Chapter 41 Do not subscribe to the rejected draft, awaiting revision...
The river was pitch black when a sand barge broke through the fog.
The oil lamp hanging at the bow of the boat was dim and dim.
Sand barges have a shallow draft, multiple masts standing side by side, and layers of sails. Even people who are usually afraid of boats will not get seasick once they sit on one.
The fare for boarding the ship was approximately five hundred taels of silver.
A young man in gray, wearing a straw hat, sat cross-legged in the corner of the cabin.
He had a sheathless sword tucked into his belt; the thin blade was dazzlingly bright.
Lu Xiaojia was peeling peanuts with her head down.
The crisp sound of peanut shells cracking could be clearly heard in the empty cabin.
The hands that peeled the peanuts were steady, but the mouth that chewed them was hesitant.
Upon closer examination, it evokes a sense of melancholy.
Lu Xiaojia poured himself a drink and downed several glasses of wine in succession.
Speaking of Fenjiu, it tastes smooth and sweet, but it has a strong aftertaste.
But he just couldn't get drunk no matter what.
He drank a cup of sorrowful wine, which only made his eyes burn with tears and his heart ache.
Fenjiu is very light, so light that it glides down the throat, lukewarm;
Fenjiu is heavy, so heavy it weighs on my heart, a heavy burden.
.
Lu Xiaojia stared at the sake swirling in her glass.
Ding Lingzhong died.
He was a thorn in his own heart that he couldn't get rid of.
The thorn has now been uprooted, but a small yet deep hole remains in Lu Xiaojia's heart.
It hurts so much.
It hurt even more than the last time he needed stitches; it hurt so much he wanted to cry.
If a fake item labeled "Ding Lingzhong" dies, how can the genuine item prove its identity?
What exactly is he?
Lu Xiaojia really wanted to ask her, "Did you kill Ding Lingzhong for my sake?"
But he was afraid to hear the answer.
Perhaps some people are like the moonlight on the sea, seemingly close at hand, but actually unattainable, leaving only regret.
But the more you try to erase longing, the clearer it becomes.
You Mingjiang's image always lingered in his mind's eye.
At first, she could still maintain that bit of pride, but night after night, longing eventually won out.
Lu Xiaojia was almost at her breaking point.
.
.
Lu Xiaofeng lifted the curtain and entered, immediately noticing the peculiar young man in gray.
The other person's hat was pulled down very low, revealing a pointed chin, thin lips, and a sharp, arrogant look.
A low table was set up in front of them, with a plate of dry-fried peanuts, a plate of cucumbers, a small plate of dried moss, and a pot of fine Fenjiu liquor next to it.
The hand was long and strong, with distinct knuckles, and it held a wine glass filled with a clear, cool liquid.
In this setting, simply placing an antique bronze vase with flowers on a low table would surely add a finishing touch.
"Interesting." Lu Xiaofeng's eyes lit up; his gaze was firmly drawn to the young man, and he was filled with interest.
Having spent many years in the martial arts world, he could tell at a glance that this young man was definitely not an unknown nobody.
At this moment, the boatman whispered a reminder to him: "This man has a strange temper, don't pay any attention to him."
Lu Xiaofeng ignored the boatman's warning.
Thinking back to my early days in the martial world, I was young and impetuous, exuding an aloof and unapproachable air. But now, seeing this young man in gray, I feel a sense of familiarity and can't help but want to find out more about him.
Lu Xiaofeng walked to the low table, snapped his fingers, and said with a smile, "Brother, you can't drink like this in silence. Why don't you join me? How about it?"
He downed the drink in one gulp, gently set down the glass, and said in a cold voice, "Not good."
Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow.
His smile remained unchanged. He dusted off his clothes and sat down naturally opposite the young man in gray.
Lu Xiaojia looked up.
Across from me sat a striking young man, most notably his two neatly trimmed mustaches, as fine as his eyebrows.
This man was incredibly shameless; he picked up another wine glass, his eyes shining like stars.
He didn't move, but coldly said, "I don't know you."
"My name is Lu Xiaofeng, Lu Xiaofeng with four eyebrows."
Lu Xiaofeng stroked his signature mustache. "Now we know each other."
Lu Xiaojia didn't say anything, she just stared at him coldly.
.
Lu Xiaofeng poured himself a glass of wine, took a sip unhurriedly, and said, "Don't look so stern. It's already pitiful enough for someone to be drinking alone."
From the shadows beneath the hat brim, a cold gaze shot out. Lu Xiaojia glanced sideways at Lu Xiaofeng, staring so intently that Lu Xiaofeng almost felt a chill run down his spine.
Clearly, the young man in gray did not appreciate it.
.
Seeing that he didn't appreciate it, Lu Xiaofeng smiled awkwardly and silently picked up the pot of Fenjiu liquor.
Lu Xiaojia picked up his glass, silently tilted his head back, and gulped down the liquor. Perhaps he drank too quickly, because the drink went down his throat, and he coughed violently, "Cough cough cough—"
Suddenly, an arm came out and snatched his wine glass away; it was the strange man who called himself Lu Xiaofeng.
Lu Xiaofeng twirled his empty cup and said in a low voice, "Young man, you look like you have something on your mind."
