Liangdou Village, the Lin Family Dyehouse.
Light filtered through the window lattices, casting dappled warmth on the floor. Inside, the scent of fabric mingled with the aroma of meat broth—now slightly chilled—spilling from the remains of a shattered Clay Pot. It was a peculiar blend, yet it evoked an inexplicable sense of coziness.
Liu Hai stared blankly at the mysterious girl, his mouth agape for a long time. The room was so silent that only the jagged breathing of the three could be heard. Just then, the raspy "caw-caw" of a crow from the old tree outside pierced the stagnant silence.
With a "whoosh," Liu Hai pounced toward Xiang'er like a civet cat whose tail had been stepped on. Ignoring all decorum, he circled her six times, up and down, front and back, his eyes wide as if trying to discern every fiber of her clothing. Finally, he swallowed hard, a groan of admiration escaping his throat, "So... what a beautiful girl! Did she walk right out of a painting? No, even a painting couldn't be this real."
[Illustration ↓]
https://i.postimg.cc/pr9ZLs1w/Q0002C.jpg
Xiang'er, startled by his behavior, felt a crimson flush spread across her fair face, like the finest rouge in a dyehouse blooming on white jade. She instinctively clutched the collar of her grey garment, her head slightly bowed and her long lashes trembling like fluttering butterfly wings, too shy to speak.
Lin Dalu finally snapped out of his daze. His face burning with embarrassment, he stepped forward and yanked Liu Hai away without hesitation, the force nearly sending the latter stumbling. "Liu Hai! Have you lost your mind this morning? What nonsense are you spouting? Enough is enough! Get away from Miss Xiang'er, don't scare her!" His voice carried urgency and a scolding tone, yet his eyes involuntarily flickered toward Xiang'er, fearing she might be offended.
Xiang'er finally lifted her gaze, her eyes like flowing water. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum but carried a reassuring tone, "It is alright, Young Master Lin, I... I am fine."
Liu Hai winced as Lin Dalu pulled him, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he hooked his arm around Lin Dalu's neck, dragging him halfway out into the courtyard. In the small yard filled with standing dye vats, hanging fabrics swayed gently in the breeze.
"Is her name Xiang'er?" Liu Hai lowered his voice, his head nearly pressed against Lin Dalu's ear, his breath warming the other's neck.
Uncomfortable with this secretive behavior, Lin Dalu gave a muffled "Mm."
Before he could say more, Liu Hai suddenly covered Lin Dalu's mouth and winked, signaling him to be quiet. Then, the lad straightened his back, cleared his throat, and raised his voice toward the house with exaggerated righteousness, "Alright, Lin Dalu! Confess now! From which family did you abduct this fine lady? If you don't come clean, I'll head to the town yamen and make a scene!"
Lin Dalu was scared out of his wits. He lunged forward, death-gripping Liu Hai's mouth, and hissed, "You bastard! Keep it down! Don't talk nonsense and ruin the girl's reputation!" His heart hammered like a drum. He reflexively glanced at the door, and seeing the curtain remain still, he finally felt a bit relieved.
Liu Hai chuckled, broke free from the hand, and kept his voice low, his eyes shining with intense curiosity, "Brother Dalu, tell me quickly, how did your house end up with a girl?"
Helpless, Lin Dalu recounted everything, how Uncle Lu Han had delivered the cargo crates yesterday, and how he had found the unconscious Xiang'er inside one of them.
Inside the house, Xiang'er had carefully gathered the large shards of the Clay Pot to one side and was focusing on wiping the oil and soup stains from the floor with a cloth. Her movements were gentle and focused, as if she hadn't noticed the whispering in the courtyard.
"...So, she's a poor girl who lost her way and temporarily forgot her past..." Liu Hai rubbed his chin, his eyes darting as a mischievous smile—one Lin Dalu knew all too well—appeared on his face. "In that case, as brothers, we naturally cannot sit idly by; we must help her! However... hehe, Brother Dalu, I don't even know the lady yet, so there's no way to talk about helping. At least let me get to know her first?"
