Childhood Friend or Destined Encounter? - Chapter 4

The morning light bathed the small courtyard in a warm hue. In the center stood an ancient scholar tree, its leaves filtering the sunlight into dappled shadows that danced on the ground. A pair of sparrows hopped among the branches, playfully chasing one another.

Beside a stone-lined well beneath the tree, Ye Zi stood gripping the wooden windlass, straining to haul up a bucket brimming with water.

She wasn’t particularly strong. Normally, she only drew half a bucket at a time, but with an extra person in the house, she had decided to fetch a double load.

However, she had clearly overestimated herself. The bucket was only halfway up when her arms began to go numb with fatigue. Her focus wavered, and the rope slipped, unraveling slightly through her fingers.

“Let me,” a pale, steady hand reached out and covered Ye Zi’s. With a single hand over Ye Zi’s smaller, strained one, the newcomer turned the windlass several times with ease. Simultaneously, she reached out with her other hand to hook the bucket as it reached the rim, swinging it safely onto the ground.

Ye Zi took the opportunity to pull her hand away, tucking it behind her back. She rubbed her throbbing thumb against her palm, feeling the lingering heat. Without a word of thanks to Feng Ya, she walked straight to a stone mortar nearby and sat down to begin grinding medicinal herbs.

Once Feng Ya had emptied the water into the storage vat, she sat down beside Ye Zi and reached for the pestle. “I’ve got it, I’ve got it.”

Ye Zi didn’t argue. She handed over the pestle and went to gather the laundry. She hadn’t even finished half of it when Feng Ya, having finished the herbs, hurried over to take over that task as well.

By the end of the day, it was as if Feng Ya had grown extra limbs. She scrambled to take on every household chore imaginable, and truth be told, her efficiency was impressive.

Giving in, Ye Zi leaned back in a reclining chair in the yard, squinting her eyes as she basked in the sun.

After a short nap, Ye Zi peeked one eye open to watch the busy figure in the yard. “I should tell you,” she said lazily, “even if you take over every chore in this house, you still have to pay for the medicine. At most, I’ll waive your room and board.”

“There is no need to waive anything, I am doing this of my own accord,” Feng Ya replied softly, her hands never slowing down. The summer sun seemed to crown her in gold. Even though the woman was dressed in outgrown, borrowed clothes, every movement was effortless and elegant, like a lady stepping out of a traditional painting.

With someone volunteering for free labor, Ye Zi was happy to relax, settling into a life of leisure and idleness.

But this lifestyle wasn’t as idyllic as she had imagined. Because Feng Ya was so overly proactive, Ye Zi began to feel like the intruder in her own home, even though she was the rightful owner!

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Ye Zi stepped out to block Feng Ya’s path, her expression sour. “Alright, out with it. What is it you actually want?”

Lost her patience already? Feng Ya thought, looking down at the disgruntled girl. She offered a smile as refreshing as a spring breeze. “I would like to ask you for a favor.”

“I refuse,” Ye Zi replied, rolling her eyes internally. She knew this woman was harboring some hidden motive.

“I haven’t even told you what it is yet,” Feng Ya said, letting out a soft laugh at the swift rejection.

“Is there even a need to say it? Ever since that day I commented on your array diagram, you’ve been acting strange. Judging by your previous clothes, you aren’t from a common family, so since when did you develop a passion for domestic service? I’m just an ordinary resident of this town, and I have no interest in being dragged into the dangerous drama of the martial world.” These thoughts had been bottled up inside Ye Zi for days, and she let them out now in a single, breathless burst.

“I see. In that case, may I go start on dinner now?” Feng Ya’s tone remained as gentle as ever. It made Ye Zi feel as though she had thrown a powerful punch only to hit thin air. Frustrated, she grumbled and stepped aside.

Inside the small kitchen, Feng Ya moved with practiced ease as she tended the fire and washed the vegetables.

She rarely cooked for herself in the past, but that didn’t mean she lacked the skill. She was naturally brilliant, and with the sudden abundance of practice, her culinary skills had improved by leaps and bounds in just a few days.

