Wish You All the Best - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

With only a few days left before the end of the year, Jiafu accompanied her mother to the Zhen family’s shipyard.

This place was not just a facility for building and repairing ships; it also housed a vast area of shanties. The Zhen family had always been benevolent; since the days of their ancestors, they had provided shelter here for the impoverished sailors and shipwrights who braved the seas for them, giving them a place to settle once they came ashore. Later, as these men married and started families, the population grew, and the shanties multiplied. By the time of Jiafu’s father, nearly a hundred families lived there. Three years ago, the families of those sailors and shipwrights who had gone to sea with her father and never returned were still being sheltered here. The widows survived by doing odd jobs in the shipyard. Though life was difficult, at least they had a roof over their heads to shield them from the wind and rain, allowing them to provide for themselves and their children. For the past few years, every year-end, Madam Meng would personally come here to distribute rice and meat to the orphans and widows, along with a few strings of copper coins for each household so they too could celebrate the New Year.

Jiafu had accompanied her mother every year, and this year was no exception. After visiting the orphans and widows, as they were leaving the shipyard, she suddenly recalled the young boy she had encountered and brought back for medical treatment several months ago. She wondered if he had been saved, so she stopped and asked a foreman nearby.

The foreman didn't recall at first, as there were simply too many people doing odd jobs inside. A moment later, he slapped his forehead and said: "I remember! That boy Steward Zhang had people bring in! He was saved, and his illness is gone. He’s working in the shipyard now. Shall I call him over to kowtow to you, Young Lady?"

Jiafu replied: "It is good that he was saved. I just remembered him suddenly and asked. There is no need to call him over."

The foreman smiled: "The Young Lady is kind-hearted to still remember him. It was also the boy’s good luck to have met you; he picked up a life that was nearly lost. If he had ended up with the Jin family, he would have long since been buried in a fish’s belly."

The speaker intended nothing by it, but the listener was sensitive. Jiafu was deeply moved by the phrase "buried in a fish’s belly." Thinking of her father, her mood plummeted. The foreman realized he had spoken out of turn, slapped his own mouth hard, and hurriedly bowed in apology: "Forgive my nonsense. Please, Young Lady, do not take offense."

Jiafu knew he meant no harm. She offered a slight smile, and seeing her mother’s group already at the shipyard gate looking back for her, she lifted her skirt and walked quickly toward them.

The shipyard was near the harbor, and the sea breeze was always fierce, especially at the entrance. Just as Jiafu passed a wooden rack used to secure stacks of logs, a gust of wind whistled past.

The rack had stood there for a long time, and the ropes at the joints had rotted from exposure to wind and rain without being replaced. Under the force of the strong wind, the structure creaked and swayed, the ropes suddenly snapped, and a row of logs—stacked higher than Jiafu was tall—came crashing down in a chaotic tumble, surging toward her.

The logs had been transported just a few days prior and were waiting to be moved; they were not very thick, only the diameter of a bowl. Even so, if such a mass of logs were to bury her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Jiafu had been looking down at the path and hadn't noticed the movement beside her. By the time she realized something was wrong, she couldn't react in time and stood frozen on the spot.

Madam Meng stood at the shipyard gate, talking to Steward Zhang and others while waiting for her daughter. Suddenly hearing an unusual sound behind her, she turned to look, and her soul nearly left her body. Steward Zhang and the others also realized the situation and rushed over, but it was too late. Jiafu was on the verge of being crushed by the collapsing pile of wood. At that critical, life-or-death moment, a ragged young boy suddenly dashed out from the side. His movements were swift as lightning; in the blink of an eye, he reached Jiafu’s side. Just before the first log rolled to her feet, he swept her up by the waist and dodged to the side. Both of them tumbled onto the ground.

Steward Zhang and the others reached them, securing the logs and rushing to provide aid; the shipyard entrance turned into a scene of utter chaos.

Madam Meng, pale as a sheet, rushed over, pushed through the crowd, and saw the boy lying on the ground, shielding her daughter tightly beneath him. She threw herself over them, crying: "A'fu! A'fu! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Don't scare Mother!"

The boy’s actions had been so swift that Jiafu felt dizzy. Pinned beneath him, she finally came to her senses. Hearing her mother’s voice, she opened her eyes and said tremblingly: "Mother, I am fine... I am not hurt..."

