【Chapter Twenty-Seven】
1
Being tightly linked arm in arm by Yanling, Wenyan felt uncomfortable all over, especially because the scent of Yanling’s perfume was completely different from the naturally fragrant floral scent that always emanated from Xiaoqiao, whom he knew so well.
Yanling said, “Wenyan, your body feels so warm! Like an oversized pocket watch.”
Yanling wrapped one arm around Wenyan. The motion was like a raccoon clinging to a tree trunk, making Wenyan quite unable to bear it.
Wenyan complained, “Yanling, don’t do this. I’m afraid I’ll fall down!”
Yanling laughed coquettishly and said, “The weather is cold! Don’t you feel that a cold front arrived tonight?”
Wenyan said, “Then you should have worn a thick coat when you went out.”
Yanling said, “There was sunshine this morning. How was I supposed to know the weather would suddenly change in the afternoon? Let’s go eat spicy hot pot nearby, okay? Eating spicy hot pot in this kind of weather is the most satisfying!”
Wenyan said, “Let me say this first! The money I brought is only enough for me to eat a buffet by myself. You were the one who dragged me out here.”
Yanling said, “Alright, alright. I’ll pay. Oh right, two days ago when I was strolling around Ximending Movie Street, I ran into my junior schoolmate Xiaoqiao. There was a slick-haired, pale-faced boy beside her.”
Wenyan responded with an “Oh,” while thinking to himself, “Why are you telling me this?”
Yanling continued, “Xiaoqiao said that boy was her distant cousin, but no matter how I looked at it, I didn’t believe her.”
Wenyan responded with another “Oh,” while thinking, “Who Xiaoqiao wants to go shopping with is her own freedom.”
Yanling looked at the somewhat strange expression on Wenyan’s face and thought to herself, “I hit the mark, didn’t I? Your Xiaoqiao has transferred her affections to someone else…” Thus, she decided to press her advantage. “Wenyan, it seems your Xiaoqiao has been unfaithful?”
At last Wenyan sighed and said, “Sigh! Xiaoqiao wasn’t unfaithful. That should be Xiaoqiao’s new boyfriend, a senior from her department.”
Pretending to be shocked, Yanling asked, “A new boyfriend? Then where does that leave you, Wenyan? What does she take you for?”
Wenyan said, “Like I’m air. Xiaoqiao and I agreed to break up a few days ago!”
Yanling secretly rejoiced inwardly, thinking, “You’re finally willing to tell the truth, aren’t you? You got dumped and were too embarrassed to admit it!”
Feigning astonishment again, Yanling asked, “Agreed to break up? Even so, Xiaoqiao still shouldn’t immediately flaunt herself around shopping and watching movies with a new lover, should she? Does she not care at all about your feelings?”
Wenyan said calmly, “Since we already broke up, who she wants to shop or watch movies with is her freedom.”
Yanling deliberately probed, “You seem very open-minded about this, Wenyan.”
Wenyan spread out both hands and gave a bitter smile. “The Tamsui River isn’t covered over. The people who can’t let things go are all floating on the surface already.”
Yanling secretly smiled with satisfaction, then said in a tone full of tenderness, “Wenyan, Xiaoqiao really has no judgment! It’s alright, I’ll cherish you properly.”
Wenyan gazed into Yanling’s pair of watery bright eyes, his heart suddenly filled with mixed emotions.
2
Yanling dragged Wenyan into a hot pot restaurant, and a waiter came over to greet them.
Yanling said, “Spicy hot pot, the spicier the better!”
Wenyan asked, “Do you really have to eat something this spicy?”
Yanling said, “In our family, we’ve always eaten very spicy food!”
Wenyan said, “Eating this spicy food makes it very easy to get heatiness, you know? Aren’t you afraid of getting pimples, miss?”
Yanling said, “How could that happen? I’m naturally beautiful, besides, I’m used to eating this way. I love spicy food, but I’m not cruel and ruthless, okay? I won’t say to you: ‘Wenyan, I’m changing my affections and going on dates with a rich playboy.’”
Wenyan said, “Why are you mocking Xiaoqiao?”
