Looking forward to the spring breeze

Chapter 2

Jiangnan is the most prosperous region, and estates of over a hundred qing (approximately 6.7 hectares) are not uncommon. The Yu family's estate, however, is only about forty qing, and being remote and secluded, it went unnoticed. After a month of vigilance without any action from the bandits, the farmers in the estate became somewhat complacent. Unexpectedly, trouble struck just then.

It had just rained that day, and there was no moon that night; the air carried a chill of early autumn. The farmer on night watch had stood guard for half the night, finally falling asleep in the latter half of the night. When he awoke, the bandits who had launched a night raid had already ridden into the village.

The bandits had clearly done their homework before attacking, avoiding the tenants in the village and charging straight into the woods. Fortunately, they had taken precautions; once the horse-riding bandits entered the woods, they seemed to lose their bearings, running around wildly until they all got stuck and could not get out.

After dawn, Abbess Jingyi came out to clean up the mess. She tied up about ten men and sent them all to the yamen.

①The Cui clan of Qinghe was a prominent clan in northern China during the Han Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties. They were one of the five most famous clans during the Tang Dynasty.

Huzhou City Tour

three

Yu Youtong's estate is located in Huzhou, not far to the north of Taihu Lake. Huzhou is not a peaceful place; bandits often garrison the Tianmu Mountains to the east, and water bandits roam Taihu Lake to the north. However, compared to the constantly war-torn north, this place is a rare peace.

Prefect Liu Sheng of Huzhou was a decent official. He had spent considerable effort and suffered heavy losses dealing with the bandits roaming the region, without any success. However, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a golden opportunity in broad daylight. He had all the bandits sent by the Yu family bound, paraded them through the streets as a warning, and then set up an execution ground at Caishikou, beheading several of them and hanging their heads above the city wall. This effectively deterred many small groups of bandits, and the region became much quieter for a time.

The Yu family estate has also become quiet.

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Yu Youtong, Qingdai, and Bailing picked chrysanthemums and brewed wine using methods from ancient books. The three of them chatted and joked until dark, when An Hui, a young nun serving Abbess Jingyi, came to call her, saying that the abbess invited her.

Yu Youtong, used to being casual with Abbess Jingyi, didn't bother to change her clothes and went to Huaiyuan Garden reeking of alcohol. As soon as she entered, Abbess Jingyi pinched her nose and glared at her, frowning as she said, "Look at you! You look exactly like a female butcher, not a bit like a girl. Get away from me right now, or you'll suffocate me with your stench." Although she was blaming her, her face was all smiles, showing no sign of reproach.

Yu Youtong wasn't annoyed at all. She grinned without any hesitation, revealing her pearly teeth. She waved her sleeve and fanned herself, saying with a smile, "This brewing method was found by you, Master. Don't try to distance yourself from me. When the wine is ready, I'll have to offer you a portion. Please don't think it's too little."

Master Jingyi laughed heartily, flicked Yu Youtong's nose with her finger, and said, "You little brat, you're getting more and more audacious. All these years you've followed me in eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures, but I don't know where all those scriptures have gone." After saying that, she patted the wooden couch next to her and beckoned Yu Youtong to sit down beside her.

An Hui came over and served tea. Seeing that the master and apprentice had something to say, she discreetly withdrew.

Yu Youtong noticed that Jingyi's eyes were slightly red and felt something was amiss, but she never liked to pry into other people's privacy, so if Jingyi didn't say anything, she wouldn't ask any further. Jingyi chatted with her for a while and finally got to the point, saying in a low voice, "I originally thought I would spend the rest of my life guarding the manor, at least I would have you, my disciple, to serve me, and even if something happened to me in the future, I would at least have someone to see me off in my final days. But I never thought that even after decades of devotedly practicing Buddhism, I still couldn't escape the affairs of the mortal world."

She sighed, turned around, and pulled a letter from under the cotton cushion. Gently stroking the delicate handwriting on the envelope, she said helplessly, "Before I came to the manor, I left a message for the abbess of the nunnery, asking her to deliver a letter to the town if needed. An Hui brought me this letter the other day. You may remember what I told your mother in a casual conversation before. I was originally from a wealthy family in the capital. When I was young, I had a falling out with my family, which led me to run away from my arranged marriage. Later, I finally managed to marry the man I loved, but I never expected him to die young." As Jingyi spoke, her eyes reddened again. She lowered her head to hide the tears in the corners of her eyes and wiped them with her sleeve.

