town
Before dawn the next day, Chen Bozhou was waiting under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village.
He had specially changed into a clean short blue cloth jacket, his hair was combed neatly, and at his feet was a bulging bag containing the furs and game he had hunted in the past few days.
The morning dew wet his trouser legs, but he was unaware of it and just looked towards the west end of the village from time to time.
When the familiar figure appeared in the morning light, Chen Bozhou stood up straight unconsciously.
Yunwu was still wearing his washed-out coarse cloth, and the bamboo basket on his back was overflowing. He walked so quietly that his footsteps were almost inaudible, like a wisp of mist drifting quietly across the mountains.
"Good morning!" Chen Bozhou smiled widely and walked forward.
Yunwu nodded slightly, her eyes swept over his carefully dressed clothes, and then quickly lowered her eyes.
"Let's go. We can get a good price if we go to the early market." Chen Bozhou naturally wanted to take his bamboo basket, but Yunwu dodged him sideways.
"It's not heavy." Yunwu said softly, lifting the bamboo basket onto his shoulder.
Chen Bozhou did not force him and led the way with a smile.
It took over an hour to walk from Linya Village to the town along the mountain road. At first, the two of them walked in silence, one in front and one behind. Chen Bozhou tried to find a topic several times, but was stopped by Yunwu's curt answers.
Until passing by a pine forest, Yunwu suddenly stopped and his eyes fell on an inconspicuous plant by the roadside.
"What's wrong?" Chen Bozhou followed his gaze.
Yunwu put down the bamboo basket and carefully pushed aside the weeds, revealing a plant with small lavender flowers. He took out a small hoe and carefully dug it up by the roots, his movements as gentle as if he were handling some precious treasure.
"This is Viola yedoensis." Seeing Chen Bozhou's curiosity, Yun Wu took the initiative to explain, "It clears away heat and detoxifies, and treats sores and carbuncles."
Chen Bozhou squatted beside him, watching him carefully wrap the herb and put it into the basket: "You know so much."
"Grandma taught me." Yunwu said softly, with a hint of tenderness in her eyes.
This subtle change in expression did not escape Shen Bozhou's eyes. He took the opportunity to ask, "Grandma Yun also knows medicine?"
"I have some knowledge of pharmacology." Yunwu stood up and continued to move forward, but this time his pace was obviously slower, and he walked side by side with Shen Bozhou.
Perhaps because he mentioned his grandmother, Yunwu gradually became more talkative. He pointed at the plants along the roadside and told Chen Bozhou which ones were medicinal, which ones were poisonous, and which ones could be used to relieve hunger in years of famine.
Chen Bozhou listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, and the atmosphere between the two of them became harmonious unconsciously.
"Look at that hillside," Yunwu pointed to a sunny slope in the distance, "the soil there is suitable for growing angelica."
"How do you know?" Chen Bozhou asked in surprise.
"Look at the vegetation," Yunwu explained. "There's a lot of plantain and dandelions growing there, which means the soil is moist but well-drained, which is exactly what Angelica likes."
Chen Bozhou sincerely admired: "You are really amazing."
Yunwu shook her head slightly and stopped talking, but her ears turned red.
As the sun rose higher, they finally arrived in town.
Shops lined the bluestone-paved streets, their cries of hawking incessant. Chen Bozhou, evidently a regular, guided Yunwu through the bustling crowd with familiarity, heading towards West Street, where the medicine shops were concentrated.
"The owner of Yongjitang is honest and never bargains for low prices." Chen Bozhou said as they walked, "I'll go with you."
Yunwu stopped at the intersection and said hesitantly, "I can go by myself."
"Then I'll wait for you at the tea stall in front." Chen Bozhou saw that he was uncomfortable and said considerately.
Yunwu nodded, turned around and walked into Yongji Hall with the bamboo basket on his back.
Chen Bozhou ordered a large bowl of tea at the tea stall, but his eyes remained fixed on the door of the medicine shop. After about an incense stick of time, the mist came out, and the bamboo basket was mostly empty. In his hand, he carefully tucked a purse.
"How is it?" Chen Bozhou went forward.
"I sold fifty coins more than usual," Yunwu said softly, a rare hint of a smile in her eyes. "The shopkeeper said the herbs this time are very good."
Chen Bozhou was also happy: "Come on, I'll take you to sell game, and then treat you to noodles!"
Yunwu opened his mouth as if to refuse, but Chen Bozhou had already pulled him towards the market.
After selling the game, Chen Bozhou dragged Yunwu into a noodle shop. The shop was small, but clean and tidy. The proprietress warmly invited them to sit down.
"Two bowls of shredded pork noodles, with an extra portion of meat!" Chen Bozhou placed the order skillfully.
Yunwu sat quietly in the corner, looking at the exhibits in the store, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rough edge of the wooden table.