Feng Ya wasn’t surprised by the rejection, nor was she discouraged.

After living together for several days, she had gained a decent understanding of this young girl. Ye Zi appeared easygoing, but she had built a high wall around herself. If anyone tried to scale that wall, she would simply retreat further away. She was willing to help others, provided it didn’t disrupt the peace of her own life.

If the matter weren’t so dire, involving the lives of many innocent people, and if there were any better options, Feng Ya wouldn’t want to pressure her. For now, all she could do was wait for reinforcements and try to win the girl over in the meantime.

Honestly… if it weren’t for my responsibilities, this kind of life would be quite lovely. Feng Ya plated the stir-fried greens, a relaxed smile touching her lips that she didn’t even notice.

Looking at the three dishes and the soup on the table, all smelling and looking delicious, Ye Zi had to admit that cooking required talent.

Take herself, for example. She had lived alone for years, yet her cooking was “edible” at best.

Then there was Feng Ya. Just a few days ago, she wasn’t much better than Ye Zi, yet now her skills seemed to be rivaling those of an imperial chef.

“Why aren’t you eating? Are the dishes not to your liking?” Feng Ya placed a piece of braised tofu into Ye Zi’s bowl. She had noticed over the last few days that Ye Zi was particularly fond of this dish.

“No, you did a great job,” Ye Zi said, chewing the tofu. It was savory and fragrant, leaving a wonderful aftertaste.

Swallowing her food, Ye Zi spoke against her better judgment. “You’ve worked hard in the kitchen lately. Tomorrow, I’ll take over.”

She wasn’t just being polite. As the saying goes, it’s easy to move from poverty to luxury, but hard to go back. She also knew that “those who eat the food of others must hold their tongues.” She didn’t want to surrender to the “sugar-coated bullets” of delicious meals.

“Alright, as you wish,” Feng Ya replied warmly.

She didn’t even try to decline, Ye Zi thought with a hint of disappointment. She began to cherish the meal before her even more, realizing it might be the last high-quality dinner she’d have for a while.

However, when the next day arrived and Feng Ya habitually walked into the kitchen, Ye Zi seemed to have a bout of selective amnesia and didn’t stop her.

When the vegetables were halfway done, Ye Zi wandered into the kitchen. She was a woman of leisure now, having just finished writing a letter for Auntie Li, so she figured she’d watch Feng Ya work and perhaps steal a few culinary secrets.

That way, once Feng Ya eventually left, she wouldn’t have to go back to eating bland, tasteless food.

“Writing letters again?” Feng Ya glanced at the ink stains on Ye Zi’s fingertips, understanding immediately.

“Yeah, Auntie Li comes to find me every month at this time,” Ye Zi said, leaning against the wall. “Sometimes human emotions are so strange. Auntie Li clearly cares for Uncle Zhong, and he feels the same about her. I’ve lived in Yuanhe Town for three years and I’ve watched them exchange letters for three years. Yet, in all that time, they’ve never met. Yuanhe Town and Pingyang City are so close, only a day’s journey apart. Why would they rather have others carry messages than see each other in person?”

“I don’t know their specific circumstances,” Feng Ya said, “but I do know the phrase ‘fear of returning home.’ Sometimes, a distance that looks short is actually quite far, and a distance that looks far is actually quite close. Everyone has their own inner obsessions, and only the person themselves can resolve them.” As she spoke, she whisked some egg whites and drizzled them into the pot.

Drawn by the aroma of the eggs, Ye Zi leaned in closer, completely forgetting the heavy topic they had been discussing.

The chemistry between people is a curious thing. They had only known each other for a few days and knew little of each other’s pasts, yet here they were under one roof, chatting like old friends.

Feng Ya scooped a piece of cooked egg white from the edge of the pan and fed it to Ye Zi. Suddenly remembering something, she teased, “Speaking of which, I see you helping people in town for free every day. Why am I the only one you charge?”