“When I first heard of my parents’ passing, I suppressed my grief and did not return to the capital to mourn them. I thought that I would spend the rest of my life with only the light of the lamp and the Buddha, and that my heart would never be disturbed again. Who would have thought—” Jingyi’s voice choked, and she shook her head. A crystal drop of water fell onto her blue dress and quickly seeped into the fabric, leaving only a stain.

"My family has always been short-lived. By my generation, only two sons and a daughter remain. My eldest brother fell ill in his youth and passed away before reaching thirty. I also left home early, leaving the family to rely solely on my younger brother. But now, even my younger brother is bedridden and fears he won't live much longer. My poor brother has only one child, born prematurely, and his health is also poor. Before, it was because of my brother that the distant relatives were somewhat restrained, but if he passes away, I fear my poor nephew will be devoured alive by those wretched wolves..."

Yu Youtong had only occasionally heard her mother, Cui, mention that Abbess Jingyi came from an extraordinary background, but she didn't know her family was so complicated. Compared to that, the Yu family's affairs seemed insignificant. Although Jingyi hadn't said it explicitly, Yu Youtong knew in her heart that she probably couldn't stay at the manor any longer. After thinking for a moment, Yu Youtong asked with concern, "Master, do you want to go home to manage the affairs of the manor? Is there anything I can do for you? Or, how about I accompany you to the capital?"

Jingyi shook her head and refused, saying softly, "The capital is not like Qiantang; it's in chaos right now. You finally escaped the Yu family and have had a few days of peace. How can I drag you into it again? Those aristocratic families have the most rules, and you're lazy and unruly; you can't help me. It's better for you to stay at the estate and wait until I've settled things at the manor before returning to enjoy your retirement."

Yu Youtong knew Jingyi's personality all too well. She knew that although Jingyi spoke softly and gently, she was extremely stubborn and obstinate. Once she made up her mind, no amount of persuasion would work. So she stopped insisting and simply told Qingdai and Bailing to prepare the luggage and carriage properly. She went back to her room to get a few large-denomination silver notes and some small change, packed them into a small bundle, and prepared Jingyi's expenses for the journey.

Master Jingyi was an impatient person. The next morning, she bid farewell to everyone, dressed like an ordinary person, and returned to the capital with the little nun An Hui.

The manor was already quiet, and now that two people had left, the courtyard felt even more deserted. Yu Youtong and Qingdai, who never liked crowds, didn't find it lonely, but Bailing was really feeling stifled. She kept nagging Yu Youtong about wanting to go to the city. Not wanting to spoil her mood, Yu Youtong had the two of them prepare a carriage and go to the city while the weather was fine.

Huzhou City is naturally not as prosperous as Qiantang, nor is its scenery as picturesque, but it has the advantage of a pleasant climate. It is early autumn, the summer heat is gradually fading, and the winter chill is approaching, making it the most comfortable time of year.

As soon as they entered the city, Bai Ling became restless, constantly lifting the carriage curtain to peek out, and frequently exclaiming in surprise: "Miss, candied hawthorns, candied hawthorns—" "Oh my, there are wooden combs for sale over there—" "Wow, that stone lion was really majestic—"...

The carriage stopped at the Sky Pavilion on the shore of Taihu Lake. Bai Ling got out first to reserve seats and rooms. After a while, she turned back and whispered to the person outside the carriage, "Young Master, the private rooms are all full. There's only one empty table in the main hall on the second floor. What do you think—"

“Okay.” Yu Youtong replied, and Qingdai quickly lifted the curtain to help her out of the carriage.

Although Yu Youtong had learned some impressive martial arts skills from Abbess Jingyi, and even the two maids had picked up some from her and were quite proficient, it was still better to avoid trouble. So the three of them obediently changed into men's clothing to prevent any fools from seeing them as three girls and causing trouble.

The Tian Shang Restaurant was the most famous restaurant in Huzhou City. Located on the shore of Taihu Lake, its upstairs seating offered panoramic views of the lake, making its business naturally booming. As Yu Youtong and her group went upstairs, the waiters quickly came forward to greet them, eagerly leading the three to seats by the window and rattling off a long list of dishes.

Yu Youtong only asked him to pick a few of the shop's best dishes, and then asked him to bring over a pot of Shaoxing wine. The three of them chatted and drank while listening to the lively conversations of the other diners in the hall.

The restaurant was a melting pot of all sorts of people, and the topics of conversation were incredibly diverse. One moment they were talking about which of the girls in the Little Red Mansion was the most delicate and graceful, the next they were discussing the arrival of the Sixi Opera Troupe from Suzhou, whose melodious and enchanting singing voices were captivating, and then there was talk of the turbulent events in the capital, with several powerful families vying for power...

