Chapter 76: Farewell
Qin Liangchuan’s reply letter was late in coming, and while they were thousands of miles away, besides waiting, they had no other good options for the time being.
As for the matter with the official from Nansheng, there was no immediate way to push it forward, so they could only wait for the reply from the south.
By mid-May, the senior doctor who was supposed to return by this time had not yet returned.
The old court physician said to Qiu Henian, “You’ve been taking this medicine for too long. Medicine is three parts poison; taking too much is harmful. If you trust me, I will come up with a new prescription for you these days to replace it.”
Qiu Henian agreed.
But before the old court physician could come up with the new prescription, the letter from the senior doctor arrived first.
In the letter, he said that he was still busy at the moment. After finishing his current affairs, he might not have time to come to Liuxi Village. He needed to go to another place.
Therefore, weighing the situation, he suggested that Qiu Henian to go to him for treatment. After calculating, this time was just right.
When the old court physician handed the letter to Qiu Henian, he looked at Qingyan beside him and said, “Senior brother is treating an old injury for a military officer at the northern border. He has informed the official about this matter, and the other party has agreed for Little Brother Qiu to go.”
Qingyan felt relieved, but then heard the old man say, “However, only he can go, and no one else.”
“This…”
Qingyan was startled for a moment, but quickly understood. He turned to look at Qiu Henian, who was also looking at him.
Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Qingyan said, “You just go. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of things at home.”
Qiu Henian looked at him, his fingers hanging at his side moved slightly, and finally just smiled and said, “Hmm.”
This news came too suddenly, and neither of them was prepared, but it was urgent.
The letter arrived two days later than the senior doctor had expected. Time waits for no one. After they returned home, Qingyan began to be busy in and out of the house. Today, he had to pack everything Qiu Henian needed for his trip far away. They had to set off early tomorrow morning.
As he was packing, Qingyan remembered something and became anxious.
He said, “Oh no, I was going to bring some meat oil for you. When there are no villages or shops around, you can put it in the bread to eat. But we don’t have enough meat oil at home. Yesterday, I planned to buy some fatty meat and fry it tomorrow, but now it’s too late to go out and buy.”
He opened the door of the outer room and looked into the courtyard, stomping his foot.
“Your padded robe hasn’t dried yet after I washed it. It’s getting colder as we go north. How can you go without a padded robe? It’s all my fault for washing it late!”
“Oh, and the dough! I haven’t kneaded the dough yet. It takes time for the dough to rise. I need to heat the stove hotter so the dough will rise faster.”
Qingyan closed the door, then went to fetch firewood by the stove.
Just then, a figure stood in front of him, and a pair of big hands took the firewood from his arms. Qingyan was startled and looked up, seeing Qiu Henian looking steadily at him.
Qiu Henian cleared his throat and said, “Qingyan, don’t worry. You can borrow some meat oil from Aunt Li’s place. Hang the padded robe on the fire wall tonight, burn more firewood, and it will be dry by tomorrow morning.”
“And you don’t need to let the dough rise. Just make some emergency pancakes for me. The journey is long, and I can’t carry too much. Along the way, I will pass through some villages and even county towns. I will resupply there. You don’t have to worry that I will be cold or hungry.”
Qingyan blinked, looking at Qiu Henian as he put the firewood on the ground. After that, the man patted the dust on his body, extended his hands toward him, and said, “Qingyan, come here.”
Qingyan walked over in a daze, leaned into his arms, rested his head on his shoulder, obediently silent.
Qiu Henian hugged him tightly, lightly kissed his forehead, and whispered, “Qingyan, trust me. Nothing will happen. I will come back as soon as possible.”
…
Before going to bed at night, the two of them read as usual.
When Qingyan saw the book that Qiu Henian took out from the drawer under the bed, he was slightly stunned.
Qiu Henian placed the book on the bed and asked, “Do you still remember this book, ‘Records of Mountains and Rivers’?”
Qingyan nodded, “It’s the first book you read to me.”
Qiu Henian’s lips curved slightly, his eyes softened.
He opened the book to a certain page, pointed to a place on the map, and said, “This is Liuxi Village.”
Qingyan also looked down and said, “You told me about it.”
Qiu Henian’s fingertip pointed diagonally northward, saying, “From here, I will go north along this line. The first village I will pass is the neighboring village. It will take only two incense sticks’ time to get there.”
Qingyan glanced at him, not understanding his meaning.
Qiu Henian’s finger continued northward, “This is the first county town I will pass through, called Muling County. It will take two hours to get there.”
The familiar place names relaxed Qingyan’s expression a bit.
He said, “If you take Liu Fa’s cart, it will be faster.”
This was the county town they often visited.
Qiu Henian’s finger continued northward, “This is called Qixian County. It’s the second county town I will pass through.”
Qingyan thought for a moment and said, “I know this place. The book says that the terrain here is low, with many rivers and canals. In the summer nights, you can hear frogs everywhere. When the author lived here, he was once awakened by frog croaks. He thought there were ten thousand frogs lurking under the corridor, waiting for him to fall asleep.”
As he spoke, Qingyan laughed.
