Chapter 46: Mist Envelops the Cold Waters, Moonlight Covers the Sand
The journey was long, and this boat did not drift on the river all day and night. Every evening, it would always dock.
Occasionally, when they came across a ferry crossing or a place suitable for docking, the boatman would usually seek their opinions and temporarily dock. Song You would then lead his horse off the boat to relieve itself. At various ferry crossings, there were often women selling food. When Song You found something he liked, he would buy a little to add some flavor to his meals.
The boatman's words were not wrong. The meals on the boat were fine for one or two meals, but after two more days, they began to taste bland and fishy. Fortunately, Song You had brought some dry rations with him.
Unknowingly, the boat journey had already lasted six days.
As they approached Long Commandery, the scenery on both sides began to change.
The riverbanks had wide flatlands. At least the fields were flat, and filled with rapeseed flowers that happened to be blooming in early spring. They appeared as a dazzling golden expanse, and the wind carried their sweet fragrance.
On this land were countless bizarre hills that rose abruptly. Unlike normal mountains, they were steep and small, like bamboo shoots. They were difficult for people to climb and not much worth the effort to do so. These countless small hills blocked the view in the distance, overlapping like a forest of mountains, obstructing the line of sight.
It wouldn’t be surprising if people believed these hills were the domain of demons.
“We've reached the boundary of Long Commandery,” the boatman said as he rowed the boat. “Long Commandery’s mountains are like this, clustered and most of them can’t be climbed. There's no space on top, so people have to walk between the hills.”
“It's very beautiful.”
“Everyone says so.”
“Are there any that can be climbed?”
“There are!”
The boatman’s face was full of wrinkles but it bore a smile. He enjoyed talking with this gentleman. “You must go to Anqing, Anqing County has the best views. Once you arrive there, just ask around, and you'll naturally know how to enjoy the place. If you ask how I know, haha, every year many great officials, poets, and gifted scholars come here to see the scenery, and they almost all head to Anqing.”
“Thank you, old sir.”
Song You just stood at the bow, gazing around.
The sun gradually sank westward. Before sinking below the horizon, it first disappeared into the forest-like clustered hills resembling bamboo shoots.
The last rays of sunlight slanted down from the jagged, uneven mountain tops, casting a pale golden hue that was clearly visible in form. Half of the river reflected the mountains and light. An old man wearing a woven rush raincoat and a conical bamboo hat rowed the boat forward, while a man wearing a Daoist robe stood at the bow. The entire river only had only this little boat navigating through.
“We should arrive by tonight.”
“Good.”
The boatman actually started singing loudly as he continued to row.
Song You found the scene exceptionally beautiful for a moment, and his mood lifted.
“Old sir.”
“I'm listening!”
“Isn’t it time to start preparing dinner?”
“You're right, I'll find a place to stop.”
“I have a piece of cured meat in my bag that was left over from before the New Year. It's heavy to carry on the road, so I'd like to ask you to cook it so everyone can have a taste together.”
“Alright!”
Thus, amidst the myriad mountains on the Liujiang River, a plume of cooking smoke rose again under the twilight rays of light.
About two to three quarters of an hour later.
The scholar’s hair had become somewhat greasy and tangled from several days without brushing and washing. However, he still looked full of vigor as he picked up a piece of cured meat with his chopsticks from the bowl.
The cured meat was both fat and lean with a three-layered marbling of fat. Holding it up to the oil lamp for a look, the fatty part was transparent and golden, glistening and trembling on the chopsticks. Putting it into his mouth for a taste while it was still hot, there wasn’t the slightest hint of greasiness. There was only the full fragrance of the cured meat, with a hint of the refreshing scent of pine and cypress branches. It was neither too salty nor too bland.
“This cured meat is excellent!” The scholar immediately exclaimed in astonishment. He asked Song You. “Did you make this yourself?”
“Someone gave it to me.”
“Anyhow, we've benefited from you sharing your good fortune. We have to thank you.” The scholar smiled as he bowed to Song You. His chopsticks moved up and down continuously and he said while he ate, “I just love cured meat from Yizhou, especially meat like this that had been smoked with pine and cypress branches. Nowhere else does it as well.”
“I suddenly remembered something.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“At Cloud Talk Canopy in the Northern Market of Yidu, there's an old storyteller with the surname Zhang. He is experienced, knowledgeable and skilled in his craft, familiar with strange and interesting tales from various regions. If you go to Yidu to visit your friends again, you could go to the Northern Market to seek this Mr. Zhang. If you’re polite and don’t mind spending some money on tea, he certainly won't disappoint you.”
The scholar didn’t think that he would suddenly say something like this. He immediately put aside his jovial demeanor, laid down his chopsticks and solemnly bowed to Song You.
He was just compiling a miscellaneous book, and few people would take it seriously. He even aspired to leave a mark in history, and was already fortunate if he wasn’t disdained and sneered at! Yet, this sudden advice already made him feel genuinely valued by this gentleman that he had met by chance, evoking a sense of their being kindred spirits for a moment.
“Mister, I find it difficult to repay such kindness.”
“Just compile your book with all your heart. Even if people of the present age don't understand, future generations might treasure it.”
“Of course!”
Song You stopped speaking. He just picked up the cured meat to eat and sipped some diluted wine.
The wine had been provided by the scholar, while the family of three brought over some preserved fruit. It didn’t matter whose contribution was more valuable as they all shared in the meal.
It was best this way so no one owes anyone anything.
Gradually, night fell.
There was moonlight that night. The boatman refused to dock, relying on the moonlight and his experience to continue navigating, determined to deliver them to their destination so he could return the next day.
