Chapter 4: Chunjiu Town

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Ye’s father also worked at the town’s distillery as a master brewer. However, work had been particularly demanding lately; he left early and returned late, often not getting home until deep into the night. Thus, only Ye’s mother and siblings dined together in the evenings.

At noon, more than half a bowl of stir-fried shredded pork with snow mustard greens, prepared by Wang Fang, remained.

Ye Rui reheated the leftover dish, while Ye Tang picked up the chopsticks and bowl and headed into the main room to place them on the table.

But as they glanced around, their mother was nowhere to be seen. When Ye Rui noticed the wooden door to her parents’ room ajar, she stepped inside to find Wang Fang sitting by the bedside, sewing the soles of a pair of bright red cotton slippers, festive in color.

Ye Rui paused and softly called out, “Mother.”

Wang Fang set the sewing aside and waved warmly at her daughter.

Sitting beside her mother, Ye Rui lowered her gaze, watching the meticulous stitches.

In a low voice, Wang Fang said, “With the betrothal gift settled and the wedding date set, your day to formally marry is drawing near. You have cold limbs and are prone to chilly feet. Since childhood, you’ve always worn the slippers I made to keep you warm. I’ll make you a few more pairs to bring as part of your dowry to the Zhou family.”

Hearing this, Ye Rui sniffled slightly and playfully protested, “We all live in Chunjiu Town. Even if I marry, I’ll come home every day to see you, Dad, and Little Tang.”

The youngest daughter’s reluctant affection was the most heart-wrenching, and Wang Fang’s heart ached.

Yet she deliberately adopted a stern tone, “New brides don’t run back to their natal homes every day. If the neighbors see, how will your in-laws respect you? Your father and I will be laughed at, our backs poked fun at.”

Ye Rui blinked but remained silent.

Wang Fang patted her head gently. “You and Qingyuan have known each other since childhood and share a deep bond. This child, in both character and appearance, is good—I have seen it with my own eyes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to this marriage. Once you start your own family, you become part of the Zhou household. You and Qingyuan must live well and manage your little home properly.”

Ye Rui nodded. “Mother, I will live well.”

Wang Fang smiled and took her daughter’s delicate, fair hand in hers, speaking affectionately, “This afternoon, your eldest aunt came by, and everything was arranged. Her family has a good cotton harvest, which will be reserved for you. The Liu family in town are skilled artisans, famous for making wedding quilts. They will make seven sets of quilts with the cotton, enough for all seasons. The Liu family also has duck down and will make one duck down quilt, making eight sets in total.”

“The Chen family from the west end of town make fine furniture. I’ll order a set of redwood wardrobe and dressing table from them for you to bring to the Zhou family as part of your dowry.”

“Twenty years ago, your father brewed excellent wine at home. We will set aside six bottles as part of your dowry. My jewelry includes a jade bangle and a gold ring, which I will pass on to you. Be sure to keep them safe—they will be treasured heirlooms.”

A daughter’s marriage was a matter of utmost importance. When it came to dowry, Wang Fang never spared any effort. In addition to quilts and furniture, she prepared scattered household items like pots, pans, dowry chests, family heirloom buckets, everlasting lamps, and dragon-and-phoenix bedding.

Listening to her mother’s words, Ye Rui’s reluctance welled up inside her, bringing tears to her eyes. She instinctively replied, “Mother, that’s too much dowry.”

Wang Fang chuckled. “Silly child, the more dowry you have, the more it shows how much your father and I cherish you. Once you’re with the Zhou family, if you ever suffer injustice, don’t be afraid—your natal family will always be your strongest support.”

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A mother’s love for her child is profound and far-reaching. Wang Fang wanted her daughter to marry into the Zhou family not to suffer hardship, but knowing her natal family would always be her strongest pillar of support.

—

In the room, mother and daughter immersed themselves in intimate, heartfelt conversation.

It wasn’t until Ye Tang, guarding a plate of fragrant cold noodles, hungry enough to feel as if his chest and back were pressed together, cried out, “Why aren’t you eating yet?” that Ye Rui and Wang Fang smiled and came out of the room. The three of them then began their meal together.

