Chapter 9: Playing in the Valley, Brother Gets Jealous, Embroiders a Handkerchief, and Yue Er Becomes Insane
It is very hot in August.
A large group of children were playing by the stream near Lizhuang. The oldest were no more than fourteen or fifteen, the youngest seven or eight. Cheng Jin, Bandeng, Xiao Xiangyue, Sanhu, Heizhu, Afeng, and their friends from the village were engaging in a water fight with children from a neighboring village. The weather was scorching, and the children, all naked and shirtless, were playing enthusiastically, their noise and clamor audible for miles.
Xiao Xiangyue was having fun when she suddenly splashed a young man with water from behind, his sneak attack successful, and she laughed happily. The young man, feeling the loss, rushed over and pinned him down, and the two of them splashed around in the water, having a great time.
Luo Guoyun went to the city on some business and bought some sweet potato candy for Xiao Xiangyue. When he returned to the house, he found no one there. He went to the west courtyard and asked, and was told that he and Ban Bench were playing by the river. He followed the sound and came to find them. From a distance, he saw a naked boy lying on top of him. Xiao Xiangyue's snow-white legs were thrashing in the water, splashing everywhere and soaking her hair. The boy's head was almost on his face, his hands on his bare shoulders, and the white cotton vest he was wearing was half torn off, revealing most of his body.
Luo Guyun felt his head buzz, a fire flaring in his heart. His clenched fists trembled slightly, his face darkened, and he said coldly, "What are you doing?" Seeing him approach, Xiao Xiangyue quickly pushed the young man aside, rising from the water and shouting in surprise, "Brother Yun, you're back!" The damp vest clung to her body, outlining her well-proportioned figure. The thin cotton fabric was soaked with water, becoming nearly transparent, revealing even the two small protrusions on her chest. Although she was dressed, in his eyes, it was more uncomfortable than being naked.
Luo Guyun felt like he was about to explode, but he suppressed his rage and turned away. Xiao Xiangyue thought he hadn't heard her, so she quickly chased after him, grabbed his arm, and shouted, "Brother Yun, wait for Yue'er!"
Luo Guyun was enraged, his anger and jealousy driving him crazy. The sight of the white bodies tangled in the water strongly stimulated his brain and tore his heart. Being able to barely maintain his sanity and not rush forward was his greatest restraint. Seeing Xiao Xiangyue grabbing him, he shook his hand without looking back. Xiao Xiangyue was caught off guard and fell backwards, scraping his elbow against the ground, and blood immediately oozed out of his snow-white wrist. He cried out in surprise, not caring about his own injuries, and hurriedly got up to pull Luo Guyun again. Cheng Jin saw Xiao Xiangyue fall, ran over from behind to help him up, and was horrified: "Yue'er, you are bleeding!" Luo Guyun paused and wanted to turn back. However, there seemed to be thousands of complicated emotions in his heart, and he didn't know how to face the person behind him. He hardened his heart and strode away.
The summer night breeze is cool.
Luo Guoyun, leaning against the Chinese toon tree in the south courtyard, had been sitting alone for a long time. He clutched the jug of wine, pondered for a moment, and took another sip. He could hold his liquor well, but he never drank alone. Today was different; he wanted to use the alcohol to reflect, to sort out his feelings bit by bit.
Luo Guyun had always been calm and composed. His strict upbringing and military experience had made him far more mature than his peers, and he had rarely lost control of his emotions. Today's events were like a thunderclap, making him realize clearly and strongly for the first time the true nature of his feelings for Xiao Xiangyue.
He didn't know when it started, but that person had taken root, sprouted, and grown branches in his body. He had long loved the moon in his heart, in his lungs, and in his mind.
His heart beat like a drum whenever he was near him, and he missed her like crazy after just a few days of not seeing her. Seeing him in pain was like a knife in his heart, and he couldn't bear to see him suffer even the slightest injustice... If the feelings before were just vague, Luo Guyun could ignore them, could not face them. But today he could no longer deceive himself. He was jealous, envious, and didn't want anyone but him to touch Yue'er. It was common for rural children to play in the water naked in the summer. But that was his Yue'er, and he couldn't bear anyone getting close to or touching Xiao Xiangyue, let alone naked... The thought of that scene made him furious, almost crazy. He said that he didn't want to talk about marriage because of his parents' revenge, but who knew that all he thought about day and night was... his Yue'er. How could there be room for anyone else in his heart?