Yanling said indignantly, “Xiaoqiao treated you like that, and you’re still defending her?”
Wenyan said, “No harsh words after breaking up. Besides, she also has no control over her own situation.”
Yanling said, “Forget it, I won’t argue about that. Starting today, I’m completely taking over her position.”
Wenyan said, “Yanling, I…I’m still not ready…”
Yanling said angrily, “You really are an idiot! Xiaoqiao is already taking her new lover shopping and to the movies. Having me accompany you is perfect for competing against her.”
Wenyan said, “I truly am not mentally prepared.”
Yanling said boldly, “That’s alright, I’ll give you time.”
Wenyan said, “But this really feels strange.”
Yanling said, “What’s strange about it? Xiaoqiao dumped you. You suffered heartbreak. You need a girl who knows how to cherish you.”
Wenyan gave a bitter smile and said, “Let’s just continue being good friends, okay?”
Yanling thought for a moment. With a serious expression, she said, “Fine. After the clouds disperse, the moon will appear. Anyway, in my heart I’ve already set my mind on you.”
3
After Wenyan returned to the dormitory, his roommates Li Qiwen and Chen Liangmou immediately came over with concern.
Qiwen asked, “Boss, did you reconcile with sister-in-law?”
Liangmou asked, “Has sister-in-law not changed her mind?”
Wenyan shook his head and said, “Fate begins and fate ends. It cannot be forced.”
Qiwen asked again, “Are you really just giving up on sister-in-law like this?”
With a dejected expression, Wenyan said, “Xiaoqiao asked me to forgive her. What else could I say? I only hate that I’m not a rich young master.”
Liangmou said, “Qiwen, let’s go vent our anger on that bastard Wang Jun. Who told him to steal another man’s beloved?”
Wenyan said, “Even if you two sack him up and beat him badly, it still won’t change the established facts.”
Qiwen said, “Boss, you’re just too honest and kind-hearted. That’s why people think you’re easy to bully!”
Wenyan said, “You’re both very loyal, both my good brothers. But matters of love require mutual willingness from both sides. Otherwise, there’s no way to achieve a positive outcome.”
Qiwen said, “But that Xiaoqiao isn’t acting willingly at all! Boss, can you really bear to let her live in regret in the future?”
Wenyan said, “I must respect Xiaoqiao’s choice.”
Qiwen said, “But this definitely isn’t Xiaoqiao’s own choice!”
Wenyan waved his hand and said, “Enough! I’m not some great romantic Romeo…”
4
Inside the luxurious living room of the Xia family mansion, Xia Yitiao was inspecting last month’s reports. “Mommy, this month’s sales performance has clearly rebounded. Setting up the cosmetics counter really produced immediate results.”
Jialing said, “Daddy, although the company’s business has improved, I still don’t feel at ease inside, especially because I feel indebted to our daughter.”
Yitiao said, “We’re also thinking for her happiness, so don’t think too much about it.”
At that moment, Wang Jun and Xiaoqiao had just entered the house.
Yitiao said warmly, “Jun’er, you’re back!”
Wang Jun politely nodded and said, “Uncle, we just came back from watching a movie.”
Yitiao asked, “When are you going to invite your parents over to formally propose marriage?”
Wang Jun scratched his head foolishly and smiled. “Xiaoqiao won’t let me come propose at this time. She said at the very least we should wait until after graduating from university and after I finish military service.”
Yitiao said, “You two could get engaged first, couldn’t you?”
Xiaoqiao complained, “Daddy, don’t pressure me like this!”
Yitiao said, “Dad is thinking for your sake!”
Jialing said, “There’s no need to rush so much, right, Daddy? Our daughter is still studying.”
5
Inside the stacks of the main library, Wenyan encountered Zhang Meihua, who had come looking for books. Wenyan had originally intended to wait until she finished before going over to greet her.
Meihua proactively stopped Wenyan and asked, “Wenyan, what have you been busy with these past two weeks? I haven’t seen you at all in the poetry club office.”
Wenyan said, “Recently I’ve been busy writing submissions for the law department journal. On weekends I also have to go back up the mountain to help pick and process spring tea, so once I get busy I forget to go around the poetry club.”
