Chapter Sixteen Unresolved

  The wine has been drunk up, the meat has been eaten, and the bonfire is crackling away. Everything seems to be as it was before.

  But looking at the woman sitting quietly by the bonfire like a stone statue, everyone felt something different.

  She is elegant and quiet, but can also drink and sing with rough men, and although she has some rough movements, there is a kind of grandeur in her every move.

  Looks like delicate spring flowers, but upon closer inspection, it's as if they have been through the vicissitudes of life and turned white-haired.

  "What's there to see." Several men glared and said, looking at the young man who walked over from the bonfire on the other side and looked around here.

  Young people are also dressed like this side of Chang'e's dress, with a large batch of wind-deep hoods, and the night wind makes their clothes flutter and make sounds.

  Everyone present looked at him with a hint of vigilance and inquiry about his arrival.

  "Is this a young lady or an old one?" he asked with curiosity, "Looks like a young lady, but... just like an old woman."

  Where is like an old woman?

  "What's wrong with you, kid?" the men said unhappily.

  "Isn't it?" The young man took a few more steps forward and paused, "Why does your voice sound so unpleasant?"

  How rude!

  Several men stood up with a whoosh, and the attendants of the young man on the other side also immediately became vigilant.

  The atmosphere is somewhat tense.

  "It's nothing, I'm just an old body with a long illness." said Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Didn't you hear? The wife is ill!" a man shouted loudly.

  The young man couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Your daughter is ill, what are you smiling at!" The man was even more angry, glaring and shouting.

  The man beside him slapped him in the face.

  "Damn it! You're the one who's sick! What's the point of scolding your wife?" he bellowed.

  The boy was beaten until he was dazed.

  "Huh? I didn't scold my wife." he said absent-mindedly.

  The young man laughed and walked over, sitting down beside him.

  "Hey, you can't sit here." A man said, squeezing out a sentence, "Men and women should not be close to each other, you need to keep a distance."

  The young man was even more delighted, and with one hand slightly lifted his hood to look at the man.

  "So you're not a man?" he asked.

  The man's eyes widened suddenly.

  "Who are you scolding..." He stretched out his hand and pointed at this kid just about to scold.

  "Six sons." The man leaning against the wooden frame spoke up to stop him, "Say a few less words, noise."

  Several men stopped talking and glared at the young man, then sat down with a rustling sound, surrounding him on both sides and separating him from Chunjiao.

  Mr. Chen Si over there also saw it and frowned.

  "Or shall we ask the young lady to get in and rest?" he said, looking at Cao Guan.

  Cao Guan Shi is still as usual.

  "Alright, alright." He said, but his feet didn't move, with a tone that meant "you go say it yourself".

  Isn't it just one time of thirst that scared you out of your wits? And yet, you're from the family of Zhou Wu, a heroic lineage. A useless household is still somewhat better than this.

  Mr. Chen scolded in his heart and sat down by the bonfire himself.

  A moment of silence by the campfire.

  "Human emotions are cold and warm, worldly affairs are hot and cold, the seven emotions and six desires, all can be experienced by the sick, why wait for age." Suddenly said by Cheng Jiaoniang, under her hood could be seen a small chin.

  What does it mean?

  The men look at me and I look at you.

  The young man lowered his head and stared at the bonfire, seemingly smiling as he spoke, with the corners of his mouth curved upwards.

  So it was like that?

  "My wife," said the man beside her, "it turns out that my wife is also ill, but she can still lend us a helping hand and cure our illnesses. This is the heart of a Bodhisattva, and there will definitely be blessings in return."

  Jiang Yao nodded slightly and turned her head to look at him.

  "Have you read books?" she asked.

  This topic has changed quickly enough...

  The man was taken aback.

  "I don't dare say I've read books, I just know a few characters." He said with a smile.

  "Why don't you read it then?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Alas, I can't read any more. I'll just have to earn some military pay to support my family." The man said with a smile.

  Jiang Nang nodded and turned her gaze back to the bonfire.

  "And you, why are you lending a helping hand?" The young man on the other side suddenly said.

  Everyone present frowned.

  Has this topic changed again?

  And what's with this young man suddenly chiming in?

  There was a Han man who couldn't help but scratch his head, feeling that his brain was a bit muddled.

  The man who had read books reacted slightly faster, frowning at the young man.

  "I was seriously ill and on the verge of death, with only these few brothers by my side. We were even rejected by the relay station and forced to flee into the wilderness, penniless and without any attendants. Lang Jun, tell me, why did this woman lend us a helping hand?" He raised an eyebrow and his whiskers stood on end, already filled with anger.

  "Perhaps it's because of your brother's good looks?" The young man said with a raised corner of his mouth.

  "You!" The other Chinese men shouted again in anger, with several jumping up.

  This rascal, speaking words that stir up trouble, not only shows disrespect to their benefactor, but now even dares to mock the great virtue of their benefactor's kindness.

  These rich and noble gentlemen who don't know hardship and suffering are truly detestable!

  "This gentleman, though you may be unfamiliar with the old ways, it's not as if they don't exist in this world." The sick man said solemnly, "Don't make a joke of this."

  The young man ignored the hostility and anger from this side, shrugging his hands.

  "It wasn't me who said it," he said, "it was she herself who said it."

  The men muttered curses under their breath.

  "My sister, we are seven brothers from the same village, from Maoyuan Mountain. My humble name is not worth remembering, I only ask that you remember the name of the benefactor who asked for your help." The sick man ignored the young man and looked at Cheng Jiaoniang with a sincere expression.

  "Yes indeed, wife saved my brother and also gave him money."

  "Undoubtedly reborn parents..."

  "...to set up a longevity tablet for his wife..."

  A messy and shallow yet straightforward thank you speech started.

  Jiang Yao's mouth curved slightly, but in the end she still didn't say her own name, and leaned on the maid to rest.

  Knowing they were in a hurry and tired, the brothers from Maoyuan Mountain didn't dare disturb them, so they stopped asking questions.

  "The young lady is indeed very kind, bestowing favors without seeking reward, how refreshing!" The sick man exclaimed.

  "Even if you've read books, don't always be so pedantic." The young man who had been quiet for a while spoke up again, "Being pretentious isn't a good look either."

  Under the angry gaze of the men, the young man walked away calmly.

  "This young whippersnapper, with a face full of wealth and nobility, but actually a scoundrel." A man cursed in anger.

  The sick man smiled slightly.

  "In this world, which wealth and nobility is not a show-off?" he said, seemingly rhetorical, yet seemingly talking to himself.

  The camp was quiet, except for the guards, who were rushing to and fro, fighting off wolf packs, drinking wine, and the others, wrapped in their cloaks and furs, had fallen asleep.

  When the east became bright, the camp was noisy again, and the three parties were ready to set off.

  The sounds of cars, curses and conversations all mixed together like a thick fog on a clear morning.

  "You don't have to follow me anymore." Jingniang looked at the seven brothers of Maoyuan Mountain who had followed her and said, "His injury is no longer serious, and he will be fine with rest and care. However, it's not suitable for him to travel long distances now. As I said before, illness can be treated, but life cannot be saved. You don't want to die, even if my relatives are by your side, they won't be able to save you."

  Seven men from Moyuanshan expressed their gratitude with a mix of shame and appreciation.

  "But if you don't come, and I lose my life, then you'll probably lose yours too." Cheng Jiaoniang said, the cold morning air had almost completely wrapped her in her cloak, even her mouth and chin were hidden from view. "Isn't this fair, heaven's way?"