Yu Youtong listened with great interest. Qingdai, who was usually quiet, simply served from the side. Bailing, however, showed no interest in these matters and quietly begged Yu Youtong to let her go outside for a stroll. Seeing her hopeful expression, Yu Youtong couldn't bear to refuse and gave her some gentle instructions before finally agreeing.

Bai Ling happily thanked Yu Youtong, too lazy to even eat, just grabbed a few pastries, waved to Youtong and Bai Ling with a grin, and went downstairs.

Youtong and Qingdai ate their meal quietly, then had the waiter brew them a pot of tea. They sat by the window, admiring the beautiful lakeside view. Guests came and went in the hall, their conversations constantly shifting. Youtong had been paying no attention until she suddenly heard the guests at the next table mention her name, and her heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Qingdai, who was also stunned.

"Is the eldest daughter of the Yu family truly that beautiful?" the man asked skeptically.

“Of course—” another man took a sip of wine, his face flushed, and said, shaking his head, “If she weren’t a beauty of unparalleled grace, how could she have captivated General Xu so deeply? Even after this beauty passed away, he still traveled thousands of miles to Qiantang to mourn her. Such deep affection is truly admirable. It’s just a pity that beauty is often short-lived; that Miss Yu was truly…”

"Brother Liu, you wouldn't know this," someone else chimed in mysteriously, "I've heard that Miss Yu was murdered."

"What?" the man exclaimed in surprise.

"..."

The men at the table whispered amongst themselves, while Youtong and Qingdai exchanged a glance and remained silent. After leaving the restaurant and walking along the lakeside for a while, until the surroundings became increasingly deserted, Qingdai hesitated before whispering, "Miss, shouldn't we send a message to General Xu? After all, it's Madam—"

"Stop talking nonsense." Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted. You Tong said coldly, "Since you've done it, don't regret it. First Gao Heng, then Xu Wei, when will this ever end?"

Seeing that her face was pale, Qingdai dared not say another word and silently followed behind her, head bowed.

Seeing her like this, Youtong felt a pang of regret for her harsh words. Qingdai and Bailing, these two maids, had been by her side since childhood. Although they weren't exactly sisters, Youtong always respected them and had never spoken a harsh word to them before. She had never been so stern. After thinking for a moment, she glanced back at Qingdai, took her hand, and said softly, "I was too impulsive just now, and I spoke without thinking. Please don't take it to heart."

Qingdai replied trembling with fear, "Miss, please don't say that. It was all my fault for being so talkative. I was just thinking that General Xu—"

“How could I not understand what you mean?” You Tong sighed. “It’s just that my faked death is not something I can tell outsiders. As for Xu Wei, although it was arranged for me by my mother, we know nothing about his character. If he is also a smiling tiger like Old Man Yu, wouldn’t I be repeating my mother’s mistakes?”

After hearing this, Qingdai thought about the days Cui had spent in the Yu family and could no longer speak.

Author's Note: If you happen to pass by, please not only bookmark this page, but also say hello! I've seen the number of bookmarks increase rapidly, but no one is saying anything, and I'm worried that people will accuse me of artificially inflating my bookmark count.

You don't have to rate it, but at least leave a comment! ^_^

Good intentions to save lives

Four

That night, they stayed at the Yunlai Inn next to the Sky Restaurant. Bai Ling returned late, but instead of bringing back a bunch of trinkets as You Tong had expected, she came into the house empty-handed, looking sullen. Several times she hesitated as if she wanted to say something to You Tong, but she didn't speak.

You Tong pretended not to notice, continuing to eat and drink as if she couldn't understand Bai Ling's unspoken words. Qing Dai, seeing this, naturally also pretended not to see anything.

When it was time for bed that night, Bai Ling finally couldn't hold back any longer. She hesitantly squeezed to the side of You Tong's bed, diligently helping her change her clothes while cautiously probing, "Miss, I...I have something I want to tell you."

You Tong and Qing Dai looked at each other and laughed. Qing Dai covered her mouth and said, "Miss even bet with me how long you could endure it. I said I could at least wait until tomorrow morning. Miss knows you well. You can't even endure one night."

Bai Ling blushed, glared at Qing Dai as if annoyed, and muttered under her breath, "You just want to make a fool of me."

