Early the next morning, He Yi went to the vegetable garden as usual to collect yao dew. After gathering it, he hesitated over whether to store it as he had before. He remembered how, when he had felt sick from riding in the cart, he had drunk yao dew that had been stored for more than two days, but it had offered no relief at all. Whenever Xue Ci felt unwell, however, he drank it fresh, and both his vitality and his strength improved markedly.
He Yi wondered whether the healing effect of yao dew was linked to how long it had been stored, and whether it became less effective with time.
He could not help bringing this up with Xue Ci. Xue Ci listened, looking rather puzzled, and admitted that he did not know either.
He Yi suggested that they leave it untouched for now and try drinking it half a day later. He evidently wanted to test how long the yao dew would retain its effects.
“But if you start feeling unwell, don’t force yourself to bear it. Tell me. This is only a little experiment, and we don’t have to do it. Your health comes first.” Despite his lingering awkward feelings, He Yi looked directly at Xue Ci and carefully explained the matter.
Xue Ci nodded. “I drank it the last two days. It should be all right if I don’t drink it today.”
Lately, Xue Ci had been turning into a snow leopard less and less often. Changing into that form seemed to consume a great deal of energy, and he was frequently unwell, so remaining human made it easier for him to move about. Yao dew had improved his condition somewhat, but they still had not built the enclosure walls around the house. He Yi could hardly let Xue Ci turn into such a conspicuous great cat. The consequences would be unimaginable if the neighbors caught sight of him.
Still, He Yi did not know whether Xue Ci felt more at ease as a snow leopard or as a human.
Xue Ci had no idea how much thought He Yi had given to all this. He merely gazed toward the distant fields and asked, “Are you going out to the fields?” Then he rubbed his eyes. He was clearly still sleepy and wanted to go back for a little more rest.
He Yi smoothed down his tousled hair. “Go back inside and sleep. I’m going to the fields. Later, help me cook some vegetable congee.”
“Vegetable congee? What vegetables should I use?” Puzzlement showed in Xue Ci’s moist almond-shaped eyes.
“We’ve finished the chuanxiong shoots, haven’t we? Hmm… I’ll see whether I can pick some broom-cypress shoots from the fields. Just remember to cook the congee, and we’ll add the greens when I get back, all right?” Some time ago, villagers had taught He Yi to identify an edible wild plant called broom-cypress shoots. It grew everywhere among the fields, and villagers commonly pinched off the tender tips to eat. The shoots were slightly bitter, but blanching removed the bitterness and left them pleasantly tender. Cooked into congee with a little salt, they made a refreshing, palatable dish that helped dispel heat.
Elio’s Notes: Broom-cypress, also known as kochia (Bassia scoparia), has tender young shoots that can be eaten as greens. Its mature stems have traditionally been used to make brooms.
Many villagers also tossed the shoots with garlic sauce to make a common cold vegetable dish. He Yi had once passed a household where someone was feeding it to a child. Curious, he had asked about it, and they had even let him taste some. Only then had he realized that it was the familiar green plant he always saw in the fields. Previously, he had pulled it up as a weed, either burning it for plant ash or feeding it to the chickens, who liked it very much.
He had liked the taste when he tried it, too. This time he wanted to add some to congee and see how it turned out.
“All right.” Xue Ci waved goodbye and returned to the woodshed.
He Yi raised his hand in response. He watched the woodshed door for a little while before turning to collect the farming tools he kept hidden in a corner and heading to the fields.
Temperatures had continued rising steadily. The Lesser Heat solar term had not yet arrived, but the heat was already oppressive. He could not eradicate the cotton aphids. They kept returning, but fortunately only in scattered numbers, so the damage was not severe and remained manageable.
He Yi had grown accustomed to this. Fields needed constant attention. The work was troublesome, but if he simply left it alone, he would feel as uncomfortable as he had the previous day.
There was not much work to do. The rice stalks had been growing quickly and now reached his knees. The roots were healthy, and the water level did not need adjusting. He Yi made a circuit of the fields and, seeing everything largely in order, went to Cen Pu’s home.
He had wanted to visit yesterday, but someone told him Cen Pu was away and would not return until today. That was why he had put off his visit, hoping to order the timber as soon as possible.
As he approached the Cen residence, He Yi saw a large gathering beneath a nearby banyan tree. Relatives young and old were talking and laughing, with Grandpa Cen and Cen Pu among them.
Wondering what had made everyone so happy, He Yi stepped forward to ask Cen Pu. Cen Pu’s face lit up when he saw him, and he quickly took He Yi by the arm and introduced him to the other members of the Cen family.
“You’ve come at just the right time! We’re discussing a village banquet. We want everyone in the village to know that our family is going to build up its timber business again!” Cen Pu was much more open and cheerful than before. Grandpa Cen could not help smiling too. He looked proudly at his grandson, then nodded to He Yi, his eyes faintly glistening with emotion.
He Yi was happy for Cen Pu too. He could guess what had brought about this change: the Wu family had probably come to apologize. When he asked for details, it turned out to be exactly that. Cen Pu not only insisted that He Yi honor them by attending the banquet; when he heard that He Yi needed more timber, he generously offered him a steep discount.
He Yi stared in astonishment at the pile of dark reddish timber with its deep grain. “Don’t give me wood this good. I can’t accept it. I can’t afford much. How can you give me such expensive timber?”
