Chapter 30: Helian Guang
After Li Wei and Chun Tian departed from Shipan City, Lu Mingyue received two letters: one addressed to herself, and one to Changliu. It was only then that she learned the two had already set off for Yiwu.
Changliu carefully folded the letter into a neat square, then bowed deeply to Lu Mingyue and said, “I’ll be in your care from now on, Madam Lu.”
Lu Mingyue took his hand, her voice incredibly gentle: “Good child, treat this as your home. Madam Lu and Jiayan are your own family now.”
Nearby, Jiayan was focused on crafting a small slingshot, his head lowered, not even looking up as he added, “And Uncle Guang too. He’s your real uncle now.”
Lu Mingyue pressed her lips together but said nothing.
The day after she received Li Wei’s letter, Cao Dening arrived with a guest: a middle-aged man, fair-faced with neatly groomed beard, dressed in a robe of fine blue silk.
The man introduced himself as Wang Fu, a tea merchant’s broker from Ganzhou. After polite pleasantries, he first asked after Li Wei, and then inquired about the young lady who had spent last winter recovering at the Li household.
It was clear the visitor had already been to the Blind Alley and spoken with neighbors. The Li home was now shuttered. Li Wei had left to follow Chun Tian, Changliu had been taken in by Lu Mingyue, and Aunt Zhao and Xianxian had returned to the countryside.
“This young lady is the daughter of an old friend of mine,” Wang Fu explained. “We lost contact many years ago. When I recently heard word of her, I was overjoyed and came to the Li residence, only to find the place empty and no one to be found.”
Lu Mingyue replied, “You’re just a bit too late. The two of them have already passed through Yumen Pass. Li Wei went after Miss Chun Tian to search for someone in Yiwu. He said they’d be back in two or three months.”
Wang Fu received the confirmation, sighed with a clap of his hands, and after sending word back to Prince Jing, set off in pursuit of the two beyond Yumen Pass.
After the visitor left, Changliu came out from inside and asked, “Was that uncle here to find Chun Tian-jiejie?”
Lu Mingyue nodded. “Seems like one of her uncles or elder relatives tracked her down.”
She had long suspected Chun Tian’s background wasn’t ordinary. The visitor, Wang Fu, though plainly dressed, wore only the finest materials, and his soft-soled boots were of a kind rarely found outside the Imperial palace’s private workshops.
At midday, Lu Mingyue was in the kitchen kneading dough for soup cakes. Though she hailed from the south, where rice was preferred, she had mastered southern cuisine. But both Jiayan and Changliu favored noodles and wheat dishes, so she had learned to make soup cakes after moving to Hexi.
Since Madam Li’s passing, Lu Mingyue had grown especially fond of Changliu. Lately, to ease his grief, she had tried everything to cheer him up and help him eat more. Just the other day, Helian Guang had caught a few wild rabbits in the hills. That morning, they’d been cleaned and prepared. Now, she was boiling them before cutting the meat into chunks and stir-frying them with sesame oil. Amidst the rising smoke and the flush of heat on her cheeks, a sudden splash came from the water vat behind her. A dark shadow slipped past her side.
Helian Guang had silently taken a seat by the hearth, quietly stoking the firewood.
For a moment, her hands paused mid-motion.
Lately, Helian Guang had been leaving early and returning late, seldom seen at home. Lu Mingyue had also deliberately avoided him. Though they lived under the same roof, their encounters were few and far between. At this moment, the aroma rising from the pot filled the kitchen. Lu Mingyue didn’t have time to think further, she added a pinch of salt and scallions, poured the broth to a boil, then scattered in the hand-pulled soup cakes. Once bubbling again, the soup was ready to serve.
She had learned this dish after arriving in Hexi. Along the Qilian mountain range, cities were mixed with both Han and Hu populations, and the locals favored wild game over river fish. Jiayan and Changliu both liked the dish as well, each could easily eat two large bowls.
Helian Guang stood up to fetch bowls and handed them to her. She only came up to his shoulder, and as she lowered her head silently, she could feel just how close he was. Amid the rising steam and the scent of broth, she could still detect the vigorous, unruly scent of him—a man’s raw presence. It made her chest flush with heat and trembling, as if she longed to flee, yet had no place to go.
There had already been intimacy between them, and yet there remained a heavy, frozen barrier, neither broken nor breached. No matter how much she resented it, Lu Mingyue couldn’t avoid him. This household still relied on his protection. In this world, for a widowed woman with no family and two children, life was simply too hard.
It had been nearly twenty years since her days of silk and perfume behind brocade doors. Once a genteel maiden from Jiangnan, she was now a disheveled, careworn woman. And yet, strangely enough, no matter how humbling or bitter her life became, she still stubbornly wanted to survive.
