Chapter 24 A Drop of Clouds [New] A floating duckweed returns to the vast sea, what is man...?
The sky was bright.
When the two women didn't come downstairs for their meal and she heard suppressed sobbing coming from upstairs, You Mingjiang's heart sank, and she pushed open the door to go in.
Hai Hongzhu knelt alone on the edge of the bed, her head buried deep in the quilt, only her shoulders moving slightly.
You Mingjiang stood frozen at the doorway: "Where's Pinggu? Why are you the only one left? This is..."
Upon hearing the sound, Hai Hongzhu suddenly raised her head.
Before You Mingjiang could finish her question, she pointed to the blurry writing on the ground and said hoarsely, "She's gone! She thinks you can't give her a future, so she went to the Yihua Palace to live a good life! She even told you not to worry about her and not to get in her way of becoming a phoenix! Sister You, can't you see that?"
You Mingjiang was stunned for a moment and couldn't say anything.
After Hai Hongzhu finished speaking, her chest heaved violently, and her eyes quickly filled with tears.
She stared at You Mingjiang, her lips trembling, and after sobbing for a while, she suddenly threw herself into You Mingjiang's arms!
"I'm sorry, Sister You..." She buried her face deeply, her voice muffled and thick with a nasal tone, "I didn't mean to lose my temper with you... Please forgive me..."
You Mingjiang gently put her arm around her trembling shoulders, her voice gentle yet firm: "Silly child, how could your sister You bear to blame you? Don't cry anymore, or your face will be all messed up."
Hai Hongzhu's tears broke free, and she leaned on You Mingjiang's shoulder, her clothes quickly soaked with tears.
You Mingjiang gently stroked her head, piecing together the story of Tie Pinggu's departure from her fragmented narration.
“It’s all my fault! Tie Pinggu is gone. Last night I was the one who told her that Yihua Palace was recruiting female disciples…” Hai Hongzhu said, hitting her head. When she got excited, she even raised her hand to slap herself. “It’s all my fault for being so talkative!”
You Mingjiang quickly grabbed her wrist to prevent her from hurting herself, then slowly squatted down, kneeling on one knee, his gaze level with Hai Hongzhu's tearful face.
This familiar posture reminded Hai Hongzhu of how Doctor You had squatted down and gently cleaned her wounds after rescuing her from the old drunkard.
“How could this be your fault? Life is a long journey, and everyone has their own path to pursue. We should be happy for Pinggu that she can go to Yihua Palace to learn martial arts. When she returns after completing her studies, she may already be a renowned female knight-errant. We will meet again someday.”
These words only made things worse, as Hai Hongzhu's tears fell even more fiercely. She didn't know how to express her feelings at that moment; she only felt a sharp pain in her chest, and all her sorrows turned into a torrent of hot tears.
"Alright, stop crying." You Mingjiang didn't say anything more, gently wiping away the tears on her face with her sleeve, and then tidying up the messy hair by her temples. She said softly, "I'll go get some water to soothe your eyes, and you can eat something, okay?"
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This inn is called the Wealthy Inn.
As the name suggests, it's a place where money flows like water.
The service may not be very attentive, but everything costs money.
You Mingjiang put his arm around Hai Hongzhu's shoulder and, together with Hai Si's father, coaxed her for a long time until she finally stopped crying.
To make Hai Hongzhu happy, You Mingjiang paid a hundred or so coins for fire starter and borrowed the inn's large kitchen to prepare a meal of Bo Xia Gong himself.
She simmered a pot of pork bone soup, sprinkling it with honeysuckle, scallion and ginger slices, monk fruit, goji berries, and longan. The soup was clear and fragrant. Hai Si's father was not lazy either; he brought back a skinned, plump rabbit, thinly sliced it into several plates, and prepared a jar of sweet and sour, chilled bayberry juice.
The three sat around the stove, thinking that if they could enjoy a lively and festive meal, all their worries would soon vanish like smoke.
Just as they were about to cook the meat slices, the curtain snapped shut, and a disheveled figure darted into the kitchen.
The visitor's eyes lit up as he glanced at the table. A brass pot was steaming, next to it was fragrant sesame sauce, and plates of thinly sliced rabbit meat, all piled high.
Without waiting for invitation, he sat down on the stool, took out the chopsticks he carried with him, wiped them on his clothes, and reached for the neatly arranged slices of rabbit meat on the plate. He picked up a piece and dipped it into the boiling soup.
"..."
You Mingjiang was stunned.
Hai Hongzhu's eyes widened.
Hai Si's father was completely baffled.
...Ber, where did this guest come from?
Before I could even ask, the man looked up and recognized him as Master Guo, whom I had met at the noodle stall yesterday.