Meihua said, “Oh right! This weekend my father is coming up to Taipei to give a lecture, and the novelist Long Yingzong will also be attending. Are you interested in listening to the lecture? I can also introduce you to Uncle Long.”
Wenyan said, “I really want to go listen, but my family is short-handed right now. I’m afraid things will become too busy to handle.”
Meihua said, “Then how about this? After the lecture, I’ll bring my father and Uncle Long to Lukeng to find you. You can guide us around and show us the places where Lü Heruo once lived.”
Wenyan said, “The thatched hut where Lü Heruo used to live has already been abandoned for a long time! But I should still be able to find it. You could also bring your father and Long Yingzong to visit Old Baozheng Huolu-bo.”
Meihua said, “That’s a good idea! Would it be convenient for us to stay overnight at your house that evening?”
Wenyan said, “Of course! My house still has a guest room. As for you, you can squeeze in with my younger sister.”
Meihua said, “Alright! I’ll call my father later and tell him the arrangements I made for him. Aren’t you going to the English department to pick up Xiaoqiao for dinner anymore?”
Wenyan said, “There’s no need to anymore.”
Meihua curiously asked, “What happened between the two of you?”
Wenyan said, “There’s another knight protecting the flower beside Xiaoqiao now.”
Meihua asked in surprise, “How did things become like this? Did Xiaoqiao fall for someone else?”
Wenyan said, “For the moment I don’t even know how to explain it. Anyway, Xiaoqiao has unavoidable difficulties.”
Meihua asked, “Xiaoqiao has unavoidable difficulties?”
Wenyan said, “Her father made the decision and told her to date a rich young master.”
Meihua said, “So that’s how it is? Then what are your plans from now on?”
Wenyan said, “I’ll focus on preparing for the lawyer and judicial officer examinations.”
Meihua praised him and said, “That’s very good! Turning grief and anger into strength—you’ve got backbone! How about I treat you to dinner, ambitious young man?”
Wenyan smiled bitterly and said, “Please, Meihua, don’t call me that in front of classmates. Otherwise they’ll suspect me…”
Meihua asked in confusion, “Suspect you of what?”
Wenyan said, “Suspect that I have hemorrhoids!”
Meihua said, “Hahaha! You really make things up! Come on, young master.”
6
Meihua and Wenyan arrived at a small restaurant in an alley. Wenyan ordered a large bowl of braised pork rice, while Meihua ordered several side dishes.
Meihua said, “Wenyan, do you still remember the long novel I wrote?”
Wenyan said, “Of course I remember. Didn’t it stop serialization afterward?”
Meihua said, “Yes. Actually, in the latter half I wrote the story of you and Xiaoqiao into it.”
Wenyan asked, “The story of Xiaoqiao and me?”
Meihua said, “Mm! If you want to read it, I can bring it to you another day.”
Wenyan said, “No need! It would only stir up painful memories.”
Meihua said, “Seeing you like this suddenly reminds me of the poet Zheng Chouyu’s poem ‘When the West Wind Passed’: ‘At this moment, I so naturally remember those youthful days / Ah, those days, the passing of love was just like the passing of the west wind…’”
Wenyan said, “Can we change the subject? Meihua, it’s only heartbreak, not the end of the world. I’m really not that tragic.”
Meihua said, “Alright then. But I don’t want to see you forcing yourself to smile.”
Wenyan said, “Of course my mood has been affected somewhat. You can’t expect me to grin foolishly at everyone I meet. I’m not Zhuangzi, able to beat on a basin and sing after my wife dies.”
Meihua laughed and said, “If you really were like that, that would also be very strange.”
13
The group arrived at Chen Huo-lu’s house. Huo-lu, his daughter-in-law Ai-jiao, and his granddaughter Bao-feng were all at home.
Bao-feng brought over a tea tray, tea set, and peanuts to entertain the guests: “Please have some tea.”
Wen-yan explained the purpose of their visit: “Uncle Huo-lu, these two are old friends of Teacher Wang Wen-bo. I brought them here to visit you. They want to chat with you about Teacher Wang’s life in our village back then.”
