hurricane
This year, the New Year falls in mid-February, and the spring plowing season begins in March. In order not to delay the spring plowing and to promote agriculture, Lu Chang and Yuan Cheng have been traveling between four places day and night, barely getting any rest. After two busy months, they are finally able to return to Jinning for a couple of days.
That day, after receiving his letter requesting his return, Jingwan paced around her house dozens of times, finally seeing him return on horseback at dusk, followed by several servants.
As soon as she dismounted, Lu Chang embraced her. Jingwan smelled the cypress scent on him and finally felt at ease. Ignoring the stares of others, she returned the embrace.
They hadn't seen each other for half a month, and the longing was intense, truly agonizing.
After dinner, Lu Chang escorted Jing Wan back to Yuqin Pavilion. As soon as they sat down on the terrace, Lu Chang wrapped his arms tightly around Jing Wan's waist, lifted her onto his lap, and sat her close to him.
She was always petite, and even now, sitting on his lap, she still had to look up to see Lu Chang's face.
Fang looked up and realized how close they were, close enough to feel each other's breath and hear each other's pounding hearts.
“Cousin…” Jingwan vaguely sensed that something was wrong with Lu Chang. She panicked and placed her hands on Lu Chang’s shoulders, as if pushing him away, but also as if it were a normal touch. Looking at Lu Chang again, her dark eyes, which were fixed on her, were particularly deep, with something dangerous yet irresistible in them.
She gripped her shoulders tightly with both hands, but did not struggle.
Even though this sudden intimacy caught her off guard and made her a little flustered, she felt no fear or apprehension.
Her cousin wouldn't hurt her.
The trust that had been eroded by time had actually been regained long ago; it's just that she hadn't had time to seriously examine her own heart.
Lu Chang put one arm around her waist and the other hand on the back of her head. He looked at her for a long time before gently moving closer and touching his forehead with Jingwan's, without saying a word.
He seemed utterly exhausted and wanted to find some comfort and strength in this way.
So that's all there is to it! Jingwan thought with some frustration.
The pounding heart slowed down, and disappointment outweighed relief.
They both opened their eyes at the same time, and the hand on her waist slowly loosened. She remained seated on Lu Chang's lap, unwilling to move.
Lu Chang brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, cupped her delicate face in one hand, and admired her beautiful appearance.
She'll be seventeen soon, in the prime of her youth, blossoming in the most beautiful years. How fortunate he is to be by her side.
If someone looked at her like that, Jingwan would definitely lower her head in embarrassment and anger, but she liked it when Lu Chang looked at her like that.
To outsiders, he was calm and composed, often appearing aloof and serious, sometimes so intimidating that people dared not utter a sound. Yet, she could see another side of him, like now, a captivating allure after being seduced, a wanton indulgence in self-destruction.
She was also captivated by Lu Chang.
The wind is still, but my heart is moved.
Jingwan leaned against Lu Chang's chest, listening to him ramble on about recent events. It was just idle chatter, but it went on until midnight.
As sleepiness crept in, he vaguely heard Lu Chang say, "Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I've invited Lord Shangyuan to celebrate the New Year with us!"
When did their relationship become so good? The thought had barely formed in her mind before Jingwan drifted off to sleep.
The old year ends on this evening, and the streets are deserted early the next day as everyone stays at home to welcome the new year.
Although it wasn't bustling outside, the people's homes were filled with harmony and joy. Children gathered together to play, women sat around chatting about everyday matters, and men drank tea and wine, each busy with their own affairs.
Jingwan stayed in the kitchen, busying herself with the servants. Tonight, they wouldn't be eating Lingnan cuisine; they wanted to eat Northwest cuisine.
My cousin and her hometown are both in the Northwest. Yuan Daren also spent many years in the Northwest. He once said that Pengcheng was his second hometown.
How can we not enjoy some hometown dishes tonight?
When Yuan Cheng came to the mansion, he also brought a pot of Sanhua wine. He picked up the wine and said to Lu Chang with a smile, "We won't leave until we're drunk!"
The servants laid out dish after dish, and Yuan Cheng looked at the hand-shredded mutton in the middle and sighed that it had been so long since he had eaten this dish.
The princess he served loved beef and mutton, roasted, steamed, and boiled, and he ate them every day in different ways. He didn't like these gamey foods at first, but after spending a long time by her side, he also grew to like the taste.
Every year during the Spring Festival, Li Muyun would roast a lamb in the yard, set out dipping sauce, and invite him to taste it together.
A roasted lamb and a few jugs of fine wine were all she had for her New Year's Eve dinner.
She had no relatives in the Northwest, and he was her closest friend. Even though he was constantly on the move, he always made sure to arrive back in Pengcheng by New Year's Eve.
This year, however, it's impossible. Traveling from Lingnan to the Northwest would take several months. How can we afford to waste that time?
This year she's all alone; perhaps only those few jugs of wine will keep her company.
The lamb used was from the leg of the lamb, and it was simmered over low heat for several hours. The water used was sweet spring water from the mountains. Just add ginger, scallions and wine to remove the gamey smell and enhance the aroma before continuing to simmer.
The cooked meat is tender and juicy; with one bite, the juices seep out.
The meat had already been shredded. Lu Chang picked up a piece and placed it in Jing Wan's bowl, watching her eat with relish before eating his own.
And then there was the oil-splashed noodles, a huge bowlful. The chef prepared the mutton and other vegetables; Jingwan only knew how to make this noodle dish. But seeing Lu Chang and Yuan Cheng devour it all filled her with immense satisfaction.
