Chapter Four
After noon had passed, the entire convoy of carriages and horses had crossed the river. Approaching the entrance of Stonehorn Mountain, Qiyao Yao drew close to Chen Ren's carriage and asked, “Uncle Chen Ren, can the convoy pause here for a while?”
Chen Ren glanced around, nodded, and said, “This spot is spacious; let everyone rest for a bit.”
Qiyao Yao then called out forwards and backwards, “Everyone, take a break! Time to feed the horses and rest!”
At once, the clinking of bells fell silent.
Qiyao Yao spurred her horse to the three-horse carriage and called, “Senior Brother Yu Sheng, Sister Gui Mu, get off and stretch your legs!”
Gu Yu Sheng leapt down, rubbing his legs as he said, “After sitting so long, my legs have gone numb!”
Xiao Gui Mu cast him a sidelong glance and said, “Second Miss, he’s been bouncing around in the carriage all the way. The numb legs are just an act—he’s fishing for sympathy! Don’t fall for it.”
Qiyao Yao squinted and smiled, “Rest assured, Sister Gui Mu; his little tricks won’t fool me!”
She surveyed the surroundings and spotted a large tree not far from the salt road on the right. “Let’s rest under that tree.” The three of them made their way there.
The tree was ancient and massive; its roots protruded from the earth.
Qiyao Yao tied her fiery horse to the exposed roots and took out some provisions and water from her saddlebag, offering them to Xiao Gui Mu. “Sister Gui Mu, have some water and dry food.”
Xiao Gui Mu only took the water. Sitting on a root, she drank while gazing upward at the canopy, a smile playing at her lips. The tension from the morning had vanished.
Suddenly, Xiao Gui Mu exclaimed, “Second Miss, come see this!”
Startled, Qiyao Yao asked, “Sister Gui Mu, why the sudden excitement? What’s so interesting?”
Pointing upward, Xiao Gui Mu said, “Look closely—doesn’t the tree’s canopy look like a giant bird’s nest?”
Qiyao Yao looked up again and agreed, “It really does! It looks just like a huge bird’s nest!”
Hearing this, Gu Yu Sheng approached and gazed upward. “That nest is big enough to hide two people.”
Qiyao Yao added, “If we squeeze, it could hold three.”
Xiao Gui Mu’s eyes widened. “This ‘nest’ is man-made! Look at those big branches—there are scratch marks!”
Qiyao Yao examined it carefully. “Indeed, it’s artificial. But who would build such an inconspicuous giant nest on this lonely tree? Why here?”
Xiao Gui Mu speculated, “Probably a shelter made by hunters.”
Gu Yu Sheng looked around. The area was open, lacking bushes or many trees—not an ideal hiding place for prey. He doubted hunters built it. Then he recalled the incident last time—a young woman from a neighboring village had trouble here. Suddenly, it dawned on him: the flower thief must have been hiding in this tree. Thinking this, he quietly told Qiyao Yao, “Sister Yao, rested enough? It’s getting late, and we still have a long way to Yang City. We should press on.”
Qiyao Yao was munching on dry food. Xiao Gui Mu scolded, “You’re just a hitchhiker; who made you the boss of this convoy?”
Qiyao Yao heard the edge in Xiao Gui Mu’s voice toward Gu Yu Sheng. She had long known Xiao Gui Mu fancied Gu Yu Sheng, while Gu Yu Sheng secretly admired her, and her own heart belonged to the masked hero. Thinking, “If I don’t love him, I must let him give up,” she adopted a stern tone. “Good question, Sister Gui Mu! As the convoy’s escort, my word counts. How long we rest and when we leave is none of Senior Brother Yu Sheng’s concern!”
The longer they lingered under the tree, the more obvious their presence became. Gu Yu Sheng did not want the flower thief to discover anyone had been there. He spoke softly, “I’ve heard Sister Yao secretly admires the masked hero and wishes to offer herself to him; I’m truly impressed! But the masked hero is elusive—no one knows where he is now. So, Sister Yao wants to linger here, hoping for a chance encounter with him again?”
Qiyao Yao’s face flushed deeply. “Yes, Senior Brother Yu Sheng, you guessed right! Sister Gui Mu, please inform Uncle Chen Ren to lead the convoy back to Yang City. Tell him I, Qiyao Yao, will not return home today. I shall wait here for the masked hero’s arrival—seeking another chance encounter!”
Xiao Gui Mu, troubled, asked, “Second Miss, why put yourself through this? What if the masked hero isn’t as you imagine—what if he’s a boy with a crooked mouth and lazy eyes? What will you do then?”