"It's none of your business," Lu Xiaojia said hoarsely as she reached out and snatched her wine glass back.
Lu Xiaofeng then noticed that a faded red brocade was draped over his lap. The brocade was wrinkled, its color not very bright, and its edges were rough, as if it had been rubbed a thousand times.
"Plop." A tear suddenly fell onto the red brocade, slowly seeping into a dark circular spot.
Lu Xiaofeng was stunned.
This is……
A swordsman's tears?
He couldn't help but sigh, and the words came out: "I realize that the past cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped..."
"What do you know?" Lu Xiaojia's voice was so low it was almost inaudible. He tilted his head back and downed another glass of wine, the liquid flowing down his chin onto his clothes.
“I don’t understand anything,” Lu Xiaofeng shrugged. “But I know that a person who wants to get drunk to death is either running away from something or punishing themselves.” He pointed at Lu Xiaojia. “And you are both.”
That hit the nail on the head; there was no room for argument.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly felt incredibly tired.
Perhaps it was the effects of the alcohol, perhaps it was Lu Xiaofeng's exceptionally clear vision, or perhaps it was because he had been holding on for too long...
He suddenly wanted to tell his story to this complete stranger.
Lu Xiaojia peeled a peanut and introduced herself: "Lu Xiaojia."
Lu Xiaofeng paused, realizing that he wanted to have a chat, and chuckled, "What surname? Were we from the same family five hundred years ago?"
"I don't have that kind of luck." Lu Xiaojia chewed on a peanut and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "It's a road where 'everyone goes their own way,' a road where we part ways..."
Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow, reached into his small dish and snatched a peanut, peeled it, and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it with a crunching sound: "Wrong, it's a smooth journey, a broad and prosperous road."
"Bon voyage, smooth road ahead?" Lu Xiaojia smiled bitterly and began to tell her story.
He recounted how he grew up as an outcast, how he struggled with hatred, and how he felt warmth for the first time after meeting You Mingjiang.
“I knew from a young age that I was an outcast, and my cousin took my place.”
Lu Xiaojia stared at the empty wine glass. "I should hate him. He usurped my place, he used the title of 'Young Master Ding' to do evil to me... He harmed an innocent person, he deserved to die... But now that he's dead, I feel..."
Lu Xiaofeng refilled his wine cup at the opportune moment, and then continued his words, "I don't even know who I should hate anymore, especially when the murderer is the person you care about the most."
Lu Xiaojia exclaimed in shock, "How could you..."
How could this stranger, whom I've just met, see through my deepest secret at a glance?
"Is this the owner of this red brocade?" Lu Xiaofeng pointed to the crumpled red brocade. "What can make a swordsman lose his soul is mostly because of love."
The boat rocked gently, echoing Lu Xiaofeng's words.
Lu Xiaojia remained silent for a long time, so long that Lu Xiaofeng thought he wouldn't speak again. Finally, he said, "Yes, you guessed right... she did kill him."
After listening, Lu Xiaofeng slowly peeled a peanut: "Interesting. You're so angry that she killed you, her cousin who usurped her place?"
Lu Xiaojia was silent for a moment, then said, "Not entirely."
"Then why are you angry?"
“I’m angry with her…” Lu Xiaojia’s voice was strained. “Being angry with her made me realize that all my so-called forbearance and protection over the years was just a joke… I can’t protect anyone…”
Lu Xiaofeng suddenly burst into laughter, which left Lu Xiaojia both bewildered and annoyed. He then wiped away his tears of laughter and said, "Xiao Lu, you're not angry, you're scared."
"Scared?" Lu Xiaojia's eyes widened.
“Afraid of losing her.” Lu Xiaofeng became unusually serious. “That girl pulled you out of the abyss, and now you’re afraid she’ll push you back in, or… afraid she’ll disappear.”
Lu Xiaojia's pupils suddenly contracted.
Lu Xiaofeng poured himself another cup of wine: "I have a friend named Hua Manlou. He always says that the biggest hurdle in life is not forgiving others, but making peace with yourself. It's a battle fought alone, with your opponent being yourself. There's no way out and no help."
At this point, he patted Lu Xiaojia on the shoulder and said, "What you need to do is make peace with yourself."
"you……"
"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Lu Xiaofeng picked up a piece of dried seaweed with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. He then poured Lu Xiaojia a full glass of wine. "How's this wine? Take a sip this time."
Lu Xiaojia took a sip, frowned, and said, "It's neither spicy nor pungent, it's quite sweet."
"Sweet is just right," Lu Xiaofeng laughed. "Life is already bitter enough, why bother to create more excitement for yourself?"
Lu Xiaojia was stunned.
This time, he drank another glass without frowning.
.
Lu Xiaofeng sighed softly, "Go find her."
"...I don't know how to face her."
Lu Xiaojia covered her face with both hands, "What right do I have... She killed Ding Lingzhong to avenge me... I'm still angry with her... I'm not even worthy to stand in front of her."
Lu Xiaofeng put down his wine glass and looked directly into his eyes.
"You think too highly of yourself. Have you ever considered that the person who killed your cousin wasn't doing it for you, but for themselves? Your cousin caused someone to fall off a cliff, and you're not angry, but you don't allow others to seek revenge?"