The boy quickly scrambled off her and squeezed out of the crowd. Madam Meng and Steward Zhang, their hearts entirely focused on Jiafu, hadn't paid much attention to him initially. As they helped Jiafu up, seeing that she was covered in nothing more than some dirt from the ground and was pale with fright, but otherwise uninjured, they finally exhaled in relief.

Madam Meng, still shaken, hugged Jiafu and recited countless Buddhist prayers. Hearing Steward Zhang scold the foreman for his negligence, she suddenly remembered the boy who had just saved her daughter. She looked over, and seeing him walking further and further away, she quickly told someone to help Jiafu to the carriage to rest. She walked over and stopped the boy. Looking closely—his clothes were ragged, it was mid-winter, he wore only a pair of straw sandals with holes, and his face was smeared with mud—she saw that despite the dirt, his features were exceptionally handsome. Not minding his filth, she caught his hand and said: "Good child, it is all thanks to you today! What is your name? Which family are you from?"

Steward Zhang caught up. Looking at the boy, he felt he looked familiar, but for a moment couldn't recall where he had seen him. Since he appeared here, he must be working in their shipyard. Seeing the boy remain silent, he turned to the foreman.

The foreman, pale-faced from his near-catastrophic negligence, hurriedly stepped forward and said: "He is that lad the Young Lady sent over several months ago. He was nearly dead from illness at the time. Remembering the instructions from you and the Young Lady, I have been diligently treating him. After he was saved, I had him do some odd jobs."

Only then did Steward Zhang remember. He glanced at the boy and briefly explained the circumstances of how they had found him to Madam Meng. Madam Meng was immensely grateful and praised him profusely. After a few words, she noticed that the boy lacked the agility he had shown when he rushed out; he simply stood there with his head bowed, motionless, wordless, and looking quite dull. She looked at the foreman, confused.

The foreman said: "Reporting to the Mistress, this lad is a mute; he cannot speak. Perhaps he was burned stupid by that fever back then; his mind isn't very sharp." As he spoke, he shouted at the boy, telling him to show respect to Madam Meng.

Madam Meng let out an "Ah," her pity deepening. She hurriedly stopped the foreman and sighed: "One can see the kindness in this child. Even with his mind unclear, he firmly remembered that A'fu saved him, and just now, he didn't care about his own life to repay that debt. I see he is quite handsome; if he were with his parents, he would surely be cherished. He must have been kidnapped by traffickers and worn down to this state. How pitiful!" With that, she ordered the foreman to provide the boy with thick, new clothes and shoes, and repeatedly instructed him to treat the boy well in the future and not allow anyone to bully him. The foreman agreed repeatedly.

Madam Meng spoke a few more words before releasing the boy’s hand and returning to the carriage. She said to Jiafu: "What a poor child; he is a mute, and his mind is not very bright."

Jiafu had been resting in the carriage for a while, and she had gradually calmed down from the intense shock. Watching as her mother let go of him, he turned around and continued walking forward with his head down—Jiafu stared at his back, feeling that his gait was somewhat stiff and slightly limping, as if he were a completely different person from the one who had rushed out to save her. Hesitating for a moment, she told her mother to wait, stepped out of the carriage again, and quickly chased after him, blocking his path.

The boy looked up. Seeing she had come, he seemed slightly startled, but his face remained expressionless.

Jiafu smiled at him and said softly: "Did you injure your foot just now? I see that your walk is restricted."

The boy did not respond.

"Can you understand me?" Jiafu’s voice grew even gentler, and she stepped a little closer to him. "If you are injured, just tell me. Don't be afraid."

She was close now. The boy seemed to catch the faint fragrance from her body. This scent was ethereal, yet it quietly drifted into his lungs—so different from the faint, salty, fishy air he had become accustomed to here, and even more unlike the precious incense and cosmetic powders he was once familiar with in luxurious rooms.

The tips of his ears turned faintly red, though thanks to the mud on his face, she could not see it.

He shook his head, lowered his gaze to avoid her, and hurried past her.

Jiafu turned, staring at his feet, and saw a trail of bright red blood seeping from the sole of his shoe, which had worn down to nothing but a few strands of straw.

"Stop!"