Gu Yu Sheng cursed silently, “It’s you, Xiao Gui Mu, who’s the crooked, lazy-eyed one!”
Qiyao Yao swore, “He saved my life; no matter what, I must marry him!”
Gu Yu Sheng regretted his earlier words but was now both happy and worried hearing her vow. Happy because the masked hero was himself; worried because if she found out the truth and still didn’t love him, what then? He longed to confess but knew it wasn’t the right moment; she wouldn’t believe him anyway. When to reveal himself? He did not know, thinking, “Perhaps when I top the imperial exams—that would be the best time.”
By evening, the convoy entered Yang City.
Xiao Gui Mu had left Yang City as a child to work at the salt fields and had never returned. Seeing the bustling crowds and prosperous streets now, she was overjoyed.
She asked Qiyao Yao, riding alongside the three-horse carriage, “Second Miss, can we stop here?”
Qiyao Yao inquired, “What for?”
Xiao Gui Mu answered, “I want to get off and go shopping.”
Qiyao Yao replied, “We can stop, but night is falling soon. I’m afraid you’ll get lost. Better to rest at the Qiyao Salt Shop tonight and shop tomorrow.”
Xiao Gui Mu looked west; the sun had set. “Gui Mu will obey Second Miss.”
Suddenly, Gu Yu Sheng shouted, “Stop, stop!”
Qiyao Yao turned, “Senior Brother Yu Sheng, what now?”
“I’m getting off,” he said, standing up.
“No way! Wait until we get home!”
“I came to Yang City to see my elder brother about urgent matters, not to visit the Qiyao Salt Shop,” Gu Yu Sheng insisted.
Qiyao Yao responded firmly, “I don’t care! Since you rode in my family’s carriage, you must first visit our salt shop—our old custom. Besides, it’s dark now; I suggest you stay overnight and meet your brother tomorrow.”
Admiring her prudence, Gu Yu Sheng laid a straw mat over the salt bags and sat down slowly.
The jingling of horse bells echoed toward the Qiyao Salt Shop.
Qiyao Qiongqiong, hearing the familiar bells, hurried inside to tell Qiyao Wei, “Father, Second Sister is back!”
Qiyao Wei, busy with accounts, nodded and said, “Go to the back room and inform your mother.”
Just then, Yin Yuanyuan arrived. “No need for Qiong’er to notify! With such loud bells, I’m not deaf—I heard them already!”
Gu Yu Sheng was the first to jump down and rushed inside, shouting, “Uncle Qiyao, Uncle Yin, Yu Sheng’s here to visit!”
Xiao Gui Mu muttered under her breath, “Look at you.”
Yin Yuanyuan grabbed him, teasing, “Yu Sheng, did you come just to visit? Where are your gifts?”
Everyone noticed Gu Yu Sheng’s empty hands. Qiongqiong knew their mother was testing his wit and said, “Yu Sheng, it’s been a long time since you visited the Qiyao Salt Shop. How can you come empty-handed today?”
Gu Yu Sheng smiled, “Sister Qiong, who said I came empty-handed?”
Qiongqiong asked, “Where are your gifts then?”
Gu Yu Sheng replied, “They’re all on the carriage outside the salt shop.”
Yin Yuanyuan laughed, “Nonsense! The carriage is filled with salt.”
Gu Yu Sheng smiled, “That salt is the gift Yu Sheng offers to Uncle Qiyao and Uncle Yin today.”
Yin Yuanyuan retorted, “That salt was purchased with three thousand taels of silver for the Qiyao Salt Shop.”
Gu Yu Sheng said, “I’m not lying! Every grain of that salt contains Yu Sheng’s sweat. Isn’t the crystallized sweat a gift?”
Yin Yuanyuan laughed heartily. “Yu Sheng, Uncle Qiyao often praises your eloquence. Today’s proof—you really are a smooth talker! Just your nerve is a bit thick!”
Gu Yu Sheng bowed, “Thank you both uncles for your praise.”
At that moment, Qiyao Yao entered. “Father, mother, all goods have been unloaded.”
Qiyao Wei stood up immediately, “Time to start dinner!” Qiyao Yao interjected, “Dad, Mom, please wait a moment, there’s still a guest.”
Yin Yuanyuan asked, “Who else?”
Xiao Gui Mu stepped inside and knelt before Qiyao Wei and Yin Yuanyuan. “Greetings, Boss Qiyao, Madam Qiyao.”
