Going North (1)
"Why are you saying such trouble?"
He Shu waved his hands quickly, his tone sincere.
"Qingshan has a simple and innocent heart, and I like his pure nature very much."
He didn't have a big appetite to begin with, and after a few mouthfuls of hot soup, he was already half full. Now he savored it slowly while continuing to praise:
"Last time Qingshan came to return the wine jug, he probably saw how messy my place was, so he came early today to help."
"Look, he cleaned the garden and arranged the flowers and trees for me. He's very capable... I've been busy with trivial matters these past two days and really couldn't take care of these things. Thanks to him. Qingshan has good intentions, so please don't blame me, Mr. Fu."
"Yes, yes, I was anxious just now and lost my composure."
Fu Qingle's expression relaxed and he nodded repeatedly.
He looked at Qingshan, who was beside him, with a smile on his face, and a hint of unnoticeable heartache in his eyes, and said softly:
"I'm sure you've noticed, young master, that Qingshan...has a different temperament than an ordinary teenager, like a child. I'm worried that he might get lost or run into danger if he goes out alone, which is why I'm so anxious. I'm sorry to bother you."
"I understand Mr. Fu's concerns."
He Shu gently stirred the remaining soup in the bowl with a porcelain spoon and asked casually, seemingly with concern:
"Sir, raising and educating Qingshan alone must have been extremely difficult. I wonder... Qingshan's mother..."
Fu Qingle paused for a moment, holding the spoon, and then replied in a low voice, without much emotion in his voice:
"...Young Master, you have misunderstood. I am not Qingshan's biological father."
His gaze was cast into the distance, as if lost in memories:
"Back then, also in this Luzhu Mountain, I happened to meet him when he was just over five years old. He was filthy and had been wandering alone for who knows how long, but when he saw me, he still smiled... I couldn't bear to see him go, so I took him home and have been adopting him ever since..."
"That……"
“Meow—”
He Shu wanted to ask something else, but was interrupted by a sudden cat's meow.
A white shadow jumped down from the roof nimbly and silently, falling to the ground like a soft cloud.
After it landed, it glanced around briefly, and its clear amber pupils locked onto Fu Qingle. Then it bent its hind legs slightly, jumped lightly, and landed steadily in the man's arms.
This is a snow-white cat with fluffy fur that is whiter than snow, without a trace of other colors.
Fu Qingle paused and looked down.
The white cat had found a comfortable spot on his lap and curled up peacefully, the tip of its tail wagging leisurely, brushing against his plain robe.
"Chiyu?"
When He Shu heard him almost blurt out the name, he was immediately surprised.
Fu Qingle came back to his senses and quickly explained:
"Don't be surprised, sir. This cat... looks very much like the Chiyu cat I once raised, but if you look closely, it's a bit smaller."
As he spoke, the corners of his lips unconsciously rose slightly. He stretched out his slender fingers and gently scratched the white cat's chin naturally. The cat immediately made a satisfied "purr".
"Is this the cat that the young master raised? It's really cute and lovely."
Heshu put down the porcelain spoon in his hand. Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, Qingshan, who was standing next to him, stood up and silently cleared the dishes.
“…Is that so?”
He Shu's answer seemed a bit ambiguous, and he was actually not very sure.
Ever since he returned from the Peach Banquet in Heaven last time, this little white cat has often appeared near his courtyard. When he was looking for a hairpin, the cat always liked to run around his feet, being very affectionate.
I don't know where this wild cat came from, but it is a very clean cat with a snow-white body. Although it is a bit clingy, it is not annoying.
He Shu had never kept any pets before, and he didn't know how to get along with this little creature. He usually just put some food in it to feed it. Although it wasn't for long, it looked like this, so maybe it could be considered his cat?
Upon hearing this, Fu Qingle nodded in understanding, while Qingshan picked up a stack of bowls and spoons and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
He Shu saw that he had temporarily left and thought the time was right, so he took the opportunity to turn the topic back to business:
"Speaking of Chiyu reminds me of that old friend. She asked me a few days ago to bring a message to Qingle, whom she was looking for..."
He paused, observing Fu Qingle's reaction, and said slowly:
"Just say... wait for her to come back."
Fu Qingle's stroking of the white cat's back involuntarily became slower and gentler. He lowered his head, making it difficult to discern his expression. He only asked in a low voice:
"...Is Miss Chiyu about to return home from her long journey?"
"It's just that I was tied up in some trivial matters, so I stayed a little longer than expected."
Crane's calligraphy is well-chosen and has a certain meaning.
"According to her wishes, she naturally longs to meet her old friend day and night."
He did not speak too much, but just made the point.
Seeing that Fu Qingle seemed to be quite fond of the white cat on his lap, He Shu had an idea and said:
"What a coincidence! I'm about to leave for the north to visit a relative. I'm worried about having no one to take care of this cat. I see you have many cats at home, and I think you must like these little creatures. Could you please take care of it for a few days?"