“In a few days, I’ll be heading to Yingwo Ravine or Eagle’s Nest Gully,” he said. “Might be gone ten days, maybe half a month. You and the children staying home, I’m not at ease with that.” He paused. “Would you rather come with me? There’s a hut in the mountains I lived in as a child. It’s a bit rough, but if we tidy it up, it’ll be livable.”
Startled, she instinctively shook her head and replied coolly, “No.”
Helian Guang placed the rabbit and soup cakes onto a tray. He’d expected her answer, and replied gently, “Li Wei and I have agreed to suspend the westbound work for now. We’re planning to open a horse-breeding ground at Yingwo Ravine. The husbandry bureau’s approval came through not long ago. Once we start selecting good stock and clearing the land, there’ll be plenty to do, I won’t be home much.”
“If our Qiang customs trouble you, then I’ll follow your Han traditions, in proper form, with matchmakers and bride-price, I’ll marry you as my lawful wife. Mingyue, will you marry me?”
He reached out to take her hand, but before his fingers could touch, Lu Mingyue’s hands shrank back into her sleeves as though scalded. From the courtyard came the sound of children laughing and playing. She quickly turned and fled toward the door, calling out in a fluster, “Jiayan, Changliu, it’s time to eat!”
At dawn the next day, Lu Mingyue tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Just as she was about to rise, she heard the faint sound of footsteps and a horse’s whinny in the courtyard. By the time she dressed and stepped outside, the yard was already empty. Morning light was just beginning to seep in; the early wind was soft and warm.
Many years ago, she had heard her late husband Helian Bo speak of a younger brother, the only family he had left. The two brothers had been sold many times in their youth. Eventually, they were bought by a Han merchant dealing in silks and cloth. The man took pleasure in tormenting and raping them, and for even the smallest mistake, he would hang them from the beams and whip them. One day, the brothers finally struck back and killed him. The elder, Helian Bo, joined a frontier reclamation camp. The younger, Helian Guang, fled in the night and vanished without a trace.
Whenever Helian Bo spoke of his younger brother, it was always with pride, he would praise his cleverness, his skill in riding and hunting.
The next morning, Jiayan found out Helian Guang had once again slipped away without a word. He stood at the doorway, disgruntled, and complained, “Uncle Guang is always like this. Every time he leaves, he sneaks off and never takes me with him.”
“Did you finish yesterday’s lessons?” Lu Mingyue tapped his little forehead with a curved finger. “All you think about is going out to play. Can’t you put a little more effort into your studies? Go read with Changliu.”
Helian Guang was gone for quite a while. Zhou Huaiyuan and a few of the young men from the caravan stopped by several times to deliver firewood and grain. One day, as an old woman who often came by to collect embroidery happened to see them, she asked, “Madam Lu, I haven’t seen that uncle of yours in a while. Has he gone out on the road again for business?”
Lu Mingyue poured a cup of chrysanthemum tea and laid out her recent embroidery work, replying calmly, “Please have some tea, Jiang-mama.” After a long pause, she added, “He’s gone out.”
Jiang mama was well-connected and widely informed. Besides going door-to-door to collect embroidery work, she also made money as a matchmaker. Noticing the man of the household was absent, she clicked her tongue and said, “Madam, that uncle of yours, tall, broad, and quite imposing, he’s no longer young. Has he taken a liking to any girl yet?”
“That, I wouldn’t know,” Lu Mingyue replied. “But if Jiang-mama knows of someone suitable, feel free to help arrange a match.”
Jaing mama laughed cheerfully. “Easy enough, easy enough.” In the Hexi region, where Han and Hu people lived side by side, Han customs were dominant, but many Hu had adopted Han ways. Some wealthy Hu merchants even preferred to marry Han women. That said, few were willing to act as matchmakers for Hu clients.
She then unfolded one of Lu Mingyue’s embroidered handkerchiefs and clicked her tongue in admiration. “The hand towels you stitched last time, my client couldn’t praise them enough. Now they want a few robes made. I thought it wouldn’t be difficult, so I took down the measurements. But who would’ve guessed, they’re for receiving important guests, so the client’s asking for the seamstress to come in person, take detailed measurements, and tailor everything perfectly.” She chuckled. “Of course, they’ll cover tea money and the sedan chair.”
Lu Mingyue set down her needle and gave Jiang-mama a glance. With a faint smile, she replied, “Jiang mama has known me for a long time. You know I never go out, and I don’t see strange men. Have you forgotten?”
Jiang-mama looked a bit embarrassed. “It’s just a very lucrative job, and this old woman really couldn’t refuse.”
“There’s a lot to tend to at home, and I’m caring for two children. It’s hard for me to leave the house. If your client truly appreciates my embroidery, perhaps you could ask them to write out the measurements and desired styles. I’ll make them to order, just the same.”