Zhang Wen-huan said: “Mr. Chen, some months ago my daughter Mei-hua once came to interview you. Thanks to your explanation of the Lukou base incident back then, I had the chance to understand Lu He-ruo’s life here. Thank you very much.”
Chen Huo-lu said: “You are too polite! Back then Lu He-ruo and his comrades often came and went from my house. He and Zhang Hai-qing even taught classes at the school my son Qi-wang opened, teaching the children in our village how to recite poetry.”
Zhang Wen-huan said: “I heard from my daughter that on the night the military police came up the mountain to arrest people, Lu He-ruo and Zhang Hai-qing left together, and later it seemed that he was bitten by a poisonous snake halfway and died from the poison.”
Chen Huo-lu said: “That’s right! That night it was right here in this living room. The two of them left together with my daughter Ru-yu and Liao Mu-sheng’s younger sister Qing-yun. The situation at that time was extremely urgent. Later, the part about Lu He-ruo being bitten to death by a poisonous snake on the way was only mentioned to me several years later when my daughter and son-in-law returned.”
Zhang Wen-huan asked: “That Liao Qing-yun you mentioned, I wonder how I might contact her?”
Huo-lu said: “My daughter Ru-yu did not tell me the details back then either. Soon afterward someone secretly informed the military, so they hurriedly left. During these years they have written back several letters, but none of them included an address, so I also do not know how to contact them.”
Liao Ai-jiao said: “Mr. Zhang, you can leave your contact address. The next time my sister-in-law Ru-yu and the others return, I will tell them to contact you proactively.”
Long Ying-zong said: “That is also a way. After all, their identities are sensitive.”
Zhang Wen-huan said: “All right! It seems this is the only way.”
14
At dusk, Wen-yan accompanied Mei-hua on a walk along the mountain path near the entrance of the house.
Mei-hua said: “This kind of mountain life really feels wonderful.”
Wen-yan said: “Actually, we farming families who grow tea in the mountains work very hard. It is not as leisurely as you imagine.”
Mei-hua asked: “Wen-yan, has Xiao-qiao not come back to see you recently?”
Wen-yan said: “No.”
Mei-hua said: “Do you truly have no regrets in your heart?”
Wen-yan said: “Actually, to say I have no regrets would be deceiving myself. But during these days, I have calmly thought things through. Xiao-qiao and I were born into two completely different environments. She is a rich young lady, while I am just a country boy from the village. The gap between us is so enormous. No wonder her father has class prejudice. Thinking about it, I really was reaching above my station with Xiao-qiao.”
Mei-hua said: “It seems your thinking has become more mature than before.”
Wen-yan said: “It would be more accurate to say I have finally recognized reality. Xiao-qiao is a favored daughter of heaven, while I am a wild child who grew up playing in the mud. If Xiao-qiao had the same upbringing as you, perhaps these problems between us would not even be problems.”
Mei-hua said shyly: “Wen-yan, as I gradually came to understand you, I discovered that I gradually started liking you as well. But I realized there was a Xiao-qiao by your side, so I settled for second best, thinking that being your good friend would already satisfy me.”
Wen-yan said: “Mei-hua, you have always been a good friend with whom I can talk about my feelings. But what I am thinking about now is not searching for a new relationship, but realizing my life goals as soon as possible.”
Mei-hua said: “I understand your thoughts, and I support you in pursuing your dreams. People become great because of dreams, aren’t they?”
Wen-yan said: “Indeed, people become great because of dreams, but great people do not only possess dreams! They must put them into action, and they have never been completely defeated by setbacks.”
Mei-hua looked at Wen-yan with a strange gaze and said: “Wen-yan, what kind of boy exactly are you?”
Wen-yan laughed and said: “I’m just a wild child living in the mountains, eating sweet potatoes and taro every day, growing up while farting all the way.”
Mei-hua laughed along and said: “Growing up farting all the way? What an amusing way to put it!”
15
In the night of the mountain village, the symphony of insects echoed everywhere. Inside Wen-ying’s bedroom, Mei-hua and Wen-ying hugged their quilts and leaned against the headboard chatting.
