With a whoosh, several arrows flew through the air.
One of the arrows pierced the leaping wolf, sending it rolling to the feet of the maid by the campfire with great force.
The maid let out a sharp scream and turned to hug Cheng Jiao-niang.
Fortunately, Cheng Jiao-niang was now agile and quickly threw the fire stick in her hand; otherwise, the maid would have been burned even if she hadn’t been bitten by the wolf.
She looked up and saw a continuous stream of arrows whizzing by, each hitting its target, with even one arrow hitting two wolves.
Soon, the threat on this side disappeared.
In the night, several horses appeared nearby, and the people on them let out a series of howls.
“…It’s been a long time since we’ve had so much fun hunting wolves!”
“…Brother, it seems we’re killing wolves in the northwest again!”
“Everyone move aside, let me have a go; I want to kill a few for fun!”
With another wolf shot through the waist, the remaining few in the pack howled and fled.
The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating their escape from danger.
Three piles of firewood were reignited, and after a dangerous battle, the barriers between them disappeared, resulting in a greater sense of intimacy.
The attendants worked together to round up the scattered horses, bandaging their wounds and joking about the earlier intensity.
Over here, Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao chatted with the young man, though none of them asked about each other’s backgrounds; they simply expressed their gratitude to one another.
“Traveling at night is dangerous,” Fourth Master Chen said, his voice tinged with lingering fear.
“You don’t know until you’ve experienced it. You learn from experience. It’s good,” the young man replied.
How can it be… good?
Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao were taken aback for a moment.
Looking at this young man, who was no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, his clothing seemed simple but couldn’t conceal his aura of wealth. He appeared to be afraid of the night wind and had pulled up his hood, making it difficult to see his features in the firelight.
He sat by the campfire, playing with a twig, poking it into the flames.
The youth seemed unaware of the dangers he faced…
Fourth Master Chen shook his head and looked over at Steward Cao.
“If it weren’t for those men catching up with us, we would have been in serious trouble this time,” he said.
Steward Cao, with a bandaged arm where a wolf had caught him, nodded slightly.
At the mention of this, everyone looked over to the other campfire, where those men, like a timely rain, had suddenly appeared in the dark of night.
“What are they here for?” the young man asked as he looked over.
“They say they’re here to get treated,” Fourth Master Chen replied.
“Get treated?” The young man was surprised and glanced at Fourth Master Chen before looking at the people over there, his gaze finally settling on a lady, wrapped in a large cloak and wearing a hood that obscured her features, much like himself.
Cheng Jiao-niang was watching as the maid bandaged Jin Ge’er, who had been bitten on the leg by a wolf. Being so young, traces of snot and tears were still on his face.
As the maid bandaged him, she praised him, while the two men beside them clapped him on the shoulder, complimenting the young hero and saying he would surely be extraordinary in the future.
Jin Ge’er had faced the most dangerous situation in his life when he encountered a few fierce dogs at the mouth of an alley, and now he was fighting against a pack of wolves at night. After the fear had passed, he felt an incredible thrill. He grinned as he was praised, feeling that after this battle, he would return a true hero.
“The wound is healing well,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, glancing sideways at the man who was being helped down from a nearby cart by several men.
After a few days, this injured man no longer looked like he was on the brink of death.
Like the other men, he stood tall and sturdy, and compared to how he was before he fell ill, he was now even more robust. His beard was unkempt, his face a bit sallow, but his eyes were quite spirited.
“It’s thanks to your miraculous healing,” he said with a hoarse voice, lacking in strength.
“Miss, what else does my brother need to take for his injury?” a nearby man asked anxiously.
“No need,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, no longer looking at them but instead staring at the campfire. “Just eat meat and drink wine to nourish him back to health.”
The man laughed heartily.
“Good, good! I like this kind of recovery,” he said, with a hint of regret. “It’s been days without meat or wine; it’s driving me mad. I wish I could just eat and drink to my heart’s content right now.”
Cheng Jiao-niang turned her head to glance at him.
