Wish You All the Best - Chapter 75
Chapter 75
As the moon reached its zenith, the tide that had retreated during the first half of the night slowly surged back in, gradually submerging the reef island beneath their feet.
Pei You'an and Jiafu stood on the high ground, watching as the small boat carrying Dong Chengmao and Xiao Yu gradually moved away.
The youth stood at the bow, looking back with lingering attachment, his gaze fixed on the direction of the reef island until the islet where the two had stood grew smaller and smaller, disappearing completely from sight.
The stone that Jiafu had sat upon earlier in the night was now submerged by the tide. The sampan floated freely, swaying from side to side in the dark waves kicked up by the water crashing against the rocks, producing a soft, rhythmic lapping sound.
Pei You'an brought her back into the boat.
Tomorrow morning, Yang Yun would drive the carriage out of the city once more to pick them both up. They would spend the remaining few hours of the night on the boat.
The small vessel, pushed by the hidden currents beneath its hull, drifted slowly toward the shore.
Jiafu lay nestled in Pei You'an’s arms, covered by his coat. Overcome with sleepiness, she slowly closed her eyes.
Pei You'an did not close his eyes for a single moment that night.
For most of the time, he bowed his head, watching the half-profile of his beloved outlined by the night. When she seemed to be having an unsettling dream, her eyes closed, she would unconsciously nuzzle her face into his chest; he would gently pat her back until she drifted back into a peaceful sleep.
When Jiafu woke up, the boat had already returned to the sea cove among the shallows from the night before, and it was broad daylight.
The carriage they had used the previous night was parked by the cluster of erythrina trees in the distance.
The sampan drifted slowly along with the ocean waves, floating further and further away until it vanished completely into the vast, boundless sea. Everything from the previous night—the Golden-Faced Dragon King and the youth named Yu—felt, upon reflection, like nothing more than a passing dream from their night on the water.
As the two returned to the city and the carriage passed through the city gates, they noticed a new official government notice had been posted. A crowd had gathered in front of it, with people bickering loudly and others sighing in despair.
Pei You'an asked Yang Yun to stop the carriage. A moment later, Yang Yun returned to report that the prefectural government had issued a notice: starting from that day, the port was closed, and all ships were forbidden from putting out to sea. No mention was made of when the ban would be lifted.
The last time the warehouse had caught fire, the Zhen family had suffered heavy losses. Now, with the sea ban added, the impact on the Zhen family was even more devastating—it could practically be described as cutting off their livelihood. Seeing Pei You'an’s brow slightly furrowed as if he were deep in thought, and fearing he was troubled, Jiafu hurriedly said, "After the incident my brother suffered last time, our whole family is still lingering in fear. Besides, Grandmother is not in good health, and the family was already thinking of taking things slowly. We had considered that an official notice might be coming. Since it is out, we will just have to wait it out."
Pei You'an snapped out of his thoughts and nodded slightly.
Upon reaching the Zhen residence, the two went inside, washed up, and changed their clothes. Nanny Liu and Tanxiang led the maidservants in to bring their meal, setting it neatly on the low table.
Jiafu was already ravenous and began to eat as soon as she sat down. When she tasted the shredded duck in silver broth, she found the meat delicious and, on an impulse, picked up a piece and held it to his lips.
He glanced to the side and noticed that the servants attending them had already turned their backs. With a smile, he opened his mouth and accepted it, then picked up a piece of cherry-glazed meat, Jiafu's favorite, and placed it in her bowl.
Jiafu took it into her mouth and ate it. Seeing his gaze settle on her lips, she subconsciously stuck out the tip of her tongue to lick off a drop of syrup, giving him a sweet, beaming smile.
Pei You'an averted his eyes.
After the meal, the two went to visit Grandmother’s bedside.
Hu Shi’s health had gradually improved over these past few days. After they had kept her company for a while, Meng Shi said that since she was there, the two should go off and rest.
Pei You'an had someone reply to the stack of visiting cards that had accumulated in his absence. Declining all guests, he accompanied Jiafu back to their room. After their midday nap, Pei You'an sat under the south-facing window, neatly dressed in his formal belt and looking as meticulous as ever. Jiafu, however, seemed to have not had her fill of sleep; her face was like an apricot blossom, her dark hair lazy and uncombed, and she wore a casual lake-blue house dress, revealing a crescent-white camisole beneath. Her pair of jade-like feet, devoid of silk socks, hung off the edge of the couch, and most of her body was lazily leaning against his shoulder.
