Chapter 21 A Sudden Resolution [VIP]

Chapter 21 A Sudden Resolution [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Is it the wind that stirs? Or the heart?

At dusk, the setting sun casts golden shadows on the Yanggu River in Yanggu County, as it brushes against the swaying willows, creating a vast expanse of shimmering light.

At this time of year, the banks of the Yanggu River are usually packed with people; wives and young women gather by the river to wash rice and clothes, chat about everyday life, and create a lively atmosphere.

Today seems somewhat different from the past.

"Why is the captain here all alone?"

"Has Commander Wu had dinner yet? It's getting late, why don't you come home with me for a simple meal?"

"Oh dear! Granny Sun, who doesn't know that your Third Mistress is still unmarried? Why are you calling for Commander Wu to come back with you now? Do you perhaps want to make Commander Wu your live-in son-in-law?"

"Tch!" Granny Sun glared at the gossipy neighbor and said hatefully, "Young women and wives are all circling around the head constable without any shame. My third sister has a good figure and a pretty face. How is she any less attractive than them?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Who can compare to your third wife! Shameless old woman!"

"..."

After washing rice and picking vegetables, and washing clothes basin after basin, and gossiping endlessly, the wives and daughters of each family still lingered along the Yanggu River, joking and laughing, but their eyes seemed to know each other well, glancing occasionally at the ancient willow trees by the lake, their eyes filled with thoughts and feelings.

When Pan Yue approached with the "gift package" as an apology, she saw this scene of Wu Dutou "attracting bees and butterflies".

The handsome martial arts master sat awkwardly and timidly in front of the ancient willow stump by the river, surrounded by a group of young women and wives who shyly covered their faces and joked and teased each other.

Seeing him straighten his posture, looking unsure of what to do with his hands and feet, Pan Yue, standing outside the crowd, suddenly chuckled and her eyes narrowed.

Hearing the laughter, none of the ladies noticed, but Songsong, who was in the middle, twitched the tips of his ears slightly and suddenly turned his head, his delicate fox-like eyes lighting up.

As if suddenly remembering something, before the other person could speak, Songsong turned away abruptly, his back to the laughing and joking crowd, and remained silent with furrowed brows.

He had been motionless for half a day, but now he suddenly came to life. The laughing and joking crowd looked at each other for a moment, then turned to look at the place where he had been gazing.

"Madam Pan?!"

"It's Lady Pan! Are you here to see your uncle?"

"My lady, come and see! Your uncle has been sitting here silently for most of the day, I don't know what's wrong with him... Could it be that he's been exposed to this sun?"

When family members came looking for them, the girls could no longer laugh and joke freely. After exchanging greetings and best wishes, they each picked up their rice baskets and clothes basins and left in twos and threes.

"The girls have talked so much with you, yet Master Wu is still not appeased?"

After saying goodbye to everyone, Pan Yue strode forward.

He sat slumped in the dappled light and shadow cast by the afterglow of the setting sun, his eyes lowered, motionless and silent.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Pan Yue's eyes, and her eyes blinked.

I knew he was straightforward and easy to get along with, but I only realized today that when he got angry, his temper could last so long.

A gentle breeze ripples across the river, and the afterglow of the setting sun casts a magnificent glow on the distant sky.

After a moment of silence, and confirming that no one was around, Pan Yue lifted her clothes and squeezed to sit next to him.

As he couldn't help but steal another glance, she picked up the oil paper package in her hand, waved it in front of him, and said with a smile, "Roast chicken from the restaurant under Lion Bridge, Songsong, do you want some?"

With a slight twitch of his ear, Songsong ignored the oil paper package, puffed out his cheeks, turned his face away, and stared "resentfully" at the fish swimming freely in the river.

Before I could utter those inspiring words, my stomach suddenly growled loudly.

Pan Yue couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes curving into soft curves, afraid of embarrassing him, and dared not laugh out loud.

After a moment, remembering something, the upturned line of her lips suddenly straightened, she shoved the roast chicken in her hand into his arms, and said softly, "You were so angry yesterday because you thought I didn't care about the life or death of that little white fox that was turned into a fox white-collar worker?"

Songsong's expression froze, staring blankly at the oil paper package on her lap, her face darkening.

