The Female Rake and Her Blind Girl - Chapter 1

The willows were sprouting new shoots—this spring seemed to have awakened a bit early. The border town shimmered in tender, light green, morning mist still lingering in the streets. A young woman ambled lazily along the long street, clutching a handful of small silver coins, planning to play the traditional “pitch-pot” game in the northern market.

Tall and striking, she wore a snow-colored hemp robe, her high ponytail tied with a simple ribbon. Even so, there was a refinement in her casual style that others lacked—delicate, decadent—this was Su Yu, the notorious playgirl of the border town.

The northern market wouldn’t officially open for another half hour—enough time to grab a bowl of spicy hot soup and three piping-hot crab yolk buns at a street stall. Su Yu paused at a familiar stall and, spotting a long table, plopped down. The vendor went about their work without fuss.

Su Yu squinted, resting her chin on her hand as she idly watched the passersby—like a cat that had never been fully awake, yet suddenly alert at the sight of something interesting. She crossed one leg over the other, her knuckles drumming on the table absentmindedly.

Breakfast was served quickly, and with the view before her, she tended carefully to her own stomach.

Under a tall willow, a young girl clutched an old bundle, retreating cautiously, as wary as a deer listening for the slightest rustle of wind by the stream.

A group of well-dressed young men, charmed by her reaction, couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t often that such a delicate, pitiable little beauty appeared in the border town, and naturally, they didn’t want to miss the chance to approach her.

The lead, holding a folding fan with practiced elegance, leaned slightly forward, feigning politeness since the girl couldn’t see him: “Do not worry, miss. I mean no harm.”

“Step aside.”

Her voice was more melodious than a nightingale. The four young men exchanged amazed glances, their delight evident. Bowing again, their sincerity exaggerated: “Miss, if walking is difficult for you, we are willing to be your eyes.”

“Thank you, but I don’t need that.” The girl pressed her lips tightly, holding her bundle protectively, her right hand gripping a jade-green bamboo staff, tense as a drawn string.

Tch. Too fragile—just by her silhouette, she seemed like an easy target. Su Yu withdrew her gaze and bit into a crab yolk bun, savoring the flavor with obvious pleasure.

The heat of the soup and the aroma of the bun formed the perfect warmth of a spring morning. She closed her eyes contentedly, feeling her body and mind relax. Glancing again at the flustered girl in the distance, she felt somehow a faint trace of sympathy.

The girl’s waist-length hair clung to her back, her frame delicate, exuding an innate fragility. Even without seeing her face, one could imagine she was quite pretty.

Su Yu leisurely ate the remaining buns, wiping her fingers with a cloth before sipping a free cup of tea from the stall. The tea was slightly bitter, but she shook out a handful of coins and paid the bill without concern.

A pure little deer had encountered a pack of wolves. Perhaps blind to danger, the girl’s perception of threats was unusually sharp. Just as the wolves lunged, she shouted fiercely—actually a bit of an act of intimidation.

Startled by the tiny girl’s boldness, the four young men were thoroughly embarrassed. “No respect at all? We’re not bad people. We were only joking with you just now.”

“This joke isn’t funny at all.” Feeling their approach, the girl instinctively stepped back. Her foot hit a small stone, she stumbled, gripping her bamboo staff in panic, when a teasing voice whispered in her ear: “I’m going to hold you now.”

Lazy, mischievous, and without hesitation, a hand looped around her waist.

If it wasn’t for the unmistakably feminine voice, Xue Lingmiao almost swung her staff. Pressed against a soft, supporting embrace, she felt grateful yet embarrassed, her ears warming as she whispered, “Miss can you let go?”

Soft, warm, and fragrant, Su Yu hugged her from behind, playfully: “And if I don’t?”

At the instant the girl stiffened, Su Yu arched her brow—this was one amusing little creature indeed.

The notorious female playgirl of the border town had intervened; the little lamb she was interested in had been snatched away. The four young men were envious but unwilling to offend her—after all, no one in the border town could play the game better than Su Yu.

Even a girl, she was recognized as a top player among the playboys. Loosely on the same social path, they often went to watch dogfights together. It wouldn’t do to make enemies. Seeing Su Yu’s interest, the four young men left, ready to find more fun elsewhere.

“They’re gone,” Su Yu said. “I scared them off. How do you plan to thank me?”

Her tone suggested a flirtatious expectation.

