Taking the Initiative

The next morning, the sun rose as usual.

The Zhang family was making preparations for the spring plowing, but Zhang Xiaolong was obviously absentminded. From time to time, he glanced at Liu Qian, while Liu Qian herself looked as though nothing had happened. Her composure only made Zhang Xiaolong increasingly uneasy. At last, he found an opportunity to pull her aside and ask softly, "What are you planning to do?"

Liu Qian seemed inclined to tease him and said with a smile, "Do about what?"

Zhang Xiaolong was a little displeased. "About your father coming to take you home. Are you planning to go back?"

Liu Qian said, "Of course. My father is coming to fetch me, so naturally I have to return to my own home."

Zhang Xiaolong's face turned a little pale. "I knew it. Everything you said before was only to comfort me, so that I could recover sooner. Now that my injuries have healed, you no longer need to deceive me. You want to return to that peaceful home of yours. I suppose there is nothing in our little courtyard that can hold your interest."

Seeing that Zhang Xiaolong had truly taken it seriously, Liu Qian hurriedly put away her teasing expression. "Xiaolong, listen to yourself. You think everything I said before was just to comfort you? Don't you know what is in my heart?"

Zhang Xiaolong froze. "It is not that I don't believe you, but at a moment like this, you are so calm while my heart is burning with anxiety. Of course I wanted to ask what you planned to do."

Liu Qian smiled. "You seem very clever on ordinary days, yet when it comes down to it, you have fallen into the common rut. Isn't there a saying: 'When water comes, earth hides from it; when soldiers come, generals block them'? Father naturally wants me to return and will come for me, but whether I go back or not is still up to me, isn't it? Father has always gone along with my wishes in matters concerning me. This time was somewhat unexpected. I think I should wait until he comes and ask him properly. Once I understand the reason, there will naturally be a solution. Why be anxious?"

Zhang Xiaolong smiled. "I am not like you, with a plan already in your chest. I am simply thrown into confusion because I care. Besides, I think we should take the initiative and go speak properly with your father. That would be better than staying here and waiting for him to come knocking."

Liu Qian looked at Zhang Xiaolong approvingly. "You are right. If we strike first, we can seize the initiative in our own hands. If we wait for my father to come, we will fall into an inferior position. There might even be some other unforeseen change. Hmm, how about I go home first and see how things stand?"

Zhang Xiaolong said awkwardly, "I only had that little thought. I had not considered things as deeply as you did. And I was also thinking that I should accompany you. My injuries are much better now. Walking half a day through the mountains should not be a problem."

Liu Qian pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "That is an even better idea. We can go find my father together and see what medicine he is really selling from his gourd."

Zhang Xiaolong still said worriedly, "Qianqian, what if your father refuses to change his mind no matter what, and insists that you return home?"

Liu Qian said slyly, "He will not. I naturally have a way to deal with my father. He will agree."

Zhang Xiaolong was still uneasy. "I mean if. What if?"

Liu Qian became serious. "Brother Xiaolong, you surely know what is in my heart. There are many things neither of us has said completely plainly, but you must believe me. I... I will stay with you."

By the end, her face had reddened, and she could not help lowering her head.

Gathering his courage, Zhang Xiaolong reached out and took the soft hand before him. "Qianqian, you are wonderful."

This time, Liu Qian did not let him hold her hand. She immediately pulled free from his grasp and said, "You should first think about when to go to Baligou." With that, she ran off.

Zhang Xiaolong watched her retreating figure and savored the moment for a long while. The unease in his heart had long since vanished.

When Zhang Xiaolong returned to everyone's sight, the horns of war had already sounded in his heart. He walked up to Zhang Cai and said, "Father, Liu Qian's father did not say exactly when he would come to fetch her, did he?"

Zhang Cai glanced at Zhang Xiaolong. "That is right. He only said he would come in a few days. He did not give a specific date."

Zhang Xiaolong said, "Then, Father, I want to go to Baligou with Liu Qian and have a proper talk with her father."

Zhang Cai was stunned when he heard this. Frowning, he asked, "Was this your idea, or Liu Qian's?"

Zhang Xiaolong said, "It was my idea. I discussed it with Liu Qian just now, and she agreed."

Zhang Cai's brows immediately relaxed, and he said with a smile, "Good boy, you have some skill! When your father was young, I did not have your courage. Not bad, haha."

Just as he was laughing, Guo Sufi walked over and asked, "What is so funny, husband?"

Zhang Cai said, "Our son has grown capable. He knows how to find himself a wife."

Guo Sufi did not quite understand. Zhang Cai repeated to her what Zhang Xiaolong had just told him. Guo Sufi was also delighted. "That is a good idea. When do you and Qianqian plan to go?"

