Chapter Nine: A Visit

Dao Sansheng dragged the fat man into the crowd, vanishing into the vast night.

I grumbled, “You useless fatso, why didn’t you remind me? I actually forgot that thing, and then got chased out onto the street. You didn’t say a word—my face is lost, absolutely lost. Never in this life, no, not even in my past life, have I been so embarrassed.”

“Fatty, Fatty, are you even listening?”

When I turned my head, Fatty was standing in front of a food stall. Dao Sansheng walked over and saw the stall lined with flatbreads slathered with sauce and chili, roasting on the stove. Fatty stared, unmoving, his eyes glazed.

Suddenly, a drop of drool fell onto the stall. The little fat man sucked it back up.

“Sir, fresh spicy flatbreads, soft and aromatic, please try one,” the stall owner greeted warmly.

Fatty sucked in his saliva again, grinning, “I’m just looking, just looking.”

Dao Sansheng was speechless, pulling Fatty along to leave, but Fatty kept muttering, “Don’t pull me, I’m just looking. Don’t pull me, I’m just looking,” grinning like a pig.

Dao Sansheng stood nearby, unsure what to do. Fatty moved, leaving the spicy flatbread stall, heading forward, with Dao Sansheng trailing behind.

“Roasted sweet potatoes! Fragrant roasted sweet potatoes! You chased after Little Red, you married Little Potato, but nothing compares to tasting my roasted sweet potatoes—authentic, sweeter than Little Red, warmer than Little Potato!”

Fatty, as before, stood by the roasted sweet potato stall, grinning at the sweet potatoes, drooling. The stall owner greeted them just like the previous one.

“Try some roasted sweet potatoes, dry and sweet, delicious!” The owner introduced proudly.

“I’m just looking, just looking, just looking,” Fatty replied with the same line.

Then came the pastry stall, the barbecue stall, the wonton stall…

They walked and looked all the way, Dao Sansheng keeping his distance, afraid that others might know he knew this fat man.

“Sansheng! Sansheng! Sansheng, where did you go?” Fatty called out loudly on the street.

Dao Sansheng quietly came up behind Fatty, stretched out a hand, and covered Fatty’s mouth.

“Why are you shouting? We’re fugitives, aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”

Dao Sansheng was so furious his face turned green, his eyes wide.

“Where are we going next?”

“Just follow me,” Dao Sansheng replied irritably.

Dao Sansheng led Fatty forward. He remembered the old man had told him, once they reached the town, just keep walking straight, and at the end, he would see it.

So Dao Sansheng kept walking forward. It was all Fatty’s fault—now it was almost night, and all the way, he’d been distracted by food stalls.

Near the end of the street, they saw an old house with a large flag hanging above, bearing the words “Return of Spring.” Dao Sansheng approached and saw the plaque above the door inscribed with “Dao Returns New Spring,” the characters bold and powerful.

The main door was open. A servant stood at the entrance, and upon seeing them approach, said without asking, “Go straight in; someone is waiting for you in the parlor,” and gestured for them to enter.

Dao Sansheng was still confused, but Fatty pulled him straight inside.

“Brother, you’re amazing—all is arranged perfectly. I’m impressed, truly impressed,” Fatty looked at Dao Sansheng with an expression of utmost admiration.

Inside the courtyard, two rows of bamboo stood neatly like sentinels. Down the middle flowed a small stream from an unknown source. Bamboo groves, a babbling brook, a path of green stone slabs, all brought them back to the mountain wilds. Looking up, the bamboo branches were lush; ahead stood a two-story building.

The building was made of bamboo, its warm yellow hue glowing beautifully in the sunset. They entered the bamboo house, and Dao Sansheng couldn’t help but sigh at the scene.

“Bridges and flowing water, homes by the stream, the sun sets in the west, and the heartbroken wanderer roams afar. Alas! Such beauty in the sunset, yet dusk draws near.”

Only then did he notice two people inside. One was naturally Dao Huichun himself; the other, a young woman with slightly golden hair, fair skin, large watery eyes, a small cherry mouth, and a petite nose that made her even more adorable.

She suddenly burst out laughing, like spring lake waters newly thawed, warming the whole room.

“What a heartbroken wanderer afar!” The young woman clapped her hands, looking at Dao Sansheng with admiration, her gaze unwavering.

“Are you here for a marriage meeting? You look so young. But I heard your poem—I’m quite satisfied. Let’s settle it then.”

“I think the line about the beauty of sunset, though near dusk, is best. But you and he shall be engaged,” Dao Huichun’s face showed astonishment, utterly shocked.

The girl interrupted him, “Father, didn’t you say I could decide? You said fate is predestined, not to be forced, and all should follow heaven’s will.” She pouted and shook his arm, acting spoiled.

“But the age difference is too great,” the old man couldn’t help but protest.

“Father, the virtuous Mr. Li of Chichi County just married a young concubine, and they’re said to be more than fifty years apart. I’m not even ten years younger—why not?!” The girl spoke, referencing the big news in the county, the marriage of Mr. Li to a young concubine.

Dao Sansheng had wanted to explain, but hearing about Mr. Li marrying a young concubine, and remembering his sister had just gone to work at Mr. Li’s house, he suddenly grew anxious and interrupted the father and daughter.

“What’s the young woman’s name? How old is she?”

Dao Sansheng hurried over to ask the girl.

“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” she cried. “I just said I like you, and you’re so impatient. You’re terrible! But I like you even more now.” She deliberately lowered her voice in a coy tone, making Dao Sansheng shiver.

Dao Sansheng realized he’d been too impulsive, unable to control himself when he heard the news. He quickly let go, his cheeks reddening.

“What’s wrong, embarrassed? You can hold my hand if you like,” she said, offering her hand.

“I’m asking about Mr. Li and his young concubine. Can you tell me everything you know?”

Dao Sansheng looked at her, speaking urgently.

“I only tell family what I know. If you agree to be my husband, I’ll tell you. Otherwise, forget it,” she said, frowning and feigning anger.

“That won’t do. Aside from that, I’ll agree to any other condition,” Dao Sansheng replied after considering.

The girl tapped her mouth with her hand, bowed her head to think, then clapped her hands. “Alright! Then you have to fulfill ten wishes for me. If you agree, I’ll tell you.”

“Fine, I agree.”

The girl jumped with joy around the room. “Wonderful, wonderful! Finally, someone to play with me,” she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement.

Dao Huichun, sitting nearby, finally put down his tea, smoothed his rough cotton shirt, stood, stroked his beard, and smiled at Dao Sansheng and Fatty.

“Little brother, since we parted ways at the mountain cave, I trust you’ve been well,” he said, then walked over to pat the girl’s head, his gaze full of affection, never leaving her.

“Thanks to your guidance, all is well. But today, I must trouble you, and I hope you’ll let us stay here for a few days,” Dao Sansheng said, bowing.

“No trouble, no trouble, stay as you like,” the girl replied quickly.

“Xue’er’s wishes are mine,” Dao Huichun nodded.

Only after Dao Huichun finished speaking did Dao Sansheng straighten from his bow.