"Alright," Bai Ling said, blinking her eyes pleadingly at You Tong, "I dare not lie to you, Miss. Today I met a fool in the city, and he was extremely pitiful. I heard from passersby that he was originally a scholar with considerable wealth. A few days ago, he rescued a child in the city who was selling himself to bury his father. But the child turned out to be a conman. That very night, he and some thieves not only stole his belongings but also beat him. The scholar injured his head and, upon waking, forgot everything and became a fool. He was a weak scholar, unable to carry anything, and his mind was not sharp enough. How could he make a living? Now he begs for a living in front of the City God Temple. The other beggars often bully him because he is both foolish and honest. It's pitiful that a rich young master has fallen to such a state; it's truly tragic." As she spoke, Bai Ling's eyes reddened.

You Tong was always cautious and would not be swayed by Bai Ling's words. The more she listened, the more her brows furrowed. Only after Bai Ling finished speaking did she slowly sit down, tapping her fingers lightly on the bed board, but she remained silent.

Bai Ling was getting anxious and was about to say something more to persuade her when Qing Dai quickly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to say anything more.

After a long while, You Tong slowly raised her head, looked into Bai Ling's eyes, and said softly, "It's good that you have such a kind heart, but the world is not peaceful these days, so you must not trust people easily. Even if he were a child, let alone an adult man, you should not take him in casually. If he were a decent young man, that would be fine, but if we encounter a conman putting on a show for us, how will we young girls handle the situation?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Ling said anxiously, "I've asked the shop assistants in the nearby shops carefully. That scholar has been begging in the city for several days. He's been acting like a fool and has been bullied by others. Besides, with my clothes, you can't tell that I'm rich at all. If he were a bad person, he naturally wouldn't want to come with me."

What she said made some sense, and even Qingdai was slightly moved. She glanced at Youtong expectantly, though she didn't ask for anything, the meaning in her eyes was quite clear. The two maids were originally from wealthy families, but their families fell into ruin and they were forced to sell themselves into the Yu family. Now, seeing the scholar, they must have been reminded of the past and felt pity for him.

If he really is a bad person—oh well, You Tong shook her head with a wry smile. With her abilities, she naturally had nothing to fear. Thinking of this, she finally relented, "In that case, let's go and take a look together tomorrow."

Bai Ling was delighted to hear this, and then she pulled You Tong aside and began to chatter on about the excitement she had seen in the city that day, how agile the street performers were, and how pitiful the street singers were...

The next morning, Bai Ling led You Tong and Qing Dai to the City God Temple, but when they arrived, they couldn't find anyone. Bai Ling quickly asked around and learned that the owner of a nearby restaurant had taken pity on the scholar and brought him back to help wash dishes. Bai Ling was somewhat disappointed and turned to look at You Tong awkwardly, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

Her thoughts were written all over her face, so how could Youtong not guess? But she had already come with difficulty, and now that the scholar had a place to stay, why should she cause any more trouble?

Seeing Bai Ling's disappointed expression, Qing Dai quickly smoothed things over by saying, "Miss, I've heard that the chef at Nanfeng Restaurant is an excellent cook, especially their roasted fish, which is absolutely delicious. Why don't we go and try it?"

It was only early morning, far from lunchtime. Youtong glanced at Qingdai indifferently, then quickly lowered her head. "In that case, let's go then," Youtong said with a wry smile, shaking her head.

Since it was still early, there were only two waiters in the restaurant tidying up the tables and chairs. When they saw the three of them come in, they were taken aback at first, and then quickly came forward to greet them warmly, saying, "Please come upstairs, gentlemen. There are private seats upstairs."

You Tong went upstairs first, followed closely by Bai Ling and Qing Dai.

They naturally ordered the restaurant's signature dishes. Seeing that the three of them seemed to have a private conversation, the waiter served them tea and then excused himself and went downstairs, not wanting to disturb them any further. Once they were all gone, Bai Ling immediately became restless, looking around anxiously. If You Tong hadn't been sitting upright at the head of the table, she probably would have rushed out to look for her right away.

Seeing this, You Tong told her "Don't act rashly" and then waved for her to leave. Upon receiving the order, Bai Ling didn't even have time to say goodbye before happily rushing downstairs.

“Her temperament is really—” Qingdai shook her head with a smile.

Although the tea in the restaurant wasn't as good as the tea produced on the estate, it still had a pleasant fragrance if you tasted it carefully. Youtong asked Qingdai to sit down, and the two drank a cup of tea and talked for a while, but Bailing still hadn't returned. Just as Qingdai was about to get up to look for her, she suddenly heard a noisy argument in the backyard, and she could vaguely hear Bailing's voice.

You Tong and Qing Dai exchanged a glance, then stood up together and hurried towards the backyard.

