"Aunt Xiao!"
The little girl called out crisply, her eyes lively and her appearance pleasing. Two braids, tied with floral strings, rested on her sides.
"Yes, Yanzi?" Xue Niang wasn't entirely sure.
She had grown taller, her figure slimmer, and her face had filled out, losing the childish roundness of before.
Xiao Shan straightened up with a grunt.
Yanzi responded crisply, "I am Yanzi, Auntie, you're getting younger and younger."
"Ah, come in, come in. You've grown into such a young lady, Auntie almost didn't recognize you."
"I won't come in, Auntie. I, I just wanted to ask Uncle Xiao and you about something." Yanzi was unusually shy.
She had waited all day, and only came after everyone else had left.
"It's just, just when will Wang Meng be back? Does Uncle Xiao know?" Her bright round eyes looked towards Xiao Shan.
"The army has its rules. If he hasn't returned these past two years, he likely won't be back anytime soon. Do you need him for something?"
Xiao Shan hadn't inquired about this. Chen Kui and Wu Zhoubai had visited last year, but Yutou hadn't returned. It was possible he had been assigned a mission, especially since he was in the reconnaissance battalion, which required constant monitoring of neighboring countries' movements, making it extremely important.
Besides, Yutou had no relatives left in Bozi Village. Why would he need to return so frequently!
Xue Niang smiled, "Yanzi misses your eldest nephew?"
Unexpectedly, Yanzi's face flushed, and what she said startled even Xiao Shan.
"I just wanted to ask if he could come back next year. Next year, I'll reach my coming-of-age ceremony, and he can come to propose. He hasn't been back for so long, and there's no news. I hope he hasn't forgotten."
A pre-arranged marriage?
When did this happen? Could it be that when they were chasing each other back then...
Yanzi was so young then, just a little thing. Yutou was too much of a scoundrel!
Xue Niang looked at Xiao Shan in surprise, only to see Xiao Shan frowning, his face showing anger.
"Did he make any promises to you?" he asked.
The atmosphere grew heavy. Yanzi still feared him, and her response was a little shaky.
"He signed a betrothal contract. My father and mother both agreed. They're just waiting for me to reach my coming-of-age ceremony to arrange our marriage. I don't need to worry about a house; my parents said they would build one for us next to our home. Whether we live in the village or I go with him to the border town is fine."
A betrothal contract was signed!
And they expected the girl's family to build a house!
He was hiding in the border town and didn't even send a letter back.
This brat had gotten bold, daring to treat a young lady like this. He'd skin him alive!
"You go back. He'll be back in a few days. I'll have him visit your home then."
"Then, I'll be going. Uncle and Auntie, please rest!"
Seeing that Xiao Shan seemed unhappy and hearing that Yutou would return soon, Yanzi didn't dare to ask anything else. She said goodbye and ran off.
This girl was truly determined, to come and ask about such a matter herself.
But, had Yutou really signed a betrothal contract?
"Could there be some misunderstanding?"
Or had something else happened in the years she was away?
"The betrothal contract was signed. Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, he has to come back and give her an explanation! That scoundrel, daring to treat marriage as a game. Who taught him to be so irresponsible, and to hide and not come back!"
Xiao Shan was very angry.
Yutou was someone he had mentored. If he did something wrong, wouldn't it be a slap in his face!
"Yutou isn't that kind of person. Don't think of him so badly."
"Fine, he's good, and I'm the one with a dark mind, alright?" Xiao Shan swayed her arm, his gaze becoming lazy again.
"Let's not talk about him. What did you talk about with those aunties?"
"We talked about the ways of the world."
"Oh? What insights did you gain?"
"Life is short, everyone walks their own path. Cherish the people around you, and seize the day for enjoyment."
"Enjoyment..." Xiao Shan savored the word, repeating it. "Well said."
His gaze became sticky, fixed on Xue Niang's lips. His throat felt dry.
Xue Niang stood up abruptly.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Shan grabbed her.
Didn't you want to enjoy yourself?
Xue Niang said with a hint of annoyance, "Where else? I'm going to the kitchen to make some hangover soup for Third Brother, so he won't feel uncomfortable later."
And you, your eyes are getting more and more glazed. Are you drunk?
"No, let him sleep."
Xiao Shan started acting shamelessly again, nuzzling her neck, his breath smelling of alcohol.
"Let go. It'll only take a moment. You should have some too."
"I'm not going. I'm not drunk. Stay with me. I won't let you leave. You don't know how lonely it is to lie awake watching the moon... No one to talk to, no one to hold. My heart feels so empty, I don't know what to do... My body is burning hot, but my heart feels cold..."
His voice grew lower and lower, until Xue Niang silenced his mouth.
Dry wood and raging fire, a prairie fire.
"Go to the hot springs."
"Third Brother is asleep, at home..."
"It will hurt the first time. The hot spring water will help alleviate it..."
The night was like a curtain, the moon hidden and stars sparse, clouds light and wind gentle, a faint floral fragrance.
Xiao Shan carried someone out on his back and suddenly saw a dark figure drinking water in the main hall.
"Where are you two going?" Third Brother's voice lost its coldness, his soft tone like a child waking up in the middle of the night looking for his mother.
Xue Niang lowered her head, feeling a bit sorry for Third Brother.
"Third Brother, finish your water and rest early. I'll bring you a sword tomorrow."
"Oh, okay."
Xue Niang had thought too much. Third Brother was still groggy, his eyes not fully open, and he returned to his room like a wandering spirit.
Xiao Shan also breathed a sigh of relief. He was truly afraid that Third Brother would come out and ruin things again. That would have been the end of him.
That night, in a cave on Qingyun Mountain, winds surged and clouds raced, flowers bloomed and rain descended.
The wind was tender, the rain was tender, the flowers were lingering, the clouds were affectionate.
A pair of lovers, longing for each other, met in the mountains.
She filled the emptiness and loneliness of his many days and nights.
He healed the scars left by her journey through thorns.
They merged, inseparable.
They separated, for the next soul-stirring union.
She bloomed in his hands, blossoming into the most beautiful flower.
He roared to the sky, bidding farewell to all loneliness and darkness.
The sky turned silver-white, and the dawn light dispelled the remaining stars.
Xiao Shan's hand trembled, and he suddenly woke up. The person in his arms was sleeping soundly, her small face pressed against his chest, peach blossoms framing her face, the garden filled with spring's bounty.
He watched for a long time, his expression gradually clearing.
From this day forward, there would be no more hardships. Hand in hand, they would grow old together.
Even with the buffer of the hot springs, Xue Niang couldn't bear it. As they descended the mountain, she couldn't help but sigh on Xiao Shan's back, "To feel this kind of pain again, I'm really unlucky. You're the lucky one, marrying two wives, each as beautiful as a flower."
"Earthly beauties," Xiao Shan added.
"Then tell me, which wife is more beautiful?"
A fatal question.
Xiao Shan pondered, "I love your soul. Your appearance is irrelevant."
"Heh! Sweet talk."
"Then tell me, do you love my current appearance or the skin of that peerless handsome man from your past life?" Xiao Shan retorted, unconvinced.
"The past life's."
Xiao Shan: "..."
That stung.