Misty Smoke on Cold Water, Moon Shrouding Sand

The road was long, and the boat didn't drift on the river all day; it had to dock and anchor every night.

Occasionally, when they encountered a ferry crossing or a place where they could dock, the boatman would often ask for their thoughts and stop temporarily. Song You would then lead his horse off the boat to relieve himself. At the various ferry crossings, women often sold food, and if Song You found something he liked, he would buy it to add some flavor to his mouth.

What the boatman said was true; the meals on the boat were fine for a meal or two, but after a few more days, the taste became bland and fishy. Fortunately, Song You had brought some dried rations.

Unknowingly, they had been sailing for six days.

As they neared Long Commandery, the scenery on both sides began to change.

There were not narrow flatlands along the riverbanks; at least, the fields were flat and covered with rapeseed flowers. In early spring, they were just blooming, looking like a golden expanse, and the wind carried the sweet fragrance of rapeseed flowers.

And upon this land were countless strangely shaped hills that rose abruptly. Unlike ordinary mountains, they were steep and small, like bamboo shoots, making them difficult to climb and not worth the effort. Countless such small mountains blocked the horizon, appearing layered and dense from afar, like a forest of mountains, obstructing the view after not too long.

It wouldn't be unbelievable if someone said this region was a kingdom of Yao.

"We've reached the territory of Long Commandery."

The boatman, while poling the boat, said to him, "The mountains in Long Commandery are like this, all lumpy. Most of them can't be climbed, and there's no land on top. People can only walk through the middle of the mountains."

"They're very beautiful."

"Everyone says they're beautiful."

"Are there any that can be climbed?"

"Yes!"

The boatman's face was deeply lined, but he smiled. He enjoyed talking with this Mister. "If you're going to Anqing, the county of Anqing is the most beautiful. When you get there, ask someone, and they'll naturally tell you how to enjoy it. If you ask me how I know, haha, every year countless important officials, great poets, and talented scholars come here to see the scenery, and almost all of them go to Anqing."

"Thank you, old man."

Song You stood only at the bow of the boat, gazing at the side.

The sun gradually sank westward. Before it touched the horizon, it first sank into this forest of mountains that resembled bamboo shoots and trees.

The last rays of light slanted down from the jagged, uneven, and varied mountain forest tops, a pale gold. The shape of the light could be clearly seen. Half of the river was filled with the reflections of the mountains and the light. An old man in a straw cape and a bamboo hat poled the boat forward, and a man in a Taoist robe stood at the bow. The entire river was traversed by this small boat alone.

"We should reach our destination tonight."

"Good."

As the boatman poled, he even began to sing.

Song You found it incredibly beautiful for a moment, and his mood improved.

"Old man."

"I'm listening!"

"Should we prepare dinner?"

"You're right, sir. I'll find a place to stop now."

"I have a piece of cured meat in my bag. I didn't finish it before the New Year, and it's quite heavy to carry on the road, so please let the old man cook it for us to try together."

"Alright!"

And so, amidst these myriad mountains, on the Liujiang River, under the twilight sky, another wisp of cooking smoke appeared.

About two to three quarters of an hour later.

The scholar's hair had not been washed for several days and was already a bit greasy, but he was still full of spirit, using chopsticks to pick up a piece of cured meat from his bowl.

The cured meat was two parts fat and two parts lean, with three layers of fat. When picked up and viewed under the oil lamp, the fatty parts were transparent and golden, glistening. It trembled with oil on the chopsticks. Eaten hot, not a hint of greasiness could be tasted, only the full aroma of cured meat, with the fresh scent of pine branches, neither too salty nor too bland.

"This cured meat is amazing! Absolutely perfect!"

The scholar was immediately impressed and asked Song You, "Did you make it yourself, Mister?"

"Someone gave it to me."

"In any case, I've benefited from your kindness, Mister. I must thank you." The scholar chuckled, cupped his hands at Song You, and his chopsticks moved ceaselessly. While eating, he said, "I really like Yizhou's cured meat, especially this kind smoked with pine branches. It's not as good anywhere else."

"I suddenly remembered something."

"Oh? What is it, Mister?"

"In Yidu's North Wa Zi, there's a Cloud Talk Shed, where an old Mister Zhang tells stories. He is knowledgeable and skilled in this art, aware of the strange and interesting affairs of various places. If you visit friends in Yidu again in the future, you can go to North Wa Zi to seek out this Old Mr. Zhang. If you're not stingy with tea money and show proper respect, he certainly won't disappoint you."

"!"

How could the scholar have expected him to suddenly say this? After listening, he immediately dropped his playful demeanor, put down his chopsticks, and solemnly bowed to him.

It was just a miscellaneous book; how many people would truly take it seriously? It would be good enough if they didn't mock or scorn it, let alone hope to be recorded in the Green History! But with this sudden piece of advice, he felt valued by this Mister he had met by chance, experiencing a sense of kindred spirits.

"Mister, with you like this, I don't know how I can repay you."

"Just compile your book wholeheartedly. Perhaps people of this era won't understand, but future generations might cherish it?"

"Naturally!"

Song You stopped talking and just ate meat, with some watered-down wine.

The wine was provided by the scholar, and the family of three also brought some dried fruit. It didn't matter who paid for what; they were all sharing the meal.

This was best, owing nothing to each other.

Gradually, night fell.

Tonight there was a moon, and the boatman refused to dock, continuing to sail by moonlight and experience, intending to take them all to their destination so he could return tomorrow.