Pei You'an was explaining a chess manual to her. Relying on his memory, he restored, stone by stone, the endgame they had left unfinished on the boat—the one she had wiped away in a muddle—without a single error. He said, "Your first thirty-five moves were excellent; I could find no flaws. It was only after the thirty-fifth move that you grew impatient to set a trap, yet lacking experience, you made a blunder. Let me teach you how to defeat me."
He was focused on placing his pieces, his eyes fixed on the board, not looking at her, as he said, "...See? If you play this way, the 'worry-free ko' you create will leave you without concern. If you lose, you lose nothing of your own; if you win, you gain an unexpected advantage. This is the true meaning of a worry-free ko..."
Jiafu had a plum in her mouth, one cheek slightly puffed out, making small murmuring sounds as she nodded. Her little hand reached toward a twelve-compartment white jade and emerald fruit box nearby filled with lychees, green plums, peach preserves, and hazelnuts. She pinched out an apricot preserve, rolled over, and lay on her back across his lap, raising a jade-white arm to hold the preserve playfully to his lips.
Pei You'an’s voice cut off. He bowed his head, his gaze falling onto her face, and he froze.
The warm afternoon breeze, carrying the intoxicating fragrance of flowers from the courtyard, drifted in through the window, gently rolling the half-hanging green curtain, which made a soft, tapping sound against the window frame. Sunlight leaked through the gaps, dancing and spilling over the woman’s upturned face as the curtain swayed. Whether it was the brilliance of the spring light or the exquisite beauty of her face, he found himself momentarily dazzled.
"The way of chess is about cultivation. Get up, sit properly."
Pei You'an said, his voice a little dry, his expression solemn.
Jiafu pouted: "Just eat it."
Pei You'an looked away: "It’s sour. I don’t want it."
Jiafu spat out the saliva-coated green plum she had been chewing, took a bite of the apricot preserve, and flashed a small, white canine tooth: "It’s not sour! Just take a bite! Eat it, then keep teaching me."
Pei You'an held the apricot preserve in his mouth. A taste that was sweet within the sour slowly melted under his tongue, and his mouth filled with saliva.
He looked at the girl lying on his lap, coaxing him with unrestrained, coquettish charm, and suddenly remembered a passage he had read long ago in a dictionary on etymology.
The character for "coquettish" (jiao) consists of "woman" (nu) and "tall/arrogant" (qiao). The original meaning of "qiao" was "to arch," implying a woman like a horse, arching its back and acting wild. Thus, the original meaning of "coquettish" was a woman acting like a wild horse in front of a man, refusing to obey.
"Big Cousin, what are you thinking about?"
Seeing him silent for a long while, looking down at her with a strange expression, Jiafu raised her hand before his face, spread her fair, tender fingers, and gave them a few light, soul-summoning waves.
Pei You'an swallowed the fruit along with the saliva under his tongue. He gently lifted her off his lap, climbed down from the couch, and turned his back, saying, "I hear the scenery of Qingyuan Mountain is quite good. I have been in Quanzhou for some time and have yet to visit. Since we have free time this afternoon, take me for a walk."
Jiafu joyfully agreed. She immediately slipped her shoes on and climbed down from the couch, sent word to Meng Shi, and went to comb her hair and change her clothes. She invited her brother, Zhen Yaoting, to join them, but he refused, so they left him be. The two took a servant or two, traveled light, and exited through the Chaotian Gate in the north of the city. The journey was peaceful, and they toured Qingyuan Mountain, returning at dusk. Although their legs were tired and sore, their hearts were quite buoyant. Pei You'an promised that tomorrow they would visit Zimao Mountain in the west of the city, intending to tour all the mountains and rivers of Quanzhou with her. However, they had barely stepped into their home when the gatekeeper hurried forward and said, "Sir Pei, this afternoon, Magistrate Chen came by personally to deliver an express letter from the imperial court, addressed to you, Sir."
Pei You'an took the envelope, broke the wax seal, and took a look. He set it down with a calm expression, as if he had anticipated it. He only looked at Jiafu with a look of apology and said in a low voice, "Fu'er, the Emperor has summoned me back to the capital. You have only just returned home, and Grandmother has not yet fully recovered from her illness. You should stay here for the time being. I will return to the capital first, and when some time has passed, I will come back to fetch you. Is that alright?”