Chapter 45

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Chapter 45: Taking the Initiative

     

The next morning, the sun still rose.

     

The Zhang family was busy preparing for the spring plowing, but Zhang Xiaolong was clearly distracted. He frequently glanced at Liu Qian, who appeared completely unbothered. Her composure only made Zhang Xiaolong more anxious. Finally, he found an opportunity to pull Liu Qian aside and softly asked her: “What do you plan to do?”

     

Liu Qian, with a hint of teasing, smiled and said: “What do you mean?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong, slightly annoyed, replied: “I mean when your father comes to take you back. Are you planning to go home?”

     

Liu Qian said: “Yes if my father comes to pick me up, I naturally have to return to my own home.”

     

Zhang Xiaolong’s face turned a bit pale as he said: “I knew it. The things you said before were just to comfort me and help me recover faster. Now that my injuries are healed, you no longer need to deceive me. You’re going back to your stable home, and our small courtyard probably has nothing to attract you.”

     

Seeing that Zhang Xiaolong was really taking it seriously, Liu Qian quickly put away her teasing expression and said: “Xiaolong, look at what you said. Do you think I was just comforting you before? Don’t you know what I truly feel?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong was stunned and said: “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but at this critical moment, you’re so calm while my heart is burning with anxiety. Of course, I want to know if you have any plans.”

     

Liu Qian smiled and said: “You know, you usually seem so clever, but now you’re falling into the same old traps. Isn’t there a saying, ‘When water comes, the earth will block it; when soldiers come, use generals to confront them’? Of course, my father wants me to go back and will come to fetch me, but whether I go or not is up to me, right? My father has always respected my decisions. This time is a bit unexpected, but I think I should wait until he arrives and talk to him properly. Once I understand his reasoning, we’ll naturally find a solution. So why worry?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong laughed and said: “I’m not like you, to have a well-thought-out plan in mind. Of course, I’m worried and confused. Besides, I think we should take the initiative to talk to your father. It’s better than waiting here for him to come to us.”

     

Liu Qian looked at Zhang Xiaolong and praised him: “You’re right. Taking the initiative puts the control in our hands. If we wait for my father to come, we might end up at a disadvantage, and who knows what other changes might occur. How about I go back home first and assess the situation?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong, feeling a bit embarrassed, said: “I just had this little idea, nothing as deep as what you said. Besides, I think I should accompany you. My injuries have healed well, and walking for half a day on the mountain road shouldn’t be a problem.”

     

Liu Qian thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up as she said: “That’s an even better idea. Let’s go together to see my father and find out what medicine he’s selling in his gourd.”

     

[TL_Note: To uncover his true intentions]

     

Zhang Xiaolong couldn’t help but express his concern, saying: “Qianqian, what if your father refuses to change his mind and insists on you going back?”

     

Liu Qian, with a sly smile, replied: “That won’t happen. I have my ways to deal with my father, he will agree.”

     

Still feeling uneasy, Zhang Xiaolong persisted: “I’m talking about the ‘what if’ scenario, though. What if?”

     

Liu Qian said earnestly: “Xiaolong, I believe you must already understand my feelings. We haven’t expressed everything explicitly, but you must trust me. I… I will be by your side.”

     

As they reached the end of their conversation, Liu Qian’s face turned red, and she involuntarily lowered her head.

     

Summoning all his courage, Zhang Xiaolong reached out and gently held the tender hand in front of him, and whispered: “Qianqian, you are so good.”

     

This time, Liu Qian didn’t let him hold her. She broke free from his grasp and said: “You should think about when to go to Baligou first.” With that, she ran off.

     

Zhang Xiaolong watched Liu Qian’s departing figure for a long time, savoring it deeply. The unease he felt earlier had long dissipated from his heart.

     

When Zhang Xiaolong reappeared in the sight of everyone, the bugle of war had already sounded in his heart. He walked up to Zhang Cai and said: “Dad, Liu Qian’s father didn’t mention when he would come to pick her up, right?”

     

Zhang Cai glanced at Zhang Xiaolong and said: “Yes, he mentioned he would come in a few days, but didn’t specify the exact date.”

     

Zhang Xiaolong replied: “In that case, Dad, I want to go to Baligou with Liu Qian and have a good talk with her father.”

     

Zhang Cai was stunned when he heard it, and furrowed his brow: “Is this your idea, or Liu Qian’s?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong answered: “It’s my idea. I discussed it with Liu Qian just now, and she agreed.”

     

Zhang Cai’s brow instantly relaxed, and he chuckled: “Well done, boy! You’ve got some guts. Your old man didn’t have your courage when he was young. Not bad, haha.”

     

Just as they were laughing, Guo Sufei walked over and asked: “What’s so funny, husband?”

     

Zhang Cai replied: “Our son has grown up, he knows how to find himself a wife.”

     

Guo Sufei didn’t quite understand at first, so Zhang Cai repeated what Zhang Xiaolong had just said to him. Guo Sufei also became pleased and said: “That’s a good idea. When do you and Qianqian plan to go?”