In the prosperous Yuanfeng era, social norms were liberal. Same-sex marriage had been legally recognized twenty years ago; rare, but not nonexistent.

Fresh from the wolves’ den and into the tiger’s lair, the girl felt her luck had run out. Warm breath brushed her neck; Xue Lingmiao swallowed her fear: “Let go of me first.”

“All right.” Su Yu released her. Before the girl could turn, she added, “Your hair smells so good, it feels so soft. And your hairpin is beautiful. Can I see it?”

Before a refusal could escape, the pearwood pin was swiftly snatched away. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall. Xue Lingmiao froze, a mix of shame and anger flooding her. And just like that, Su Yu unexpectedly met her gaze.

Lowering her head to fidget with the hairpin, she finally saw the rare scene before her and laughed without restraint.

The plain, monochrome dress, cinched at the waist with a silk ribbon, accentuated her slender figure. Her black hair flowed freely, concealing the subtle curves beneath. Su Yu lingered a moment, thinking: hmm a bit pouty, quite cute.

Her gaze rose to the long, fair neck, delicate and fragile, like a flower that could snap under the lightest touch. Worth noting—the girl’s lips were exactly the type Su Yu adored.

Small, cherry-red, perfectly balanced, soft yet full, lips above pearly teeth, framed by the morning mist, all the more delicate. Even the finely shaped nose carried an ethereal charm.

Su Yu’s eyes narrowed in contemplation—what pair of bright, expressive eyes could match such a graceful face? Her gaze fell on the narrow white veil covering them. She froze. “You, your eyes?”

“You finally see them,” the girl said, cheeks flushed with anger, a lifetime of hidden shame rising like a tide. Seventeen years in darkness had taught her to expect surprise, pity, and scorn in others’ voices. Normally, Xue Lingmiao might not care, but this one was too audacious.

Afraid she might go too far, she stiffened, her hand trembling: “Give me back my hairpin.”

“This, this is really” Su Yu felt a pang of regret and loss, frustrated with herself, wishing she hadn’t come to tease her.

Taking into account that the girl was blind, she had intended to help adjust her hair and insert a hairpin. But Xue Lingmiao irritated her, no matter how gentle her nature, she wasn’t without a temper. She took a step back, restraining herself as she spoke sharply: “Teasing a blind girl, does that give you a sense of accomplishment?”

Those words cut sharper than a slap to the face. Su Yu prided herself on being an unabashed playgirl, but even playgirls had their limits!

She quickly returned the hairpin and then noticed the girl’s delicate hands. Watching her nimble fingers expertly style a minimalist bun, Su Yu felt her heart stir and pressed a hand to her chest.

The girl steadied herself with her bamboo staff and, suppressing the timidity that made her awkward with people, softly asked for directions: “Excuse me, is this Xiushui City? How do I get to Yinghua Street?”

It proved true that a beautiful girl could not only attract playboys but also naturally draw goodwill from passersby. Soon, an elderly woman, unable to ignore her, muttered about the trouble but led her toward Yinghua Street.

Noticing the faint curve of the girl’s lips, Su Yu’s mind raced with a single thought: Oh, she’s even prettier when she smiles.

The clang of a gong pulled her out of her dazed state. She cried out, suddenly recalling that she was supposed to go to North Market to play the pot-throwing game.

How could she miss something as fun as tossing arrows into a pot? No matter how beautiful the girl was, did she have the thrill of chicken-fighting, the excitement of cuju, the rush of competition? The answer was obvious. Su Yu decisively ran in the opposite direction.

Spring rain continued in a soft drizzle, pooling in the ruts of the street. Compared to the gentle elegance of Jiangnan, Xiushui City looked rugged from every angle. Even with the word “Xiushui” in its name, it was still a frontier town.

“Thank you, Aunt,” the girl said politely. Aunt Su waved her hand awkwardly. “No need, no need. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“You’ve worked hard, aunt. If you’d like, I can bring you something to eat once I’m settled, as a small token of thanks.”

“That won’t do,” Aunt Su said, shaking her head. “I only showed you the way; you’re too polite.” Not wanting to be delayed further, she turned and left.

Halfway down the street, she couldn’t help but glance back, puzzled: How did such a delicate, scholarly-looking young lady end up here in a frontier town? Frail, blind, facing mountains and long roads, how had she made it?

