Chapter 34

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Chapter 34: Fate

     

Mr. Liu asked with concern; “Qianqian, are you feeling unwell?”

     

Liu Qian smiled and said: “Dad, I’m fine, I just zoned out a bit. What did you ask me just now?”

     

Mr. Liu replied: “Is this tea brought from home by you?”

     

Liu Qian understood what her father meant and said: “Yes, Dad, it’s the kind you often drink. I brought some for myself when I last visited. Do you find this tea exceptionally delicious?”

     

Mr. Liu took another sip and said: “Yes, indeed. It doesn’t taste like the one I usually have at home at all. The aroma of this tea is truly enticing.”

     

Throughout his life, Mr. Liu didn’t have many hobbies aside from his fondness for tea. He had tried various kinds of tea and had quite a collection at home, which was why Liu Qian also developed a liking for tea. However, the tea he drank today was markedly different from what he was used to. It had a fragrance that was indescribable on the palate.

     

Considering that the tea leaves were the ones he used daily, he concluded that it must be the difference in the water used for brewing the tea. Mr. Liu found it surprising, although Guo Village was far away from Baligou, it was only half a day’s journey away. How could there be such a stark difference in water quality?

     

Mr. Liu asked: “Qianqian, why does the water in Guo Village taste so much better than the water in our Baligou?”

     

Liu Qian blinked her eyes at Mr. Liu and said: “Yes, Dad, the water here is indeed clear and pleasant.”

     

Liu Qian knew that her uncle was notorious for being straightforward and couldn’t keep anything to himself. If he found out about something, it was as good as every villager in Baligou knowing about it. She had already warned him not to spread the news of her experience in Lu Town, but probably everyone in Baligou already knew by now. The matter of the well water must not be leaked by him under any circumstances.

     

Mr. Liu, seeing Liu Qian wink at him, understood and refrained from pressing further.

     

Butcher Liu, however, overheard and interjected: “Well, that’s simple. Just have Zhang Xiaolong deliver a bucket to you every day.”

     

Mr. Liu chuckled and said: “Second Brother, aside from the half-day journey from Guo Village to Baligou, even if the water could be delivered, there’s no guarantee that the tea brewed with it would taste this good.”

     

Seeing Butcher Liu’s puzzled expression, Mr. Liu continued: “The water used for brewing tea is best when it’s freshly drawn from the source. If it’s kept for too long, it loses its vitality, and the tea loses its aroma.”

     

Butcher Liu’s face was full of disdain as he said, “You scholars have all sorts of fancy beliefs. Why don’t I feel any of that? Don’t you think so, Brother Zhang?” With that, he finished his tea in one gulp.

     

Zhang Cai chuckled softly without saying anything and also drank his tea.

     

Liu Qian stepped forward and poured everyone another cup.

     

Mr. Liu picked up the freshly poured cup of tea, held it to his nose, and carefully inhaled the aroma. Then, he took small sips, savoring the taste with great enjoyment, a look of indescribable contentment on his face.

     

Butcher Liu mocked: “What’s so great about this bland water? Drinking wine is much more satisfying.”

     

Mr. Liu pursed his lips and said: “How could you understand my joy? Different interests, no need to say more. But alas, after drinking this tea today, how will I ever enjoy any other tea again?”

     

Butcher Liu laughed and said, “That’s simple enough. Just move to Guo Village. I’ve heard they don’t have a teacher there. If you come, they’ll welcome you with open arms.”

     

Mr. Liu’s eyes lit up, and he said: “For a rough fellow, you do have good ideas. As the ancients said, ‘Eating three hundred lychees a day, I’d happily live in Lingnan forever.’ It’s rare to come across such good water and tea. Moving to Guo Village for the sake of this excellent tea would indeed make a fine story.”

     

Speaking unintentionally, listening with intent. Mr. Liu’s words of ‘rare encounter’ were like a wake-up call to Liu Qian, as if a lightning bolt struck her heart, breaking apart the tangled knots within. Yes, rare encounters indeed. Just a few days ago, she felt she had a fate with Zhang Xiaolong. Now, she found herself in a dead end, doubting this fate once again. As she pondered further, from the moment she met Zhang Xiaolong, his injury in saving her, her efforts to nurse him back to health, the discovery of the precious well water, to her father’s willingness to come to Guo Village, all doubts were dispelled.

     

For the sake of her father’s well-being, she was willing to overcome her reluctance to marry far away. She knew clearly that only the Zhang family had access to this well water, no one else in Guo Village could offer it. Considering the miraculous uses of the well water, her heart pounded even harder. This was the guarantee of her father’s good health. Didn’t all of this indicate that she and Zhang Xiaolong were fated to be together? This fate was predetermined by the heavens, wasn’t it arrogant to think otherwise?

     

One thought could solve all problems and the big stone in Liu Qian’s heart was lifted by the heavens

     

At this moment, she noticed the reactions of the others after her father finished speaking. Seeing their confusion, Liu Qian explained: “This lychee is a type of fruit that’s said to be very delicious, only grown in the Lingnan region. Ancient people who tasted this lychee couldn’t forget its taste, and they lamented that if they could eat lychees every day, they would be willing to move to Lingnan.”

     

Everyone suddenly understood.

     

Zhang Cai exclaimed in delight: “Mr. Liu if you’re considering relocating to our Guo Village, we would definitely welcome it! I’ll inform Village Chief Guo right away and arrange a place for you, my brother.”