He hissed and sucked in air, enduring the heat as he stuffed meat into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly:
"Dr. You, your soup base would be so much more authentic if you added some dried tangerine peel and yam! Also, the pork bones should be simmered in Shaoxing wine to remove the gamey smell first; as for the rabbit meat slices, the knife skills are a bit rough, they're cut a little too thick, it would be better to slice them into thin strips or thin slices... Sigh, you wouldn't understand even if I told you! Next time, next time I'll treat you!"
I've never met someone so outgoing and familiar with others...
This kid really knows how to stab someone in the butt with a knife! What an eye-opener!
But his improvements are indeed reasonable.
Dried tangerine peel balances the sweetness of goji berries and longan, while yam counteracts the cooling properties of honeysuckle, making the soup base more gentle and mild, and less likely to harm the spleen and stomach. Thinly sliced rabbit meat is quickly cooked in boiling water, resulting in its tenderness. Using rice wine to remove the gamey smell from pork bones is a hallmark of discerning gourmets.
Hey, looks like this guy really knows his food.
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In the short time that followed, Guo Dalu had devoured a plate of rabbit meat in a flash and was reaching for the next plate.
But Hai Hongzhu, filled with rage, glared back at her: "Who are you? Where did you come from?!"
Guo Dalu, holding his chopsticks, said somewhat embarrassedly, "Little sister, don't you remember me? Yesterday you ate some coarse noodles at my stall... how many bowls were there again?"
He glanced into the room. "Huh? Where's that delicate, frail little sister who looks like an orchid?"
Hai Hongzhu's face suddenly darkened. She slammed the plate of rabbit meat down on the table, gritted her teeth, and said in a vicious voice, "You ate her! The meat of that white rabbit spirit!"
After saying that, she turned and strode upstairs, her sobs echoing down the stairs: "You guys eat! You're all full of anger!"
Hai Si's father had no choice but to shrug at You Mingjiang and hurriedly chase after her to coax her.
Guo Dalu stood there, chopsticks in hand, stunned. He stared down at the rabbit meat on the plate, then looked up at the stairwell, and suddenly felt that the hot slice of meat he was eating had become heavy.
"I...I..." He stammered, unable to speak, his face flushing red and then pale. "This...this..."
Seeing his bewildered expression, You Mingjiang said softly, "That was just something I said in anger, don't take it seriously." As she spoke, she tapped the edge of the copper pot, "This rabbit was brought back from the market, eat it quickly."
Guo Dalu then breathed a sigh of relief, snorted, and picked up his chopsticks again.
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Guo Dalu took the bayberry juice, drank a sip, and was completely baffled: "Did I say something wrong?"
You Mingjiang sighed softly: "It's not your fault. Little Sister Ping went to learn a skill from a master. They are always inseparable. She was feeling sad, so she vented and acted coquettishly. Don't take it to heart."
Guo Dalu suddenly realized what was going on and quickly put down his chopsticks: "Oh dear, so this whole table was specially prepared to make her happy?"
You Mingjiang nodded helplessly.
Guo Dalu blushed and said awkwardly, "I've come at a bad time, a really bad time..."
Since things had come to this, You Mingjiang could only say calmly, "I'll try to cheer her up tonight. Since you've already eaten, you should finish it. It's a waste if she doesn't touch it."
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Guo Dalu was stunned.
Well, I thought it was just a small matter of adding an extra set of chopsticks and bowls, but I didn't expect it to disturb their peace of mind.
Realizing his abruptness, he unfastened the long sword from his waist, slammed it onto the table with a clang, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying:
"I'm so sorry! I was hoping to get a meal, but I accidentally barged into your feast. Consider this sword as a token of my apology to my little sister."
This sword cost over a hundred taels of silver. Not to mention how exquisite the forging process was, even the scabbard was made of the finest blood sandalwood.
You Mingjiang exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that you, Master Guo, would be a wandering knight-errant!"
Because he cooked noodles with such ease and spoke so knowledgeably about food, she always thought he was a highly skilled chef, or even a famous chef who had seen the world.
Seeing him wearing a sword out of the blue, I always felt like a child wearing an adult's clothes; it just looked so awkward.
Guo Dalu curled his lip and said defiantly, "I was once the deputy chief bodyguard!"
Judging from this, this person is quite skilled in martial arts.
You Mingjiang couldn't help but ask, "On another note, how did you know I was Doctor You?"
Guo Dalu mixed the cooked rabbit meat slices into sesame sauce and slurped them down with gusto, saying indistinctly:
"Did you give medicine and free medical treatment to a group of little beggars? I casually asked about the pretty girl driving the mule cart, and he immediately gave me directions, saying that you, Doctor You, are a reincarnation of Hua Tuo, who saves lives and heals the wounded. Of course I knew that!"
You Mingjiang couldn't help but smile.
