Wish You All the Best - Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Every August, Quanzhou experiences the most sweltering days of the year, which also happens to be the peak season for trade. In previous years during this time, the various ports would be packed with incoming ships of all sizes, and the shore would be teeming with merchants from everywhere looking to procure goods. Every day, one would see bustling crowds and a sea of heads. But this year, the ports have turned desolate. Even in broad daylight, only a few white-headed seagulls remain, hopping on the prows of empty ships in search of food.
The majority of the city's residents live by the sea. Now that they have suddenly lost their livelihood, they cannot help but feel anxious. At first, they would go to the Shipping Commissioner’s office daily to inquire about news. By now, however, the office has shuttered its doors; a notice of closure is posted at the entrance, and not a single shadow can be seen. No one knows when this maritime ban will finally end. Some of the impoverished, having no other choice, must scramble to find other ways to survive, while those families who can still scrape by are also filled with gloom and heavy sighs.
This ancient city, once full of vitality, seems to have had its life force drained overnight, leaving the entire small town lifeless and somber.
With the situation as it is, the Zhen family is not spared. Although the previous upheaval did not shake the foundation of the Zhen family, the losses were not light. Furthermore, with no ships allowed to set sail and nothing to be done, they had no choice but to distribute three months' worth of relief grain and money to the sailors and laborers who relied on them for a living. Gradually, they dismissed the staff and closed the shipyards, leaving only the orphans and widows to continue scraping by. As for Zhen Yaoting, he and Zhang Da are staying in the shipyard, taking advantage of the current lull to repair ships and rebuild warehouses.
On this afternoon, the entire Zhen household was quiet. After returning to her room from her grandmother’s, Jiafu had no desire to nap. She sat by the window, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at a cluster of banana trees outside, slowly lost in thought. Mammy Liu came to report that Yuzhu had arrived from the capital and was currently in the floral hall paying her respects to Madam Meng. Madam Meng hastily sent her to call Jiafu over.
Jiafu was filled with joy and surprise and hurried over. Upon reaching the floral hall, she saw her mother holding Yuzhu’s hand, the two of them chatting and laughing. Yuzhu looked a bit thinner, but her spirit seemed quite good. Seeing Jiafu approach, she was delighted and immediately moved to pay her respects, performing the same courtesies as before. Jiafu stopped her, saying, “You are the same as us now, please don't do that.” As she spoke, she pulled her to sit down. After exchanging news about the journey, Jiafu asked about Pei You'an's recent situation.
He had left several months ago. Only last month did she receive a letter of peace via the government courier, stating he had arrived in the capital safely and that all was well, telling her not to worry and to remain in Quanzhou for the time being. There had been no news since. Jiafu had harbored thoughts of heading back herself, but remembering his instructions before he left, she, who had always been obedient, hesitated once more. Living in such a state of anxiety, she had felt recently that every day was like a year. Seeing Yuzhu’s sudden arrival today, while surprised and pleased, she also vaguely guessed that her coming had to do with Pei You'an. After a few words, she couldn't help but ask. Sure enough, Yuzhu said that the Emperor had revoked his mourning period and pressed him back into service, sending him to the Southwest to handle the settlement of displaced people. Before he left, he had arranged for her to come to Quanzhou, which was the reason for this trip.
Madam Meng asked how long he would be gone, and upon hearing it would be at least a year or so, she couldn't help but sigh. She glanced at her daughter and quickly smiled, saying, “That is also good. It shows how much His Majesty values him. Even if it is a year, it will pass quickly. It is August now, and there are only a few months left until the end of the year. Once the new year begins, he will surely return.”
Jiafu felt lost inside, but kept a smile on her face. She sat with Yuzhu for a while longer. Knowing the hardships of the journey, she and Madam Meng later led the servants to clean up a bright, spacious room in the courtyard where she lived. After getting her settled, they took her to pay respects to Madam Hu. Toward evening, when Zhen Yaoting returned home from the shipyard and heard of Yuzhu’s arrival, he was beside himself with joy. From then on, Yuzhu stayed on as the niece of Madam Meng. Seeing that she came from the capital and that her demeanor and bearing surpassed even the proper young ladies of some local wealthy families—added to the fact that the mistress and the young lady were so close to her—the Zhen family servants dared not look down on her and treated her as a young lady of the house.
That night after dinner, Jiafu went to Yuzhu’s room to deliver some chilled fruit to beat the heat. Yuzhu was organizing some small items with a young maid. Seeing Jiafu come to deliver the fruit herself, she hurried to welcome her. Jiafu said, “I came to see how you are. If you are missing anything in your room, just let me know. Do not settle for less.”
Yuzhu was deeply moved. “Since I arrived today, everyone from the old lady down to your family members has been nothing but kind to me. There is no question of settling for less. It is I who am ashamed, receiving such bounty without merit.”
Jiafu smiled and said, “We were close before; why be so formal with me? Besides, you have your own means of support; you didn't come to our house to be kept. You only came because you cherished our old friendship and followed the Grand Master's arrangements to help my mother. Although our family’s business is not large, there is plenty to be done. Now that Grandmother cannot handle affairs, everything has fallen on my mother's shoulders. With you here to help, my mother is happier than I can say.”
Although Yuzhu was sent by Pei You'an, she had inevitably felt somewhat uncomfortable upon her first arrival. Jiafu’s words made her feel at ease, and she secretly resolved to do her utmost in the future so as not to betray the Zhen family's generous treatment. She said, “Do not worry, First Mistress. Since I have had the audacity to come, I will certainly do my best to be of help.”