     

Mr. Liu quickly responded: “Brother, there’s no rush for this matter. Let’s discuss it later, leaving it to fate. Haha.”

     

Then, Mr. Liu took another sip of tea and revealed the true purpose of his visit to the Zhang family. He looked at Zhang Cai and said: “Brother, the main purpose of our visit this time is to take Qianqian back home for a while. She’s been here for some time now and must be missing home. Our family also needs her to come back and take care of things. As for Yueyue, she was supposed to come over earlier this month, but we couldn’t send her with Qianqian last time because there was a need for a girl to look after things at home. This time, I thought we could let her come over and swap places with Qianqian. What do you think?”

     

Zhang Cai didn’t dare to make a decision on his own, so he quickly turned to look at Guo Sufei.

     

Guo Sufei observed Mr. Liu and Butcher Liu’s sincere expressions, as well as Liu Yueyue’s expressionless demeanor, and understood the situation. She smiled and said to Mr. Liu and Butcher Liu: “We appreciate your intentions. During the time Qianqian has been here, she has indeed helped us a lot. Xiaolong, Xiaohu, and my husband have all recovered well from their injuries and can move around without much trouble now. Since Qianqian no longer needs to take care of them, if Mr. Liu wants her to go back, I will help her pack her things. She can return with you this afternoon. As for Yueyue, there’s no need for her to stay.”

     

Upon hearing Guo Sufei’s words, a look of obvious joy appeared on Liu Yueyue’s face. Liu Qian, glancing up, inadvertently noticed the disappointment in Zhang Xiaohu’s eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she thought to herself: “Zhang Xiaohu is usually quiet and hasn’t shown any interest in Yueyue. But seeing his expression now, this could be a little troublesome. I need to remind Zhang Xiaohu sometime that my sister’s heart clearly isn’t here.”

     

Butcher Liu, on the other hand, was not pleased. He said: “Sister-in-law, what you say is not right. We had already agreed that Yueyue should also do her part. Now that it’s time, how can we let her shirk her duties?”

     

Guo Sufei smiled and said: “Brother Liu, I know you’re a straightforward person. If we had any difficulties, how could we hide them from you? Look at these two children and your Brother Zhang, they are all rosy-cheeked and moving around easily. Truly, we don’t need your daughter to stay here anymore.”

     

At this moment, Mr. Liu also smiled and stopped Butcher Liu from insisting further, saying: “Since our sister-in-law says so, it must be true that they don’t need the child to stay. Second Brother, there’s no need to insist. As for whether Qianqian will go back with us later, let’s ask her what she wants first.”

     

Liu Qian thought for a moment and said: “Father, I won’t go back with you this time. With Yueyue at home, there shouldn’t be any major issues. I’ve only been away for less than a month. Though I do miss home, it’s not urgent for me to return just yet. Besides, Xiaolong’s injury is in its final recovery stage. I don’t want to leave the job half-done. I’ll go back once he’s fully recovered.”

     

As soon as these words were spoken, Butcher Liu couldn’t help but stand up and say: “Did you discuss this with your father beforehand? Why do your words sound so similar to his?”

     

Liu Qian asked curiously: “Second Uncle, what do you mean by that?”

     

Before Butcher Liu could speak, Liu Yueyue interjected: “Sister, on our way here, the two old men made a bet. Your father said you definitely wouldn’t go home, while my father said you would. When my father asked why, your father explained that you never liked leaving things unfinished. Since you’ve been in Guo Village for less than a month and Zhang Xiaolong’s injury probably isn’t fully healed, he was sure you wouldn’t leave. Now, you ended up saying exactly what your father predicted. That’s why my father is upset, thinking you two planned this together.”

     

Liu Yueyue’s witty remarks, alternating between ‘your father’ and ‘my father’, brought laughter to everyone.

     

Liu Qian said to Butcher Liu: “Second Uncle has watched me grow up. How could you not know my temperament?”

     

Butcher Liu said helplessly: “I only remember you as a little girl with a runny nose. Who would have thought that in a few years, you and Yueyue would grow up into young ladies? How could I remember your temperament? I thought since you hadn’t left home before, you would miss it. But it seems I know you less than your own father does.”

     

As the conversation went on, Guo Sufei noticed that it was getting late, so she went out to arrange for lunch. Liu Qian and Liu Yueyue naturally followed to help. This left the men inside the house, chatting away.

     

The meal at the Zhang household remained simple, and before long, everything was prepared. Zhang Xiaohua also brought some wine from outside the village, much to Butcher Liu’s delight, who couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

     

After lunch, with the sun already tilting westward, Mr. Liu and his two companions bid farewell and headed back to their village. Before leaving, Mr. Liu invited Zhang Cai, saying: “Brother, tomorrow is the Dragon Raising its Head Festival on the second day of the second lunar month. There’s a temple fair in Baligou. How about we gather at my place tomorrow?”

     

Zhang Cai pondered for a moment and declined: “Although the injuries are much better now, they haven’t fully healed yet. It’s inevitable that there may be complications if we travel too far. Besides, there are elderly folks at home who are currently unwell. It’s best not to be too far away. When we have the chance in the future, we’ll definitely come visit.”

     

Mr. Liu understood the situation and didn’t insist further. They bid farewell at the village entrance, and Liu Qian, accompanied by Zhang Xiaohua, went a little way down the road.

     

They parted with reluctance, watching their loved ones gradually disappear into the distance.