At the Huzhou wharf, the morning mist had yet to lift completely. The sun had just climbed into the sky, gilding the surface of the river a pale gold. A cool breeze carried the dampness of the water, pleasant against the skin.
Lin Wu stood on the deck, watching the figures on the shore grow smaller. Mrs. Sun and the others were still standing there, waving. The bakery had opened a little later than usual today, and they had made a special trip to see her off. Everything had been arranged properly. Lin Wu had only told them to carry on as usual—to work when it was time to work, close up when it was time to close, and not to worry about her.
Tigerhead and Sparrow were there as well, holding Laifu back. The dog was spending a few days at the Shen residence, and now Tigerhead had a firm grip on his leash. Even so, Laifu kept lifting his large head and barking toward the boat.
Lin Jing leaned over the rail and waved his little hand as hard as he could, his voice seeming faint in the river breeze. “Laifu, wait for me to come back!”
As the boat moved farther from Huzhou, the city walls gradually sank lower in their view. The figures on the wharf blurred, until only a jumble of rooftops remained. It was a rare sight. Though they had lived in Huzhou for quite some time, the farthest they had ever gone was the Shen family’s estate in the countryside.
Once ordinary people settled down, firewood, rice, oil, salt, and the daily business of opening and running a shop became their foremost concerns. To tear oneself away and go see the wider world was easier said than done.
“Not used to it?” Shen Guanting asked. She had not noticed when he came to stand beside her. His footsteps had blended with the sound of the water. He stood a pace away, gazing with her at Huzhou Prefecture as it receded into the distance.
“No.” Lin Wu shook her head. “It’s just that this is the first time I’ve looked at Huzhou from a boat leaving the city. It feels different from looking at it while I’m there.”
“Yes.” Shen Guanting drew his gaze back from the distance and shifted it, almost imperceptibly, to her face. The river breeze had tousled her hair, and several strands had escaped from beneath her headscarf to flutter in the wind.
“Most days, when one is in the city, one hardly notices. But once you’re farther away, even the plain meals at home become something to miss. Now that you’ve come away, A Wu, and don’t have to worry about the shop for the time being, do you feel more at ease?”
Lin Wu considered it, then nodded. “Much more at ease. Wherever I was in Huzhou, I couldn’t help thinking about the shop. Now that I’m away, I know there’s no use worrying about it, and my mind feels lighter.”
“Then enjoy these few stolen days of leisure. It isn’t often that you get the chance to travel. If you spend the whole journey fretting over the work on shore, wouldn’t that be wasting this beautiful scenery and making the trip for nothing?”
The two of them gazed out over the river in silence. From inside the cabin came the faint sound of Lin Jing reciting his lessons, each word delivered with utmost seriousness. The water slapped against the hull with a steady glug, glug, as though keeping time with his reading.
Lin Wu found it amusing. Master Jianshan was so eager to teach on the boat that perhaps he had not brought Lin Jing out to broaden his horizons at all—he was simply worried the boy might fall behind in his studies.
The sun climbed higher, and the mist over the river dispersed completely. By noon, the sunlight poured down upon the clear water, scattering glittering ripples that made it hard to keep one’s eyes open. The scenery on either bank unfolded like a painting: rolling hills, stretches of farmhouses, and, now and then, a few farmers walking along the ridges between the fields.
As the scenery slowly drifted backward, passing them piece by piece, Lin Wu’s mind gradually relaxed.
So this was what it felt like to be on the road with nothing to do—to no longer have to weigh every gain and loss or remain constantly wary of her surroundings. For her, such idleness was a luxury she had not enjoyed in a very long time.
She was staring absently at a verdant hill in the distance, its graceful slopes veiled in a thin layer of mist, when a shadow suddenly flashed across the corner of her eye.
It was blue-gray, not large, and moved just above the surface of the water, rising and dipping as it swam forward. Its movements were graceful, tracing an arc through the river before it slipped beneath the surface, leaving behind only a slowly widening ring of ripples.
“Mother, look! That’s a huge fish!” Lin Jing had somehow emerged from the cabin. He came running to the rail, stretching his little head as far over it as he dared, and whispered excitedly.
He stared in the direction where the shadow had vanished, then turned to Shen Guanting, his eyes shining in the sunlight. “Brother Ting, let’s fish! Let’s catch it!”