Seeing that Lu Mingyue was politely refusing, Jiang-mama had no choice but to drop the matter. “I’ll speak with the client again. Still, it’s such a generous offer, a rare opportunity.”
Lu Mingyue smiled faintly and said nothing more.
The next day, Jiang-mama returned again, still unwilling to give up. This time she brought a few bolts of silk and a list of measurements, it was for a tall, slender man. The deposit was generous.
Though Lu Mingyue felt slightly resigned, such situations weren’t uncommon. A widow’s doorstep always attracted attention, and trouble was difficult to avoid. All she could do was handle it with care. For the next seven or eight days, she worked tirelessly, day and night, to complete the garments. When the work was done, she called Jiang-mama to come collect them.
Jiang mama sat down and drank a cup of tea, and before she left, she once again pressed Lu Mingyue, saying, “Madam Lu, you’re such a good woman, won’t you reconsider? This truly is a rare opportunity. Ask around, his character, his looks, he’s an exceptional man.”
Lu Mingyue replied with a gentle smile, “To tell Jiang-mama the truth, I’m not a native of Hexi. Lately, I’ve been considering returning south to my hometown. I fear I won’t be staying long here in Ganzhou. It’s not that I don’t appreciate your kind intentions, but rather that fate isn’t on our side.”
The day Helian Guang returned, he happened to run into Jiang-mama just as she came to settle the payment for the garments. Lu Mingyue was seeing her off at the door, and Helian Guang had just come in from the alley, carrying a bundle over his shoulder. Their sudden encounter caught them both off guard. Lu Mingyue lost her words, her flushed cheeks instantly paling as she turned and withdrew into the house.
Jiang-mama, upon seeing Helian Guang’s rough, travel-worn clothes and full beard, was visibly startled. She gave a few polite coughs and stepped aside to avoid him.
Changliu and Jiayan, spotting their Uncle Guang return, were overjoyed. Jiayan untied the bundle, revealing a stash of vividly purple wild berries and fresh meat. He immediately exclaimed, “Uncle Guang, you went to the mountains to have fun again and didn’t bring me!”
Helian Guang peeled Jiayan off his leg. “Bring you? You’d be gone like a wild horse and never come back.”
One grown man and two children bustled off noisily toward the stables. As they passed by the side room, Helian Guang caught sight of Lu Mingyue cleaning up the tea set. A few chrysanthemum blossoms from the steeped tea had been spilled under the window. In a low voice, he asked the children, “That old woman Jiang, what did she come here chattering about?”
“I think she came to give Mother money for the clothes,” Jiayan said casually. “She’s been here all morning, saying a whole bunch of stuff.” Changliu curled his lips indifferently.
“What kind of stuff?” Helian Guang frowned.
“Oh, you know, the usual, making clothes, embroidery, fabrics and all that. My ears nearly fell off listening to it.”
“Granny Jiang tried to matchmake Madam Lu,” Changliu added seriously, mimicking adult gestures with a wave of his hand. “But she said no.”
“What?!” Jiayan was so startled he practically jumped, his voice cracking in fright.
Helian Guang’s eyes were full of gloom.
Changliu looked at the uncle and nephew pair in front of him, one big, one small, unsure if he should speak. But under their nearly murderous stares, he finally sorted through the tangled words of the two women and said:
“There’s a merchant who opened a shop in the north of the city. A few years ago, his wife died, and he wanted to marry a virtuous, capable new wife. He took a liking to Madam Lu’s embroidery skills and asked Granny Jiang to act as a matchmaker. Granny Jiang spoke to her at length, but Madam Lu declined, saying she wanted to return to her hometown in the south. She refused Granny Jiang, who had no choice but to leave.”
“She’s going back.”
Helian Guang clenched his fists, his face turning to stone.
Jiayan let out a dramatic “Oh no!”. “You scared me to death! I thought my mother was going to get married!”
That night, after bathing, Lu Mingyue stepped out of the bathhouse. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Helian Guang standing with his arms crossed, face cold and unreadable.
She paused in her steps, instinctively retreating back into the room. She tried to shut the door quickly, but he forced it open with one hand, entered, and locked the door behind him.
Inside the bathhouse, the steam still lingered in the air. Her body trembled as she lowered her voice, trying to stay calm:“Helian Guang, are you crazy?”
His gaze burned, sharp and intense. His voice was low but steady: “The children are asleep. They won’t hear a thing.”
That night was still and silent. A crescent moon hung like a hook in the sky, stars dim. From the bathtub came the sound of splashing water, heavy with mist. The woman’s fragmented, chaotic voice was soon drowned out by the man’s, dominant and resolute: “If that Granny Jiang dares come knocking again, she won’t even know how she died.”
Then he said:
“Mmm… when did you start thinking about going back to Suzhou? Are you trying to run from me?”
TN: Hope everyone is doing well!
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