Mo Yi didn't dare to lift his head. He glanced briefly at the letter lying on the ground, which read:
"Hua Lang bears the grace of a dragon and the semblance of a phoenix; in letters, he could steady the realm with his pen; in arms, he could command heaven and earth from the saddle. He is a peerless gentleman rarely seen in this world. To win his affection brings endless delight. I would elope with him under the cover of night, and even amid the storms of a chaotic age, I would gladly endure it..."
Mo Yi felt his vision go black—she had truly run off with someone!
Unfilial daughter!
"Find her—send people out to find her!" Mo Qi clutched his chest, struggling to calm himself.
Seeing Mo Yi rise to leave, he called out again: "Remember, search in secret. Don't—don't let anyone discover it. Our family can't afford the disgrace, and we mustn't tarnish our household's reputation."
The Yan and Su families were in equal disarray. Staring at farewell letters nearly identical to Mo Susu's—"recklessly eloping for Hua Lang's sake, heedless of all else"—they felt utterly drained.
They worried for their daughters' safety, and they worried that if word leaked, it would harm their daughters' future marriage prospects and the family name.
They chose to search quietly, just as the Mo family had, covering up the women's disappearance.
But no wall is so thick that wind cannot pass through. Gradually, the news seeped out.
Rumors spread, taking on a wild life of their own. It was said that the daughters of the three families had come to blows over a single man. It was said that the Mo girl had two teeth knocked out and couldn't show her face. It was said that the Yan girl had a chunk of her scalp torn off, gone bald, and couldn't show her face. It was said that the Su girl had been blinded in one eye and couldn't show her face. In short, none of them could show their faces—which explained why no one ever saw the three women again.
But that was a story for later.
Chen Xi watched the crates of goods come back, her brows curved in a smile.
Li Tong pointed at several large crates. "These are sheets of glass—they can be fitted into window frames."
Chen Xi was rarely so stirred. Such a thing would absolutely fetch a sky-high price. It was only possible now because of sea transport—over such a long route, sheets of glass could never have been hauled in otherwise.
Hua Yuanyi was equally excited. Opening a parcel, he first pulled out a letter and read it.
This time, the content was still brief.
It said, in short, that she had been promoted to platoon leader, commanding over thirty people.
And that she had bought him two sets of winter clothing, for the cold days ahead.
He quickly opened the parcel. Inside were two sets of padded cotton jackets and trousers—not the military issue, but the kind ordinary folk wore.
The box Hua Yuanyi had given her back then had been filled with gold beads, so Hua Ruo had money—plenty of it.
Ready-made clothing shops didn't sell padded jackets, so she had specially sought out Mu Ning and, through connections, paid a high price for these two sets.
The steward remarked, puzzled: "This... these are clothes? How are they so different?"
Hua Yuanyi snorted. "Different? What's different? Anyone can see these were made for me by A Ruo."
The steward: "..."
General, have you any idea whether your wife can sew at all?
But he was wise enough not to argue. Instead, he praised: "Of course, of course. The lady is filial and thoughtful."
Only then did Hua Yuanyi look satisfied. "She says the clothes are stuffed with cotton. They keep you warm."
This time, the steward was genuinely surprised. He reached out and touched the fabric: "This... how was the cotton made so smooth and flat? So soft. It looks warm just holding it."
Hua Yuanyi picked up one set and put it on. It fit perfectly, and warmth immediately spread through him.
The steward clicked his tongue in wonder: "The lady truly cares for you, General. The size is just right. Oh—and it fastens directly like this. Ingenious. Perfect. That makes putting it on and taking it off quite easy."
Hua Yuanyi nodded. Indeed, it was convenient. More importantly, it was exceedingly warm—warm all the way to his heart.
"Set this other set aside for washing later," he instructed, pointing to the second one.
The steward was taken aback: "You... you're going to wear the one on you right now?"
Hua Yuanyi nodded. Of course he'd wear it now. If he waited, the weather would turn warm, and he'd have to wait until winter.
