Chapter 24 Oasis
Cui Junji received the letter from the Cui family early on, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. He became more friendly to Wen Youqing, and even teased her when she fed him medicine.
Wen Youqing, however, felt that Cui Junji was more pleasing to the eye when he was unconscious, but now he was really annoying.
Cui Junji whispered, "Mrs. Shen is like this, does Lord Shen know?"
"What do you mean?" Wen Youqing asked back.
“Mrs. Shen naturally knows what I mean.”
In order to clear himself of any involvement with Chen Zijie, Wen Youqing lied right from the start: "How could he possibly know? He's such an upright man, and if he knew, he would have executed me right there."
Cui Junji felt a little gloating for a moment, "It's not easy for Madam Shen either. She has to pretend to be a good wife wherever she goes."
Wen Youqing smiled virtuously and spooned the medicine into Cui Junji's mouth one spoonful at a time. Suddenly, Si Shi came in and said happily, "My son-in-law is back."
Cui Junji looked at the medicine bowl in his arms, then looked up. No one was left at the door, only a slowly closing one. His heart sank, his smile faded, and he drank the bowl of medicine himself.
"Hubby!" Since there were no outsiders around, Wen Youqing ran over and gave Shen Zijie a big halter-neck hug. After hugging him, she remembered that he was tired from the journey and quickly got off him. "You should wash up and rest first. During the three months you were away, our barley has grown a lot. Let's try our own barley cakes and mutton later."
Sure enough, looking around, the wind and sand outside the Great Wall are still rough, but they lack the solemnity and despair of the past.
The scene in Xunyang City was now very different. A sturdy, brand-new pass built of huge stones stood at a strategic point, guarding the throat leading to the grassland.
At the distant pass, a large banner bearing the Chinese characters "Wang Family" fluttered in the wind. Atop the city walls, soldiers, in sharp armor and high spirits, vigilantly surveyed the distance.
The city of Xunyang within the pass is a vibrant and wonderful sight.
A wide artificial canal, like a shining jade belt, winds its way from the snow-capped mountains vaguely visible in the distance, bringing clear snow water into this once barren land.
Neatly arranged ridges flanked the canal, where verdant wheat seedlings swayed in the wind, creating waves of green. Rows of psammophila and poplar trees were meticulously planted along the ridges and roadsides, like green sentinels, tenaciously resisting the invasion of wind and sand.
In just three months, Wen Youqing's achievements from last year have become apparent. This oasis, born in blood and fire, is now bursting with vitality.
"Goddess Hehe was really beheaded. Now everyone believes in Goddess Tianshan. This canal is a gift from the 'Goddess'. There happened to be a heavy rain in the summer, which washed out a river. The karez we dug before are just the right place to store water. It's perfect." Wen Youqing chattered on and on, wanting to explain everything that had happened in the past three months.
Listening to Wen Youqing's words, Shen Zijie felt reassured. The figure beside him had grown thinner, but his expression was more resilient and composed than before. The sunlight cast a soft halo over her focused face. She gestured, then stepped back to look at him. Her presence was the soul of this oasis. "I'm missing the braised lamb you made."
"Okay, we can eat in a while." Wen Youqing shook Shen Zijie's arm and walked home happily.
On the city's main road, Cui Junji stood in his washed-out military uniform, a half-worn black cloak draped over it. Still recovering, he leaned on his attendant, his gaze sweeping across the lush green fields in the distance, toward the bustling aqueduct construction site beyond. There, a slender yet determined figure approached, arm in arm with another, chatting and laughing. The gentle breeze of their plain dress swayed, making his chest feel tight.
Cui Junji's gaze stayed on her for a moment, he gritted his teeth, and staggered forward.
Shen Zijie saw him first, and hurried over to him, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, just take care of your injuries. Why are you coming out here?"
The two of them walked towards the Shen Mansion while talking and laughing. Wen Youqing said, "Husband, Master Cui is still injured. Please let him go back and recuperate."
Cui Junji grabbed Shen Zijie's hand and said pitifully, "I haven't seen you since I woke up from my injury. I just want to say a few words..."
What a psychopath, a green tea man! Wen Youqing knew it was hard for Shen Zijie to refuse, so she rolled her eyes at Cui Junji and said, "You guys chat, I'll go to the kitchen to see if there are enough dishes."
"She has a straightforward personality, please forgive her, Brother Cui," Shen Zijie's voice was gravelly, yet much gentler than usual. "She managed to bring this godforsaken place back to life."
Cui Junji didn't answer immediately. He listened in silence as Shen Zijie expressed his trust in Wen Youqing, then looked at the fresh green behind him, at the unchanging vast sea of sand on the distant horizon, and then at the comrade beside him who had fought alongside him, shared life and death.
After a long moment, he slowly spoke, his voice low and calm, like the reawakened land beneath his feet: "Yes, even roots can grow beneath the sea of sand."
-
On an autumn day in the northern border, the north wind whirled fine snowflakes, drumming against the newly built walls of Xunyang City. Though simple, thanks to the care of its hostess, Wen Youqing, the place exuded a sense of cleanliness and warmth. The charcoal brazier burned brightly, dispelling the bitter cold of the frontier.
That night, the largest restaurant in the city, Ju'an Pavilion, was brightly lit, and the sounds of stringed instruments could be faintly heard.
The newly appointed grain inspector of Xunyang Prefecture, Lord Wang, came here for an inspection, and with the local officials in his company, there was naturally some entertainment.