Pan Yue sighed softly, propped herself up on her knees, and looked up at the lone goose and distant mountains. The setting sun was magnificent. After thinking for a moment, she slowly said, "Before leaving the Lotus Embroidery Shop, the Prefect's wife had already given a clear order that from now on, no one in the Prefect's mansion should hunt foxes or wear fox fur. In this way, that little white fox may not have died in vain."

Its drooping fox ears suddenly perked up, and its bright black and white eyes blinked as it turned to look at Pan Yue.

“After that,” Pan Yue suddenly turned around, looking into his bright, clear eyes, and continued, “if the subordinate officials follow suit, there will be fewer and fewer people hunting white foxes in and around Yunzhou City, and Jingyanggang will no longer have to live in fear!”

Because of their compatible personalities, Pan Yue regarded He Xi as a friend, not just a customer of the pancake shop. Suddenly, she clearly understood why Wu Song had been angry with her the previous afternoon.

Whatever the reason, he had mentioned to himself more than once that he grew up on Jingyanggang and was familiar with every blade of grass, every tree, every flower and every leaf on the hill.

If the old pine tree in front of the cave on the mountainside is the "Grandma Pine" he has in mind, then who is the little fox that comes and goes in the mountains?

Having grown up in the mountains herself, she once regarded every blade of grass and every tree in the mountains as her closest friends and confidants, and they would whisper to each other constantly.

How could she not understand?

"The 'okay' that slipped out yesterday..."

After a moment of contemplation, Pan Yue averted her gaze, lowered her eyes, and slowly said, "It's not for that little white fox, but for... do you still remember the day we went up Jingyang Ridge to look for Zhao Xiaoniangzi and Fan Langjun?"

Before the other party could respond, Pan Yue continued, "That day in the mountains, I met a beautiful and ethereal little white fox, and we got along quite well... Later at the embroidery shop, I heard that the fox was a little white fox from Jingyang Ridge, and I was worried that it might not be the one I knew... Later, after confirming that it wasn't that one, I subconsciously said 'good'."

She looked at Wu Song with a face full of apology and said, "I forgot for a moment. Every blade of grass, every leaf, every flower on Jingyang Ridge is a dear friend of yours. I hope you will not be offended by my slip of the tongue!"

Upon uttering the word "my lord," Songsong's bright fox eyes flashed suddenly, and he abruptly turned his face away, looking at Pan Yue's left ear. Whether it was due to the sunset or some other reason, his eyes turned as red as if they were about to bleed.

The evening breeze rustled the weeping willows, their branches gently brushing against his cheek.

Songsong was in a panic, scratching his head in frustration. He grabbed the tangled willow branch and muttered, "Not small!"

Just then, the sound of flowing water reached her ears. Pan Yue didn't hear what he said clearly, and subconsciously leaned forward, asking in confusion, "What did you say?"

"I said..."

Songsong suddenly turned around and caught sight of the fleeting shadows and clear, sharp eyes within arm's reach, causing her eyes to tremble slightly.

The wind caresses the willow branches, scattering starlight like dappled clouds, and the evening sun pours down like a waterfall.

The crisp, refreshing scent of grass and leaves, like that of Dongpo in March, broke through the hustle and bustle, accompanied by wisps of smoke and the afterglow of the evening sun, slowly seeping into the nostrils, quickly invading every part of the body, softening the heart, and calming the mind...

Their eyes met, and the air between them suddenly seemed to thin, their breaths growing increasingly hot.

A soft strand of sunlight brushed against her cheek along with the weeping willow branches, and her gaze, which had been lingering in her eyes, trembled slightly.

Clang!

It was as if a lawless little rabbit had spotted that unconsciously opened door to the heart and suddenly burst through it!

Clang! Clang! Boom! Boom! Jumping and crashing, it made his heart race.

Songsong instinctively pressed her hand to her chest. Reason tried to look away, but her body seemed driven by instinct, its gaze fixed on her, growing increasingly "fierce" and fervent; the little rabbit transformed into a raging fire, lava overwhelming reason, the heat quickly scorching her eyes and neck red...

Pan Yue was slightly taken aback when she read something in his suddenly deep and dark eyes. She subconsciously lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and suddenly tightened her grip on the tree stump.