Lin Dalu shook his head like a rattle, "No, no! You were so reckless just now, nearly insulting her. And you want to disturb her again? Absolutely not!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hai immediately adopted a pitiful expression, leaning his arm affectionately on Lin Dalu's shoulder to coax him, "Brother Dalu, isn't your friend my, Liu Hai's, friend? When a friend is in trouble, how can I stand by? Besides," he shifted his tone, leaning closer with a bit of worldly shrewdness, "such a living girl, beautiful as a flower, is eating and staying at your house while Uncle Lin and Aunt Lin happen to be away in Qingyang Town. The neighbors have wandering eyes and gossiping mouths. Over time, there will inevitably be rumors. Having a brother like me around to help smooth things over is better than you explaining alone, isn't it?"
These words hit home, striking Lin Dalu's hidden concerns. Being naturally unversed in speech, he looked at the "sincere" Liu Hai, hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed, nodding reluctantly.
As the two turned to go back inside, Liu Hai suddenly pulled Lin Dalu back again, leaning in with a sly, suggestive whisper, "By the way, Brother Dalu, one more thing... yesterday, when the girl was unconscious, did you look after her properly?" He winked and made a vague gesture. "Tsk, you know she's like an Immortal from the clouds with an extraordinary aura. If you didn't look after her properly while she was out... then..."
Before he could finish, Lin Dalu's face turned beet-red with shame and anger. He kicked Liu Hai's backside and hissed, "Get out! What are you thinking?! I, Lin Dalu, am not the kind of lowlife who takes advantage of others! If you speak such nonsense again, don't even think about entering my door!"
Having taken a kick, Liu Hai laughed instead, nimbly dodging away. He pleaded for mercy with a grin, "Alright, alright, I won't say it! Fine, you're the most upright, and I'm just talking rot, okay?" Yet his smile still carried that wink-and-nod playfulness between men.
When they returned to the room, Lin Dalu forced himself to remain calm and officially introduced them, "Miss Xiang'er, this is Liu Hai, my friend who lives at the west end of the village." Then he turned to Liu Hai, "Liu Hai, this is Miss Xiang'er. Yesterday... by a stroke of chance, she came to stay at my house."
Liu Hai restrained his flightiness for the moment, bowing properly like a scholar from a play, though his eyes still couldn't help but stray toward Xiang'er's face, "Miss Xiang'er, this humble Liu Hai offers his greetings. I was reckless just now; please forgive me, Miss."
Xiang'er also gave a slight curtsy in return, saying softly, "Young Master Liu is too kind."
Just then, Liu Hai sniffed the air vigorously and said in surprise, "Eh? What's that smell? It's so fragrant!"
Xiang'er smiled slightly and pointed toward the kitchen, "I prepared some Plain Congee for Young Master Lin; it is still warming on the stove."
Hearing this, Liu Hai's spirits rose. Without waiting for an invitation, he dashed into the kitchen and lifted the pot lid. The rich aroma of rice mixed with a faint scent of firewood wafted out. "Wow! So fragrant!" he praised extravagantly, then looked at Lin Dalu with a long face, "Brother Dalu, my mother originally told me to bring the Clay Pot stew to you. Now the pot is broken, the meat is spilled, and I'm still hungry myself..."
Hearing this, Xiang'er said gently, "If Young Master Liu does not mind the simplicity of the meal, please join us."
"I don't mind! Not at all!" Liu Hai was overjoyed and hurriedly accepted.
As the three sat together, Liu Hai praised while sipping the Plain Congee, "Miss Xiang'er is not only like an Immortal but also has such great skills! This Plain Congee is cooked until the rice grains bloom—fragrant, smooth, and stomach-warming. No wonder Brother Dalu calls you Xiang'er (Fragrant); you're just like your name, fragrant and good!"
Lin Dalu stole a glance at Xiang'er and saw her just smiling with her head down, sipping her Plain Congee in small mouthfuls. A strange sweetness welled up in his heart.
As they were talking and laughing, steady footsteps came from the courtyard, and the wooden door was pushed open. A sturdy, honest-looking young man walked in—it was Sun Ge. Seeing a strange young woman in the house, he was momentarily stunned.
Lin Dalu rose to greet him and introduced Xiang'er to Sun Ge. Although Sun Ge was also surprised by Xiang'er's appearance and aura, he did not lose his composure like Liu Hai. He merely offered a cupped-fist salute with clear eyes and a dignified attitude.
——(To be continued)