Jiafu nodded and finally steered the conversation to what she really wanted to ask: “Sister Yuzhu, when the Grand Master went to the Ci'en Temple to find you that day, what exactly did he say? Can you tell me the whole process and everything he said?”
Yuzhu nodded and recounted everything Pei You'an had said. She concluded, “After the Grand Master finished his instructions, he went to the Gengben Hall to pay respects to the ancestral tablets and spent the night in the Sutra Library. The next morning, when I went over, he was already gone. The monks said he had gone down the mountain before dawn.”
Jiafu asked a few more questions but could learn nothing else. After sitting for a while longer, she told Yuzhu to rest early and returned to her own room. That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Pei You'an had been pressed back into service by the Emperor and sent to the Southwest to finish the work of settling the displaced people. Before leaving, he arranged for Yuzhu to come to Quanzhou; it was meant to help her, and it also provided a path for Yuzhu, who had originally sworn to guard the old lady’s spirit. It was a very logical sequence of events. But for some reason, when she thought back to the night before he left, and his unusual gentleness and reluctance to part, Jiafu’s heart could not settle, as if something was about to happen.
Before Pei the Old Lady passed away, she had shown her the secret between the Emperor and Pei You'an. Jiafu understood that, in the Old Lady’s eyes, this might be the greatest obstacle in Pei You'an’s life. She was afraid her grandson would not be able to overcome it, and she hoped that one day, when Pei You'an faced this obstacle, she would be by his side to provide support.
But Jiafu was truly a little afraid. She feared that if the day really came, would she have enough strength to stand by Pei You'an’s side and provide him with the help the grandmother expected?
She couldn't help but remember that night when he took her out to sea to the reef island and they met the young man named Yu.
After that boy left that night, Pei You'an did not tell her more, and Jiafu did not ask. But she had heard the boy call Pei You'an "Shao Fu" (Junior Tutor).
In this world, what kind of student would be qualified to call his teacher "Shao Fu"?
Jiafu thought of the rumors about the former dynasty and recalled some of the past events regarding Pei You'an’s youth. Over these days, faintly, she finally began to understand a little.
Pei You'an had his own principles and backbone; Jiafu knew this better than anyone.
But from the moment she realized the boy’s identity, she had been breaking into a cold sweat for him.
He walked between day and night, seemingly at ease, but every step he had taken in recent years had been like walking on the edge of a blade.
Jiafu remembered something her brother mentioned when he returned in the evening. He said that at the shipyard, there were rumors that someone had seen over a dozen imperial warships setting sail, and that they were offering high rewards to recruit old fishermen familiar with sea routes as guides. It was said they were going to attack the pirates' lair.
When her brother spoke of this, he was very excited.
Indeed, if the pirates could be wiped out soon, it would mean the maritime ban might be lifted sooner. Naturally, that would be good news.
But Jiafu felt extremely uneasy.
She always had a bad premonition.
Pei You'an, he was still hiding something from her, and it was something of great importance.
...
Cui Yinshui followed Pei You'an toward Jingxiang. Although the journey was arduous, he did not dare to be the least bit negligent and served him diligently all the way. This day they arrived in Nanyang, only a few days’ journey from their destination, the newly established Anhua Prefecture. That night, exhausted from the road, they finally reached a courier station. The station master saw their travel permits and, knowing Pei You'an was returning to duty, received him with great enthusiasm. He smiled and said, “Lord Pei is a man of great virtue and grace. The people are still thinking of you since you left so hastily last time. I never expected you to return again. This is truly the blessing of Jingxiang!”
Pei You'an asked a few questions about the people’s livelihood before settling in. Late at night, Cui Yinshui knocked on the door to deliver tea and entered. He saw him sitting behind the table, focused as if writing a letter.
Cui Yinshui dared not get close and stood by the door to serve. Seeing his eyes grow tired, he advised, “My Lord, you have had a tiring day on the road and must rise early tomorrow. You should rest. Before I left, Godfather instructed me that this mission is a bitter one and that I must serve you well. If you were to exhaust your health, I fear my Godfather would blame me when he finds out.”
Pei You'an was usually quick with a pen, but tonight, for some unknown reason—and he did not know who the letter was for—he stopped writing several times. Hearing Cui Yinshui speak, he looked up, slowly set down his brush, and said, “Very well. I will sleep. You should go and rest as well.”
Cui Yinshui hurriedly unfolded the bedding for him. After Pei You'an lay down, he blew out the lamp and went out quietly, closing the door behind him. Not a word was said through the night. The next day, Cui Yinshui rose early and waited outside for Pei You'an to wake up. He waited for a long time, but there was no sound from inside. He boldly pushed the door open and entered, only to find the quilt on the bed neatly arranged and Pei You'an not in the room.
Cui Yinshui hurriedly called the station master. The station master said, “Lord Pei departed at the fourth watch. He said you were tired from the journey and told me not to disturb you.”
Cui Yinshui was shocked.
For this trip to the Southwest, in addition to serving him, he had been instructed by Li Yuangui to keep an eye on Pei You'an’s movements along the way and to notify the local secret agency immediately if anything seemed amiss. Throughout the journey, there had been no abnormalities, but he never expected him to leave without saying goodbye this morning. He stamped his foot, turned around, and was about to leave in a hurry, when a guard who had been traveling with them stopped him, smiling: “Eunuch Cui, Lord Pei left orders saying you have had a hard journey, so he told us to let you stay here and rest for a few days. You can go find him once you are well-rested.”