Songsong cautiously moved forward, her eyes fixed on Pan Yue, whose gaze was darting away. Beneath the surging waves, however, lay a naive innocence that seemed to conceal the world's innocence.

Pupils, nose tip, red lips...

Songsong's almost tangible gaze slowly moved down the face lingering in the evening light. She was wondering why the little rabbit inside her was becoming increasingly noisy when she heard a "snap" and the willow branch in her right hand was snapped off. The two of them were suddenly startled.

On the banks of the Yanggu River, beneath the weeping willows, does the wind stir? Does it stir the heart?

The beauty vanished in an instant.

"cough!"

Pan Yue suddenly stood up, glanced around for a moment, then turned around to face a secluded spot. She patted her burning cheeks lightly, let out a long breath, and quickly turned to Wu Song with a forced smile, saying, "Just now when I went out, I heard that the Lotus Embroidery Shop had agreed to a long-term contract with us. Your brother was very happy and said he was going to go to the restaurant to buy some good wine and food... It's getting late, we should head back now."

Songsong blinked blankly, staring down at the broken, unromantic willow branch in his hand. He held it up to his face, blew on it gently, then took out a handkerchief, carefully gathered it up, tucked it back into his bosom, patted it lightly through his outer garment, and then looked up at her in the evening glow, saying, "Okay! Let's go home!"

"Second Brother is back! Sit down and let's talk!"

On their way home, each lost in their own thoughts, they remained silent until the new moon rose above the willow branches and they arrived at the Wu family's porch.

Before anyone could utter a sound, the aroma of wine and meat, along with Wu Da's hearty laughter, wafted out onto the porch.

The two looked up and saw that the lights were on in the center of the first floor, and the table was full of food and wine. Wu Da swayed as he greeted the two.

"My wife has made the greatest contribution, she shall take the head seat!"

They politely took their seats, but before the stools could even warm up, Wu Da suddenly stood up, picked up the empty bowl in front of Pan Yue, poured wine, and turned to her, saying, "I know that my wife doesn't usually like to drink, but since today is a double celebration, please give my brother and me a little face and let us have a bowl!"

"Good things come in pairs?"

Pan Yue paused as she took the wine bowl, glanced at Wu Song on her right, and then looked at Wu Dadao, whose face was flushed: "Besides the contract with the Lotus Embroidery Shop, are there any other good things?"

"It's my second brother!"

Wu Da laughed and picked up the wine bowl in front of him, beaming with joy, "Although my second brother hasn't said anything yet, the county sent someone to buy steamed buns and told me that my second brother heard that the county magistrate was being kind to him and said that there was an important mission for him to go to Tokyo!"

"Tokyo?!"

Pan Yue's hand holding the wine bowl trembled suddenly, and she abruptly raised her head.

The people, events, emotions, and things here are all clearly different from those in "Water Margin," so why would Wu Song still leave Yanggu for Tokyo?

"When will it be released...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Song put down the wine bowl he had just received, his expression displeased, and said, "Brother, today's feast is for He Yunyun to secure the long-term contract for the Lotus Embroidery Shop. We can discuss other matters another day!"

"That's how it should be! That's how it should be!"

Knowing his words were inappropriate, Wu Da slapped himself, picked up the wine bowl with both hands, held it out to the front, and said with bright eyes, "My lady, please forgive me, Wu Da is bad at speaking! I will punish myself with three cups to apologize to my lady!"

The way he called her "wife" so affectionately sounded to Pan Yue's ears, but it seemed even more grating than harsh words.

She subconsciously glanced at Wu Song, who stood silently to the side.

Her eyes were clear as water, still pure and lucid.

Although the woman here is not entirely the same as a partner in later generations, she is, after all, engaged to Wu Da...

"Wuhan University!"

Pan Yue lowered her eyes. As Wu Da picked up his second bowl, she suddenly covered it with her own, raised her head, and said, "There's something that's been weighing on my mind for a long time..."

Wu Da paused abruptly, glancing at her five fingers covering the bowl. His expression darkened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He smiled, put down the bowl, and said, "We're family. My wife, please speak freely!"

My own family?

The candlelight flickered in the wind by the window, its dim glow mirroring the turbulent emotions that Pan Yue couldn't calm.

"As you know, I was not born into a merchant family..."