She called him again.

Steward Zhang caught up and removed the boy’s shoe.

A bamboo splinter, as long as a finger, had pierced the center of his foot like a sharp little knife.

Meeting the pained look in Jiafu’s eyes, the boy’s dual orbs, which had always seemed veiled in shadow, gradually revealed a bright color.

He shook his head gently and gave a faint smile.

A subtle expression that flashed past, captured only by her.

...

New Year’s Eve of the third year of Yongxi passed just like that. As the old year turned to the new, the people of Quanzhou were still beating drums and dancing with lions and dragons. On only the third day of the New Year, Jiafu learned of some news.

People from the Quanzhou prefecture had arrived, conveying orders from above. They commanded the Zhen family to register all undocumented persons they employed over the years, especially young boys who appeared to be thirteen or fourteen years old; not one could be missed. If they concealed anyone and it was verified by the government, the punishment would be severe.

The messenger had a close relationship with Steward Zhang. After conveying the order, he cleared the others away and whispered to Zhang: "This 'above' is no simple order; it is the Jinyiwei... A man surnamed Wang has arrived. I heard he is an extremely formidable character. I don't know what he said, but when our official came out, I saw his face had turned green. The Jin family shipyard and their ships use who knows how many undocumented laborers. Not realizing the gravity of the situation, they concealed a few, thinking it was fine. They were unlucky; last night, several people were taken away. Those without papers who are still alive were interrogated and then sent off to military service. But I heard two of the working lads in their shipyard were beaten to death; when they were dragged out, their entrails were spilled all over the ground. I wouldn't tell this to anyone else. But your Zhen family business is large, and after so many years, it is inevitable that you would use a few undocumented people. I couldn't bear to watch you suffer, so I said a few extra words. Remember, do not spread this!"

After sending the man off, Steward Zhang immediately reported to Old Madam Hu. The Old Madam’s expression was grave, and she immediately ordered him to create a registry—all undocumented workers, including those on boats, on the docks, in cargo handling, and the craftsmen and helpers in the shipyard, were to be reported. The people were to be kept under close watch; not a single one could be missing.

Madam Meng was present at the time. After returning, she mentioned it to Jiafu and sighed: "I don't know what has happened, but it has left my heart in a panic. These next few days, you must keep a close eye on your brother so he doesn't run around causing trouble."

After speaking, Madam Meng left in a hurry. Jiafu was also feeling uneasy.

According to the shipyard foreman, the boy was not only a mute but also simple-minded.

But Jiafu had a feeling that the boy might not be truly simple-minded.

That day when she encountered danger, the boy had pulled her away and pinned her to the ground. Putting aside his agility, in that very moment, their gazes had briefly met.

Though she had been terrified to the point of numbness, with her hands and feet refusing to obey, she could still clearly remember the eyes that had looked at her—black and white, distinct and clear.

And the faint smile when his foot injury was discovered. In that moment, his eyes had shimmered with the brilliance of the sun; not even the dust on his face could conceal the radiance and spirit in those eyes.

Jiafu truly didn't believe he was simple-minded.

If he was pretending, what was the reason? What secret lay behind this boy? Just as the New Year passed, the government initiated such a move; could it really be related to this boy?

Jiafu recalled Xiao Yintang’s inexplicable appearance and the scene she had witnessed while passing Fuming Island—the sight of those young novices being dragged away by iron chains remained vivid in her mind.

She wondered if that group of Jinyiwei was the same as this Lord Wang who had come to Quanzhou.

Steward Zhang, following the Old Madam’s orders, would certainly list the boy in the registry.

Due to a feeling she couldn't quite articulate, Jiafu did not want this to happen. She suddenly began to worry for the boy.

However, she also knew the Old Madam’s actions were correct. The Jinyiwei were like wolves and tigers, pervasive and inescapable. If the Zhen family dared to hide anything, the consequences of being discovered would be unthinkable.

Jiafu wanted to tell him the news so he could leave quietly as soon as possible. But she had her reservations.

After spending the night in hesitation, she finally couldn't suppress her urge the next day and went to find Steward Zhang, pretending to inquire about the boy’s foot injury.