Lu Xiaojia felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
He had never considered this possibility.
"Then she... left without saying goodbye..."
"Are you stupid? If she doesn't run, is she just going to wait to be surrounded and killed?"
At this point, Lu Xiaofeng paused, "Also, she is afraid, just like you."
Lu Xiaojia said in a trembling voice, "...Afraid?!"
"Yes, she's scared."
Lu Xiaofeng hit the nail on the head, "You know she cares about you, and she's afraid you'll turn against her over your trivial matters..."
"...I don't know, maybe...I'll never know." Lu Xiaojia shook his head, gently tucking the red brocade into his bosom, pressing it against his heart. The red brocade seemed to still carry You Mingjiang's warmth, making his heart tremble.
Lu Xiaofeng slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find them!"
Lu Xiaojia said dejectedly, "...I can't find her."
Lu Xiaofeng pulled Lu Xiaojia up, his eyes burning with determination. "Listen, this martial world is only a tiny place. Life is only 30,000 days long. As long as you're determined to find it, there's nothing you can't find. Even if you don't find it, at least you tried. It's better than staying here drowning your sorrows in alcohol!"
Looking at the man she had just met, Lu Xiaojia suddenly felt a weight lift from her heart.
"Why are you helping me?" Lu Xiaojia asked.
Lu Xiaofeng blinked and said leisurely, "I just can't stand seeing beautiful women shed tears of sorrow. Whether they're male or female, as long as their eyes are filled with sadness, my heart feels like it's being scratched by a cat..."
That was obviously a joke.
"...Thank you."
Lu Xiaojia's lips twitched, and a smile finally appeared on her face—the first time in days.
He suddenly felt that the five hundred taels of boat fare were not a bad deal.
Lu Xiaofeng waved his hand, "What are you thanking me for? I just said a few nonsense words."
Lu Xiaojia straightened her clothes and said, "I need to find her."
"That's more like it. The first thing you should do when you see her is hug her tightly." Lu Xiaofeng patted his shoulder. "But do you know where to find her?"
Lu Xiaojia said softly, "She's a little sun, the focal point of all light, dazzling..."
Lu Xiaofeng laughed loudly, "Then what are we waiting for?"
"As long as you follow the light, you will always find your little sun."
"Lu Xiaofeng." Lu Xiaojia used his sword to lift his satchel and slung it over his shoulder. This was the first time he had called him by this name. "I'll treat you to a drink sometime."
"When you find your girl, invite me to your wedding."
Lu Xiaofeng blinked, raised his wine cup, and said, "Good luck, see you again in the martial world."
Lu Xiaojia said softly, "See you in the martial world."
After saying that, he lightly touched the surface of the river and disappeared without a trace in a few leaps.
Lu Xiaofeng watched his departing figure, stroked his beard, and sighed, "Youth is truly wonderful; even being troubled by love is so amusing."
He hummed a little tune as he poured himself a full glass of wine and picked up a cucumber slice with his chopsticks.
The boatman leaned in and asked, "Where are we going next?"
"Qingyuan Prefecture." Lu Xiaofeng downed his wine in one gulp.
.
.
On the other side.
You Mingjiang walked alone along the alley, and before she knew it, she arrived at a small courtyard with a fence.
Several branches of wintersweet stretched out beyond the fence, their flower buds clustered together, standing proudly in the cold wind.
A faint fragrance wafted into her nostrils, which surprisingly eased some of the anxiety in her heart.
She reached out as if possessed, intending to gently touch the flower branch, but then heard a "click" and the fence gate swayed slightly, revealing that it was not locked.
A dim, yellow light shone from the depths of the courtyard, and a warm, sweet fragrance wafted out.
With her stomach growling with hunger, You Mingjiang stood on tiptoe, craned her neck, and cautiously peered inside.
A craving was nagging at her stomach, and all she could think about was the sweet soup. She really wanted to take a sip to satisfy her craving.
Pushing open the fence gate, she climbed the steps, and suddenly a large clump of camellias sprouted from the base of the wall. The petals were as soft as velvet, and in this chilly winter night, the bowl-sized flowers were a vibrant red.
It's easy to see that the flower owner takes great care of the flowers.
She leaned forward slightly to examine the garment closely. Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from behind her clothes as a pale yellow hem swept across the threshold.
You Mingjiang was startled.
She looked up and saw that the person who came was a gentle and refined young man.
With a delicate nose and bright eyes, a graceful and refined appearance, and a jade pendant hanging from his waist, his understated elegance was captivating amidst the vibrant bloom of camellias.
Unfortunately, his eyes were dull and gray.
You Mingjiang reached out and gently waved her hand in front of his eyes, but the young master continued watering the flowers as if he hadn't noticed.
It turns out he can't see.
He held the porcelain kettle in his palm.
Beside the spout, the cluster of tender buds shone brightly in the moonlight. As he gazed at them, it seemed as if the flowers were slowly emerging from between his fingers, as if they were growing out of his hand, or his hand was growing out of the flowers.
The evening breeze startled the flower shadows, causing them to tremble. A petal of winter plum blossom fell from a branch and landed right beside his temple.
You Mingjiang murmured, "The Flower Goddess."
Upon hearing this, he tilted his head slightly and said, "Young lady, did you come here because of the fragrance of winter plum blossoms?"