“Settled”? Ordinary people wouldn’t even dare claim they were settled in Xiushui. A blind girl, how could she possibly have the confidence to establish herself here?

Just arriving was one thing; whether she could live safely was another. The dogs in this town were more vicious than elsewhere. Aunt Su pursed her lips and dismissed the matter.

Yinghua Street, counting from the left, was the eighth house. Xue Lingmiao stood “looking” at the plaque above the door, her lush lips paling slightly.

After crossing mountains and rivers, she had bathed and changed clothes before entering the city, hoping to leave at least a decent impression. Now, with just one door between her and her destination, she clutched her bundle and hesitated.

What if the person despised her for being blind? Where would she go? Yet the world was vast, where else could she go?

A provocative bark rang out, making her shiver. She dared not approach the door and, leaning on her bamboo staff, fled in a panic. The vicious dog behind her seemed to sense her vulnerability, baring its teeth more fiercely than usual.

Having earned a handful of coins at the North Market, Su Yu jingled her money pouch and walked lightly, spotting the girl stumbling through the thin rain. She grinned. Well, what a coincidence.

She stayed silent, letting the girl bump right into her. The contact was awkward and intimate; Xue Lingmiao’s pale face flared red. “S-sorry! I didn’t mean to, are you okay, miss?”

Su Yu thought: She’s so shy, this is hilarious. A blind girl walks down the main street, collides with someone, and ends up apologizing? Her dormant conscience pricked: bullying a helpless blind girl wasn’t really an achievement.

“I’m fine. But you seem to throw yourself into hugs quite often,” Su Yu teased.

The voice sounded familiar. Xue Lingmiao paused and whispered, “It’s you?”

“You’ve got sharp ears, little girl.” Su Yu stomped her foot, and the big dog, seeing her, whimpered and ran off. It was clear it had learned its lesson before.

Saved again, Xue Lingmiao didn’t mind Su Yu’s teasing tone and thanked her earnestly. Su Yu arched an eyebrow, unable to suppress her playful nature. Her eyes curved into mischievous crescents. “If you want to thank me so badly, why not come home with me?”

Xue Lingmiao : “…!”

Knowing better than to expect a pleasant response, Xue Lingmiao tried to leave. Suddenly, someone shouted behind her: “Su Yu! You’re bullying people again!”

Most people in Xiushui shared the surname Su, and Aunt Su, who had raised Su Yu, meant her words couldn’t be ignored. Su Yu fiddled with the tassel at her waist and smirked: “Da-nai, I was just teasing her. I wouldn’t really make her come home with me.”

Beautiful, mischievous, and more playful than any boy. Su Da-nai rolled her eyes and scolded in a voice louder than raindrops hitting the ground: “Rain’s picking up! Go home and stop wandering around!”

“All right, I’ll listen to you,” Su Yu said, feigning obedience. Watching Da-nai leave the courtyard, she stretched lazily. “Fine, little girl. This is where we part.”

Xue Lingmiao felt rooted to the spot. “You, you are Su Yu?”

Su Yu glanced at the darkening sky, muttering lazily: “Yes, who in Xiushui City doesn’t know me?”

“Su Yu, the only daughter of Old Master Su on Yinghua Street?”

“How do you know that?” she yawned. “But I don’t live on Yinghua Street anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because my family fortune was squandered. The ancestral home was sold. I live on Chenyu Lane now. Strange, why am I telling you this?”

Since she’d started talking, she might as well be clear; after all, few in Xiushui City didn’t know where she lived. “The place we’re standing near is close to Chenyu Lane. My house is the one with the two stone cats in front.”

The girl memorized this quietly, tidying her collar and stray strands of hair while listening.

“I should be going. You” Xue Lingmiao meant to ask if Su Yu had a place to stay, but realizing that if she said no, she couldn’t take her in, Su Yu fell silent.

Before she could leave, Xue Lingmiao grabbed her sleeve. “You, you can’t go!”

The girl seemed agitated yet shy, her face glowing with a new, earnest expression, so different from her earlier caution.

How to describe it—after carrying a heavy burden for so long, she finally wanted to set it down; anxious to keep this moment of peace. Her voice wavered: “Su Yu, I’ve come to seek your protection.”

“Seek my protection?!” Su Yu’s eyes widened. “I already told you, I was just teasing! That was a joke! Don’t take it seriously!”