After taking another sip of wine, the eighteen-year-old boy lowered his head and realized that his feelings for Xiao Xiangyue were no longer that of an older brother for his younger brother, but rather the liking, joy, and love between lovers.
Quietly understanding his own heart. Luo Guyun took a big gulp of wine, slightly closed his eyes, and sighed softly, Yue'er, Yue'er... What should I do?
In the evening breeze, Xiao Xiangyue emerged from the house, approached him, and timidly called out, "Brother Yun." Luo Guyun today made him feel a little strange and a little intimidated. Brother Yun had always been cheerful and cheerful, and he had never been so alone drinking like this.
"Yue'er..." Luo Guyun opened his eyes, took Xiao Xiangyue's hand, and gently held it in his arms. He rubbed the scratched area, where a thin layer of blood scab had formed: "Does it still hurt? I'm sorry, brother didn't mean it..."
"...It hurts, Brother Yun, blow on it and it will stop hurting." Xiao Xiangyue wanted to say it didn't hurt, but changed her mind when the words reached her lips. For some reason, he just wanted to act like a spoiled child in front of Brother Yun.
Luo Guyun gently placed his lips on the blood scab and closed his eyes. After a long moment, he opened his eyes and whispered, "The wind is picking up. Let's go back to the house."
Xiao Xiangyue was always restless when she slept, so Luo Guyun wrapped a layer of gauze around the scab and bandaged it carefully, worried about rubbing it. He smoothed the corner of the quilt and said in a hoarse voice, "Yue'er, go to sleep first. I have some things to do. You can rest on the couch in the outer room tonight." His mind was in turmoil, and he had no desire to sleep at all.
He turned off the main lights, lit a small lamp in the corner, and gently closed the door. Luo Guyun sat on the couch, lost in thought. He recalled every detail since they first met at the age of sixteen. When had he first developed such feelings for Yue'er? Was it when he woke up in Alsophila Valley and saw those clear eyes? When she sang a little song in the tree hole? When he couldn't take his eyes off Eagle Rock? Or was it when they stood by each other through life and death, relying on each other all the way... He couldn't figure it out, and there was no need to think about it... Luo Guyun sighed. In short, that little figure had long been woven into his bones.
It was already three in the morning, and he was still feeling restless. He wondered if Yue'er had kicked off the quilt while sleeping alone in the inner room, or if the light in the corner had been blown out... He was worried and was about to get up to check when he heard the door creak open. Xiao Xiangyue, wearing only her underwear and barefoot, walked straight to the couch.
"Brother Yun is ignoring Yue'er?" Xiao Xiangyue pursed her lips, stared at him with her big watery eyes without blinking, and asked.
"Yue'er!" Luo Guyun quickly pulled him onto the couch and wrapped him in the quilt. "Why did you run out barefoot? You didn't even bother to put on some clothes!"
"Brother Yun is ignoring Yue'er?" Xiao Xiangyue asked stubbornly, her body stiff. Her eyes were already filled with tears.
"No way? How could it be..." Luo Guyun hugged the person in his arms tightly and comforted him repeatedly.
"Then why don't you sleep with Yue'er? And... and..." Xiao Xiangyue didn't know what to say next. The tears in her eyes rolled down. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. She simply threw herself into his arms and burst into tears. He felt extremely wronged today. Brother Yun had always been gentle and kind to him, and had never spoken harshly to him. Today, after he fell, not only did he not comfort her, but he walked away alone, ignored him, and even refused to sleep with him... Xiao Xiangyue cried and listed his sins. All kinds of grievances surged into her heart. She cried uncontrollably, and her tears dripped into his neck and flowed down to his chest.