     

Zhang Xiaolong said: “Mom, didn’t Mr. Liu say he’s coming over soon? I think we should go before he arrives. If necessary, we can go right now.”

     

Guo Sufei glanced at the sky and said: “If you go now, you won’t be able to come back today. It’s better to wait until after lunch. I’ll go and cook with Qianqian. Ah, I won’t be able to cook without Qianqian’s help anymore. Xiaolong, you have to keep Qianqian.”

     

Zhang Xiaolong smiled and said: “Alright, Mom, I’ll make sure of it.”

     

Lunch was quickly finished as usual. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian packed up and prepared to set off. At this moment, Zhang Xiaohu spoke up: “Big brother, it doesn’t seem very safe for just the two of you to go out. How about I come along too?”

     

Zhang Cai added: “Xiaolong, you should also take some things with you. It’s not good to go empty-handed.”

     

Zhang Xiaolong replied: “I know, Dad. I’ll buy something when we reach the village entrance.”

     

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaohu’s offer to join them, Liu Qian’s eyes lit up. She turned to Zhang Xiaolong and said: “Let Xiaohu come with us. It’ll be safer with three people, besides, you won’t need to buy anything. Just bring some water from our well for my father, that will be enough.”

     

Slapping his forehead, Zhang Xiaolong exclaimed: “Look at me, I can’t believe I forgot. Your father loves that water the most.”

     

Zhang Xiaohua jumped up from his chair and said: “I’ll go pick some fresh water. You guys get something to hold the water in.”

     

When Xiaohua returned with the well water, Zhang Xiaolong borrowed a sealed jug from the neighbor and filled it with fresh well water. Zhang Xiaohu took charge of carrying the jug.

     

With everything prepared, the three of them finally set off on their journey.

     

From Guo Village to Baligou, there are two routes. One follows along a small river, passes through a bamboo forest, climbs over several hills, and skirts along the edges of a few villages. The other route goes over a small bridge and follows a main road towards the direction of Lu Town. After reaching a village, pass through this village and continue along the main road towards Baligou. The smaller path is rough and difficult to traverse, but it’s shorter in distance, while the main road, though easier to travel, is indeed two to three times longer than the smaller path.

     

Zhang Xiaolong and his companions naturally chose the smaller path.

     

Now that it was springtime, the river had thawed, and its murmuring stream flowed gently, its sound pleasant to the ears. Birds were also active, chirping along with the sound of the water, making the footsteps of those walking feel particularly light. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian walked hand in hand at the front, seemingly without any worries from home, enjoying the feeling of each other’s hands and freely admiring the scenery of spring. They kept talking as they walked. Behind them, Zhang Xiaohu walked at a distance, carrying the jug of water. He smiled as he watched his older brother and his future sister-in-law ahead, feeling both envy and anticipation in his heart. There was also a little expectation in his heart for a beautiful encounter in Baligou after a while.

     

Zhang Xiaolong’s heart was filled with sweetness, hoping that this seemingly long journey would never end, allowing him to forever savor the happiness of this afternoon. He had never felt walking to be such a joyful thing, nor had he ever found the mountain scenery, which he had grown tired of in the past, to be so beautiful. He had never imagined that Liu Qian’s words could be more pleasant than the sound of the river and the birds. Nor had he ever thought that the distance from Guo Village to Baligou could be so short, it seemed as if they had arrived as soon as they started walking. When Liu Qian withdrew her hand, he was still dizzy and asked why. It wasn’t until Liu QIan shyly revealed that Baligou, where she had grown up, was just ahead and visible, that he finally realized they had reached the end of their leisurely stroll through the clouds.

     

Liu Qian led Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu into the village. Occasionally, people who knew Liu Qian would greet her. Some girls and aunties shamelessly stared at Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu, scanning them from head to toe, making Liu Qian blush and Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu feel at a loss. After all, no one asked who Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu were, so Liu Qian couldn’t explain. Although she wanted to let them think whatever they wanted, she also didn’t want them to speculate blindly. However, her home was still far from the village entrance. Presumably, when she returned home shortly, the topic of Zhang Xiaolong might spread throughout the entire village.

     

When Liu Qian arrived home with Zhang Xiaolong and Zhang Xiaohu, it was quite a coincidence that Mr. Liu and Butcher Liu were sitting in the courtyard drinking tea and chatting. As soon as Liu Qian entered, she saw Mr. Liu sitting on a small stool under the eaves, pouring tea from a teapot into a teacup. Across from him, Butcher Liu was holding his usual wine gourd, occasionally bringing it to his lips for a sip.

     

Upon seeing her father, Liu Qian’s eyes seemed to well up with tears. She called out, “Dad~” and ran over to him.

     

Mr. Liu was also taken aback at first, but when he saw that it was Liu Qian who had returned, his heart was filled with joy. He set down the teapot and got up to greet her. Although it hadn’t been long since they last met at Zhang’s house, this time, Liu Qian had returned home, and it felt different. Liu Qian rushed into her father’s arms, clinging to his arms like a child. Mr. Liu affectionately stroked her hair and said: “You’re back, it’s good that you’re back.”