How should I put it?
The sweet words of a slick person may sound pleasant, but they are not easily believed; however, if a straightforward person praises you, anyone who hears it will take it as the truth and can't help but feel overjoyed!
.
Guo Dalu didn't say that his position as deputy chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) lasted only a few days before he was fired by his employer for distributing the镖银 (escort silver) to bandits he encountered on the road.
He didn't say that he had actually worked as a chef at Fanlou. He just threw the whole fish in a customer's face because the customer was picky about the sweet and sour fish, and he was chased away as a result. As for those who made a living by performing and singing, they couldn't open their mouths to shout, so they silently performed a set of boxing moves on the street and were chased away by passersby who thought they were crazy!
Yesterday, he offended the Five Tigers Broken Blade Sect. No one knows what methods they used, but the market where he usually sets up his stall was driven away again!
Enraged, Guo Dalu threw down his foot on the spot and rushed to a Cantonese roast meat shop. He spent the last of his money on ten catties of crispy pork, then invited a group of beggars to surround the Five Tigers Broken Blade Sect's hall. While they ate and drank, they sang lotus flower ballads until the Five Tigers Broken Blade Sect members came out and apologized profusely before they finally stopped...
In short, Guo Dalu has been constantly chased away these days.
Finally, penniless, he spent the night in a dilapidated temple. After much thought and desperation, driven by hunger, he came to the inn to find his kind-hearted acquaintances. He figured if he didn't run into anyone he knew, he'd pawn his sword and get a decent meal.
You Mingjiang couldn't help but ask curiously, "So you came all this way just for a farewell dinner?"
At this question, Guo Dalu got excited: "To tell you the truth, I'm going to make money, make a lot of money!"
You Mingjiang looked at his innocent face and advised, "Where can you make big money these days? All the ways to make big money are in the criminal law." As she spoke, she picked up the bayberry juice and slowly took a sip.
“I know,” Guo Dalu smiled at her, “so I’m planning to become a big-time bandit.”
"Pfft—" You Mingjiang couldn't help but spit a mouthful of boiled water onto Guo Dalu's face.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," You Mingjiang quickly took out a handkerchief and handed it to him. "Did I hear you wrong? You said you were going to join the army to fight bandits?"
"Dr. You, what are you so excited about? I wouldn't go so far as to rob you." Guo Dalu was startled by the splash, took the handkerchief and casually wiped his face, then smiled and lowered his voice, "What do you mean by fighting robbers? I want to be a big robber, not a petty thief, but a righteous thief who robs the rich to help the poor. For example, I'd be the grand marshal of the robbers, specializing in robbing corrupt officials."
Yu Mingjiang covered her face with one hand and said weakly, "Then why did you hold the sword against me?"
Guo Dalu waved his hand: "Bandits, they all start from scratch, not having a sword doesn't matter."
You Mingjiang was completely too exhausted to argue: "Then where are you planning to go?"
Guo Dalu picked at his ear: "First, go to Hungry Tiger Hill and make a name for yourself. If that doesn't work out, then go solo."
...She had to quickly inform Ding Xi and Ma Zhen, and if they encountered them, she would definitely persuade them to stay away!
Before You Mingjiang could persuade him further, Guo Dalu had already stood up to say goodbye: "I'm leaving."
"Wait a minute," You Mingjiang sighed softly, handing him the few remaining pieces of tofu in the bamboo medicine basket, and said with a heavy heart, "Eat this on the way."
Sigh, she realized that Guo Dalu had his own set of logic, and trying to persuade him might only lead her astray...
Guo Dalu smiled and took it, then turned and left.
It wasn't until a few days later, in the empty Fugui Manor, drinking tofu soup with the unusually lazy Wang Dong, that he couldn't help but sigh: Doctor You was truly prescient, seeing at a glance that he wasn't cut out to be a bandit. Of course, that's a story for later.
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After Guo Dalu left, You Mingjiang went to the kitchen and made another bowl of Xuexia soup. She carefully carried it upstairs to Hai Hongzhu.
Seeing You Mingjiang come in, Hai Si's father shook his head helplessly and pointed to the little bundle curled up in the quilt with his head covered.
You Mingjiang told him to go eat first, then sat on the edge of the bed and said gently, "If someone doesn't get up soon, I'll eat this whole bowl of Xuexia soup myself!"
The little bundle in the blanket stirred.
You Mingjiang couldn't help but laugh, her eyes crinkling, but she didn't point it out. She slowly picked up the small spoon and said, "Really not going to eat? Then I'll scrape the bottom of the bowl clean."
Before she could finish speaking, Hai Hongzhu sat up abruptly, puffing out her cheeks as she took the bowl: "Who said I'm not eating?"