Not long after, he heard the boatman call out:

"Anqing has arrived."

The boat gradually docked with a sound.

Everyone on the boat, except for Song You, quickly got up.

The scholar, carrying his box of clothes, cupped his hands to Song You in farewell along with the male head of the family of three.

"It was a pleasure to travel with you; we must part ways here."

"These past few days traveling together and conversing with you, Mister, I have often felt greatly enlightened. Even if you are not a master of the Daoist sect, you are certainly a hermit of pure cultivation. I only regret that this journey was too short, and I could not spend a few more days with you." The scholar, slinging his box over his shoulder, looked at Song You with great regret. "However, such is often the way of the world; meeting and parting are all a matter of fate. I bid you farewell. If you ever visit Anqing in the future, you must come find me."

"The roads are slippery at night; please take care on your way."

Song You also stood at the bow of the boat, cupped his hands to them, and watched them disembark and leave.

The boatman pushed off again, and the boat left the shore.

Just then, he heard the scholar's voice again:

"Wait!"

He saw the scholar standing on the stone steps of the ferry landing, cupping his hands to Song You once more. "Previously, I thought that when people in the Jianghu meet by chance, why ask where they come from? I didn't ask you where you cultivated, Mister. But after spending a few days together, I feel you understand me more and more. I dare to ask where you live, so that if fate allows, I may visit you in Yizhou in the future."

"Yin Yang Mountain, Fulong Temple."

"..."

The water was swift at night, and the boat quickly sailed away.

He only heard the boatman say with a chuckle, "That scholar is good in every way, just a bit too noisy."

Song You smiled but did not reply, merely asking:

"How much further is it to Lingbo County?"

"It's still quite a ways to Lingbo County, but that stretch of water has water Yao causing trouble. That water Yao is huge; ordinary boats are capsized in an instant. Many people died a few years ago, and now no one dares to travel that route. Fortunately, Lingbo is the last stop, so passengers going to Lingbo get off at the nearest ancient ferry crossing, about an hour away." The boatman paused. "However, sir, you must be careful. Once you disembark at the ancient ferry crossing, there are many mountain bandits on the road to Lingbo County. Although I haven't heard of them harming anyone, people are often robbed. If it were an ordinary passenger traveling this road, I would advise them to give the bandits some money and speak nicely to avoid physical harm. If they encounter considerate ones, they might even leave you with something."

"Thank you for the warning."

"You are different, sir. I've heard people say that considerate mountain bandits, besides not robbing official couriers or scholars taking exams, also generally don't rob: Daoist priests, Buddhist monks, young women traveling alone, or lost young children. Heh heh, as for how many mountain bandits are considerate, I couldn't say."

"Old man, will it be easy to pick up passengers on your return trip?"

"Not as easy as on this side."

"How many days will the return trip take?"

"Ten days, eleven days." The boatman said with a smile, "This trip was lucky. I met a family traveling together, and then I met you, sir. Usually, I can't carry so many people in one trip."

"It must be hard work."

Figuring it this way, this old man could earn at least over a thousand coins for a round trip. If lucky, maybe over two thousand; if unlucky, probably several hundred. He definitely couldn't make two trips a month, but he wouldn't only make one. The income was still pretty good. However, the waterway was long, and he had to row and cook along the way, which was also arduous.

"Hard work earns freedom to eat!"

The boatman's voice came, mixed with the sound of splashing water.

Song You's eyes lit up. For a moment, he seemed to be infected by the boatman's down-to-earth and content attitude, and he was surprised that such a sentence could come from an ordinary boatman.

But he quickly realized that this was also arrogance, both rude and inappropriate.

In short, receiving such a kind word felt like receiving a cool breeze on a hot summer day, or drinking a cup of hot tea on a cold winter day. It was like encountering good fortune when going out, a pleasant surprise that lifted his spirits.

His heart softened, and the moonlight seemed to become much gentler.

About an hour later--

Song You slung the bag containing the horse onto its back. He saw the Three Flower Cat leap nimbly from the boat's bow onto the shore, and he followed suit.

He turned back to look at the horse behind him.

"Go slowly, no rush."

He saw the water ripple as the boat slowly drifted, and the sound of splashing water filled his ears.

Under the moonlight, the horse cautiously and nervously walked to the bow of the boat. It was about to jump ashore but heard his words and retracted its hooves, then moved to find a more stable position before safely disembarking.

The boatman watched from the bow, smiling without a word.

Having lived long and seen much, some truths need not be learned from books; they are understood naturally. He had long seen that this guest was extraordinary, but as a mere boatman, why would he ask further?

"Mister, travel safely on the night road."

"Old man, you too, take care."

With a push of the oar, the small boat left the shore again.

After the boat had gone far, Song You withdrew his gaze.

He saw the river water shimmering under the moonlight, sparkling and splashing against the shore. Cold air rose from the river, reflecting the bright moon, and was coated with a layer of haze by the moonlight, like scattered stardust. The river seemed to glow, as if in a realm of immortals.

He looked down again. The Three Flower Lady had arrived at a new place and began to run around, sniffing here and there, as if she hadn't heard his words at all.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

Still, the Daoist priest in front, the horse behind, and the Three Flower Cat sometimes in front, sometimes behind, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, until the Daoist priest asked her to help scout the way, only then did she obediently walk ahead.

They were going to find a place to camp for the night.

Year two of Mingde, mid-first lunar month, after touring the Liujiang River.