“The wine here is only a bit stronger than water; it hardly counts. So go ahead and enjoy,” she said, pointing with the fire stick in her hand. “Isn’t there meat over there?”
Over there?
The men looked over and saw a horse lying by the roadside, having been torn apart by wolves and unable to be saved.
The commotion from this side drew everyone’s attention as they jumped up, all looking over.
“What are they doing?”
“Getting some meat!” they shouted in response, quickly grabbing knives to carve meat from the dead horse.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much horse meat, but since the others didn’t want any, it was a bit of luck amid the misfortune.
“Horse meat?”
“Isn’t that too tough to eat?”
The men roasting the horse meat over the fire laughed heartily.
“You pampered folks have no idea how delicious horse meat can be! If we were in the northwest, we wouldn’t even get a chance to eat it.”
Fourth Master Chen shook his head and looked away.
“These people are likely deserters from the northwest,” Steward Cao said in a low voice.
Deserters—Fourth Master Chen felt even more disdain.
“With cowards like these under Wang Butang, no wonder they lose battles,” he remarked.
The young man beside him glanced at him but said nothing, turning his gaze toward the other side.
“Horse meat?” he asked, seeming quite curious. “Is it tasty?”
“No, young master,” replied the attendant beside him. “It has a strong odor.”
The young man made a sound of acknowledgment and didn’t ask further, but continued watching.
“Let them eat on their own; it’s improper to have them around the lady,” Fourth Master Chen said.
Steward Cao seemed not to hear him, focusing intently.
If she wanted to drive these men away, she would have done so already. That lady could say all sorts of unpleasant things and do all sorts of disgraceful things.
Don’t interfere; let her be, let her do as she wishes.
Steward Cao had already memorized Young Master Qin’s words.
Before Fourth Master Chen could step forward to speak, someone from that side came running over.
“Sir, the lady said you have some wine; may we borrow a little to drink?” asked two men, grinning.
Since the lady had said it, what could he say?
“Sure, it’s my honor. How could I dare to ask for it back after your help?” Fourth Master Chen replied with a smile, raising his hand to signal the attendants to bring down a few jars of wine from his cart, which were meant to ward off the chill at night. “Pour some wine for the good men; everyone gets a share.”
The camp became even livelier, with some people coming over to share some horse meat, including that young man.
Of course, he only took a bite before spitting it out onto the ground.
“It really is terrible,” he said, then seemed to think of something amusing, his body trembling slightly as he looked at Steward Cao and Fourth Master Chen. “Hey, hey, if I were to say ‘why not eat minced meat instead,’* it would be even funnier, wouldn’t it?”
What nonsense…
Is this person out of his mind?
Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao frowned.
“It’s funny. Can’t you tell?” the young man said, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.
Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao chuckled awkwardly.
“I’ll go see how many horses were lost,” Fourth Master Chen said, getting up and walking away.
Steward Cao naturally wouldn’t stay behind by himself either, so he found an excuse to leave as well.
Only the young man and the attendants remained by the campfire.
Under the flickering firelight, the young man’s smiling expression slowly faded, losing any trace of playfulness. His shadow appeared solemn and dark, as if the surrounding noise had been cut off, until a burst of laughter broke through.
“Quiet down, quiet down! My brother is going to sing!”
Singing? The people who were joking and drinking all turned to look.
The man leaning against the wooden frame grinned widely, his bushy beard looking even more unruly.
“Today is great! Truly great!” he said, holding a wine jar in his arms. His originally sallow face turned red from the stimulation of the alcohol, and his eyes appeared hazy with drunkenness. “We’re just rough men; we don’t know how to speak, but we can sing!”
Everyone burst into laughter, having never seen rough men who couldn’t talk but could sing, and they began to cheer him on.
“Our brother is a scholar!” a few men shouted, filled with pride. “He can compose poetry and couplets!”
A scholar? Composing poetry and couplets? The laughter grew even louder, as such scholars were indeed a rare sight.
The man didn’t take it to heart, laughing heartily.
“…Brotherhood…” he suddenly began to sing.
Rather than singing, it was more like a roar. His voice was hoarse due to his illness, but it had a unique charm to it.