Luo Guyun was both annoyed and self-blaming. Although Xiao Xiangyue was in poor health, she was a very strong-willed person. She never showed weakness easily and rarely shed tears, let alone cried like this. He remembered that the last time Yue'er cried was when she was abducted by criminals in Yishun County that year. When they found him, she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears. Yue'er was still young at the time, and Luo Guyun thought she was just scared. Later, he slowly discovered that Xiao Xiangyue seemed weak, but in fact she was tough. She would only show her vulnerable side in front of the people she trusted and relied on the most.
Luo Guyun felt a surge of guilt, his heart twisting into a knot. He had hurt Yue'er. His wild thoughts, his inability to control his emotions, had caused Yue'er to suffer. He was still so young, he didn't understand anything. Now that his parents' death hadn't been avenged, he was still dwelling on these trivial matters. It was truly wrong...
After much persuasion and coaxing, Xiao Xiangyue finally managed to stop crying. They tossed and turned until almost dawn before they could fall asleep. Luo Guoyun had missed training again, and the village guards were now more disciplined and well-organized. The few capable men they had trained were now capable of handling tasks on their own, so occasionally not going was fine.
At daybreak, he felt Xiao Xiangyue's body and found it rather hot. He thought it was from excessive grief the previous night, and a cold that had given her a low-grade fever. Feeling even more remorseful, he quickly got up and prepared to go into town to get some medicine.
Cheng Jin and Xiao Xiangyue were close in age, and they had become close friends ever since Xiao Xiangyue had helped him join the village protection team. Remembering that he had fallen yesterday, and Luo Guyun not having gone to practice today, he came to the South Courtyard to check on him.
Seeing him lying on the bed, his eyes were swollen like walnuts. Cheng Jin exclaimed: "What's wrong with Yue'er?" Looking at Luo Guyun, he asked suspiciously: "Did the young master bully you again?" Yesterday, he made Xiao Xiangyue fall and left without a care in the world. Cheng Jin still remembered it. He moved forward to take a closer look. Xiao Xiangyue naturally refused to let him see, and desperately pulled the quilt to cover her face. One wanted to see, the other didn't, and the two of them were pulling and tugging, and their noses were about to touch the other's face. Luo Guyun was annoyed again, and he pulled Cheng Jin away and threw him a prescription: "What are you looking at? Can't you see that Yue'er has a fever? Go and find your father to get the medicine!"
Xiao Xiangyue fell ill every other day, and Luo Guyun became a good doctor after suffering from illness for a long time. He could prescribe medicine to treat common colds and flu himself.
After the noisy person left, Xiao Xiangyue felt exhausted and fell into a deep sleep again.
Luo Guoyun stayed by the bed, staring at his sleeping face, lost in thought. His mind raced, carefully planning: the most important thing right now was to take good care of Yue'er's health. In a few years, when he was older, he could leave without worry. Revenge was a life-threatening matter. If he was still alive, he would come back to find Yue'er. If he couldn't come back, he would make sure he lived a safe and prosperous life. His first priority now was to manage Lizhuang well, expand the business, and earn more money. If he couldn't come back, Yue'er would have enough material security to live a stable life. Secondly, the world was not peaceful. Bandits and robbers often robbed homes and killed people in the nearby counties. Although Lizhuang was strong now and the bad guys didn't dare to attack, it was hard to say what would happen after he left. To prevent Yue'er from being bullied in the future, he had to deal with these bad guys while he was still here, at least to ensure that there were no bad guys causing trouble within a few hundred miles. Only then could he leave with peace of mind.
Luo Guyun was a straightforward person. Having made up his mind, he stopped worrying. He felt like he had a lot to do, so he kept busy every day. But the look he gave Xiao Xiangyue became even more gentle and profound.
On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar year, the dirt road in front of Lizhuang was bustling with activity. A procession of people, beating drums and gongs, marched towards the village. The surrounding villagers, thinking it was a wedding, gathered on both sides of the road to watch.
The team numbered a hundred people, and the two leaders carried a red silk plaque with the words "Virtue Blessings to the Neighbors" inscribed on it.
