It was impossible for him not to want to return! How could Yu Qian Zhou have imagined her uncle’s home was this poor? Even the walls were unplastered, letting in drafts, and the cold was seeping through. But if they left now, wouldn’t it seem too rude? He couldn’t relax anymore, so he replied, “Since we’re already here, isn’t that question redundant?”
“I told you you’d regret it!” She took away the tea and poured him a glass of hot water from the aluminum kettle on the stove, saying, “Relax, this is well water, at least it’s special!” “No tap water here?” Yu Qian Zhou didn’t catch the sarcasm in her words.
“Yes, but my aunt knows I like well water, so she always fetches it just for me when I come!” she said with a hint of pride.
“Alright, I know you’re pampered!” Yu Qian Zhou took a sip; the water had a slightly sweet taste. Curious, he asked, “Is this well water like the kind with a wheel in TV shows?”
Lai Hui rolled her eyes at him, “This is the south; we have groundwater.” Then she suggested, “Let’s go back. You look out of place here!”
“I said it’s fine, aren’t you getting annoying with all this nagging?” In truth, he was annoyed because he was starting to waver, unable to understand why he had impulsively followed her here. It was novel, but the harsh conditions were unbearable.
Lai Hui stopped talking, thinking he would leave once he couldn’t take it anymore. With nothing to do inside, seeing him restless, she suddenly had an idea and pulled him along, saying, “I’ll show you the back!”
The backyard connected to the mountain. They climbed up a dirt path where many tall cedars had been planted, their dried spiny branches covering the path. The sound of footsteps crunching on the branches echoed in the quiet mountain wilderness. At the base of the trees, clusters of dark purple wild ferns grew. Lai Hui, carrying a small bamboo basket, picked them along the way. Yu Qian Zhou didn’t recognize these wild vegetables and could only watch from the side.
As they ventured deeper into the mountain, the air became fresher. He felt his spirits lift as he gazed at the rural landscape, the quiet forest, the drifting clouds, and the person picking vegetables. Suddenly, he felt as if he were in a play, one he had directed himself. Though not ideal, it was still quite satisfying. Instinctively, he took the bamboo basket from Lai Hui, hand in hand they strolled, listening to her recount childhood memories. Occasionally, when she picked vegetables, he would squat beside her, asking about their names.
There were also wild orchids in the mountains, blue, purple, or pink, but mostly they were a lush green. Lai Hui picked some and placed them in the basket, their fragrance following them. Around three o’clock, it was dinner time. With a full basket, Lai Hui dusted off her hands and said to Yu Qian Zhou, “Didn’t disappoint you, did I?”
Yu Qian Zhou, looking at her eager expression, initially nodded dismissively, but then honestly showed his bewilderment, saying, “It’s a very strange feeling; here I don’t feel like myself!”
The natural environment always has a way of making one lose themselves. In the bustling city, he was the boss of thousands, a figure in business and politics, looking down upon the world. Here, amidst the mountains, under the clear sky, on the muddy path, with no one else around, everything formed a mirror, reflecting another him, one very unfamiliar. Almost forgetting his original self, he naturally became an ordinary man accompanying his beloved to gather greens.
He gazed at Lai Hui with a puzzled look, and from her eyes, he saw himself without his usual facade, the worldly air dissipating, focusing solely on her. Lai Hui also watched him, allowing his hand to reach her face, letting his face come closer, and then she saw her blurred reflection in his eyes. It was a magical moment; his eyes only held her, and hers were the same. In that bustling city, she belonged to him. The transaction of money was a thorn in her heart; pulling it out would mean losing him, leaving a hole that time would heal. If not removed, the thorn would grow into her heart’s flesh, deepening with every encounter, every time he looked at her like he did just then — could it be that over time, as the thorn grew into her flesh, it would no longer hurt?
He came closer and closer, her image in his dark eyes becoming clearer yet still small and distorted. When his cold lips met hers, she lacked the courage to resist, closing her eyes, allowing him to hold her trembling self. She thought, I must be crazy, knowing my state isn’t normal, yet still wanting to continue with him—
“Lai Hui!” He felt her trembling, his forehead touching hers, softly asking at her lips, “What’s wrong? Are you very cold?”
She blinked her eyes as an answer, unwilling to speak with him. Let him think she was cold if she couldn’t talk to him. In truth, she was in pain. The gentler he was to her, the deeper the thorn went. He wrapped her in his coat, pressing her close, and whispered in her ear, “Tell me if you’re cold. Do I have to ask?” He said this, then pressed his face against her frozen ears, passing some warmth to her, only to find her trembling even more. He had no choice but to hold her tight—she warmed up in his embrace, and the two originally cold hearts gradually warmed and intertwined. However, it was just for that moment. The sound of a trumpet echoed through the mountains from below, and she gazed at the smoke rising from the secular world in the distance, then looked up and said, “Let’s go back, it’s time for dinner!”
Dinner did not disappoint Zhou Yuxian. The rustic flavor of the simple village dishes opened his eyes. Mashed taro, fern root soup, water shield, and other wild vegetables were served on enamel plates, filling the table with a rustic charm. The chicken, duck, fish, and meat were not from commercial farms; the meat was tender and succulent. If not for the chipped bowls and the burning corn liquor, this would have been a very satisfying meal. The villagers were hospitable; whenever guests arrived, they would invite the most talkative neighbors to join in drinking. Since Zhou Yuxian was a distinguished guest, his uncle went to the other end of the village to invite the most prestigious person—the village head—to accompany him. Zhou Yuxian had been to many cities, and wherever he went, he was accompanied by mayors or provincial governors, yet there was always a certain insincerity at the dining table. But in this small village, for the first time, he was treated as an ordinary person. No one had heard of Zhou Yuxian, yet the warmth was no less, simply because he was the guest of honor in this house.
Lai Hui knew he only drank red wine, and she tried to decline on his behalf several times, but these villagers, who had faced the yellow earth for most of their lives, feared not being hospitable enough, insisting that Zhou Yuxian take a few sips of the fiery liquor until he teared up.
After dinner, those who had eaten and drunk with them did not leave immediately. A room full of people sat around the stove, smoking tobacco pipes, discussing news they’d seen on TV. Zhou Yuxian didn’t understand much of what they said, but once Lai Hui explained, he couldn’t stop laughing, thinking how these people were so down-to-earth, their ignorance was somewhat embarrassing, yet their simplicity was endearing. If not for the three urgent needs of life, Zhou Yuxian might have adapted to rural life for a week or two, but it wasn’t the case. Every time he came back from the restroom, he wished to drive back to the city immediately. However, each time, Lai Hui was waiting outside for him. When he returned to the room, she had prepared warm water, soap, and a towel for him, then asked once more, “Do you want to go back?”
“How many times have you asked today?” He shook the water off his hands and took the towel she handed him.
