Luzhou Moon

Chapter 18

Yue Ruzheng pouted as she watched him work skillfully. Suddenly, she thought of Tang Yanchu, but when she turned around, he was nowhere to be seen. She hurriedly ran to the kitchen, where he was sitting alone in front of the stove, starting a fire.

"Little Tang," Yue Ruzheng said, squatting down beside him, "My senior brother is a very good person, you don't need to be afraid."

He pursed his lips, sat cross-legged, his waist slightly bent, and his sleeves hanging on the ground.

"I'm not scared," he said softly, "I'm just a little uncomfortable meeting strangers."

Yue Ruzheng looked at his downcast eyes, then rolled her eyes and said, "Weren't I a stranger to him at first too?"

Tang Yanchu smiled faintly, said nothing, and used his foot to pick up firewood and stuff it into the stove. After a while, he said, "Go out and keep your senior brother company; he's a guest. I won't go out to greet him."

Yue Ruzheng nodded and walked out.

Shao Yang, who had been quietly watching the kitchen, resumed his work when she came out. Yue Ruzheng brought over a stool and sat down in front of him. While washing the fish, Shao Yang said, "Ruzheng, now that your injuries have healed, I'll take you home."

Yue Ruzheng paused, then asked, "When are you leaving?"

Shao Yang looked up at her and said, "What do you think?"

Yue Ruzheng lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Let's wait a few days."

Shao Yang sighed softly and said, "You should know that the reason I came out to pick you up this time is because I was afraid that things might get complicated if I delayed, and that we might get entangled with the people from Bliss Valley again."

Yue Ruzheng asked, "So what do you mean?"

"It would be best to leave immediately," Shao Yang said.

Yue Ruzheng paused for a moment, then said, "Is it in such a hurry?" Seeing Shao Yang's serious expression, she could only say, "Then how about we leave tomorrow?"

Shao Yang nodded and bent down to continue washing.

Yue Ruzheng straightened up, looking at the small courtyard, a slight sense of loss between her brows.

She was lost in thought when Shao Yang called out helplessly, "Ruzheng, the fish are ready."

Yue Ruzheng then came to her senses and took the fish. Shao Yang said, "You can't even kill a fish, how are you going to cook it?"

"Xiao Tang will," she said, and then walked towards the kitchen.

Tang Yanchu stood with his back to the door, reaching for a bowl from the wooden cupboard. Yue Ruzheng put down the fish, wanting to speak to him, but remained silent, instead standing quietly by the table, helping to chop vegetables.

The two of them silently prepared the meal. Tang Yanchu walked to the table and said, "Why don't you take the food out to eat first? I need to tidy up the kitchen."

Seeing his expression, Yue Ruzheng knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise, so she picked up the food and went out, called Shao Yang, and went into the main room.

She and Shao Yang waited for a while, but Tang Yanchu still didn't come in. Yue Ruzheng had no choice but to return to the kitchen, only to find Tang Yanchu sitting on the floor with a bowl of rice in front of her, using her feet to hold chopsticks.

"Xiao Tang!" She hurried forward, frowning, "Why are you eating here all alone? We're all waiting for you outside!"

Tang Yanchu sat hunched over, not looking up at her, and said indifferently, "It's the same eating here. Go and entertain your senior brother."

Yue Ruzheng angrily grabbed his shoulder and said, "What kind of behavior is this?"

"I don't want to go out!" He suddenly lowered his voice, staring directly at her, and said, "I don't want to eat in front of your senior brother, is that alright?"

Yue Ruzheng released her grip, slowly squatted down in front of him, and said, "I told you he's a good person, he won't mind..."

"I mind." He turned his head to the side, his body swaying slightly, and finally said wearily, "Go out, really, don't keep people waiting."

Yue Ruzheng felt a lump in her throat. Dejected, she stood up, walked to the kitchen door, glanced back, and saw him still sitting on the floor, head bowed.

As evening fell, Yue Ruzheng suddenly realized that there were only two rooms and two beds in the courtyard, and she didn't know where her senior brother should sleep that night. Logically, he could stay in Tang Yanchu's room for the night, but she felt uneasy thinking about lunch.

She made an excuse to send Shao Yang out to see the scenery, and only went to Tang Yanchu's room after he left. Tang Yanchu was sitting on the bed folding clothes. She watched for a while, then tentatively asked, "Little Tang, tonight..."

"Let him sleep in my room." He knew what she was thinking before she could finish speaking.

Yue Ruzheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I was worried you wouldn't agree."

Tang Yanchu looked up at her, her eyes melancholy and calm.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" he asked.

Yue Ruzheng paused, then nodded and said, "We shouldn't have been in such a hurry, but I'm afraid the people from Bliss Valley will cause more trouble. Besides, I've been away from Luzhou for quite some time now."

He didn't say anything, but lifted his feet and pressed down hard on the clothes, folding them very neatly.

Tang Yanchu ate dinner alone in the kitchen. Before going to bed, Yue Ruzheng secretly told Shao Yang not to mind Tang Yanchu's disability.

Shao Yang asked, slightly embarrassed, "Does he need my help?"

Yue Ruzheng thought for a moment and said, "No need, he lives alone."

Shao Yang was quite surprised. When he returned to his room, Tang Yanchu had already made the bed and said to him, "Young Master Shao, I still have some work to finish. You have to travel early tomorrow morning, so please rest first."

Shao Yang nodded. Tang Yanchu walked to the door and added, "If Miss Yue comes and asks, just say I'll be back in a little while."

After saying that, he left the room. Yue Ruzheng was washing up in the room and did not hear him leave. He walked into the courtyard, picked up the bamboo basket, placed it on the windowsill, braced it against his back, put his shoulders under the straw rope, and then walked out into the night.

Tang Yanchu walked quite a distance before starting to cut herbs. Despite the cold wind and darkness, he didn't return until midnight. Looking back at the courtyard, he saw the house was completely dark; Shao Yang and Yue Ruzheng were already asleep. He gently unloaded the bamboo basket, went into the kitchen, and slowly leaned against the wall, sitting in the inner corner. The cool moonlight shone through the wooden window onto his handsome face. Gazing at the crescent moon, he bent his knees and rested them against his chest.

After daybreak, Yue Ruzheng finished washing and dressing, and came out of her room. She saw Shao Yang already sitting in the main room. As soon as he saw her, he stood up and said hesitantly, "Junior Sister..."

Yue Ruzheng looked outside but couldn't see Tang Yanchu. She couldn't help but ask, "Where's Xiao Tang?"

"It seems he didn't go back to his room to rest last night," Shao Yang said, lowering his eyes. "I was tired from traveling yesterday and fell asleep very early. I didn't see him when I woke up this morning."

Yue Ruzheng was taken aback and ran to the courtyard, only to find a pile of herbs in the corner, still carrying a fresh, green scent.