He really was singing? Everyone gradually quieted down.
“…With blades at our sides…”
It seemed out of tune, but with such a shout in the night, it had its own flavor.
“…In matters of life and death… loyalty is higher than the sky…”
The young man turned his head.
“It seems he really has read some books,” he said.
The attendant said nothing and also looked over.
Seeing that the man seemed at a loss for words, he scratched his head and suddenly looked at the charming lady sitting by the campfire.
“…The young lady, give me a smile…”
The maid shot him a glare and immediately stood up.
The young man chuckled.
“And a flirtatious scholar, about to make that young lady cry. How amusing,” he said.
If this were another time, such teasing words sung to a young lady would surely provoke the men’s cheers.
But strangely, the scene fell into silence, so much so that the men who had already opened their mouths to laugh ended up only grinning without making a sound.
Although Fourth Master Chen and Steward Cao hadn’t explicitly stated it, it was clear that they had traveled a long way for this lady, and her importance was obvious.
With a lady that their masters all sought after, how could they, as attendants, dare to laugh and make a fuss?
“That’s disrespectful to our benefactor,” the elder brother said with a frown.
This lady clearly appeared to be from a wealthy family, and even a casual glance from outsiders would warrant punishment. Let alone such teasing words. Although he knew his brother didn’t mean to provoke her, the speaker may be unaware, but the listener certainly has their feelings.
The man, whether at a loss for words or feeling uneasy, fell silent after finishing that line.
“Bring me a wine jar,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Everyone heard her in the silence.
“She wants to smash his head with the wine jar,” Steward Cao said to the attendant next to him, gloating. “This lady can definitely do it.”
The maid immediately reached for a wine jar, and Cheng Jiao-niang extended her hand.
“Um…” The elder brother stood up to apologize, but before he could speak, Cheng Jiao-niang took over.
“Give me a knife,” she said.
Just then, the elder brother stood up, and without hesitation, he raised his hand to pass his knife over.
“Miss, my brother…” he began to speak again in a low voice.
Cheng Jiao-niang raised the knife and struck the wine jar with the back of the blade, producing a dull thud.
The elder brother’s words came to an abrupt stop.
Cheng Jiao-niang continued to strike the wine jar in different places with the back of the knife. The dull jar gradually produced a variety of sounds, some high, some low, which sounded somewhat strange in the dark night.
The young man let out a surprised sound, slightly lifting his hood to look this way.
“She’s playing an instrument?” he said.
“Thousand… ancient… romance… I bear it all on my shoulders…” Cheng Jiao-niang sang slowly.
Rather than singing, her voice was wooden and flat, with no rise or fall except for the elongated tones.
The scene fell silent, allowing Cheng Jiao-niang’s previously soft voice to carry through.
“For… a confidant… everything can be cast aside…”
The knife struck the wine jar, the rhythm matching the slow tempo of her voice.
As her own voice accompanied her, waves began to rise in Cheng Jiao-niang’s heart.
Confidant; she seemed to have one, and it seemed she would cast aside everything for that confidant.
But she couldn’t remember; she had forgotten, forgotten all those things that could bring either tears or laughter…
“Raging… with fury… defying the heavens…”
She lowered her head, sitting cross-legged on the ground, her hood hiding her face, singing little by little like this.
With memories and experiences, naturally, there were joys and sorrows.
What would happen if she were truly angry?
Waves of turmoil surged within her chest, yet in the end, her expression remained calm, her voice silent.
She was like a beast trapped in a cage; no, she was even less than a beast, unable to roar even if she wanted to.
The deep thud of the jar struck slowly, and word by word, the lyrics seemed to draw everyone in.
Especially the lines about “raging with fury and defying the heavens,” which, from her wooden, hoarse, and flat tone, surprisingly conveyed a sense of excitement.
Some people clenched their fists.
“Brotherhood, side by side in life and death, with loyalty that surpasses the heavens; young lady, give me a smile…”
Suddenly, that man reacted and immediately joined in, repeating what he had just sung.