Several people were already standing in the courtyard. Bai Ling stood in the center of the courtyard with her hands on her hips, looking fierce. Three feet in front of her stood an equally fierce old woman, holding a rag in her hand. She cursed loudly in the Huzhou dialect while clenching her fist and waving it at Bai Ling, as if she was about to rush forward and fight at any moment.

You Tong's eyes darted around, and a young man stood timidly in the woodshed, about ten feet away from the two. He wore a worn-out gray short-sleeved shirt and trousers, which, though old, were cleanly washed. His jet-black hair was casually tied up on top of his head, with two stray strands falling from his forehead. His face was unusually handsome, and his eyes were dark and clear, though somewhat bewildered. He glanced at Bai Ling for a moment, then at the old woman, as if he didn't quite understand.

Bai Ling, being a young woman, was no match for the indiscriminate old woman. Adding to the problem was the old woman's loud voice, fierce demeanor, and her incomprehensible dialect. Bai Ling was utterly overwhelmed, trembling with anger, unable to utter a sound for a long time. Only when she saw You Tong and Qing Dai did her expression harden, she lowered her hands from her hips, and murmured, "Young Master."

"What happened?" You Tong's voice carried a hint of displeasure.

Bai Ling lowered her head tremblingly and replied in a low voice, "That old woman was bullying people, I really couldn't stand it, so—" but dared not say any more.

"What...what's going on?" A middle-aged man stormed in, looking furious. He was dressed in a silk jacket and seemed to be the shopkeeper. Seeing that You Tong and her group were dressed in fine clothes, he didn't dare to go forward to question them. Instead, he shouted at the young man, "I told you to wash the dishes, what are you standing here for? Get to work!"

Upon seeing him, the old woman quickly stepped forward and mumbled something to herself, pointing at Bai Ling as she spoke. The middle-aged man's expression grew increasingly grim. Finally, he glanced at You Tong a few more times, and after a while, slowly walked forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and politely asked, "May I ask this young master's surname?"

You Tong glanced at him indifferently, and after a long while, replied in a deep voice, "My surname is Cui."

"Does Young Master Cui know this shop assistant of mine?" Before Youtong could reply, the middle-aged man continued, "This child's head was injured in a beating, and he's a bit mentally challenged. I took pity on him and brought him back to help out at the shop, so he could earn a living. Alas, this child is really—look at him, he hasn't washed many bowls, but he's broken quite a few plates..."

You Tong glanced at the bewildered young man at the door of the woodshed. Perhaps sensing You Tong's gaze, he looked over, blinked, and smiled ingratiatingly at her, revealing a set of pearly white teeth. For some reason, You Tong's heart suddenly softened.

"They are relatives of mine." Once the words were out, it was too late to take them back.

Bai Ling's face lit up with joy, while Qing Dai was slightly taken aback.

You Tong frowned, erasing the slight unease in her mind, and quickly regained her composure. She loudly thanked the shopkeeper, saying, "Thank you so much for taking care of my younger brother these past two days. I am deeply grateful." After speaking, she nodded to Qing Dai. Qing Dai understood and took out a five-tael silver ingot from her purse and handed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper's face immediately lit up with a broad smile, overjoyed.

On the way back to the inn, Bai Ling kept asking the young man his name. He racked his brains for a long time but still couldn't come up with anything. He was a little unhappy and frowned without saying a word. Seeing this, Bai Ling stopped asking and instead turned to You Tong to ask what she should call him.

You Tong replied irritably, "Just pick any name. A humble name is easier to raise. How about Stone?"

"Young Master—" Bai Ling said, both amused and exasperated, "He was originally a scholar, and you gave him such a name."

Qingdai whispered, "Stone is fine. We didn't bring him back to be served like a young master. He still has to do chores back at the manor. Why would we need such an elegant name?"

"But—" Bai Ling was about to say something more when the young man chuckled and called out "Stone." This was the first time he had spoken in front of everyone, and his voice was very clear.

Looking at his dazed expression and his handsome features, You Tong couldn't help but sigh. He certainly had a good-looking face; if he weren't a fool, he would be a perfect match for Bai Ling.

Author's Note: Report: After posting this chapter, I only have 1,000 words left in my drafts on my computer.

It seems like an old friend has come.

five

Shi Tou was not talkative and behaved himself the whole way, not even glancing around, which somewhat dispelled You Tong's suspicions.

Back at the inn, You Tong asked Bai Ling to buy two sets of clean clothes for Shi Tou to change into. After he changed and came out of the room, even You Tong couldn't help but sigh. No wonder they say that heaven is jealous of talent. Even God couldn't stand that a man was more handsome than a woman. If this man hadn't become an idiot, how many innocent girls would he have ruined?