Doctor Wang didn’t leave much behind, just a phrase and a letter.

The current medicine shop manager said that before his passing, Doctor Wang left many letters, all for old friends who had moved elsewhere because of the war.

Over these years, many letters had been delivered, but some still remained untouched and gathering dust in a box.

Chen Changsheng asked, “What about the other letters left?”

“Perhaps they’ll simply rot inside that box.”

Chen Changsheng sighed softly upon hearing that. He took the letter left by Doctor Wang and left the medicine shop.

Perhaps it was indeed so. In the ups and downs of this mortal world, maybe letters, once written, were fated only to rot in a box.

Chen Changsheng returned to his small courtyard. At the entrance, he glanced sideways at the tightly shut gate of the house opposite. He gathered his gaze and walked inside his own yard.

Sitting on the long bench, he opened the letter left by Doctor Wang.

[Seeing this letter, Mr. Chen must have returned.]

[How has the food been these years outside? Does the noodle from street vendors taste as good as back in Qingshan City? Did you ever resume storytelling, sir? Are you sleeping well? I heard fighting has started again out there. Please be careful, Mr. Chen.]

[Whatever happens, take good care of your health.]

Only these few sentences were written. These were Doctor Wang’s final words to Chen Changsheng.

That was just the kind of person Doctor Wang was. What he wrote in the letter reflected his simple, unadorned nature.

Yet even such simple words…

Caused Chen Changsheng to stare at them for a long, long time.

Perhaps the friendships in this world are meant to be this plain. How is the food? How is the sleep? Take care of yourself…

Chen Changsheng tucked the letter away, deep into the sleeve of his robe. His sleeves held many things, but in his eyes, nothing was as precious as a letter like this.

Perhaps this is where the meaning lies in walking through the mortal world.

…

Seeing that dusk was approaching,

Chen Changsheng stepped out of his small courtyard and walked to the gate of the inner house opposite.

He knocked on the latch and waited quietly.

“Coming.”

A voice sounded from inside the yard.

The gate opened a crack, revealing a pair of eyes looking out. Seeing him, she asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Chen Changsheng said, “I’m here to see the proprietress. Would the young lady be so kind as to announce me?”

“Oh, please wait a moment.”

The maid said this and closed the door.

Soon after, Chen Changsheng heard footsteps going upstairs from behind the door.

It didn’t take long before a light, softer set of steps approached from behind the door.

The door opened from the inside.

It was the maid again, but this time she had someone standing behind her.

The woman wore a long, blue robe dress. A hairpin held her hair up, leaving two locks falling loose beside her temples. At first glance, she looked as clean and clear as a lotus leaf on clear water.

Chen Changsheng smiled gently and said, “How have you been lately?”

“Probably better than Mr. Chen.”

They each smiled at each other, and it felt like many years had passed in an instant.

Every time they met, it felt like this. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

But for Yun Xiang, just being able to see him again was already such a blessing.

…

Yun Xiang dismissed the maid.

She poured a drink for Mr. Chen. This wine had been set aside here for some time.

“Autumn Moon Brew?” Chen Changsheng blinked in surprise.

Yun Xiang nodded. “I brought it especially from Autumn Moon Market.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing the wine, Chen Changsheng didn’t hold back. Tasting this Autumn Moon Brew after so much time had passed, he felt the flavor was truly different now. Perhaps because the wine now held an extra note of longing.

After trying the wine, Chen Changsheng finally spoke. “When Manager Zhuang mentioned it to me, I was wondering exactly what kind of person this proprietress would be.”

Yun Xiang asked after hearing this, “And now that we’ve met, Mr. Chen, what kind of person does he think the proprietress is?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then said, “A not-too-smart little maid?”

Yun Xiang nodded upon hearing this. “Yun Xiang is a little maid.”

She still missed those days when she worked as a maid for Mr. Chen.

Chen Changsheng said, “You didn’t really need to make this journey yourself. The roads are unsafe, and it’s risky. Sending a letter would have been enough. I, Mr. Chen, could have been here in an instant.”

Yun Xiang shook her head. “Yun Xiang herself wanted to come out and see the world.”

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but imagine the difficult journey Yun Xiang must have endured to reach Qingshan City. With the world as it was now, traveling such a distance couldn’t be easy.

Yun Xiang asked, “Has Mr. Chen been in Qingshan City all these years?”

“I’m here sometimes.”

“Or is it during Huai Xu?”

“Mhm.”

“How is it compared to Autumn Moon Market?”

“Perhaps they are both the same.”

Yun Xiang nodded. “For Mr. Chen, where he is might not matter much. What matters is where the people he knows are. Isn’t that right?”

Chen Changsheng paused, then nodded.

“Well then, from now on, Yun Xiang will live in Qingshan City. Whenever Mr. Chen leaves, Yun Xiang will leave then too.”

Chen Changsheng hesitated. “Miss Yun, why go this far…”

“Does Mr. Chen feel guilty?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “I am a mess of a man. Someone like me doesn’t deserve this devotion from Miss Yun.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

Yun Xiang looked at Chen Changsheng. “This is Yun Xiang’s own wish. Brother Tang also says I am a stubborn girl. In all their life, I only want to be stubborn about this one thing. Just this once.”

“Mr. Chen told me long ago to live her life for myself. For a very long stretch of time, I puzzled over what that really meant. Now, after decades, I finally understand.”

Yun Xiang paused, then added, “So I came.”

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but understand clearly. “So Miss Yun would rather wait an entire lifetime… even if it meant possibly waiting in vain?”

Yun Xiang met his gaze and said, “What if Yun Xiang is willing?”

Chen Changsheng froze.

He looked at Yun Xiang and suddenly noticed how much bolder the girl before him had become. He remembered that the Yun Xiang from back then would never say something like this.

Silence fell over the table.

Seeing that Mr. Chen didn’t reply, Yun Xiang said, “Please wait for a moment, sir.”

Chen Changsheng watched her rise and go upstairs.

A short while later, Yun Xiang came back down holding a greased paper parcel and handed it to Chen Changsheng.

“Preserved fruit,” Yun Xiang said simply.

Chen Changsheng opened his mouth. He knew there was no refusing it.

“Thank you, Miss Yun,” Chen Changsheng said.

Yun Xiang said, “Please go about your business, sir. Yun Xiang will come visit you later.”

Chen Changsheng wanted to say something but hesitated. Finally, he simply cupped his hands in farewell, picked up the preserved fruit, and left the small courtyard.

Back in his own yard, Chen Changsheng sat down.

Separated only by one alley.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed.

That girl really was all grown up now. She was even finding ways to ease things for him.

Chen Changsheng looked at the greased paper parcel placed on the table.

He couldn’t help but feel he had indeed made some mistakes. Mistakes that perhaps could not be undone.

But then again, thinking carefully, even if he were given a second chance, he wasn’t sure he could have avoided this particular karma.

…

Inside that small courtyard.

The maid was gently massaging her mistress’s shoulders and said, “Miss, Manager Zhuang told me this Mr. Jiucha (or Mr. Wine-Tea) likes bitter things, like wine and tea. Sending preserved fruit… will Mr. Chen like it?”

Yun Xiang thought for a moment and said, “She will like it…”