Old friends reunite, warmth remains.
Shen Jiye had served on the border for over a decade, and he cherished the camaraderie he shared with Qin Feng. Years ago, they were both young men just entering the army, sleeping side-by-side on cold nights outside Yanmen Pass, and fighting side-by-side against the Khitan's iron hooves, surviving several times only thanks to each other's selfless protection. Now, Qin Feng, having distinguished himself in quelling a rebellion in the Western Frontier, had been transferred back to the capital as the Grand General of the State, and had made a special detour through Jiangnan to reunite with his old friend.
Shen Jiye had been waiting at the courtyard gate since early morning. Seeing the familiar black horse in the distance, his eyes immediately welled up with tears. As Qin Feng dismounted, he strode forward, and the two embraced tightly, patting each other's backs. A thousand words were condensed into a long sigh. "Qin Feng, you've finally come!" Shen Jiye's voice was hoarse. "You said you'd drink with me all over Jiangnan, a promise I've remembered for over a decade."
Qin Feng laughed loudly, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes revealing the marks of time: "Jiye, how could I forget? If I hadn't been tied up with military affairs, I would have come to see you long ago. You've been stationed on the border all these years, yet your spine remains so straight. You truly are a son of the Shen family!"
The two walked hand in hand into the courtyard. Shen Jifang had already brewed some pre-rain Longjing tea. Upon seeing Qin Feng, she greeted him with a smile: "General Qin, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up. My brother has been talking about you all these years. He said that if it weren't for you taking that fatal arrow for him in Wolf Fang Valley, he would probably have been killed by the Khitans long ago."
Qin Feng took the teacup, his fingertips tracing the warm porcelain surface, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes: "What is that? Back in Black Wind Ridge, your brother carried me for thirty miles to save me, not uttering a sound even when an arrow pierced his own leg. We brothers have always entrusted our lives to each other."
As the tea smoke curled upwards, the two chatted about the sandstorms on the border, the songs of the soldiers stationed there, reminiscing about being punished by the general for secretly drinking strong liquor together, and talking about the brothers who remained forever on the frontier. Qin Feng put down his teacup, his voice lowering: "Do you remember Old Zhang? He always said that after he retired from the army, he would go back to Jiangnan to farm three acres of poor land, but that winter, to cover the evacuation of the people, he gave his warhorse to an orphan and froze to death in the snow."
Shen Jiye's eyes reddened, and he clenched his fists: "How could I not remember? He loved eating the sesame cakes your sister made. Every time you sent a letter home, he would fight to get a piece. Now I have built a monument to the loyal souls on the border, and I have engraved the names of all the brothers who sacrificed their lives on it. Every year during Qingming Festival, I lead the soldiers to pay their respects."
"That's how it should be, that's how it should be." Qin Feng nodded repeatedly, taking out a well-worn leather pouch from his pocket. "This was given to me by Zhang Laoshuan back then. He said he would use it to store seeds for farming after peace was restored. I've always carried it with me, and I'm bringing it to you today. Just keep it in this courtyard, so he can see that Jiangnan is now as peaceful as he wished."
Upon hearing this, Shen Jifang turned and went to the kitchen to bring back a plate of freshly baked sesame cakes. She said softly, "General Qin, these are made according to your sister's recipe from back then. Try them and see if they still taste the same as they did back then?"
Qin Feng picked up a piece and took a bite. The familiar aroma of wheat mixed with the roasted scent of sesame filled his mouth, instantly evoking countless memories. His eyes welled up with tears, and he choked out, "It tastes just like it did back then. Ji Fang, thank you for reminding me of those days and those brothers."
The setting sun filtered through the lush trees and shrubs, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The two chatted until dusk before Qin Feng rose to take his leave. Shen Jiye escorted him to the village entrance, where Qin Feng mounted his horse and turned back, saying, "Jiye, I've prepared the wine for your journey to the capital. When you return to report for duty, we'll drink until we're both drunk!"
Shen Jiye waved his hand and laughed, "Good! I'll be waiting for you! If you encounter any difficulties in the capital, feel free to send a message. The gates of Jiangnan will always be open for you!"
Watching the black horse gradually disappear into the distance, Shen Jiye's heart was filled with warmth. Time had changed their appearance, but it could not change the bond of life and death they shared. Those days of fighting side by side, those moments of mutual support, were like the flowers and trees in the courtyard, growing stronger and more lush after weathering the storms, their warmth undiminished.
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