Steward Zhang looked at Jiafu and carefully said: "Young Lady, I was busy these past few days and forgot to tell you. That boy disappeared on New Year’s Eve. Someone saw him go toward the sea alone and jump in; he never came back up. These past few days, he hasn't been seen in the shipyard. His bedding and that set of new clothes were left scattered, just as if he had woken up in the middle of the night, confused, and wandered off... The person sleeping next to him said he had been scared by the sound of the firecrackers, stumbled out in a daze, and jumped into the sea..."

Jiafu was both surprised and saddened.

She had originally only worried that he might be in danger, but she never imagined he would die on New Year’s Eve.

For some reason, the news of the accidental death of this boy—a stranger she had saved by mere coincidence—made her feel an inexplicable sense of suffocation.

Perhaps it was because, back then, the boy’s dying gaze, filled with a desperate will to survive, had touched her deeply. Or perhaps it was the lonely back view of him, walking away with a slight limp after using his thin, youthful body to shield her from danger just a few days ago, that made it impossible for her to forget.

She stood still for a moment, suppressing the sorrow rising in her heart, and said: "Uncle Zhang, please have someone burn two sticks of incense for him."

Steward Zhang said: "Old Zhang will remember. Young Lady, do not be sad."

Jiafu smiled slightly and nodded.

...

On the thirteenth day of the first month, two days before the Lantern Festival, every household in Quanzhou had already hung lanterns in front of their doors. As night fell, the lanterns and the bright moon reflected off one another, and the entire city was filled with a festive atmosphere.

In stark contrast to the city scene was the quiet, deserted harbor outside the city.

It was a clear, late night with the bright moon hanging in the sky. A young man sat alone on the seawall, his figure swallowed by the shadows of the night. The sea breeze blew against him; he remained motionless, facing the rising night tide, his back appearing lonely.

Suddenly, he quickly shed his clothes and shoes and leaped, falling into the night tide like a stone.

A moment later, accompanied by a slight splash, the boy’s head emerged from the water. He swam a few strokes and leaned against the dike; there was something in his hand.

It was a square object wrapped in softened, tanned cowhide, the size of a palm. It was soaked through and dripped water incessantly as the boy held it.

In Quanzhou, most days in winter were damp and cold, but the boy seemed not to feel the biting chill of the seawater at all. He slowly unwrapped the cowhide, his eyes fixed on the object resting in his palm.

It was a jade seal, crested with five interlaced dragons, engraved on top with the eight seal-script characters: "Having received the mandate from Heaven, may [the emperor] exist long and prosper." The entire piece was untouched by a speck of dust. Beneath the illumination of the bright moon, the jade luster was translucent, casting the palm that held it into a semi-transparent, pale, fleshy hue.

This was the Imperial Seal passed down since the Qin Dynasty—the most important treasure of the nation. For thousands of years, it had appeared and disappeared; every emperor of every dynasty had regarded it as the mark of Heaven’s mandate.

When the Great Wei was founded, the Founding Emperor obtained the Imperial Seal by chance and was overcome with joy. He hid it within the Yuanshi Hall of the palace; whenever there was a grand ritual to worship Heaven, he would request the seal to stamp the edict to Heaven, thereby proclaiming that his mandate was bestowed by Heaven.

The current Yongxi Emperor had faced constant questioning at the beginning of his reign precisely because he lacked this Imperial Seal, which represented the transfer of imperial power.

It was said that after the Young Emperor Xiao Yu fell from his horse during a hunt and died, this Imperial Seal also mysteriously disappeared.

Beside this section of the seawall, people came and went during the day; no one would ever imagine that for the past three years, wrapped in this piece of cowhide, it had been hidden in a hole eroded by the seawater beneath them.

Every day, with the rise and fall of the tide, it had quietly and lonely guarded the darkness, just like its master—this young man.

The boy stared at the jade seal in his hand for a long time. Suddenly, he curled his lips in a self-mocking way and muttered to himself: "What is the use of me keeping you? It is better to send you away with the tide—from now on, free and unfettered, drifting across the four seas, which is better than hiding in darkness, never seeing the light of day!"

He climbed back onto the seawall, stood tall, and suddenly swung his arm, preparing to throw the jade seal in his hand into the night tide beneath the moonlight.

Once it entered the sea, the surging tide would roll it away, and this object would sink into the ocean forever, never to return.