You Mingjiang smiled and tilted his head, watching her eat spoonful by spoonful.
As Hai Hongzhu ate, her eyes reddened, and she choked up more and more as she ate: "Father said I was jealous of Aunt Ping, jealous that she had lofty ambitions and was able to go to Yihua Palace to learn powerful martial arts... But I just felt that once she left, Sister You would be even more pitiful."
You Mingjiang was stunned: "...I'm pitiful?"
Few people say that about her.
"I'm afraid you'll get hurt, afraid you'll become the target of everyone's criticism..." Hai Hongzhu bit her lip, unsure how to explain.
Although she was young, she had seen quite a few wicked things.
Sister You is a kind person who is considerate and caring in every way. If she isn't a good person, how many are in this world? People like Sister You are like the red plum blossoms on a snow-capped mountain, unattainable yet exuding a subtle fragrance. But in this world, there are corrupt people who cannot bear to see even the slightest good, and are only satisfied when they have trampled and crushed it.
Hai Hongzhu certainly didn't want Sister You to end up in that situation.
She respected her, felt sorry for her, and couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest injustice.
Previously on Jingyanggang, she had teased Lu Xiaojia and You Mingjiang, but did she really care whether they were a good match?
It was because Lu Xiaojia's words in public were all unspoken cries from the depths of her heart.
In her pure world, anyone who would risk everything to protect Dr. You was an incredibly good person.
It was this protective identification that made her develop feelings for Lu Xiaojia, which led to those seemingly matchmaking jokes.
From beginning to end, she only had You Mingjiang in her heart.
No matter how good other people are, they are still other people.
Therefore, Hai Hongzhu viewed Tie Pinggu's departure as a betrayal.
She wanted nothing more than to grab Tie Pinggu by the collar, shake her violently, and scream, "Have you forgotten everything? If it weren't for Sister You, you would already be a lonely ghost in the wilderness!"
In Hai Hongzhu's view, the more people who love Sister You, the safer Sister You will be. But Gao Jiping is gone, Lu Xiaojia is gone, and now even Aunt Tieping has left without a second thought!
One by one, those who had protected her left, leaving her feeling incredibly lonely and afraid. She feared that she and her father alone couldn't protect Sister You; she feared that Sister You would collapse; and what she feared most was losing this hard-won warmth once again.
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Hearing these words, You Mingjiang's eyes welled up with tears, and she was momentarily speechless with emotion. She gently smoothed Hai Hongzhu's hair, then stretched out her hands to the little girl and waved them softly.
“Hongzhu, look, I have a mole in my palm. It’s a lucky mole that brings wealth and prosperity. How could someone as blessed as me die? I want to bring you good fortune so that you can live a life of abundance, peace, and joy.”
Hai Hongzhu burst into tears, burying her face in her palm. The tears were scalding hot, burning the mole on You Mingjiang's palm as if it were on fire.
“Sister You, sometimes I really resent you… I resent you for not holding on to everything around you more tightly? The way you are, it scares me to death. It's like no one cares about you leaving, so what does my existence mean to you? But whenever I want to hate you, my heart aches terribly. I know you are pure and kind, but could you make an exception for me just once? Even just once, don't make me feel like an outsider…”
You Mingjiang took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head and gently patting her back as if soothing a child.
"It's Sister You's fault for making you feel uneasy. Hongzhu, I won't force anyone to stay because I know that if the friendship in this world can only be maintained by coercion, it will lose its authenticity and cause suffering to both of us. Letting Pinggu fly high to a wider world is not called letting go, but called fulfilling."
She took Hai Hongzhu's hand and gently pressed it against her heart.
“You’ve never been an outsider; you’ll always be my little sister. This position will always be reserved for you. You don’t need to be an exception, because you are my exception.”
Hai Hongzhu gave a muffled "hmm," her voice thick with a nasal tone, like a wronged kitten.
You Mingjiang smiled, but her eyes were burning hot.
She thought that in this vast sea of people, she might never meet another person like Hongzhu, who had such a clumsy yet passionate heart and treated her with all her heart.
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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] Bo Xia Gong and Xue Xia Geng are delicacies recorded in Lin Hong's "Mountain Dweller's Pure Offerings" from the Song Dynasty.
[Lucky Lotus] Mini-Theater: Playing with the reference to "Skill Gomoku"
[Orange Heart] Guo Dalu: [Dog Head Holding Rose] The traditional big bandit [Chin Resting on Hand] just steals valuable things [Gold Ingot] So boring, so dull [Pity] Skill Big Bandit [Starry Eyes] is the traditional big bandit [Evil Smile] Adding loyalty makes it so much fun [Thumbs Up] It's going to explode [Heart]
[Orange Heart] You Mingjiang: [Melted][Melted] Are you alright? Are you alright?
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