Qiu Henian looked at him, smiled, nodded, and said, “It’s right here,” he looked at the map again, “From Muling County to Qixian County, it takes about a day’s journey. After leaving Qixian County, you’ll pass through some villages and mountain paths, cross the county border, and enter Chongyu County in Yonghe Prefecture. The brewed liquor from this county town is quite famous.”
“From Qixian County to here, it will probably take two or three days…”
Qiu Henian pointed to each place on the map where he would pass, winding his way northward, all the way to the Fengyu Pass at the border.
“Here, this is the endpoint of my journey. If all goes well, it should take about half a month to arrive.”
Qingyan gradually understood his meaning and looked up at him.
Qiu Henian continued softly, “Qingyan, from the day I leave, according to the timeline I’ve mentioned, estimate where I might be and mark it down. When you reach about ten days later on the calendar, I should be at the pass.”
Qingyan’s eyes began to moisten.
Qiu Henian went on, “On the day I arrive, I’ll write to you. Count six or seven days after that, and the letter should reach you.”
“At that time,” Qiu Henian’s face remained calm, but his fingers holding the book trembled slightly, “you must remember to write back to me.”
Tears streamed down Qingyan’s cheeks as he nodded in response.
Qiu Henian added, “The day before I return, I’ll write to you again. When you receive that letter,” he lowered his head to look at the map, pointing to a specific place, “I should be halfway back, in Yong’an Town.”
Qingyan choked out a “Hmm.”
Qiu Henian closed the book, wiped away Qingyan’s tears with his hand, but soon another string of tears fell.
Feeling both heartache and helplessness, he sighed and pulled the weeping Qingyan into his arms, murmuring repeatedly, “Qingyan, my Qingyan…”
Qingyan hugged the man tightly around his neck, unable to hold back anymore, crying aloud.
After the oil lamp extinguished, Qingyan nestled in Qiu Henian’s arms, rubbing his face against his neck.
The rough hands gently stroked behind his ear, and the two spoke aimlessly. When Qingyan was about to cry again, Qiu Henian pressed him down and kissed him deeply.
After the kiss, Qiu Henian straightened Qingyan’s scattered clothes, hugged him tightly again, sighed and said, “Stop crying. If you keep crying, I won’t bear to leave.”
…
The next morning, just as dawn broke, it was cold and foggy. Aunt Li, San Yao, and Qiuniang accompanied Qingyan to see him off.
At the village entrance, they exchanged a few words.
Aunt Li said, “Young master, rest assured, Qiuniang and I will take care of Qingyan. You take care of yourself while you’re away, and don’t worry about home.”
San Yao also said, “Second brother, I just told Second sister-in-law that I’ll take care of any heavy work at home. Qiuniang will visit Second sister-in-law from time to time. You can rest assured.”
Qiu Henian bowed respectfully to them and said, “I entrust Qingyan to you.”
They quickly held his arm to stop him from kneeling.
Qingyan stood by Qiu Henian’s side, his eyes red as he looked up at him.
Qingyan wanted to hug Qiu Henian again, but there were many people around, and it was inconvenient outside.
His wrist was held, and something was placed in Qingyan’s palm. He looked down and found it was a letter.
Qiu Henian looked at him and said, “Read it slowly when you get home.”
Qingyan looked up at him again, and their eyes met, trying to imprint each other’s every expression and smile in their minds.
After a while, Qiu Henian exhaled lightly and said, “Qingyan, I’m leaving.”
His wrist was released, and Qingyan’s fingers curled up, clutching the letter paper tightly. He watched Qiu Henian wave to the others, then glanced back at him before turning away and quickly disappearing into the thick fog.
Someone put their arm around his shoulder.
Aunt Li stood beside him and said, “Let’s go, Qingyan. It’s time for us to go back.”
Qingyan nodded.
Back home, the house felt empty.
Qingyan sat on the edge of the bed and opened the letter.
The familiar handwriting greeted his eyes.
“My dear wife, when you read this letter, treat it as if we are having a conversation.
When I took you as my wife.
You were several years younger than me, gentle in temperament, and exceedingly beautiful.
On the night we married, I resolved to cherish and care for you, but I did not expect that over this past year, I have been the one taken care of by you.
Unable to sleep last night, I got up to write this letter.
I thought I would live a lonely life, but with you by my side, I now understand the joy of harmony, like the music of the phoenix and the qin.
This journey to a distant place is truly unavoidable.
With you here, I dare not meet any mishaps. I will be cautious and careful all the way.
Qingyan, please take good care of yourself.
Wait for my return.
There is more I wish to say.
Your husband, Henian.”
After reading the letter, Qingyan pressed the letter to his chest with one hand and stroked the soft fur of Ah Miao snuggling beside him with the other.
Leaning against the bedpost, he smiled momentarily, though his eyes were still tinged with red.
Spoiler for the Next Chapter:
He leaned back against the bedhead, starting to worry again, “Did I give him enough money? It should cover the journey, but maybe a bit more would be better, just in case. What if he’s reluctant to spend money and ends up not buying pig’s trotters for himself, treating himself unfairly?”