“…Thousand ancient romances borne on my shoulders, everything can be cast aside for a confidant, raging with fury and defying the heavens.” He continued to sing Cheng Jiao-niang’s lines.
The male voice, filled with depth, made the lyrics resonate even more.
As he sang, everyone present felt a wave of surprise in their hearts, realizing they were harmonizing.
This lady, unexpectedly, had raised her hand and opened her mouth to continue the song that the man had sung so carelessly!
Cheng Jiao-niang’s strikes continued, matching his melody.
The people in the crowd finally realized that this lady was not only unbothered but was also joining in the fun.
Yet no one dared to cheer loudly, fearing they would miss the sound of the lady’s singing.
“Confidant… turns white with age… a devoted heart yet remains youthful…”
Cheng Jiao-niang sang slowly, still with a wooden and calm demeanor, but the rising and falling strikes added a unique flavor to her voice.
The female voice, along with the monotonous thud of the jar, carried an ancient depth that resonated in the ears, almost as if it transcended time.
Was it the singer’s depth, the instrument’s depth, or the depth of the lyrics?
“Ask the hero… what is… so difficult…”
What is difficult for the hero?
When has it been difficult? What is difficult?
These lines reached the ears of those present, stirring a sense of deep reflection in their hearts.
What is so difficult? What is so difficult?
The elderly mother at home waits for fame and success…
The childhood sweetheart next door eagerly looks forward…
The wine market on East Street has yet to be visited…
The achievements in the West have yet to be tasted…
Parental kindness, filial piety, loyalty, righteousness, and reputation…
With each strike, the guy who started the singing fell into a daze.
“Laugh at life, it’s just fleeting clouds, empty, still empty!” he suddenly shouted.
“…The vast sea is but a moment, I advise you not to worry…” Cheng Jiao-niang continued, “…Even if a fortune is lost, dreams have no end…”
“The vast sea is but a moment, I advise you not to worry, even if a fortune is lost, dreams have no end.”
The people present fell into a daze once more.
It doesn’t matter, even if she doesn’t know who she is, even if nothing can be held onto, and nothing can be done.
It doesn’t matter, she still made it to where she is now, despite the bumps along the way.
It doesn’t matter, there’s no need for sorrow; she can walk, she can move, she can think. Gaining or losing, coming and going, it’s just a fleeting moment in the vast sea. As long as she is still here, everything is endless.
Cheng Jiao-niang raised the knife in her hand and struck the wine jar with a loud bang, causing the wine to spill out and splash, creating a flurry of sparks.
The song came to an end.
“Satisfied.” Cheng Jiao-niang uttered the word blankly, bending the knife in her hand downward and handing it over.
“Satisfied!” The man, coming back to his senses, laughed heartily and grabbed a wine jar beside him, tilting it back to drink deeply.
Satisfied! Fourth Master Chen couldn’t hide his excitement, raising his own wine jug to drink.
Satisfied! Steward Cao, not partaking in the drinking, was unable to contain his excitement and simply took a tea cake from his waist and popped it into his mouth, using tea in place of wine.
Satisfied! The others echoed the sentiment, each grabbing their wine bowls and drinking it down, then smashing the bowls on the ground.
The sounds of drumming and the hoarse, dazed voices of singing filled the air, while the night, illuminated by the campfire and torches, crackled with a sense of tragic grandeur, reminiscent of a battlefield after a great war.
“It’s just a few wolves we killed; what’s with this exciting vibe?” The young man sat by the campfire and said slowly, as if addressing everyone, yet also speaking to himself.
Translator’s Note:
* This phrase comes from a historical anecdote during the late Han Dynasty involving a character named Zhang Jue. In the story, a famine struck, and Zhang Jue suggested that the people suffering from hunger simply eat minced meat instead of grain. The phrase became a sarcastic expression used to mock someone who offers unrealistic or impractical solutions to serious problems, highlighting the disconnect between their suggestion and the actual difficulties faced by others. In modern usage, it refers to those who have not experienced something firsthand making baseless comments or suggestions about others’ difficult circumstances or behaviors.