After a moment of contemplation, she looked up at Wu Da and said in a deep voice, "These past few days, helping to manage the pancake shop has made me increasingly certain that although the neighbors are close, they are ultimately just a minority; if we want to plan for the long term, the pancake shop needs to sign contracts with major households, which is the only way to ensure its longevity!"

Wu Da was taken aback, somewhat confused, when she said, "For example, Qingchen Academy, Handan Embroidery Shop, and the most important family in the county, Yanggu County Government. If needed, I can help you make some connections."

Wu Da glanced at Wu Song, who looked bewildered, and then at Pan Yue, who seemed lost in thought. His face was grim, and his brows were furrowed.

Pan Yue stared at the crackling lamp on the corner of the table, pondered for a long time, and then hesitantly said, "For the next six months, no, a year! Wherever you need me, I will do my best without hesitation, just for you, Da Lang!"

She suddenly raised her head, looked at Wu Da, and said solemnly, "Promise me one thing!"

"Smack!"

The lamplight flickered on the window. Wu Da lowered his eyes, staring blankly at the chipped wine bowl beside him, remaining silent.

"...Wuhan University?"

Pan Yue looked puzzled, glanced at Wu Song, and spoke again.

Wu Da's eyes twitched, and he slowly came back to his senses. Then, he stroked the wine bowl, stared blankly at his second brother, and asked Pan Yue, "What does my wife mean?"

Pan Yuexin tightened her grip on the wine bowl unconsciously, then looked into Wu Da's cloudy eyes and said in a deep voice, "Although we live under the same roof, we have never bowed to heaven and earth, and are not husband and wife; I only ask that you, Da Lang, consider my years of selfless devotion and return the marriage certificate to me, so that we can both be free!"

A gentle breeze rustled through the air, and the shadows swayed beneath the eaves, which had vanished in an instant.

Before long, with a snap, a dizzy moth stumbled into the oil lamp, turning into a wisp of smoke that rose gently into the air.

Wu Da suddenly snapped back to reality.

"comfortable?"

He absently picked at the chipped wine bowl with his short, thick right index finger, glanced blankly at Pan Yue, then turned to his second brother, whose eyes were burning with desire. He frowned slightly and said in a gruff voice, "Second brother, sister-in-law wants the marriage certificate back. What do you think?"

"how?"

A strange look flashed across Wu Song's eyes. He turned to Wu Da and said matter-of-factly, "The fact that we can settle down in Yanggu County and that the pancake shop has achieved its current reputation is all thanks to Yunyun. Brother, you prepared today's feast to thank Yunyun. Now that you know that Yunyun has a request, it is not a difficult matter. Brother should do as you please!"

"As you wish..."

Wu Da muttered to himself, his blank eyes darting back and forth between the two men's faces for a moment. His hand, which was gripping the porcelain bowl, suddenly paused. He abruptly said, "Speaking of which, I've never asked Second Brother why he always calls your sister-in-law 'Yunyu'...it's..."

He turned to Pan Yue, his chubby face twitching slightly, and continued, "Your nickname, my wife?"

Wu Song's brows relaxed, and his eyes softened; just as he was about to respond, Pan Yue on his left suddenly straightened up and blurted out, "Cangzhou!"

"Cangzhou?" Wu Da paused, glanced at the equally bewildered Wu Song, and then turned to Pan Yue, asking, "What does my wife mean?"

Pan Yue stood up straight, her clear eyes wide open, and said confidently, "To be honest, Wu Da, I was also very puzzled before. After asking, I learned that when Wu Song passed through Cangzhou, he often heard the people of Cangzhou call their unmarried sisters-in-law Yunyun. Since we have never bowed to heaven and earth, he called me that!"

Wu Da turned to Wu Song with a blank expression, stared at the untouched wine bowl in front of him for a long time, and murmured, "So that's how it is."

After a long while, Wu Da's expression returned to its usual honest and simple demeanor. He exchanged toasts with the two for a moment, then raised his cup and said solemnly, "Since this is my wife's long-cherished wish, please drink this cup, and I, Wu Da, will not refuse!"

"Really?!" Pan Yue's eyes lit up. She picked up her wine bowl with a flourish and said in a light tone, "Thank you for your generosity, Brother Da!"

The evening breeze caresses the railing, the lamplight flickers, and we raise our cups in invitation; the moon is already full over the world.