Zhang Xiaolong said, "Mother, did Mr. Liu not say he would be coming soon? I think we should go before he arrives. If not, perhaps we should leave right now."

Guo Sufi looked at the sky and said, "If you leave now, you will not be able to return today. Better wait until after lunch. I will go cook with Qianqian now. Ah, without Qianqian helping in the future, I will not even know how to cook anymore. Xiaolong, you have to keep Qianqian here."

Zhang Xiaolong smiled. "All right, Mother. I definitely will."

Lunch was naturally finished in haste once again. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian packed up and prepared to set off when Zhang Xiaohu spoke. "Big Brother, it does not seem very safe for just the two of you to go out. How about I come along too?"

Zhang Cai also said, "Xiaolong, you should bring something with you as well. Going empty-handed would not be proper."

Zhang Xiaolong said, "I know, Father. I will buy something when we reach the village entrance."

Upon hearing that Zhang Xiaohu wanted to go along, Liu Qian's eyes lit up. She said to Zhang Xiaolong, "Let Xiaohu come with us. It will be safer with three people, and there is no need to buy anything. Bringing some of the well water from home for my father would be perfect."

Zhang Xiaolong slapped his forehead. "Look how muddled I am. Your father loves this water most of all, and I actually forgot."

Zhang Xiaohua jumped up from his chair and said, "I will go draw some fresh water right away. You get something ready to hold it."

By the time Xiaohua brought back the well water, Zhang Xiaolong had borrowed a sealable bottle from a neighbor. They filled it to the brim with well water, and Zhang Xiaohu naturally carried the bottle.

Only then did the three of them set out.

There were two routes from Guo Village to Baligou. One followed the small river, passed through a bamboo grove, climbed several hills, and went by the edges of a few villages. The other crossed the small bridge to reach a main road toward Lu Town, then after reaching a village, passed through that village and continued along the main road toward Baligou. The small path was rugged and difficult to travel, but it was shorter. Though the main road was easier to walk, it was two to three times as long as the small path.

Naturally, Zhang Xiaolong and the others chose the small path.

It was already spring. The river had long thawed, and the trickling stream flowed gently, its sound indescribably pleasant by their ears. The birds had become active as well, chirping and twittering in harmony with the water, making their steps feel especially light. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian walked ahead hand in hand. It seemed they no longer had any reservations like they did at home, freely enjoying the feeling of each other's hands. They looked around at the picture of spring while chatting without pause. Some distance behind them, Zhang Xiaohu lagged behind with the bottle of water in hand, grinning as he watched his elder brother and future sister-in-law. Besides envy, his heart held a thread of expectation—expectation for a beautiful encounter in Baligou later that day.

Zhang Xiaolong's heart was smeared with honey. He hoped the road would stretch on endlessly, allowing him to enjoy the happiness of that afternoon forever. Never before had he felt walking to be such a joyful thing. Never before had he found the mountain scenery he had long grown tired of so beautiful. Never before had he imagined that sweeter than the sound of the river and birds was Liu Qian's voice. Nor had he imagined that the road from Guo Village to Baligou could be so short—it seemed they had barely begun walking before they arrived. When Liu Qian withdrew her hand, he still asked dazedly why, until she shyly told him that Baligou, where she had grown up, was visible just ahead. Only then did he wake up to the fact that this journey, like walking among clouds, had reached its end.

Liu Qian led Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu into the village. From time to time, people who knew her greeted her. Some young women and aunties stared brazenly at Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu, sweeping their eyes over their faces and bodies. This left not only Liu Qian with cheeks blooming like peach blossoms, but also the two Zhang brothers at a loss for what to do. After all, no one had asked who Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu were, so she could not very well explain. Though she wanted to let them think whatever they wished, she did not want them making wild guesses like this. Yet her home was still quite far from the village entrance. By the time she arrived home, talk about Zhang Xiaolong would likely have spread throughout the entire village.

When Liu Qian brought Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu home, it was quite a coincidence: Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher were drinking tea and chatting in the small courtyard. The moment Liu Qian entered, she saw Mr. Liu sitting beneath the eaves on a small stool. He was holding a teapot and pouring tea into a cup, while Liu the Butcher opposite him held his usual wine gourd, bringing it to his lips from time to time for a small sip.

The moment Liu Qian saw her father, her eyes seemed to redden. She called out, "Father~" and ran over.

Mr. Liu was also startled. When he saw that Liu Qian had returned, he was naturally delighted. Setting down the teapot, he rose to greet her. Although it had not been long since they had last met at the Zhang home, this time Liu Qian had returned home, and the feeling was naturally different. Liu Qian threw herself into her father's arms and clung to his arm like a child. Mr. Liu lovingly stroked her hair and merely said, "You are back. It is good that you are back."