“I’ll charge you the price of acacia wood.” Acacia was the lowest-grade timber in the lot, but Cen Pu was proposing to supply him with red rosewood.
“Don’t… If you do that, you might not only fail to make a profit, but end up paying money out of your own pocket.” He Yi refused helplessly.
In the end, Cen Pu could not persuade him. He Yi was much younger than he was, only about twenty, yet he possessed a certain authority that made it difficult to see him as anything less than a mature adult.
When Cen Pu had resumed his timber business at He Yi’s urging, he had still faced one obstacle after another. Progress had been painfully difficult, but at least he had taken that first step, and he had been profoundly grateful to He Yi even then. Now his greatest obstacle had also disappeared. Thanks to He Yi, the shadow that had hung over him for so long had lifted, and he had finally received a long-overdue apology and compensation. Naturally, Cen Pu wanted to help He Yi as much as he could.
Since He Yi would not accept the offer, Cen Pu decided not to force him. There would be other chances to repay his kindness.
Relieved that Cen Pu had stopped insisting, He Yi arranged to order replacements for the beams that had been used up at the Li family’s home. Cen Pu agreed immediately and promised to deliver them toward the end of the month.
“Remember to come to the banquet! I’ll go find Madman Tang and the others later. By the way, I heard the young fellow who plays cards is living with you now. Bring him along, too. I’ll reserve a seat for him.” Cen Pu was rather short and liked to stand on a stump or stone ledge so he could reach He Yi’s height, drape an arm over his shoulder, and chat with his relatives. He warmly repeated his invitation.
But He Yi was thinking about the date. The banquet was set for eight days from now. By then, Xue Ci might no longer be in the village…
At the thought, his brows drew together and the smile on his face faded.
*
After an afternoon of work, they finally finished the overhanging gable roof of the east wing. Its gray tiles and gracefully curving corners complemented the whitewashed earthen walls beneath, giving the building a quiet, simple elegance, almost like an old manor tucked into the mountains.
He Yi stepped some distance away and waved Xue Ci over to admire the results of their hard work.
“Wow! When I was close to it, I’d gotten used to how it looked and didn’t think it was anything special. But from here it’s so beautiful! So this is what it looks like when it’s built! Can we move in now?” Xue Ci even climbed a tree to get a better view.
“It would smell strongly of tung oil inside right now. It isn’t poisonous, but the smell is terrible. Let’s let the air circulate and clear it out for about half a month before we move in,” He Yi said with a smile.
Yet whenever he mentioned a time even a little way into the future, his thoughts began to wander again.
That evening, He Yi nearly forgot to give Xue Ci the yao dew. Fortunately, Xue Ci remembered and brought it up after dinner.
“Try it. Let’s test how long the yao dew stays effective,” He Yi said.
After drinking it, Xue Ci said, “I was quite weak this morning. I feel much better now.”
Clearly, the yao dew remained effective after half a day, about six double-hours. He Yi took two drops himself and discovered that his body, exhausted from a full day of work, was suddenly bursting with energy. His hearing and sight seemed clearer, and the oppressive knot in his chest vanished. The yao dew evidently worked on him too. In other words, its failure to relieve his motion sickness earlier had not been a question of differences between individuals, but one of how long it remained effective.
Next time, he would try drinking it twelve double-hours after collecting it.
That night, whether the medicine had been too potent or he still had not resolved the matter troubling him, He Yi could not sleep. Even in the middle of the night, he felt no drowsiness at all. He lay with his eyes open, staring at the faint silver light entering through the woodshed’s small window, his mind drifting into blankness.
Only two days left… In two days, they would have to go to town. He Yi had not asked Xue Ci what he intended to do, but he scarcely needed to. Xue Ci clearly wanted to go. Yet he did not seem at all anxious, spending his days at the same unhurried pace and making no preparations. Unless they began packing soon and deciding what to take or what to buy in town, they would be scrambling helplessly once it was time to enter the county seat.
They would naturally need to bring the money from selling the water deer and honey. He Yi did not know how expensive life in the county seat would be or whether it would be enough. He worried even more about Xue Ci being excluded by the wealthy academy students. With his striking looks and lack of family connections, Xue Ci would inevitably attract the jealousy of some immature young fools.
Xue Ci was still almost painfully innocent when it came to human relationships and worldly affairs. His martial abilities were impressive, and probably no one could physically hurt him, but if he was ostracized, He Yi feared he would be heartbroken.
Merely imagining Xue Ci’s face turning bewildered and dejected made He Yi’s heart feel as though it had been pierced by innumerable tiny, sharp points, leaving a fine, persistent ache.
Only he could truly look after someone who belonged to him. There were things Xue Ci did not understand, and when those things came up, it was He Yi’s turn to step forward and protect him.
Once he had thought it through, He Yi realized how pointless his turmoil of the previous two days had been. His mind was suddenly crowded with thoughts of what to pack for Xue Ci, how to teach him to protect himself, how to recognize people with bad intentions, and countless other preparations. He kept thinking until sleep finally overtook him.
The following day, He Yi made another trip up the mountain, this time without Xue Ci. He wanted to catch a wild chicken by himself and cook a meal of honey-glazed roast chicken as a farewell treat for him.