Shen Guanting reached out and pulled him back a little. “That’s not a fish. It’s a finless porpoise.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the blue-gray shadow surfaced again not far away, this time closer to the boat. Its outline was clear.
Lin Wu finally saw it in full. Its streamlined body was plump and beautifully formed, shimmering a soft blue-gray. Its long snout gave it a nimble, clever air. It roamed freely through the water, sometimes surfacing for breath and spouting a little spray, sometimes diving beneath the surface until its shape became indistinct.
It did not seem afraid of people. If anything, it appeared curious, playing around the boat for a while before swishing its tail and drifting leisurely away.
“Finless porpoise!” Lin Jing called softly, as if he could summon it back.
Shen Guanting leaned against the rail beside them, watching the ring of ripples gradually fade. “Finless porpoises often have to surface for air. They’re gentle and timid by nature, and don’t like deep water. They prefer to swim in places where the current is slow.”
Lin Wu gazed at the empty stretch of water and found herself lost in thought. In her former life, she had seen the name and images of such creatures only in books and news reports. Their traces had long since vanished from the rivers of the natural world, disappearing without a sound, as though they had never existed.
Yet now one had swum past her eyes, alive and real. So free, so unhurried—as though it were the master of this river.
“It’s gone…” Lin Jing’s round eyes remained fixed on the water. “Why didn’t it stay and swim a little longer?”
“It went home,” Shen Guanting replied calmly.
“Where is its home?”
“In the river.”
Lin Jing thought about it. The answer seemed perfectly reasonable, so he nodded and ran back into the cabin to continue reciting his lessons.
Shen Guanting noticed that Lin Wu still had not spoken.
“A Wu?” His voice held a trace of inquiry.
Lin Wu came back to herself and said softly, “I was only wondering whether we’ll still be able to see it in the future.”
Shen Guanting smiled. “It has places of its own to go. We have no say in that. But… upon this vast river, you, I, and even that finless porpoise are all passing visitors. To meet it once is already a kind of fate.”
The river breeze swept past, blowing the edges of their clothes together before pulling them apart again.
“A Wu, you always think farther ahead than other people,” Shen Guanting said, leaning against the rail and turning his head to look at her. The sunlight fell into his eyes, making them seem especially bright.
The boat continued onward. Layer after layer of green hills receded behind them, while the river breeze carried its cool dampness against their faces.
The sunlight gradually faded, and night spread across the world.
The boat moored at a ferry crossing, rocking gently with the current. All around them, insects chirped in a lively but soothing chorus, their calls rising and falling in uneven harmony.
It was a short journey. They would reach their destination by tomorrow evening, and the boat was stocked with fresh seasonal vegetables. The trip truly had the leisurely air of an excursion.
The moon was extraordinarily bright that night. Wisps of cloud drifted around it, glowing white in the moonlight. Farther away, stars gleamed here and there, blinking in and out.
They set a low table on the deck and brewed a pot of warm cardamom tea, then gathered around it.
Lin Jing was the most excited of them all. He ran two laps around the table before clinging to the rail and craning his neck to look outside.
“Mother, the moon here looks bigger than the one we see at home.”
Lin Wu followed his little hand’s direction. The river and sky merged into one, clear and spotless, while the bright full moon hung high in the distance. “Perhaps it’s because the view is more open here, with no eaves or branches blocking it. You can see more of the sky.”
Lin Jing’s small head was full of questions.
His little finger pointed toward one side of the heavens again. “What’s the name of that especially bright star?”
Yun Jianshan lazily lifted his eyes and glanced over. “The Taibai Star. When it appears in the east at dawn, it’s called the Morning Star; when it hangs in the western sky at dusk, it’s called the Evening Star.”
Lin Jing sat down beside Yun Jianshan, fascinated. “How can one star have so many names?”
“The ancients observed the heavens to determine the seasons for farming and to identify directions. The stars move according to fixed patterns, and their names naturally differ depending on the time and place.” Yun Jianshan continued explaining.
Seeing the boy tilt his little head, his face full of puzzlement, Shen Guanting smiled. “It’s just like how you’re called A Jing at home, Little Jing at the academy, and Jing by your schoolmates. The way people address you changes depending on where you are.”