The stir-fried shredded pork with snow mustard greens was crisp and savory; the cold noodles tossed with green peppers and garlic cloves were fragrant and flavorful, with firm, springy noodles that were simply delicious.

Ye Rui and Wang Fang each had a bowl, and the remainder was devoured by the half-grown Ye Tang.

After dinner, Ye Tang helped clear the dishes. Ye Rui quickly washed the bowls.

Before night fell, a small wooden table was moved into the courtyard, where she began watching her younger brother do his homework.

At school, Ye Tang’s grades were decent but he was easily distracted, especially when doing homework, often drifting off. So Ye Rui sat nearby, keeping an eye on him.

For example, just now, after focusing for a while, his mind wandered again.

He twirled his pen in hand, staring at Ye Rui who was reading, and couldn’t resist asking out of curiosity, “Sister, when are you planning to meet Brother Qingyuan?”

At his words, Ye Rui paused turning the page, a hint of awkwardness crossing her expression.

But the next second, she wouldn’t indulge him. Rolling her book into a tube, she lightly tapped his head and chided, “Adult matters are none of children’s business. Concentrate on your homework.”

Ye Tang: “...”

The lightly scolded younger brother settled down and focused on his homework. When night fully descended, he moved the small table back into the illuminated main room to continue.

When Ye Tang was nearly finished with his homework, Ye Rui sat at her spot. She tilted her head to gaze at the clear night sky, where the moon shone bright and stars were sparse. Her long lashes fluttered once. Rising, she stepped outside.

After all, she was about to meet her fiancé.

Ye Rui fetched water in the courtyard and washed her face, then went into the bedroom on the south side.

Inside, she picked up a comb and, facing the mirror, restyled her hair. She tidied her clothes before closing the door and stepping out, heading toward Lotus Pond.

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—

Though Chunjiu Town was remote, nestled among high mountains and isolated roads with little contact beyond its borders, its scenery was genuinely charming and beautiful. The most notable sight was Lotus Pond.

Lotus Pond lacked dedicated caretakers, yet every summer the lotus flowers bloomed magnificently.

The green lotus leaves rippled like waves, and the blossoms in shades of purple and pink were intoxicatingly lovely.

Moreover, according to the usual calendar, lotus blooms appear between the Grain Full solar term and the Autumnal Equinox, from June to September.

But Lotus Pond in Chunjiu Town was different. Here, the lotus tips peeked out by the Lesser Full solar term and didn’t wither until the Frost’s Descent, giving it an exceptionally long flowering period.

Furthermore, the town’s ancestral hall held a county gazetteer dating back to the late Qing dynasty, which included records about Lotus Pond.

Thus, Lotus Pond was a uniquely beautiful feature of Chunjiu Town, a favored meeting place for young couples deeply in love.

Ye Rui quickened her pace and soon arrived at the edge of Lotus Pond.

It was early spring; the lotus tips had yet to emerge. After dinner, villagers with some free time often came here for a stroll, inevitably encountering acquaintances.

A familiar aunt happened to see her. After exchanging greetings, Ye Rui glanced toward a pavilion within the pond.

She and her fiancé had always met at that pavilion. As expected, across the distance, she caught sight of a familiar figure standing there.

Seeing this, a faint smile curved Ye Rui’s lips as she walked toward the pavilion.

Just then, her expression faltered. She noticed a smaller, delicate figure standing beside the man.

Ye Rui was momentarily stunned. Approaching closer, she found only Zhou Qingyuan inside the pavilion; the other figure had evidently left.

Zhou Qingyuan looked at his fiancée standing under the moonlight and quickly stepped down from the pavilion to her side, smiling, “Rui, you’ve come.”

They stood face to face.

Zhou Qingyuan wore a polyester shirt, his frame slender and appearance refined. Because he often helped at the family’s traditional medicine clinic, a faint herbal scent clung to him.

Ye Rui nodded softly, inhaling the herbal fragrance with a puzzled glance. “Was someone else in the pavilion just now?”