A hundred miles away, on the Qingyi River, a gang of river pirates robbed passing ships, looted property, burned boats, and sunk bodies. The provincial government repeatedly dispatched troops to suppress them, but the bandits were elusive, hiding when they saw government officials and then surviving again after the troops left. The government was helpless, as they had become a major threat to the area. Last month, Luo Guoyun and over twenty members of the village protection team disguised themselves as cargo ships, lured the bandits out, and wiped them out in one fell swoop. They captured the bandit leader, destroyed their lair, and seized a large amount of cloth, porcelain, medicinal herbs, gold, and silver. Over a dozen cartloads of these were taken to the county government, where the victims were invited to claim them. The county magistrate was delighted and requested a commendation from the provincial government. The provincial governor personally inscribed a plaque with the words "Virtue and Benevolence for Neighbors" and awarded them a reward of 1,000 silver dollars, which were delivered to them before the Lunar New Year with gongs and drums. The crowd that followed, mostly families whose property had been looted or whose relatives had been killed, came to express their gratitude.
Xiao Xiangyue was almost fourteen after the Lunar New Year and the beginning of spring. She still loved the hustle and bustle. She held onto a stool and stood happily beside Luo Guoyun, listening to the county magistrate read out the commendation speech. She clapped her hands and cheered, "Brother Yun is amazing!" She smiled with eyes that curved in a way that she couldn't hide her pride.
The county magistrate handed over the commendation order. Luo Guyun was lazy, not even raising his hand. He just pursed his lips and motioned Li Erhu, who was standing nearby, to take it. He thought to himself that he would go to the county magistrate to complain about this commendation to the wrong person. If it weren't for Yue'er, who would have the patience to go to the trouble of eliminating a gang of river pirates? Thinking that his own Yue'er loved boating, what if he ran into these bandits on the river while he was away? On impulse, he took his brothers to eliminate the bandits. After all, it was all thanks to Yue'er.
Xiao Xiangyue had grown considerably taller, already a teenager. His temperament and handsomeness were becoming increasingly outstanding, and even among the crowd, he couldn't hide his brilliance. The county magistrate, still the same Li Dengmin, spotted him standing nearby, clapping his hands. He thought to himself that the rumors about the young master of Lizhuang being of exceptional appearance and character were indeed true. He wondered if he was engaged...
Over the past two years, Li Zhuang's business has expanded significantly. He's acquired thousands of acres of fertile land and opened two new trading companies. He's also invested in the Shujiangchun Restaurant, becoming its largest shareholder. For this year's New Year's Eve dinner, he invited Shujiangchun's head chef, Chef Jiang, to come to the village to prepare the dishes.
Xiao Xiangyue's health had improved considerably. Aside from a period of chest tightness in the spring, she had hardly suffered any other symptoms. Every day, besides studying music with her uncle, she would play with friends like Ban Deng and Cheng Jin, leading a carefree life.
On New Year's Eve, the family celebrated their reunion dinner. Master Li, who loved a few sips of wine, joined Luo Guoyun, Bandeng Dad, and the others in a flurry of drinks. Bandeng Dad, a simple and honest man, soon had a flushed face and a stuttering voice. Chunmei ladled soup and served food to everyone. The menu was rich, all of which were Xiao Xiangyue's favorites: live silver carp, cold-mixed tripe sheets, pan-fried soft-shelled turtle, and water shield dumplings...
Xiao Xiangyue had a big appetite and ate to her heart's content. She picked up a large piece of soft-shelled turtle and put it in her mouth, chewing it with her cheeks puffed out. Luo Guoyun held the wine glass, looked at him dotingly, and said with a smile: "Yue'er, eat slowly, be careful not to choke." Ban Bench heard it and hurriedly said: "Eat faster, eat faster! We have fireworks after dinner!"
Boys all love playing with firecrackers and setting off fireworks. Last Spring Festival, Xiao Xiangyue and Bandeng felt they hadn't had enough. This year, Luo Guoyun specially bought a whole boatload of fancy new fireworks from southern Hunan and set them up in the courtyard, just to make it lively.
Knowing that Lizhuang would be setting off fireworks tonight, many villagers had already gathered densely around, and many people from the city also came to see the spectacle. Xiao Xiangyue loved the excitement, and seeing this scene, her eyes lit up with excitement. Wearing a long cloak, she stood at the gate of the village and urged anxiously, "Brother Yun, set off the fireworks quickly!"