Lin Wu cradled her warm earthen cup and listened quietly from the side. The river breeze drifted by, gently stirring her clothes and hair. On this boat, there was none of the drudgery of daily life, none of the frantic flight for survival—only the river breeze, the bright moon, and the starlight. It was a kind of peace she had not felt in a long time, almost a luxury.
Lin Jing’s questions came one after another. He went from asking about the stars to the shadows on the moon, then from the chirping of insects to the dark, indistinct outline of the distant mountains. Shen Guanting and Yun Jianshan were surprisingly patient, answering him now and then.
Lin Wu gazed at the little chatterbox. No longer needing to keep his head down or watch every word and action, he had finally left the courtyard in Huzhou—and it turned out that he was this curious about everything in the vast world beyond.
Was she any different?
It was rare for her to make such a trip. Though she was only a passing traveler, she could still see the blue fins that would vanish in the future and the dazzling river of stars not yet obscured by smoke and dust. Such sights could never be glimpsed by someone confined to a single courtyard or alley.
The night grew deeper, and even the insects seemed to chirp more loudly.
Yun Jianshan drained his cup, set it down, and rose. “The moon is directly overhead, and the night is deep. We still have to hurry on tomorrow, so we should turn in early.”
Lin Jing let out a disappointed “Ah.” His little face fell, and he cast one last longing glance at the starry sky before reluctantly getting to his feet.
Lin Wu also set down her cup. “All right. If the weather is clear tomorrow, we can watch the stars again tonight. Go wash up first.”
“The night is so lovely. I’ll sit for a while longer.” Shen Guanting did not rise. He turned his head toward her, moonlight reflected in his eyes. “A Wu, you and A Jing should get some rest.”
Lin Wu nodded and led Lin Jing toward the cabin. When they reached the door, she looked back.
Shen Guanting’s profile appeared especially clear and handsome beneath the bright moonlight, the hem of his robe stirring gently in the night breeze.
The boat sailed steadily, carried along by favorable winds and smooth waters. By the evening of the following day, it had reached the dock.
It was called a dock, though in truth it was merely a landing somewhat wider than an ordinary ferry crossing, beside a small town.
As soon as the boat drew alongside the pier, people from the area began gathering around in twos and threes.
“Is that the Weaving Cloud Trading Company’s boat? You’ve come this early in the season? Didn’t you leave just a little while ago?”
“Are you going to Tianqing Village to collect cloth?”
“Did you bring any new patterns of fine fabric this time?”
Their words were warm and familiar. Clearly, the Weaving Cloud Trading Company was a regular visitor here. The boat’s workers answered them cheerfully as they deftly laid down planks and began unloading the goods.
Although the Weaving Cloud Trading Company primarily dealt in bulk textiles and valuable merchandise, it often carried sought-after goods to the villages and towns along its routes, doing the locals a small favor along the way.
Lin Jing came ashore holding Lin Wu’s hand. His little head turned this way and that as he looked around. First he watched the people coming and going at the dock, then glanced down at his own clothes before looking back at the others. Suddenly, he let out a curious “Huh?”
Lin Wu had noticed it earlier. Quite a few people at the dock were dressed differently from those in Huzhou and from the people they had seen along the way.
They all wore brightly colored clothing, but the young women were especially eye-catching. Their hair was adorned with various dried flowers and tassels, their wrists wrapped in wreaths of greenery, and large ornaments dangled from their ears. Colorful cords and tassels were wound around their waists, with assorted sachets of fragrant herbs hanging from them. The colors were harmonious yet lively, brimming with vitality.
“They’re Hualiao people,” Shen Guanting explained, following their gaze. “Their people have lived for generations beside the mountains, forests, rivers, and marshes in this region. Their customs and clothing differ from ours. They’re particularly skilled at cultivating flowers and plants and identifying the scents of various herbs. The Treasure Pavilion has long done business with them. The flower fragrances and herbs they make are quite good.”
Just then, a young woman dressed as a Hualiao approached them. Her skin was dark, and she wore a broad, cheerful smile as she called out in a clear voice. Her words rose and fell in a lilting, melodious cadence, almost like singing. She carried a bamboo basket filled with all kinds of dried flowers and fragrant herbs.
As she drew near, a fresh fragrance wafted over.