A series of "bang" sounds rang out outside, as mischievous children were setting off firecrackers. Then came a string of crackling sounds. As soon as one family finished setting off theirs, another family started. No one found it noisy; all that could be heard was the happiness of family reunion.
Yuan Cheng raised his glass: "A toast to our gathering!"
Jingwan and Lu Chang smiled at each other and raised their glasses to clink: "A toast to our gathering!"
May the New Year bring you peace and lasting joy.
On this dark and cold night, those who have been wandering far from home finally have a haven where they can rest for a while. The three of them chat and laugh, and a hazy happiness shines through the lamplight.
After the New Year, it's busy time again, but ultimately there are some gains.
Based on the terrain, Lu Chang led the people to plant different crops in various places, mostly rice, but also sugarcane and kapok.
Having land alone is not enough. Chaozhou has many natural waterways, so Lu Chang took advantage of this geographical feature, invited craftsmen to guide him in building water conservancy projects, and diverted water into the fields to irrigate the fertile land.
The handsome young nobleman also grew into a resolute man under the wind and sun. Lu Chang stood in the field, looking at the calluses on his hands. He thought of his deceased father and the figure of him working in the fields. Occasionally, he would turn around to see if his younger self was working. When he saw his father, his eyes were stern but still held the loving kindness of a father.
The father could never have known that many years later, his son would be just like him back then, continuing to beg for a chance to survive from the land.
By August, the lychees were out of season, but fortunately, Jingwan had eaten her fill and had no regrets. Although she was scolded by Lu Chang a few times, she felt it was all worth it.
Because of its proximity to the sea, Lingnan is hit by hurricanes every summer and autumn. Locals can tell that the weather is about to change by observing the seabirds taking flight and the changing colors of the clouds.
The devastation caused by hurricanes, with seawater overflowing and thousands of houses being blown away, instilled fear and panic in people.
Lu Chang heeded the advice of the locals and rushed to harvest all the crops before the hurricane arrived, taking precautions in advance.
Another storm was brewing, with thunder rumbling incessantly. Lu Chang stood in the courtyard, listening to the rolling thunder, and his heart sank. There was a saying among the people that "one thunder in the seventh month brings nine typhoons," and according to the experience of the common people, a hurricane was bound to strike this year.
Although he and Yuan Cheng had never experienced it, they could see the terrible consequences of this natural disaster in various Lingnan chronicles. Following Han Chong's suggestion, they began to rebuild the drainage channels in the city as early as April and also built seawalls to resist the wind and waves.
Sure enough, on the 27th of August, an official reported that a large number of sea fish were rising to the surface in the shallow sea. Fishermen also said that seabirds were perched on the boats and would not leave even when chased away. The sky was filled with colorful clouds, day and night.
Three days later, a hurricane struck. The powerful sea winds brought rain to Chaozhou, and no one dared to walk on the roads. Some even fled to the mountains in advance to avoid the disaster.
This was Jingwan's first time experiencing such a storm. She said she wasn't afraid, but her hands were trembling as she held Ah Li. Lu Chang hugged her tighter and gently patted her back to comfort her.
The gale seemed to have a giant mouth that was about to swallow the houses and trees whole; the house was so quiet you could hear its howling.
Even though the house had been reinforced early on and the big trees in the yard had been cut down, the wind still swept up the debris and flung it all away, hitting the windows and splashing it into the pond.
A loud crash rang out, and Jingwan shuddered, hiding in Lu Chang's arms. Her small eyes were fixed on the front, afraid that the door would be blown away in a moment.
Neither of them could sleep that night. Jingwan was held in Lu Chang's arms, listening to him tell interesting stories to help her relax. Lu Chang was worried about Jingwan and the people, and he also found it difficult to fall asleep.
By daybreak, the hurricane had finally passed, and the wind and rain had subsided. Jingwan was finally able to sleep for two hours. When she woke up, Lu Chang was no longer by her side. Fangjuan said that he had gone to the government office early in the morning.
She stepped outside and looked at everything before her, momentarily unable to recognize that this was the house she lived in.
The large tree, its branches and leaves cut off, was uprooted and fell in the courtyard. Broken branches and leaves filled the pond, causing the water to rise and become murky. One of the wooden pillars of a pavilion collapsed, and the entire pavilion collapsed, leaving only ruins. The loud noise heard yesterday must have come from it.
Looking to the southeast, the tiles of the tallest pavilion in the entire house had been blown off, leaving the ground in a mess with nowhere to step.
Fortunately, no one was injured, and the servants quickly tidied up, managing to clear a path that was passable.
Lu Chang did not return that night, but sent a message that the disaster was severe in several places and he could not return home because he was inspecting the area. Jingwan was worried, but she did not want to cause him any trouble, so she could only stay at home obediently.
There was no news of Lu Chang for half a month. Fortunately, Yuan Cheng, who was stationed in Jinning, came to the house and told Jingwan that he was busy with disaster relief and that she should not worry.
A few days later, Yuan Cheng came to the house again and told Jing Wan that Lu Chang had disappeared.
"They were supposed to come back from Fuyu Mountain, but they didn't expect there to be so much rain these past few days, and dragons have appeared in the mountains. To avoid the mud and sand, they didn't take the old road and are now lost in the forest."
At that time, Jingwan was holding a piece of jade in her hand. She was preparing to carve a few jade buckles for Lu Chang when she heard the news. Her face turned pale, and the jade fell to the ground, but no one paid any attention to it.
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