"Going north? Young Master, you have..."
Before Fu Qingle could finish his question, he was interrupted by another loud voice:
"Northward!"
Qingshan had washed the bowl and spoon without them noticing and appeared behind them. When he heard these two words, his eyes lit up instantly. He took a long stride and came to Heshu, half-crouched down, and said anxiously:
"Wuming, Beishang, Qingshan, want to go too!"
His hands were still damp from just touching water, and he subconsciously wanted to reach out and pull He Shu's sleeves, but his fingertips suddenly stopped just as they were about to touch him. He retracted them awkwardly and wiped them hard on the hem of his coarse cloth clothes.
“Nonsense!”
Fu Qingle scolded him lightly, then turned to apologize to He Shu.
"Qingshan has a childish nature and loves to join in the fun. Please don't be offended."
The kitten in his arms seemed to find the commotion here more interesting. It jumped lightly onto the stone table, squatted down leisurely, and began to lick its paws leisurely, looking at the three people with interest with its cat eyes.
He Shu had not expected this to happen. He was stunned for a moment before he began to explain tactfully:
"This journey is long and arduous, with high mountains and winding roads, and we'll have to sleep in the open air. If Qingshan were to follow us, it would be inconvenient and too tiring."
Yesterday, he borrowed the wine jug that he had lost and found again to roughly find out Xuan Tongzi's location. It was indeed in the north, so he decided to set out to look for him immediately.
Although it's not an urgent matter, the situation is special...
While he was thinking, Qingshan's anxious and aggrieved voice rang out:
"Wuming...don't look down on Qingshan. Qingshan is very capable..."
He Shu saw the earnest look and immediately softened his heart. The words of rejection lingered on his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to say them.
When I think about it, there doesn't seem to be any problem with taking him with me, except that the journey will be slower.
Besides, this trip was originally to find a cure for Qingshan's Soul Separation Syndrome. If I could bring him along, perhaps I could better understand the symptoms...
He Shu hesitated, not knowing how to make a decision, when he suddenly felt someone gently tugging at his sleeve. He came to his senses and found that Qingshan had moved closer, looking at him with a pair of eyes that had been trying hard to be round:
"Wuming, don't leave Qingshan behind..."
He still spoke word by word, but tried hard to organize his words, his eyes looking towards the direction of Chaisang City:
"Qingshan, I want to go with Wuming... to see the scenery outside..."
"Okay Qingshan, don't be so willful anymore and make things difficult for others."
Fu Qingle coaxed softly, the apology on his face deepened a little, mixed with a hint of embarrassment.
However, Qingshan's unintentional words really touched Heshu's heart.
In previous lives, Qingshan was frail and sickly. He yearned to travel far and wide, but even leaving home was a luxury. In his previous life, he even missed the crucial Spring Examination because of this...
Now the time and place are right, he is in good health, and I happen to be by his side... It's just a matter of finding Xuan Tongzi in the next few days, so... it shouldn't be a problem, right?
He Shu's heart softened completely, and he said:
"Mr. Fu, you are too kind. I am not traveling north for any urgent matter. If... if you trust me, why not let Qingshan accompany me for a while? I can show him around and fulfill his kindness."
"Sir, you don't have to accommodate me."
He Shu was a little surprised by Fu Qingle's refusal, but then he thought that this person had a close relationship with the cat demon and must have guessed that his identity was not an ordinary mortal.
They had only met twice, and he looked so strange with white hair. As a father, it was natural for him to be worried about him.
He no longer insisted, but could only pat Qingshan's shoulder gently and comfort him softly:
"In that case, Qingshan, you should hurry up and go home with Mr. Fu. I need to leave in the afternoon. You don't have to come and help me take care of the yard these few days without saying a word."
“No, don’t…”
Qingshan tugged at Heshu's sleeves twice. He lowered his head, his brows drooping, looking extremely aggrieved. His voice was muffled, with a stubborn plea:
"Don't, don't abandon Qingshan..."
As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at Fu Qingle.
"Father, Qingshan wants to accompany Wuming."
——
Two days later, Yuguan Posthouse.
It happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, and the long street was bustling with activity.
Green mugwort and calamus are hung under the eaves of every household, emitting a clear and slightly spicy herbal scent.
There was a constant stream of people, shoulder to shoulder, and the noise was deafening.
The vendors were hawking colorful silk threads and sachets in loud voices. Children, with realgar paint on their foreheads and colorful bells tied on their wrists, were laughing and chasing each other in the crowd like happy fish.
The sound of drums beating faintly from the distant riverbank attracted He Shu's attention. He subconsciously turned his head, wanting to share the excitement with the person next to him:
"Qingshan, why don't we go over there and take a look first..."
"Qingshan?"
Before he could finish his words, he was shocked to find that the person who had been following him closely had disappeared!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