When the young woman saw Lin Wu looking her way, she immediately stepped forward a few paces. Her accent had a distinctive lilt. “Take a look, miss! These dried flower bundles have all been sun-dried. Hang them in your room or carriage, and they’ll stay fragrant for ages. These herbal sachets can ward off foul odors and clear the mind. And these dried flower petals are good steeped in hot water, too!”
Lin Wu examined the bamboo basket closely. Everything had been sorted into neat sections. The dried flower bundles were arranged in elegant color combinations, their forms left natural and uncontrived. The herbal sachets were made of rough cloth, but their bright printed patterns were full of character.
Lin Jing also leaned over, his little nose twitching. “It smells so good.”
Lin Wu liked them at once. She picked through the basket and selected several sachets with especially distinctive patterns. “Peilan might like this fragrance. Mrs. Sun and Fourth Sister He work so hard every day; wearing these might help them stay refreshed. Since we’ve come all this way, we should bring back a few little gifts.”
Lin Jing’s eyes lit up. “I want to buy some too. I’ll give them to Tigerhead, Sister Que’er, Qi Lang, and Peilan.”
As he spoke, he lowered his head and reached for the small purse at his waist. He counted on his fingers, then remembered the several older brothers and sisters at Nan’ya. With a grand sweep of his little hand, he declared, “I want seven!”
The Hualiao girl beamed and promptly selected seven for him with quick, practiced hands.
Shen Guanting could not help asking, “Why are A Wu and A Jing both giving one to Peilan?”
The boy was still counting out his money and did not look up. “Because we’re both owners of Afu Workshop. I want to give Peilan one too. I can’t leave her out. Mother’s gift carries her feelings, and mine carries mine.”
At that, Yun Jianshan smiled as well. “Affection and loyalty come from the heart. Each person’s feelings are their own. They cannot be forced, nor can they be replaced.”
Lin Wu could not help smiling. “It’s a pity Laifu has been left out. Flowers and herbs probably aren’t suitable for him. We’ll have to see whether we can find something else later.”
Shen Guanting watched them with a faintly rueful air. “It seems I’ve happened to miss out this time, Shen. If I weren’t here watching you buy these, perhaps I might have received a little gift from A Wu and A Jing as well.”
Lin Jing had just received his sachet and was clutching it protectively. At once, he looked up. “Brother Ting, don’t worry! Next time—next time I go somewhere far away, and you aren’t with me, I’ll remember to bring you something! I’ll bring you the very best!”
Lin Wu laughed. “The point of a keepsake is the surprise, along with the thought behind sending even a goose feather from a thousand miles away. Guanting, you’ve watched us buy these with your own eyes. If we simply turn around and give you one later, there’ll be no surprise left, and it might even seem perfunctory.”
As she spoke, she tucked the herbal sachet into a cloth bag. “Still, if there’s anything here that catches your eye, just say the word. I’ll pay for it—consider it a small way of offsetting the cost of our meals and passage along the way, all right?”
Shen Guanting had taken care of all their food and lodging during the journey. Though it was convenient for them to travel together, she still owed him a favor. This little herbal sachet could at least repay a small part of what she owed him. Besides, Mrs. Sun, Tigerhead, and the others had one as well, so it was hardly a particularly special gesture.
At her words, Shen Guanting’s gaze lingered briefly on her face, and his voice softened. “A Wu, the way you put that makes me sound like the sort of boatman who waits around for passengers to tip him.”
Despite saying this, he did not hesitate to take her up on the offer. “Still, since A Wu has offered, it would be rude to refuse. I’ll accept your kindness, then.”
With that, he really did begin carefully selecting an item from the flower seller’s bamboo basket. In the end, he chose a rather plain herbal sachet and held it up for Lin Wu to see. “This one, then. It may not be a proper keepsake, but it will serve as a memento of this journey. Thank you for your generosity, Shopkeeper Lin.”
The flower seller quoted the price. As Lin Wu paid, she teased him, “As the owner of the Treasure Pavilion, Guanting certainly has a good eye. You picked the cheapest one.”
Yun Jianshan watched from the side and shook his head helplessly. “Just now, I said that each person may express their feelings in their own way, and such things cannot be forced. A Jing understands that principle, but Guanting may not.”
Shen Guanting remained perfectly composed as he slipped the herbal sachet into his sleeve. “I cannot agree with you there, Teacher. I said from the start that this was kindness freely offered, and it would be discourteous not to accept it.”