Soon, they heard the boatman called out. “We've arrived at Anqing.”
The boat gradually docked with a thud.
Everyone except Song You hurriedly got up.
The scholar, carrying his box of clothes, and the husband from the family of three both cupped their hands to Song You in farewell.
“We were fortunate to travel together, farewell.”
“I often felt I have benefited considerably from our conversation these past few days on the same boat. Even if you're not a Daoist master, you're still a cultivating recluse. It's a pity the journey is short, and I can't spend a few more days with you.” The scholar, carrying his chest, looked at Song You with great regret. “However, the affairs of the world are often like this. Meetings and partings are all fated. Farewell, and you must come look for me if you come to Anqing for sight-seeing in the future.”
“Everyone, please be careful on the slippery night road.”
Song You stood at the bow, cupping his hands, watching them disembark and leave.
The boatman rowed again and the boat left the shore once more.
At that moment, they heard the scholar's voice. “Wait!”
He stood on the stone steps of the ferry crossing, cupping his hands once more to Song You. “Previously, I felt that people in the jianghu who meet by chance need not ask about each other's origin. So I didn't ask you where you originally used to cultivate. But after spending a few days together, I increasingly feel that you understand my heart very well. I would like to boldly ask where you reside. If fate allows, should I return to Yizhou in the future, I should visit you.”
“Yin-Yang Mountain, Hidden Dragon Temple.”
In the swift nighttime current, the boat quickly moved far away.
The boatman chuckled. “That scholar is good in every way, except he's a bit too noisy.”
Song You smiled without answering. He just asked, “How much farther to Lingbo County?”
“It's still quite far, but that part of the water route has a water demon causing trouble. That water demon is huge, capsizing ordinary boats easily. Many people died a few years back, and now no one dares to sail there. Fortunately, Lingbo is the last stretch. Those heading to Lingbo all disembark at the nearest old ferry crossing, about two hours away.” The boatman paused. “But you must be careful. Once you reach the shore from the old ferry crossing, there are many mountain bandits on the road to Lingbo County. While I haven’t heard of them killing anyone, they have frequently robbed many people. If ordinary passengers are taking this road, I advise them to give some money and speak nicely if they meet bandits in order to avoid physical harm. Some bandits, if principled, might even leave a portion behind.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“But you're different. I've heard that principled mountain bandits, besides not robbing government couriers, and scholars taking exams, also avoid robbing Daoist priests, Buddhist monks, lone young women, and lost children. Haha, as for how many mountain bandits adhere to this, I don’t know.”
“Is it easy to get passengers for your return trip?”
“Not as many as the other way.”
“How long will the return journey take?”
“Ten or eleven days,” the boatman laughed. “This trip was quite lucky, encountering a family and then you. Usually, I don’t carry this many people in one trip.”
“It must be hard work.”
By these calculations, the boatman could earn at least more than a thousand wen per round trip. With good luck, maybe over two thousand, and even with bad luck, at least an estimated several hundred it seemed. He couldn’t make two trips a month, but he wouldn’t make just one either. The income was decent. However, it was a very long journey and hard work, having to row the boat and cook meals all the way.
“Hard work earns a comfortable living!” The boatman's voice mingled with the sound of splashing water.
Song You’s eyes brightened, momentarily feeling touched by the boatman’s steadfast and contented attitude and also surprised such words came from the mouth of an ordinary boatman.
But he quickly realized this was actually arrogance, both disrespectful and inappropriate.
Overall, the good words felt like a cool breeze during the three hottest periods in the summer[1], drinking a cup of hot tea during the twenty seven days after the Winter Solstice[2], or encountering a stroke of luck when going out. They were a nice surprise and also made him feel joyful.
His heart softened, and the moonlight also became much more gentle.
About two hours later…
Song You placed his bedding bag on the horse's back. He watched the calico cat leap nimbly ashore from the prow. He himself also subsequently stepped out.
He then turned back to look at the horse behind.
“Take it slowly, no rush.”
The water rippled, the boat slowly swayed, and the sound of the water splashing filled the air.
Under the moonlight, the horse carefully and nervously approached the bow, ready to jump ashore. Upon hearing his words, it actually withdrew its hooves, found a more stable spot, and then steadily disembarked.
The boatman watched from the prow, smiling but silent.
Having lived long and seen much, actually some truths come naturally without needing books. He had long noticed this passenger's extraordinary nature but saw no need to pry since he was just a boatman.
“Mister, take care on the night road.”
“Old sir, please go slowly too.”
With a push of the oar, the little boat left the shore again.
When the boat had moved far away, Song You finally turned his gaze back.
In the moonlight, the river water shimmered, with glittering waves and water splashes against the shore. The cold air rose from the river surface which reflected the bright moon, and was coated with a layer of haze by the moonlight. It looked like scattered stars, and the river water glowed. Such a scene was nothing short of an immortal’s realm.
Lady Calico lowered her head to look around. She had reached a new place and started running everywhere again, sniffing here and there, seemingly ignoring his words.
“Let's go.”
“Okay.”
The Daoist led the way as always, the horse followed, and the calico cat darted everywhere, until she was asked to explore the way ahead. Only then, did she obediently walk in front.
It was time to find a place to camp for the night.
In the second year of Mingde, in the middle of the first month of the lunar year, they finished their journey on the Liujiang River.
1. Three periods forming the hottest periods of summer, from mid-July to mid-August, namely mid-July, late July to early August, and mid-August. ☜
2. Reputed to be the coldest days of the year. ☜
Comments
Top