Yin Yuanyuan quickly helped her up, asking, “Who is this lovely young lady?”
Xiao Gui Mu replied, “Madam, I am Xiao Gui Mu, daughter of the salt field’s overseer, Xiao.”
“Are you Gui Mu?” Yin Yuanyuan held her hands and surveyed her from head to toe. “Beautiful! You resemble your mother when she was young. Gui Mu, Gui Mu, ‘Gui Mu Chun Feng’—such a fresh and unique name. I gave it to you.”
Xiao Gui Mu asked, “Madam, did you name me?”
Proudly, Yin Yuanyuan said, “Not only did I name you, but I also delivered you into this world.”
Xiao Gui Mu had disliked her name since childhood. “Thank you for bringing me safely into the world, madam. But why such a strange name?”
Surprised, Yin Yuanyuan asked, “Strange? Is it really?”
Feigning sorrow, Xiao Gui Mu said, “Of course! When playing with friends, if we quarreled, they’d say, ‘Stinky Gui Mu, go home and take a bath; don’t stink up the place!’ Madam, I was teased because of this name!” She glanced at Gu Yu Sheng, hoping for confirmation.
Gu Yu Sheng seemed uncooperative and told Yin Yuanyuan, “Uncle Yin, she was lazy as a child, rarely bathed, always dirty!”
Xiao Gui Mu shot him a glare. “Madam, do you know who teased me the most with this name?”
Yin Yuanyuan asked, “How would I know? Your salt field is by the sea, and I’m in the Qiyao Salt Shop in Yang City.”
Fuming, Xiao Gui Mu said, “It was the shameless Second Young Master Gu—it was awful!”
Gu Yu Sheng feigned innocence, smiling, “Am I that bad?”
Xiao Gui Mu glared, “Absolutely despicable!”
Yin Yuanyuan cooed, “Oh, I see! This name did cause our little Gui Mu some trouble. But, Gui Mu, do you know its meaning?”
Xiao Gui Mu asked, “Madam, what does it mean?”
Yin Yuanyuan replied, “‘Gui Mu Chun Feng’—it’s deeply meaningful.”
Though Xiao Gui Mu knew the phrase’s literal meaning, she didn’t grasp its significance.
Seeing her puzzled look, Yin Yuanyuan said, “Still don’t understand? Let me tell you a story, and you’ll see!”
“That was seventeen years ago…”
Seventeen years past, at dusk, the sky over Yang City was gray.
Due to famine and chaos, business at the salt shop was slow. Once night fell, the staff closed the shop and rested.
The salt shop owner, Qiyao Wei, had gone on a trip; after dinner, Madam Yin Yuanyuan and her two daughters went to bed. Lying down, Yin Yuanyuan told them one fairy tale after another, but the girls were energetic and reluctant to sleep even by the second watch. Yin Yuanyuan soothed them, scolding gently, until she herself drifted off.
Just as she slept soundly, a loud knocking came at the door.
Opening her eyes, she asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Uncle Chen Ren,” came the steward’s voice.
She sat up and, tucking the covers over her daughters, asked, “Uncle Chen Ren, such a late hour—what’s the matter?”
“Madam, a few ragged men with several children came to the shop, saying they want to see the master,” Chen Ren reported from outside.
Yin Yuanyuan said, “The master is away on a trip, you know that! Did you tell them?”
“Yes, but they said if the master isn’t home, they want to see you instead,” Chen Ren replied from both inside and out.
Changing clothes, Yin Yuanyuan muttered, “Who comes visiting at this hour?” She asked, “Uncle Chen Ren, did you inquire about their origins?”
“Yes. One man said his surname is Gu, named Datong, from the Central Plains,” Chen Ren answered.
“Gu Datong? From the Central Plains? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Yin Yuanyuan hurried to open the door. “Quick, open the shop and let them in.”
Chen Ren carried a lantern ahead, Yin Yuanyuan followed. As the door opened, she called out, “Brother Gu, where are you?”
A man’s silhouette approached. “Sister Yin, I’m here!”
By the lantern’s light, Yin Yuanyuan examined him from head to toe—it was indeed her senior brother, Gu Datong. Surprised and delighted, she greeted him, “Brother Gu, when did you arrive in Yang City? Why are you in such a state?”
Gu Datong was too moved to speak. He took her hand, then turned to several figures crouching in the shadows. “Brother Tianjian, Aunt Rouya, children, we’re finally home…” before collapsing to the ground.