Ye Zi didn’t shy away. She swallowed the egg and licked her lips before answering. “Look at the people in this town. Do they look like they have money? Besides, what I do for them is just a small favor. It’s not like it would cost them their entire life savings.” She gave a pointed look at the person who had indeed cost her her entire life savings.

“If you are willing to help me with this favor, I am willing to repay you a hundred times what your savings were worth,” Feng Ya said, seizing the opportunity to persuade her.

“The words sound nice, but how about you pay back the original amount first?” Ye Zi’s single sentence left Feng Ya speechless. In the past, Feng Ya was always surrounded by admirers and never had to worry about worldly possessions. Now, she was being stumped by a mere hundred taels of silver.

Although Ye Zi occasionally snapped at Feng Ya, as a “creditor,” she was actually quite generous to her debtor.

For instance, worried that Feng Ya would hinder her recovery by staying cooped up inside all day, Ye Zi took the initiative to lead her on a walk around Yuanhe Town.

Yuanhe Town was far from the capital, a place where “the mountains are high and the emperor is far away.” As an obscure town often forgotten by the nobility, it lacked heavy government oversight and burdensome taxes. The townspeople were self-sufficient, and life was peaceful.

Ye Zi led Feng Ya through the bustling streets filled with the cries of vendors. They stopped in front of a man selling candied hawthorns, where Ye Zi traded two copper coins for two bright red sticks.

“Want one?” Ye Zi offered a stick to Feng Ya, having already bitten into a sugar-coated hawthorn herself.

Feng Ya usually had little interest in children’s snacks. She looked at the girl in front of her, chewing with puffed-out cheeks like a little hamster, and reached out to take it without hesitation. “Yes.”

Feng Ya bit off half a fruit and chewed slowly. The taste was different from what she remembered as a child. She looked at the girl already starting on her second hawthorn and smiled. “I always thought you were much more mature than other children your age. I didn’t expect you to like these.”

I go out of my way to bring her out for fresh air and buy her treats, and she calls me immature? Ye Zi took a breath, decided not to let it get to her, and shrugged. “It has nothing to do with maturity. I just like the taste of something sweet.”

Feng Ya popped the other half of the fruit into her mouth, letting the sugar melt. It was, indeed, quite sweet.

“Good, right? I love the snacks on this street. They aren’t stingy with the sugar at all. There’s a lady further up who makes great sugar paintings. I’ll take you there to try some.” Ye Zi grabbed Feng Ya’s sleeve and pulled her through the crowd.

Do you have some kind of obsession with sugar? Feng Ya wondered, though she followed obediently.

A moment later, they arrived at a small sugar painting shop, but the doors were tightly shut, looking out of place amidst the surrounding noise.

“Uncle Fu, do you know why Auntie Zhang isn’t out selling sugar paintings today?” Ye Zi asked an elderly man selling tea leaves nearby.

“It’s not just today. She hasn’t shown up for three days now. It’s a tragedy…”

“What happened? Did something happen at home?” Ye Zi asked, worried about the woman who always wore a smile while crafting intricate sugar animals.

“A while ago, she and her daughter went to Pingyang City to visit relatives. When she came back, she was alone. Since then, she’s been in a daze, asking everyone if they’ve seen her daughter. Naturally, she hasn’t had the heart to make sugar paintings.”

“Are you saying her daughter went missing in Pingyang City?” The image of a little girl with two braided pigtails who used to call her “sister” in a sweet voice flashed through Ye Zi’s mind. She felt a knot in her chest.

“I heard it’s not just her daughter. Lately, many young women have gone missing in Pingyang City. You’d best stay away from there yourself. It’s a sin, truly,” Uncle Fu sighed, shaking his head as he went back to his tea leaves.

Ye Zi thanked him, but her mood for wandering was gone. She walked back toward home in silence, with Feng Ya following closely behind on the cobblestone path.

A gust of wind blew, lifting the bangs from Ye Zi’s forehead and revealing her clear, bright eyes.

Ye Zi stopped in her tracks. After a long pause, she spoke. “You said you went to Pingyang City to investigate a missing persons case?”

“Yes.”

“And the favor you want to ask me… is it related to this case?”

“It is.”

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