Large fireworks are heavy equipment, so Luo Guyun specially assigned several young men from the village security team to be in charge of the ignition. Amidst the crowd's exclamations, dazzling flames soared into the sky, blooming into brilliant flowers, like a myriad of vibrant blossoms painted on a black curtain, dazzling and overwhelming. Xiao Xiangyue was completely stunned, her mouth open, forgetting to cheer. She stared wide-eyed, unblinking, at the night sky, afraid to miss that fleeting beauty.
Xiao Xiangyue was watching the fireworks, and Luo Guyun was watching Xiao Xiangyue. The brilliant fireworks reflected in his obsidian eyes, gleaming with a unique light. His exquisitely beautiful face, his brilliant, innocent smile, seemed to possess an utterly alluring allure in the flickering light, making it impossible to look away. Luo Guyun sighed, "Yue'er, Yue'er, do you know how much I want to bring the most beautiful and best things in the world to you?" No matter how beautiful the fireworks, they are nothing compared to the beauty of the moon...
After the fireworks, the children swarmed the courtyard. The crackling of firecrackers, the blazing fireworks, and the peals of fireworks were endless. Xiao Xiangyue simply took off her cloak, lit the firecrackers, and played with the fireworks, having a blast. They stayed up until midnight, then retired to their room with Luo Guoyun to rest.
On New Year's Day, Xiao Xiangyue woke up early for the first time ever. He was going to the temple fair. The Baoning Temple's annual Spring Festival fair was renowned far and wide, and its spectacle was truly spectacular. He had wanted to go last year, but was too sick to make it, so he decided to enjoy it this year.
A few years ago, the cloth shop received several rolls of high-quality foreign cloth, the colors were very bright. Luo Guoyun and he each made a robe, which they could wear today. Xiao Xiangyue opened the cabinet, took out the robe, and a brocade handkerchief fell to the ground. Picking it up and taking a look, he saw that on the light pink brocade handkerchief, a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water were embroidered with colorful silk threads. The pattern was exquisite and lifelike, and the embroiderer's care was evident. In the upper right corner, the word "Yun" was embroidered with yarn of the same color. Xiao Xiangyue was stunned. At the age of fourteen, he understood some things and knew that such items were usually given by women to their loved ones to express their love to their lovers. He stared at the brocade handkerchief in a daze, his mind a little blank, and his heart depressed. After a long time, he came to his senses, thinking that Brother Yun had specially hidden this brocade handkerchief, and it must be something important. He quickly folded the brocade handkerchief and put it back where it belonged.
The long stone steps in front of the mountain gate of Baoning Temple are crowded with pilgrims. Business stalls are set up from the foot of the mountain to the top, with hawking sounds one after another. All kinds of strange and weird things are available.
Xiao Xiangyue usually loved such occasions, but today she seemed a little listless and dull. Luo Guyun was a little worried, wondering if she was too tired from playing last night. He quickly found a shady teahouse to sit down and rest. Banben bought a bunch of various things and showed them off to him with great interest. He just glanced at them indifferently and showed no interest at all. Luo Guyun became even more worried and touched his forehead: "Yue'er, are you feeling unwell?" He thought to himself, could it be that he ate too much at the New Year's Eve dinner last night and his stomach was upset again? Xiao Xiangyue smiled at him: "Yue'er is fine, I just feel a little stuffy in my chest."
Xiao Xiangyue was not in the mood, and the others didn't spend much time strolling around, so they returned early. Luo Guyun carried him on his back and walked slowly back. He was usually very naughty on his back, always trying to tease Brother Yun. But today, he was very obedient, lying softly on his shoulders, his head buried in his neck, not moving. Luo Guyun thought, although Yue'er's health has improved a little in the past two years, after all, his foundation is too weak and he gets tired easily. He will have to prescribe a few tonic prescriptions after returning to take good care of him.