This was the first time that Chen Bozhou looked at him carefully. His eyebrows and eyes were as delicate as a painting, his nose was straight, and his lips were light in color. He looked like an elegant ink painting, which was out of place in this noisy market.
The noodles arrived quickly, steaming hot and fragrant. Chen Bozhou was extremely hungry and started eating, but he noticed that Yunwu was still not eating.
"Not to your liking?" Chen Bozhou asked.
Yunwu shook her head, picked up her chopsticks, and ate in small bites, her movements surprisingly gentle.
Chen Bozhou looked at his slender wrist and suddenly understood something: "What do you usually eat?"
"Coarse grains and wild vegetables," Yunwu replied softly, "and occasionally rice."
Chen Bozhou felt a pang in his heart, and he picked up most of the meat in his bowl and put it into Yunwu's bowl: "I can't eat so much, help me eat some."
Yunwu looked up at him with complicated eyes, but ultimately did not refuse.
After finishing their noodles, Chen Bozhou took Yunwu for another stroll through the market. Passing a stall, Yunwu's gaze lingered for a moment on a delicate little medicinal hoe. Made of smooth iron with a rounded wooden handle, it was far superior to the battered old hoe Yunwu was currently using.
Chen Bozhou silently noted this, and, under the pretext of going shopping, asked Yunwu to wait. He quickly returned to the stall, bought the medicine hoe, and went to the cloth shop to buy a few feet of thick cotton cloth. Grandma Yun's clothes were too thin, and with the weather getting colder, she needed new clothes.
When he came back with these things, Yunwu was still standing there quietly, following the people passing by on the street with a focused expression, as if observing something.
"What are you looking at?" Chen Bozhou asked.
Yunwu withdrew his gaze and whispered, "The caravan from the south brought some unique seeds."
Chen Bozhou followed his gaze and saw a caravan parked at the corner of the street, with camels carrying packages of all sizes.
"Let's go and take a look?" Chen Bozhou suggested.
Yunwu hesitated for a moment and nodded.
The caravan's cargo was a dazzling array of goods, including spices from the Western Regions, tea from southern Xinjiang, and some strange and unnamed items. Yunwu's attention was drawn to a packet of seeds. They were oblate and dark red, a color he had never seen before.
"What is this?" Chen Bozhou asked for him.
The vendor was a middle-aged man with a thick beard, speaking with a thick accent. "They come from foreign countries, they're called red beans. They're great for making porridge or stews, they dispel dampness and strengthen the spleen."
Yunwu looked at the seeds carefully, smelled the scent, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
"If you like it, buy some." Chen Bozhou said as he was about to take out the money.
But Yunwu held his hand and said to the vendor, "Can I have one to try?"
The vendor gave him a suspicious look, but still handed him one. Yunwu put the seed in his mouth, chewed it carefully, and spat it out after a moment, shaking his head. "It's not a red bean, it's acacia seed, and it's poisonous."
The vendor's face changed drastically: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Yunwu said calmly, "Adzuki beans have a hard texture and a beany flavor when you bite them. This one has a crisp texture and a slightly bitter taste, which is the characteristic of acacia seeds. If you don't believe me, ask the herbalist to identify it."
Gradually, a crowd of onlookers gathered around, and the vendor blushed, stammering and unable to speak. Finally, amid the crowd's accusations, he hurriedly packed up his goods and slipped away.
"How do you know this?" Chen Bozhou admired him sincerely when leaving the market.
"If you have tasted hundreds of herbs, you will naturally recognize them." Yunwu said it lightly, but Chen Bozhou could imagine the hardships involved.
On the way back to the village, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long. Chen Bozhou handed the medicine hoe and cloth he had bought to Yunwu and said, "This is for you."
Yun Wu was stunned and quickly refused: "It's too valuable, I can't accept it."
"Just think of it as a gift between friends." Chen Bozhou insisted, "If you feel bad about it, could you teach me how to identify herbs in the future?"
Yunwu looked at the hoe in his hand, his fingertips gently stroking the smooth wooden handle, his eyes filled with emotion. After a long moment, he whispered, "Thank you."
This thank you is more sincere than any previous words.
When they returned to the village entrance, it was already dark. Before parting, Yunwu pulled out a small cloth bag from his bosom and handed it to Chen Bozhou: "This is for you."
Chen Bozhou opened it and saw that it was a few pieces of osmanthus cake bought in town.
"When did you buy it?" Chen Bozhou asked in surprise. He had always been with Yunwu and had never seen him leave.
Yunwu did not answer, but just nodded slightly, turned around and disappeared into the twilight.
Chen Bozhou held the bag of osmanthus cakes in his hands, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He knew that this was Yunwu's way of expressing gratitude, silent but sincere.
Under the moonlight, Chen Bozhou hummed a tune as he walked home, wondering what excuse he could find to go see Yunwu tomorrow.
In the thatched hut at the west end of the village, Yunwu was carefully examining the new medicine hoe under the oil lamp, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised a slight arc.
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