You Mingjiang's heart skipped a beat.
She then realized she had been too rash and quickly turned to leave, apologizing as she said, "I'm sorry, I got lost and accidentally wandered in... I, I'll leave right away."
Before she could finish speaking, her belly stole the show.
"Gurgle," the sound was so loud, it was like someone deliberately trying to sabotage the performance.
At that moment, You Mingjiang's cheeks burned.
The young man had gentle features and seemed unaware of her embarrassment. He said softly, "It's alright. You've come here following the fragrance of these flowers, so you must be destined to be here. You must be hungry, why don't you come inside and have a bowl of sweet soup?"
After saying that, he took out a paper package from his sleeve, which was still warm. When he opened it, it revealed a snow-white sugar cake.
In an instant, the sweet aroma of the sugar cake wafted into people's noses, instantly arousing You Mingjiang's cravings.
The young man said gently, "Have something to eat first."
Yu Mingjiang blushed, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, and accepted the warm sweet cake. "Then...then I'll have to trouble you, young master."
She took a small bite, and the soft, sweet taste spread in her mouth.
A long-lost sense of satisfaction welled up inside me.
The young man smiled faintly and said, "My name is Hua Manlou. May I ask your name, young lady?"
“...My name is You Mingjiang.”
.
.
A pot of red date, white fungus and barley soup was simmering on the charcoal stove.
The rosy red dates, the plump and white Job's tears, and the fresh and plump white fungus are all placed in a clay pot and simmered together with sweet mountain spring water.
The amber-colored soup bubbled and boiled in the clay pot, releasing thick, sweet bubbles. The steam carried a rich, sweet aroma that filled the entire house.
With slender fingers resting on the rim of the celadon bowl, Hua Manlou ladled out a steaming bowl of sweet soup and handed it to her.
The rising steam blurred his features, leaving only a faint smile on his lips: "Drink some sweet soup, be careful not to choke."
After finishing a piece of sugar cake, You Mingjiang reached out and took the celadon bowl. He scooped up a small spoonful of sweet soup and discovered that it contained a dense layer of white fungus.
A thought struck her: such a pure white silver ear fungus was worth twenty taels of silver.
Looking up, I glanced around the room and saw a set of winter plum blossoms in a vase on the table, calligraphy, paintings and strange stones scattered on the antique shelf, and an old plum bonsai with sparse shadows under the beaded curtain, filling the room with a subtle fragrance.
You Mingjiang already had some guesses in her mind: people who have been rich since childhood are so particular about even a bowl of sweet soup.
“…Miss Mingjiang?” A soft call pulled her back to reality.
You Mingjiang snapped out of her daze, quickly drank a small spoonful of sweet soup, hesitated for a moment, and tentatively asked, "You invited me in, aren't you afraid I'm a bad person?"
Hua Manlou chuckled and retorted, "And what about you, young lady? Are you really so comfortable drinking my soup? Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person and might have poisoned it?"
You Mingjiang couldn't help but laugh out loud, teasing, "Hey, how can you be so sure I'm not a bad person?"
Hua Manlou smiled gently and said slowly, "The young lady has the fragrance of tulips on her body. The pollen was imported from overseas."
The fragrance of tulips?
That handful of fragrant powder sprinkled over their heads!
Yu Mingjiang was completely unaware until now, when she belatedly realized her mistake and secretly blamed herself for being careless.
“As far as I know, the owner of this perfume powder is definitely not a bad person.” Hua Manlou paused, then added, “Anyone who can travel with someone like Chu Liuxiang must be no ordinary person.”
.
Chu Liuxiang?
You Mingjiang's eyes widened.
She was familiar with this name; in the martial arts world, who could completely avoid his name?
But she never expected that the man who loved eating egg pancakes was actually Chu Liuxiang, a figure revered by everyone in the martial arts world.
Unfortunately, she was not Chu Liuxiang's inseparable friend who roamed the martial arts world with him.
Instead, he was identified as the "murderer" by Chu Liuxiang using perfume powder.
Thinking of this, You Mingjiang couldn't help but ask curiously, "What if I'm just good at pretending?"
"Although I cannot see, I can sense that you have no ill intentions. Moreover, tulip powder is not an ordinary fragrance. Chu Liuxiang is always careful in his work, and the things he uses rarely end up in the hands of others."
Hua Manlou paused, picked up the celadon bowl, took a sip of the sweet soup, and asked her with a smile, "And you? Aren't you afraid I'm a bad person?"
You Mingjiang praised, "I love good-looking and kind-hearted people in this world. When I saw you watering flowers under the moonlight, I was stunned. I kept thinking to myself, is this person a fairy who has stepped out of a painting?"
"To praise a blind man for being handsome is like telling a deaf man that he plays the zither well," Hua Manlou said with a hint of a smile.
"I'm praising your skill in planting flowers and plants."
As You Mingjiang spoke, she shook her head, quoting classical texts, “It’s not just that flowers have been planted; it has clearly made this place like a secluded valley, full of life. The young master is naturally like a free-spirited white horse. As the saying goes, ‘A bright white horse, in that secluded valley.’”
At this point, she smiled shyly: "I respect you from the bottom of my heart, and I admire people like you... I may have spoken a bit abruptly, please don't laugh at me, sir."