Throughout the first half of the first lunar month, Xiao Xiangyue was in a bad mood, listless, and unable to eat. Shopkeeper Cheng took his pulse and said that it was stable and there should be nothing serious. Luo Guyun was worried and asked two doctors to see him. The doctors said some indifferent words and prescribed a few tonic prescriptions, but there was no improvement after taking them. He was very worried and turned down several banquets and social events. He accompanied Xiao Xiangyue all day, trying to make him happy and making delicious food in different ways every day. Luo Guyun's cooking skills have improved a lot in the past two years. He has carefully prepared everything that Xiao Xiangyue likes to eat, and the small kitchen in the south courtyard has become his practice place. Apart from studying music with his uncle, Xiao Xiangyue lazily stayed in the bedroom and never went out. He had lost his former liveliness and agility.
In a blink of an eye, it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The Lantern Festival was also Luo Guoyun's birthday, falling on the 20th this year. Although he hadn't wanted to host a celebration, some neighbors had already sent gifts, and the men in the village guard team wanted to take advantage of the occasion to have some fun. Chunmei prepared dozens of tables for a banquet in the courtyard, and along with the village servants, she set to work.
After noon, Xiao Xiangyue went to the West Courtyard as usual to study music. Master Li, whose temperament was somewhat similar to Xiao Pingzhou's, was very strict with him. Xiao Xiangyue had long respected Master Li as a father. Today, Master Li had asked him to study a fragment of music. Based on the first half of the fragment, he would complete the score. This required a high level of musical understanding and compositional skills. He tried playing a few passages, but made numerous mistakes and was completely unable to find the feeling.
The master looked at him inquiringly: "Is Yue'er worried about something?" Xiao Xiangyue forced a smile: "No, I just feel a little stuffy in my chest and can't concentrate." The master's eyes were deep, and he said slowly: "Music can best reflect a person's mood. Master sees that you have been distracted and uneasy these past few days. In that case, let's wait until Yue'er calms down before practicing."
Xiao Xiangyue left the west courtyard. Seeing it was still early and feeling somewhat bored, he slowly strolled along the backyard path. At a bend in his path, he spotted Luo Guyun and a woman standing face to face beneath a magnolia tree on the hillside ahead, talking. He recognized the woman; she was the daughter of the owner of Chenjiazhuang, who often visited Lizhuang to see Chunmei.
Under the colorful magnolia tree, Luo Guoyun stood tall and handsome, while the woman was graceful and beautiful. The two of them stood together, and the picture was indescribably harmonious.
Xiao Xiangyue paused, feeling as if her heart had been struck by a heavy hammer. She felt more and more suffocated, almost breathless, and her body swayed. She quickly turned around, her feet feeling like they were treading on soft cotton. She took one deep step and one shallow step, feeling dizzy and dazed as she returned to the manor.
The courtyard was bustling with activity, and the food and wine were already on the table. Seeing him, Chunmei hurried forward and said, "Where have you been, young master? I was just looking for you in the west courtyard. The young master was busy today and couldn't spare time, so he specifically told me to take good care of you... Hey, why are you so pale? Are you feeling unwell?" Xiao Xiangyue smiled at Chunmei, "Yue'er is fine, Auntie Chun, go on with your business."
The room was full of guests and friends. The brothers of the guard team and the prominent guests toasted Luo Guyun one by one. He had a great alcohol tolerance and accepted all the drinks. He drank one cup after another and talked and laughed loudly.
Xiao Xiangyue was confused. Watching Luo Guyun drinking, he suddenly wanted to taste what the wine tasted like. He picked up a cup of wine from the neighboring table and took a gulp. The spicy taste went into his throat and made him cough repeatedly. Although Luo Guyun was socializing, he had been paying attention to Xiao Xiangyue. Seeing him cough, he quickly pulled away from the crowd and walked over to ask, "What's wrong with Yue'er?" Chunmei said, "I see that the young master doesn't look well. Why don't you let Banben accompany him back to his room to rest." Hearing that his complexion was not good, he looked at him carefully. Xiao Xiangyue's face was a little flushed because of the cough, and he didn't find anything unusual. He supported his shoulder and said, "Okay. It may be late today. Yue'er, don't wait for your brother. Go back to your room and rest early." He also instructed Chunmei, "Don't forget to light the lamp in the corner of the room for the young master."
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