Although Shen Zijie hated such occasions, as a governor in charge of a region, he had to deal with some situations.
As the banquet progressed, the conversation gradually turned to romantic matters. Lord Wang, already a bit tipsy, clamored to experience the "unique customs" of the frontier. Several local officials, understanding his intention, suggested moving to the Zuixian Tower next door.
Shen Zijie frowned and was about to find an excuse to get away when the guard whispered in his ear, "General, Madam... is waiting for you at the teahouse across the street." The voice was very low, but it made Shen Zijie's tense nerves suddenly relax, and the corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.
He stood up, clasped his fists towards Lord Wang and several officials sitting on the main seat, and said in a calm tone: "My Lords, I have family matters to attend to, so it is inconvenient for me to stay for long, let alone go to such places. I will take my leave first. I hope you will forgive me for any impoliteness."
Lord Wang, still half drunk, tried to persuade him to stay: "Lord Shen, what's the point? Are you henpecked..." Before he could finish his words, a more sober colleague beside him quickly pulled him back and whispered a reminder: "Lord Wang, be careful with your words! General Shen's wife is the legitimate daughter of the Wen family, not an ordinary woman..."
Shen Zijie pretended not to hear that half of the words, but he did not deny it, "My wife is magnanimous, it is really me who is willing but unable to do so." He said this sincerely, which made the adults at a loss, and they comforted Shen Zijie instead.
Shen Zijie bowed again and strode out of Ju'an Pavilion. A biting cold wind blew in his face, instantly blowing away the smell of makeup and alcohol in the room. He took a deep breath and felt refreshed.
Across the street, in front of the tofu stall at the night market, Wen Youqing was wrapped in a plain fox fur cloak. The snow-white fur around her collar made her cheeks look even whiter than jade.
Hearing the noise, she raised her head and saw a gentle smile immediately appear in Shen Zijie's eyes, like spring water dropped into a stone.
"Is it over?" She said softly, handing a bunch of grilled tofu to Shen Zijie.
"Yeah, it was quite noisy." Shen Zijie started eating directly, soothing his alcohol-filled stomach, "Why are you here? It's cold."
"I guessed you must be impatient," Wen Youqing smiled more deeply with a hint of cunning, "I'm also afraid that you will be tripped up by those 'different styles', so I came here specially to 'invite' you to go back home." She deliberately imitated a drunken remark that she had vaguely heard just now.
Shen Zijie rarely chuckled, his voice deep and powerful: "With you here, what kind of love can catch my eye?" He said this bluntly, which made Wen Youqing blush slightly. She glared at him in reproach, but that look had no power at all, only tenderness.
Although Xunyang City is located on the frontier, the night market is particularly lively with the New Year approaching. Red lanterns are hung on both sides of the long street, reflecting the light snow on the ground, creating a warm glow.
The cries of hawkers were heard one after another, and the aroma of steaming cakes and freshly baked naan filled the air. There were also stalls selling sugar figures, clay whistles, and coarse cloth headbands, which attracted many soldiers, civilians and the general public.
"Walk around?" Chen Zijie lowered his head and asked Wen Youqing. He was usually busy with government affairs and rarely had the free time to accompany her for a stroll like this.
Wen Youqing's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously, placing her hand in his broad, warm palm. His hand was covered in calluses, rough but remarkably steady.
The two of them blended into the crowd side by side.
Passing by a stall selling grilled lamb skewers, the fat dripping onto the charcoal fire made a sizzling sound, and the aroma was overwhelming. Shen Zijie knew that she loved eating this, so he bought a few skewers.
Wen Youqing was afraid of getting her hands dirty with oil, so Chen Zijie took it over naturally, holding the skewers in one hand and protecting her with the other, letting her eat them in small bites from his hand. The scalding hot skewers were fresh, fragrant, and slightly spicy, and Wen Youqing ate until her nose was sweating and her cheeks were flushed.
Chen Zijie raised his hand from time to time and used his fingertips to wipe away the oil and cumin seeds from the corners of her mouth. His movements were familiar and gentle.
This heartwarming scene happened to fall into the eyes of Cui Junji who was entertaining people at Zuixianlou.
When Shen Zijie looked down at Wen Youqing eating, he had a rare, almost silly smile on his face. And when Wen Youqing looked up at him, there was undisguised cunning and joy in her eyes.
The two of them slowly walked away to an empty field ridge, and Wen Youqing kicked Shen Zijie from behind with his left foot.
Shen Zijie looked back and saw that there was no one. Seeing that Wen Youqing was pretending to be expressionless, he immediately understood what was going on and kicked Wen Youqing sideways with his right foot.
Wen Youqing stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, Shen Zijie was prepared and pulled her back, but he also turned his head away from her, suppressing a smile.
Wen Youqing was indignant, but unexpectedly, the two of them stretched out their legs at the same time, and ended up getting entangled together, and fell to the grass together.
Both of them were hurt from the fall, but Wen Youqing still scolded Shen Zijie with a smile. The two of them supported each other, played around and stood up again.
It was a comical scene, but Cui Junji, who happened to be watching it from upstairs, couldn't laugh at all. The two of them seemed like a perfect match, and no one else could get in the way.
There were some strange words and strange tacit understandings between them, which made Cui Junji jealous to the point of madness.
If he married her, he could look at her bright face every day and share her wonderful ideas.
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