Morning on Plum Ridge: tree shadows slanted across one another, and subtle fragrance drifted through the air.
This was a small ridge on the northern bank of the Songjiang, with gentle slopes and a summit less than thirty zhang high. It was called Plum Ridge because plum trees covered the mountain-green, white, red... It was already mid-to-late February, and most of the plum blossoms had fallen. Only the Three-Leaf Plum remained in full bloom, while fallen flowers carpeted the ground in a thin, scattered layer.
Chen Caozhi loved climbing mountains, especially ridges lush with flowers and trees. Whenever he saw one, he wanted to thread his way through the blossoms and trees and stand upon its highest peak. So early that morning, he and Ran Sheng, accompanied by an attendant arranged by the Lu Residence steward, climbed to the heights of Plum Ridge. All around them stretched level fields and open country, where farmwork was in full swing. From time to time, cranes and storks soared into the sky from the reeds in the riverside marshes, uttering ringing cries.
Chen Caozhi could not help saying contentedly, "The cries of Huating's cranes-one could hear them every day here."
The Lu Residence servant behind him said, "Look, Master Chen. Young Lady Wei Rui is coming up the mountain too."
From his high vantage, Chen Caozhi looked down. Halfway up the slope, among the spreading plum branches, Lu Weiwei was ascending the steps in a pale blue blouse, her hair piled high. She happened to lift her head, and their eyes met. She smiled sweetly and made a gesture of greeting from afar without stopping, then disappeared beneath the flowering trees again.
Lu Weiwei reached the ridge with her young maids Duan Chu and Zanhua. Chen Caozhi greeted her with a bow. "Lady