Two days later, the usually quiet docks of Ying Commandery drew a fair number of people. Before long, two large ships arrived, and the place grew lively.
This was a merchant dock, open to virtually any vessel, though a fee was charged.
On duty today was Ma Wei, who asked with curiosity: "Where are you all from?"
Qiu Wu smiled. "We're from Jiu'an. How is it so quiet around here now?"
Ma Wei let out a sigh. "Everyone who could leave has gone elsewhere. There aren't many people left in Ying Commandery these days, and few ships either."
Qiu Wu nodded and lowered his voice. "Has it come to fighting?"
Ma Wei said, resigned: "Not yet. But it's probably coming soon. They've got us surrounded."
The dockhands weren't too worried—they could leave at any time if they had to. But the whole of Sizhou was already overcrowded, and starting a new life elsewhere wasn't easy. They could only hope Ying Commandery could hold out.
As they spoke, Liu Lanniang and the others arrived, led by a young woman.
She was one of the hidden agents in Ying Commandery, named Lu Yao.
The Wei and Meng families had only learned two days ago that they'd be traveling by water, and only then did they breathe a sigh of relief.
Now, seeing the ships arrive, their hearts were a mix of trepidation and anticipation.
But they knew this wasn't the time for talk. They boarded the ships in order as instructed.
Besides the Wei and Meng families, several hundred common folk also came aboard.
Qiu Wu pointed to several large crates and said to Lu Yao: "These are supplies from the Lord. If things turn wrong in Ying Commandery, you may withdraw at any time."
Lu Yao nodded. "Thank the Lord for his concern. Please tell him—we will not fail his expectations."
It wasn't until the ships had gradually left the dock that Ma Wei realized something was off: "Huh—this course... it's going north? Didn't you come from Sizhou?"
Liu Lanniang and the Meng family waited until the ships had sailed some distance before approaching Qiu Wu to ask what was going on.
Qiu Wu saw no reason to hide it. "Chief Editor Wei and Squad Leader Meng are both in Gefeng."
Wei Qinghuai was taken aback. "Chief Editor Wei—does that mean my elder sister? What does 'chief editor' mean?"
Meng Rong couldn't help asking too: "And what is a 'squad leader'?"
Qiu Wu smiled. "You'll find out when you get there. They're both well. Don't worry."
A few days later, when they set foot in the city of Gefeng, they realized that what they'd heard from Qiu Wu and the others was nothing compared to what they saw with their own eyes.
The roads were strange, grey-white surfaces. On either side were bustling shops, stocked with things they'd never seen or heard of before.
The streets were vibrant and lively, the cries of vendors and the clamor of crowds woven together, yet somehow in harmony.
More importantly, the people here looked mostly healthy, their faces carrying smiles.
And when those smiles fell on the obviously out-of-town newcomers, they took on a touch of pride.
Everyone was taken to the county office to register for household status.
Half an hour later, Mo Susu held her new household registration and stared at the strange characters on it: "Is this simplified Chinese?"
The clerk nodded. "That's right. Are you planning to rent a house or stay at an inn? We have both. Just ask around outside, and you'll find what you need."
Mo Susu was about to say she'd come to find someone, but Yan Ke spoke first: "Thanks. We'll have a look around first."
The clerk nodded. "Alright. If you're looking for work, you can go to the industrial district. But you'd best enroll in the literacy class first."
Only after they'd left the county office did Mo Susu ask: "What was that about? Aren't we here to find Ruo Ruo?"
Yan Ke said, helpless: "A Ruo is with the military. There's no need to disturb her. When she gets leave, she'll come find us on her own."
She looked at the bustling street, lively as a grand celebration, and said, "I think we can live very well on our own in Gefeng. I love it here — I love it so much."
"Come on, let's find a place to stay first," she said, pointing ahead with a sense of spirited ambition.
Mo Susu and Su Zhenxue exchanged glances, their eyes both gleaming with eager anticipation.