Hua Manlou couldn't help but chuckle: "Miss, I'm blind..."
"So what? Do you expect me to say something like in those novels, 'How could I dare to ruin a beautiful woman?' Anyone who marries you is truly blessed."
You Mingjiang smiled slightly, her voice carrying a hint of teasing.
But after a short while, she sighed, a long and heavy sigh: "Alas, what a pity. No matter which girl marries you in the future, she'll probably keep talking about it all day long."
Hua Manlou's smile froze as he heard You Mingjiang speak confidently: "If any girl marries you, she'll be talking about 'my husband' all the time, never stopping. She'll just keep nagging about him."
As soon as she finished speaking, a small spark popped out of the charcoal fire in the room, as if amused by You Mingjiang's witty remark.
Hua Manlou couldn't help but burst out laughing.
This girl is so cute!
Her words were pure, without the slightest hint of disdain or offense; they were purely heartfelt appreciation.
Like a bell in the spring breeze, crisp and gentle.
Hua Manlou gently called her name: "...Ming Jiang".
"Hmm?" You Mingjiang rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head.
He said softly, "Thank you for trying to cheer me up."
Hua Manlou "saw" it.
He can't see, but he has eyes in his heart.
Upon hearing Hua Manlou's "thank you," You Mingjiang's arm loosened, and her head nearly hit the edge of the table.
He gently pointed out her thoughts, leaving You Mingjiang a little stunned and ashamed. Her earlobes felt faintly hot, and she gasped softly, "I shouldn't have treated him like a fragile thing..."
How perceptive must Hua Manlou be to realize that he was deliberately being amusing?
How magnanimous he must be to treat his pity as something heartwarming and even gently thank her?
Overwhelmed with regret and unease, You Mingjiang lowered her head, but couldn't help stealing glances at his expression.
She whispered, "I'm sorry... I was too presumptuous... Please don't be angry with me, okay?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, You Mingjiang wanted to bite his tongue.
Why are you acting like a little kid?
If you say or do something wrong, you hand out a crumpled piece of candy and wait expectantly for the other person to say, "It's okay."
Hua Manlou suddenly smiled, fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. He reached out, his slender fingers gently resting on the teapot, and steadily poured a cup of tea, pushing it towards You Mingjiang.
The teacup remained perfectly still, not a single drop of tea spilled. The warm tea softened this discordant thorn.
.
You Mingjiang looked into Hua Manlou's eyes.
These are gentle eyes.
It is also a pair of eyes that cannot see anything.
I want to... so much...
I really want him to regain his sight.
.
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“…Ming Jiang?” Hua Manlou’s voice came.
His fingertips gently caressed the winter plum blossoms in the vase, his empty eyes filled with a tender searching.
You Mingjiang lowered her eyes and said softly, "These wintersweet blossoms are really beautiful."
"Yes, the fragrance of wintersweet is very strong."
Hua Manlou reached out and pulled out a sprig of winter plum blossom, handing it to her.
You Mingjiang looked into his eyes, forced a smile, and accepted the sprig of winter plum blossom. Her fingers trembled slightly as she tried to control her emotions.
"Are you not happy?" Hua Manlou's voice was gentle, yet it carried a hint of concern.
You Mingjiang finally couldn't hold back and whispered, "Hua Manlou..."
Her voice choked with emotion, as if she was trying to suppress something.
"What's wrong?" he asked patiently, his tone carrying a hint of gentle encouragement.
"Could you... let me see your eyes again?" You Mingjiang took a deep breath. "To be honest, I'm a traveling doctor, and I've seen many difficult and complicated cases all over the country. Perhaps..."
As she spoke, a small flame of hope ignited in her eyes, and her voice unconsciously rose a little.
Hua Manlou paused for a moment, his profile appearing exceptionally soft in the light and shadow.
A soft halo of light illuminated his face.
His expression froze slightly, as if he were pondering something. After a moment, he smiled faintly: "Okay."
.
You Mingjiang sat beside Hua Manlou, gently lifting his eyelids to observe him carefully.
The silver needle pierced Qingming's acupoint, but Hua Manlou suddenly turned his head away. This subtle resistance made You Mingjiang's heart tremble slightly, and she quickly softened her grip, asking, "Did I hurt you?"
"It's alright." He gave a forced smile.
But she noticed that his hand was unconsciously caressing his jade pendant, his fingertips trembling slightly, as he tried his best to hide his unease.
As You Mingjiang examined the wound, her mood grew increasingly heavy.
Her eyes dimmed little by little, and the hand holding the silver needle felt much heavier than usual.
Finally, she stopped what she was doing and stared blankly at the silver needles in the needle case.
After a long while, she sighed softly. Though the sigh was soft, it seemed to dispel all the heat in the room.
The needle case slowly rolled up, making a rustling sound. She picked up her pen and wrote down a prescription; the characters she wrote looked somewhat unsteady.
Unexpectedly, Hua Manlou suddenly spoke up: "Paper mulberry fruit, wolfberry, schisandra fruit, dodder seed..."
You Mingjiang glanced at the prescription subconsciously, and sure enough, it was exactly the same. She pursed her lips, slowly folded the prescription, and put it into her bosom.
