old lady moved her wrist and her face was full of surprise: "Oh, it really doesn't hurt so much anymore! Young lady, you're a doctor?"
Su Wanqing smiled and said, "I've only learned a little bit."
She wrote down a simple prescription, which contained common herbs that promote blood circulation and remove dampness, and instructed the old lady to use it to soak her hands, as it was convenient and inexpensive.
When they left the teahouse, the elderly couple refused to accept payment for the tea and even forced two freshly baked green rice dumplings into their hands.
"Take it, take it, consider it payment for the old woman's medical consultation!"
Unable to refuse, the two had no choice but to accept it.
Walking down the long alley, Su Wanqing peeled open a green rice dumpling, took a bite, and the soft, sticky aroma of mugwort and the sweetness of red bean paste melted in her mouth.
"What do you think about opening a clinic and teahouse here when we get old?" She looked up at Lu Zhanting, her eyes sparkling.
“Okay.” Lu Zhanting answered readily, “You treat patients, and I’ll make you tea.”
After three days immersed in the gentle charm of Jiangnan, their next stop was the completely different Northwest desert.
The train journey from Hangzhou to Dunhuang takes several days and nights.
They bought a soft sleeper compartment, and once the door is closed, they have an undisturbed private world for two.
The train traversed plains and hills, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from a landscape of dense waterways and lush greenery to a more open and yellowish landscape.
At night, the carriage was quiet, with only the clanging of the wheels against the rails, as rhythmic as a lullaby.
Su Wanqing leaned on Lu Zhanting's shoulder, watching the night and lights rushing past the window.
"Zhan Ting, have you been here before when you were on a mission?"
“I’ve been here.” Lu Zhanting’s voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible hoarseness. “I’ve been to the Gobi Desert and the no-man’s-land. Back then, the sky was yellow, the wind was cold, and my heart was empty. I only had one thought in my mind: to complete the mission and survive.”
He paused, then gripped Su Wanqing's hand tightly, as if trying to embed her hand into his own palm.
"Things are different now."
“I know that you and Nian’an are at home, waiting for me.”
"This land is no longer just a cold coordinate on a map, but our country. There are countless people like the old couple in the teahouse living here with heart."
Su Wanqing buried her head in his firm chest and whispered, "It's so good."
Yes, that's great.
They are no longer heroes who need to save the world; they are just an ordinary couple traveling in this peaceful country.
It was already evening when we arrived in Dunhuang.
Outside the train station, they were greeted by dry sandstorms and a magnificent, burning sunset that filled the entire sky.
Instead of staying in an expensive hotel, they checked into the home of a herder who made a living by hosting backpackers, thanks to the introduction of a local guide.
The next day, the two changed into light clothing, each rented a camel, and set off into the depths of the desert.
There is no misty rain, no babbling brooks or bridges here.
Before me stretched an endless golden sea of sand, its gentle curves breathtakingly magnificent.
The sky was as blue as a flawless gem, without a single cloud.
In this environment, Lu Zhanting felt as if he had returned to his most familiar territory, and his whole being relaxed.
He rode on the camel's hump, his posture upright, his eyes sharp, and even the corners of his lips held a faint smile.
Su Wanqing followed behind him, looking at his broad and reliable back, feeling extremely at ease.
They walked for a long time in the desert until the sun began to set, when they finally stopped on a high sand dune.
The two sat side by side atop the dune, watching the enormous red sun slowly sink below the horizon, its last rays turning the entire desert into a burning sea of fire.
That kind of extreme magnificence makes any language seem pale and powerless.
After dark, the temperature dropped sharply.
Lu Zhanting skillfully lit a campfire and baked the naan bread he had brought until it was golden brown and crispy.
Su Wanqing leaned against him and looked up at the night sky.
Without the interference of city lights, the starry sky in the desert is exceptionally clear and dazzling, leaving one speechless.
The Milky Way stretches across the sky like a wide river paved with diamonds. Countless stars twinkle, so close that it seems you could reach out and pluck a few from the sky.
“Back then, when I was in the wild, my favorite thing to do was look at the stars,” Lu Zhanting said softly. “At that time, I felt that humans were so insignificant. A battle, an accident, and you could be gone. Like a shooting star, you streak across the sky and leave nothing behind.”
"And now?" Su Wanqing asked.
“Now I realize we’re not shooting stars.” He looked at the person in his arms, his eyes brighter than the stars. “We are each other’s coordinates, our way home. Look, we’re sitting right here. Under this starry sky, we have our home, we have our children. We’ve protected all of this, and we have all of this.”
Su Wanqing tilted her head back and kissed his resolute chin.
Just then, a faint shout came from afar.
Lu Zhanting instantly became alert; it was an instinct ingrained in his bones. He stood up and looked in the direction from which the sound came, like a cheetah.
"It seems someone is in trouble."
The two exchanged a glance, tacitly packed their things, mounted their camels, and headed in that direction.
Between two sand dunes, they found a small tour group.
An SUV was stuck in the sand, and several tourists stood around the vehicle, helpless. A young girl was curled up on the ground, pale-faced, clutching her stomach, and drenched in cold sweat.
"Hello, do you need any help?" Lu Zhanting's voice was calm and steady, carrying a convincing power.
Upon seeing them, those people felt as if they had seen saviors.
"Great! We came here to take some photos, but our car got stuck and we can't get it out! My friend suddenly has a terrible stomachache, what are we going to do!" a man holding a camera shouted anxiously.
Lu Zhanting walked to the car, glanced at it, and began to give instructions in an orderly manner.
He had everyone unload the heavy items from the vehicle, and then taught them how to use the traction boards under the wheels and how to precisely control the throttle.
On the other side, Su Wanqing was already squatting down next to the girl.
"It's acute gastrointestinal spasm, don't worry."
Her voice was soft and calm. She took out several silver needles from her medicine bag, disinfected them with alcohol swabs, and then precisely inserted them into several acupoints on the girl's abdomen.
Within minutes, the girl's furrowed brows relaxed, and her abdominal pain subsided considerably.
Under Lu Zhanting's professional guidance, the off-road vehicle finally roared out and broke free from the sand pit.
The tour group members were extremely grateful to them and insisted on giving them money.
"No need." Lu Zhanting waved his hand, his tone indifferent. "When we're out there, we'll lend a hand if we can."
He pulled Su Wanqing along, preparing to leave.
"Wait!" the photographer suddenly called out to them, "Brother, sister, I... can I take a picture of you?"
He looked at the exceptionally elegant couple, his eyes filled with a burning desire to create.
Lu Zhanting looked at Su Wanqing, who smiled and nodded.
So, under this vast starry sky, by the campfire, the photographer pressed the shutter.
In the photo, the man is tall and imposing, with a calm and deep gaze; the woman nestles beside him, her smile as gentle as the moon.
Behind them stretched an endless sea of sand and a dazzling Milky Way.
Their figures blended into this vast天地 (heaven and earth), freezing into a picture called eternity.
On the last day of their honeymoon, they returned to the sand dunes to wait for the sunrise.
As the first ray of golden light broke through the horizon, illuminating the sky and the earth, Lu Zhanting embraced Su Wanqing from behind.
"Qingqing, did you have fun on this trip?"
"Yes, I'm very happy." Su Wanqing leaned against his warm and firm embrace. "I saw different scenery and met different people."
"Go home."
Lu Zhanting planted a hot kiss on the top of her head.
"Okay, let's go home."
Su Wanqing turned around, looked at the rising sun bursting forth in the east, and showed the most satisfied smile of her life.
Tomorrow, they will be able to see Nian'an.
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