Wen-ying said: “Sister Mei-hua, I can smell a floral fragrance on you!”
Mei-hua smiled and said: “I like putting a few dried flower petals into the bathtub.”
Wen-ying said: “So that’s how it is? Then I also want to pick some fragrant flowers.”
Mei-hua said: “Isn’t there a magnolia tree planted beside your front gate? Once magnolia petals are dried, they can be used for flower-scented baths.”
Wen-ying said: “Magnolia flowers can be used?”
Mei-hua said: “Mm!”
Wen-ying said: “Sister Xiao-qiao also has a fragrance on her body. She said she put on some perfume.”
Mei-hua asked: “Do you like Sister Xiao-qiao more, or do you like me more?”
Wen-ying thought for a moment and said: “I like both! But my mother said Sister Xiao-qiao will not come to our house anymore in the future.”
Mei-hua asked: “Oh? Did your brother make Sister Xiao-qiao angry?”
Wen-ying said: “Not at all! My brother has never quarreled with Sister Xiao-qiao.”
Mei-hua asked: “Then what is the reason Xiao-qiao no longer comes to your house?”
Wen-ying said: “I heard my mother say that Sister Xiao-qiao’s father thinks our family are just farmers. But what is so bad about farming?”
Mei-hua said: “That is because her father has class prejudice! My father does not have such ideas.”
Wen-ying asked: “Sister Mei-hua, do you like my brother?”
Mei-hua smiled and nodded: “Yes! Your brother has a kind heart and is very talented.”
Wen-ying said: “My brother cares a lot about the family. At home he can decide many things. Sometimes I feel he is the male master of our household.”
Mei-hua asked curiously: “Why do you feel that way?”
Wen-ying said: “Maybe because my brother thinks more maturely. Grandma and Mother both respect him very much.”
Mei-hua said: “Tomorrow, you have to teach me how to pick tea leaves!”
Wen-ying asked: “Sister Mei-hua, are you staying to pick tea?”
Mei-hua said: “Yes! My father agreed to let me stay here for a few more days.”
Wen-ying said happily: “Yay! Then at night I can hug big sister while sleeping.”
Mei-hua rubbed her cheeks against Wen-ying’s mushroom-cut hair and said: “I also like letting you hug me while sleeping.”
16
There was now an extra tea-picking girl in the Yu family tea plantation, naturally attracting the curiosity of the neighbors. In Ai-yu’s tea plantation, a group of village girls chatted noisily while picking tea.
Village Girl A asked: “Have you all noticed? The girl helping the Yu family pick tea is not the rich young lady who came last time!”
Village Girl B said: “Maybe Wen-yan from the Yu family changed girlfriends recently?”
Village Girl C asked: “Ai-yu, do you know that newly arrived girl?”
Ai-yu shook her head and said: “I don’t know her! She should be Wen-yan’s new girlfriend, right?”
Village Girl D said: “Yesterday afternoon when I passed by the old village chief’s house, I saw that girl!”
Ai-yu said: “Wen-yan’s former girlfriend seems to have already broken up with him. She has not appeared recently.”
Village Girl B said: “Comparatively speaking, the previous rich girl still had fairer skin and was prettier.”
Ai-yu said: “This current one can speak Taiwanese. She is one of our Taiwanese girls.”
Wen-ying taught Mei-hua how to pick tea, and Mei-hua learned very quickly.
Nearby, Grandma Zhou Tian said: “Chun-ah, this girl named Mei-hua seems to have good upbringing. I like her. At least she is one of us Taiwanese.”
Lai-chun said: “Mother, you are overthinking things! Mei-hua and our Wen-yan are only good friends.”
“Is that so?” Zhou Tian said. “I thought she was Wen-yan’s new girlfriend.”
Lai-chun said: “Young people have their own thoughts. We should try not to interfere with them.”
Zhou Tian said: “Mei-hua’s father seems very upright. I feel an affinity with this girl.”
Lai-chun said: “From what I feel, our Wen-yan still likes Xiao-qiao more.”
Zhou Tian said: “What use is liking her? The other side simply looks down on us.”