Hua Manlou noticed her dejection and comforted her instead: "It's alright, I'm used to it."
The light and shadow fell on Hua Manlou's face, and when he smiled, his eyes were full of tenderness.
Yu Mingjiang looked at him and felt a sense of respect.
She suddenly realized that the world of Hua Manlou might not be completely dark, but rather a quieter kind of brightness.
For him, blindness was simply a change of way of life.
This person, though blind, moved with more composure than many sighted people.
You Mingjiang has already made two mistakes.
She took a deep breath, slowly stood up, bent down, and bowed to him, both as an apology and as a gesture of gratitude.
I am grateful for his tolerance of my foolish behavior.
You Mingjiang said, "I have to go now. I've been bothering you for quite a while. See you again sometime."
Hua Manlou nodded gently: "See you again if fate allows."
Whether we meet or not, fate has already quietly taken root.
.
You Mingjiang stepped out of the threshold, her shoes quickly crunching over a carpet of petals until they disappeared from sight.
Hua Manlou tilted his ear to listen to the footsteps growing fainter and fainter, each one softer and more indistinct than the last.
The surroundings returned to normal, quiet and peaceful.
Suddenly, his ears twitched as he caught a familiar sound of footsteps.
Hua Manlou smiled and said, "Lu Xiaofeng, you've come at just the right time."
The door creaked open and was gently pushed open.
Lu Xiaofeng walked in leisurely.
With a mischievous smile, he teased, "Oh, so happy? Did you steal some bee droppings?"
Upon hearing the sound, Hua Manlou gently shook his head.
On that gentle face, the smile not only didn't fade, but instead blossomed like a pale yellow flower in the snow, growing ever more vibrant.
He raised his hand, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and placed it gracefully on the table.
Lu Xiaofeng was so thirsty that his throat was parched. When he saw the cup being handed to him, he took it without saying a word, tilted his head back, and gulped down the water in one go.
Hua Manlou smiled and said, "I can't say whether I ate bee droppings or not, but there really were bee droppings in your cup of tea."
Lu Xiaofeng had just put down his teacup when he heard this. He was startled for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, he came to his senses, tilted his head back, and burst into hearty laughter.
While laughing, she glanced at Hua Manlou with a teasing look in her eyes, "If there really is bee droppings, then this cup is really 'meaningful,' I'll have to enshrine it later!"
A radiant smile illuminated the entire room.
Hua Manlou remained calm, but his eyes held a gentle glint as he chuckled and asked, "Tell me, what interesting things happened this time?"
Lu Xiaofeng couldn't wait to share his experience: "Let me tell you, I met an interesting young man..."
The moonlight rippled gently, and the aroma of tea wafted softly.
Even time itself seems to soften.
.
.
The third quarter of the Yin hour.
In front of Shuangshuang's mother was a heavy bamboo basket.
The basket was full of plump, sweet persimmons.
Even in cold weather, people have to make a living; this is the hardship of the poor.
She gathered her fingers, which were red from the cold, breathed warm air into her palms, and used the warmth to cover her ears.
In a trembling voice, he called out, "Sweet persimmons!"
This is the father of the child who broke his leg. He picked out and cleaned each one carefully, afraid of mixing in any that didn't look presentable.
Even passersby need to quench their thirst, and perhaps the wealthy will also want to try it...
Some people would always take out a few coins to buy a few sweet and crisp persimmons, so that she could earn a little money to make ends meet.
"Mother, I'm hungry..." The girl nestled beside her legs had thin arms and legs, and her eyes were gray. Although her little head was wrapped in a headscarf dyed with locust flowers, her nose was still red from the cold. Her patched-up jacket dragged down to her knees.
Shuangshuang's mother gritted her teeth, bent down and picked through the persimmons in the bamboo basket. Finally, she picked a small persimmon that was slightly bruised. A pang of heartache flashed in her eyes, but when she looked at her hungry teenage daughter, her eyes were filled with remorse. With tears in her eyes, she carefully peeled off the persimmon, revealing the golden flesh, and gently held it to her daughter Shuangshuang's lips.
Watching her blind daughter eat so happily, a mother's heart aches more than if it were fried in hot oil.
Shuangshuang took a bite of the persimmon, the sweet taste making her eyes crinkle with laughter. She sniffed, then obediently offered the persimmon to her mother's lips, "Mommy, have some persimmon too..."
Tears instantly streamed down my face.
"Mommy doesn't like it, sweet Shuangshuang, don't choke..."
Shuangshuang's mother covered her mouth, afraid that she would cry out loud, and then hugged her daughter closer. The padded jacket was quite old, and the cotton inside was all matted and stiff, but she still wanted to use her tattered padded jacket to retain a bit of warmth.
"My little darling, how wonderful it would be if you were born into a wealthy family..."
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"Sister-in-law, how much are these persimmons?"
Shuangshuang's mother bent down to tuck the corner of her daughter's clothes into her arms when she suddenly heard a clear, melodious voice asking the price.
She was both surprised and delighted. Her heart tightened, and she quickly looked up.
The owner of the voice bent down to pick persimmons, wearing a short gray jacket and skirt, and carrying a bamboo medicine basket on her back.