Yin Yuanyuan panicked, supporting him. “Brother Gu, what’s wrong?”
He sat on the ground, smiling weakly. “Sister Yin, I’m fine! Just haven’t eaten in days—feeling hungry…”
Still shaken, Yin Yuanyuan said, “You scared me to death!”
From the shadows stepped a young couple and two boys. The woman was pregnant and carried a baby girl. They gathered around Gu Datong, weeping weakly—clearly starved.
Yin Yuanyuan called, “Uncle Chen Hong, hurry! Prepare a meal.” She took the baby and helped Gu Datong inside.
Soon, the Qiyao Salt Shop was brightly lit. All servants were awakened: cooks began cooking; others cleaned and prepared beds and hung curtains. Though these guests were refugees, Yin Yuanyuan was overjoyed.
In the parlor, a large oil lamp glowed. Gu Datong sat waiting for food, staring at the lamp. Present were Xiao Tianjian, Zhao Rouya, Gu Yuren, and Gu Yu Sheng; Zhao Rouya held the sleeping Gu Yuru, who had just drunk milk. Tea cups before each remained untouched, but the trays of snacks were empty. Gu Yuren and Gu Yu Sheng kept glancing toward the kitchen doorway. The clatter of dishes and food aromas from the kitchen made their mouths water. Waiting to eat was agonizing, especially for the famished—the wait felt like centuries.
Dinner was served! Yin Yuanyuan happily brought a large basin of white rice porridge to the table; maids brought a large bowl of pickles.
Gu Datong could not wait. Hearing Yin Yuanyuan’s call, he hurried over, sat around the table, and began devouring the porridge.
Yin Yuanyuan took Gu Yuru from Zhao Rouya’s arms and said, “The porridge is hot; eat slowly. We have fish and meat stored, but since you haven’t eaten in a long time, it’s best not to eat fish immediately. Tonight, just some pickles and thin porridge to settle your stomach. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare a proper welcome meal.”
“Thank you so much, Sister Yin!” Gu Datong muttered, his face buried in the bowl.
“No need to thank me—we’re fellow disciples!” she replied.
“Indeed,” Gu Datong said.
Yin Yuanyuan remembered her senior sister Lou Mingxuan and Gu Datong were married. “Brother Gu, why didn’t Sister Lou come?”
He began to answer when Zhao Rouya suddenly cried out, “Tianjian, my belly hurts terribly…”
Xiao Tianjian asked, “Did you eat too much?”
Covering her belly and clutching his sleeve, Zhao Rouya said, “I’m about to give birth!”
“Giving birth?” Yin Yuanyuan quickly passed Gu Yuru to a maid and rushed to Zhao Rouya’s side. “Sister, finish this bowl of porridge quickly.”
“I can’t; the pain is too much!” Zhao Rouya was sweating, struggling.
“Childbirth is hard work! You must eat this porridge, no matter what!” Yin Yuanyuan commanded. Having given birth herself, she remained calm. She sent Chen Ren to fetch a midwife and ordered the maids to prepare the delivery room.
“All right, I’ll drink it…” Zhao Rouya was a strong woman and obeyed.
Despite the pain and sweat, she slowly finished the porridge. Everyone present—Yin Yuanyuan, Gu Datong, Xiao Tianjian, and the salt shop staff—were moved to tears.
By the third watch, the midwife had yet to arrive.
Zhao Rouya’s labor pains intensified, her moans grew louder.
Yin Yuanyuan paced anxiously, cursing, “That Uncle Chen Ren is decades old but so unreliable!”
Chen Ren returned alone, panting.
“Where’s the midwife?” Yin Yuanyuan asked.
“Madam, unfortunately, I searched all nearby midwives’ homes—they’re all out on night calls,” Chen Ren said.
“Where did they go?” Yin Yuanyuan pressed.
“They’re delivering babies,” Chen Ren replied.
Furious, Yin Yuanyuan cursed, “What kind of day is this? Are all the women in Yang City giving birth tonight?” She told Chen Ren, “Please try harder and look farther for a midwife.”
Chen Ren lifted the lantern, “Yes, madam.”
At that moment, an experienced maid rushed in. “Madam, the laboring woman is about to give birth. Without a midwife, what shall we do?”
Yin Yuanyuan said, “No time left! I’ll have to deliver the baby myself!”
She instructed the maid to secure the delivery room and watch over the woman; ordered the cook to boil water; and returned to her room to fetch a pair of scissors, heating them over the stove.
Within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a baby girl cried out into the world.