She gently pinched the persimmon stem with one hand, lifted the plump persimmon, and examined it carefully.
“Each one is eight cents, grown on our own tree, and very sweet.” Shuangshuang’s mother’s voice was hoarse but gentle.
Her daughter trembled slightly in her arms. Her eyes, which were originally gray, looked even more lifeless against the bright red persimmons in the bamboo basket.
Shuangshuang coughed twice and said timidly, "Big sister, the persimmons in my house are very sweet and delicious."
You Mingjiang bent down, her clear eyes filled with tenderness. She leaned closer to the girl, her warm hands covering the girl's frostbitten earlobes.
"Really?" Her voice was low, with a hint of amusement, as if afraid that raising her voice would frighten the child. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up, her eyes unable to see, but her eyelashes fluttered: "My name is Shuangshuang."
Shuangshuang's mother panicked.
Fearing the man might have ill intentions towards her daughter, she hurriedly pulled her daughter into the tattered jacket, wishing she could hide her away.
Her two children grew up amidst well-intentioned lies, living in a daze, completely dependent on their parents for protection and concealment, and utterly unaware of what disability meant.
She didn't want anyone to expose the lie, and only hoped that they could stay in this carefree state for a long time.
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He glanced at the frayed edges of the woman's sleeves, then at the little girl's dull eyes, and finally his gaze settled on the pile of persimmons.
Yu Mingjiang felt incredibly heartbroken. "Sister-in-law, I'll take this whole basket of persimmons. How much will it cost?"
Shuangshuang's mother's eyes widened, and she waved her hands frantically: "Miss, you mustn't..."
You Mingjiang paused for a moment, then asked gently, "What's wrong?"
Shuangshuang's mother sighed softly and said, "There are so many persimmons, how can you possibly eat them all? It would be such a waste if they went bad."
Seeing that she still cared about her at this moment, You Mingjiang's heart melted, and she quickly said, "Sister-in-law, then give me six, please wrap them up for me."
Shuangshuang's mother breathed a sigh of relief and turned to find the basket for holding the persimmons. The small baskets were all made by Shuangshuang's father. Since he couldn't move, he boiled pine needles at home and wove many small baskets from them.
As soon as she turned around, she heard footsteps fading into the distance. Looking back, Shuangshuang's mother's face turned deathly pale.
The other person snatched the bamboo basket full of persimmons and, in the blink of an eye, had already reached the entrance of the alley.
Shuangshuang's mother wanted to chase after them, but her legs were too weak to keep up.
Suddenly, the world spun around her, and Shuangshuang's mother felt as if the sky had collapsed. She almost banged her head on the ground and fainted.
This is the money my whole family depends on to survive...
"Thud—" Shuangshuang's mother suddenly noticed a bundle gently landing at her feet.
With trembling hands, I opened it. Inside were a satchel, two oil paper packages, and a thick coat that exuded a unique floral fragrance.
The satchel contained two strings of cash, enough to buy a piglet, far exceeding the value of the basket of persimmons. There were two oil-paper packets, one containing sweet sugar cakes, and the other containing bone-setting plaster and Panax notoginseng powder.
There was another prescription folded neatly in a square, with words on it, but Shuangshuang's mother couldn't recognize them all, only the character "目" (mu), which she figured probably referred to as the eye.
Could it be that it's effective for Shuangshuang's eyes?
When we get home, we'll show it to Shuangshuang's dad; he's very literate!
The more she thought about it, the more she realized it made sense. She was both surprised and delighted. "Thank you—" Shuangshuang's mother wiped away her tears, knowing that she had met a kind doctor.
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A system notification tone suddenly sounded in my ear:
[Ding! Respected young hero, your chivalrous act in Qingyuan Prefecture successfully rescued a family of three from dire straits. The reward has been sent to your bamboo medicine basket.]
The reward is as follows:
Budesonide Nasal Spray 32μg*120 sprays/bottle
[Eucalyptus and Limonene Enteric-coated Soft Capsules 0.12g*18 capsules/box]
[This is the reward for this generous donation. This gift is offered as encouragement; we hope the young hero will remain humble and continue his efforts.]
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②The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant without intention may thrive.
Perhaps everything in this world is governed by fate.
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After turning the corner of the alley, there is a river in front of you.
Houses with white walls and black tiles lined both banks. A small awning boat cut through the emerald green water. The boatman, wearing a straw hat with the brim pulled low, slowly rowed by, using a long bamboo pole.
Yu Mingjiang twirled the persimmon stem halfway between her fingertips, the orange-red fruit rising and falling in her palm. She caught a glimpse of this scene and was first stunned, then smiled with her eyes crinkling.
She took two steps toward the shore, tilted her head, and waited with a smile for the boat to approach, pretending to jump onto the bow.
With a "whoosh," the bamboo pole was held horizontally, blocking her way. The boatman said in a harsh voice, "I won't ferry you."
You Mingjiang's eyes flickered: "Why should I? It's not like I'm not paying for the boat."
The boatman said, "It's because you offended me."
You Mingjiang said, "I don't know you, how could I have offended you?"
The boatman's face darkened, and he said angrily, "Can't you recognize my voice?"
You Mingjiang could barely contain her laughter.
She barely managed to suppress the laughter that was about to spill out, feigning ignorance and keeping a straight face: "Who exactly are you?"
The boatman remained silent for a long time, then suddenly ripped off his straw hat and threw it heavily onto the bow of the boat.
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As soon as Lu Xiaojia looked up, she met her mischievous gaze.
He felt a mixture of joy and anger: "You're so annoying—"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Xiaojia regretted it.
But once words are spoken, they are like dandelion seeds scattered by the wind; they can never be taken back.
One moment they were seething with hatred and anger, the next their arrogance had diminished considerably.
What's wrong with him?
You Mingjiang didn't take it to heart, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she laughed loudly, "I knew it was your pirate ship."
"Hmph." He licked his dry lips, his heart pounding wildly. He couldn't help but find her quite adorable, but when he thought of her despicable qualities, he felt he couldn't easily give her a way out.
Thinking of this, Lu Xiaojia's face darkened again, and she said coldly, "Don't be so frivolous."
You Mingjiang smiled and sighed softly, "What can I do? I can't help it either... I'm genuinely happy to see you, and I'm not even allowed to smile a little?"
Lu Xiaojia suppressed the corners of her mouth from turning up and pouted, "You just know how to say nice things."
"Is it wrong for me to say nice things to you?" In the cold wind, You Mingjiang's earlobes were red from the cold.
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It was still dark.
Lu Xiaojia's gray clothes were already soaked through by the thin mist.
He hoped the wind would blow even harder, preferably blowing into his bones and erasing all those unforgettable memories.
It would be best to give this heartless little brat a good thrashing too.
However, when Lu Xiaojia actually saw You Mingjiang breathing out white vapor from the cold, her lingering resentment vanished like a thin spider's web, swept away by the biting north wind.
He said he would teach her a lesson, but when he saw her reddened earlobes, his heart still trembled.
"What, you know it's my pirate ship, so why don't you hurry up and get on board?"
Lu Xiaojia slightly raised her chin and naturally extended her hand, waiting for You Mingjiang to hand it over.
You Mingjiang grabbed his hand, grinned, and jumped onto his "pirate ship".
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The cabin was warm, and there was a gleaming wooden table.
On the table were a dish of salted peanuts, a dish of steamed bottle gourd for dipping, a dish of small hot taro, and a bowl of braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens.
The rice wine was also warmed to just the right temperature.
You Mingjiang rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, "This is exactly what I wanted to eat."
This meal wasn't fancy, but its rustic warmth was exactly to her liking. She didn't need to put on airs in front of him; she could eat two big bowls of rice soaked in oily soup.
She doesn't crave those delicate pastries; she just loves to roll up her sleeves and eat big chunks of meat.
The meat should have skin and a good balance of fat and lean, steamed until it's glistening and oily. It should be eaten with freshly cooked rice, pressed down firmly, for a truly satisfying meal.
The sweet soup at Hua Man Lou was soothing to the throat, but the more polite and courteous the people were, the tighter her throat felt.
It's because she's so tense that she doesn't even feel comfortable chewing a piece of sweet cake.
You Mingjiang took out the sprig of winter plum and gently handed it over, saying with a smile, "I'll give you a sprig of spring as a small gift."
Lu Xiaojia glared at her for a long time, then reached out and took the winter plum branch, and suddenly sighed, "I can't do anything with you."
The wine was poured to the brim, and ripples spread across the surface of the bowl. Lu Xiaojia gently touched the bowl to hers.
A bowl of warmed Shaoxing wine with ginger and jujubes tastes wonderful; once you drink it, your whole body will feel warm and cozy.
Enough to melt the snow and disperse the clouds, and to completely eliminate the ice crevices.
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No matter how long the darkness lasts, the sun will always rise.
He followed in the footsteps of the little sun.
He is the shadow of the little sun.
This time, he no longer lived in the shadow of the Ding family.
Lu Xiaojia finally learned to live for herself.
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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] Shuangshuang: The female supporting character in "I Became the Ultimate BOSS by Relying on Peacock Feather", is physically deformed and blind. Her lover is Gao Li.
[Good Luck Lotus] Quoting ①: "The bright white horse is in the empty valley" is from "Xiao Ya · White Horse".
[Good Luck Lotus] Quoting ②: "The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, but the willows you plant without care may thrive" comes from the ancient proverb "Zeng Guang Xian Wen".
[Good Luck Lotus] Quotation ③: "I'll just give you a sprig of spring" comes from Lu Kai's "To Fan Ye" from the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
[Good Luck Lianlian] "Realizing that the past cannot be changed, but knowing that the future can be pursued": This comes from Tao Yuanming's "Returning Home" (with preface) from the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
[Green Heart] 25.4.14 Update: Based on previous revisions, and considering Xiaolu's background, fate, and character, the plot has been expanded to make the romantic relationship between the main characters smoother. [Green Heart]
[Patting head] Ming Jiang gave Shuangshuang's mother the thick coat that Chu Liuxiang had sprinkled with pollen on. Note that Ming Jiang has changed her clothes (a mouse-gray coat). Lu Xiaojia calls the Fenjiu in the cup "Qingjiu," which is not a typo; it's because Fenjiu is a light-aroma baijiu, a refreshing wine, hence the name Fenqing. [Heart eyes]
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