Chapter Forty-Six: Going to the Market

Li Xiangyang walked across the snow-covered ground, carrying a bundle of silverfish wrapped in lotus leaves on his back, with the black cat gracefully trailing beside him. Throughout the journey, he silently repeated his mother’s instructions, anxious not to say anything wrong.

In the yard of the educated youth settlement, Li Xiaoyun was busy collecting the clothes hanging out to dry. The biting wind howled as she wrapped herself in a thick cotton jacket, wearing black gloves, swiftly taking each piece of clothing down from the bamboo pole. Her fingertips, reddened by the cold, moved confidently among the icy garments without hesitation.

“Let me help you,” Li Xiangyang said, quickening his pace and reaching for the highest cotton jacket.

Li Xiaoyun glanced at him sideways, a faint smile curling at the corners of her mouth. “What brings you here?”

He gathered the clothes and handed over the bundle. “I caught a special kind of fish today and thought… well, I thought maybe you… my mom—no, I mean, I was thinking my mom could prepare some seasonings and you could stew it.”

As soon as the words escaped, he immediately regretted the slip.

Sure enough, Li Xiaoyun’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, “Auntie taught you to say that, didn’t she?”

“Ah? How did you know?” Li Xiangyang was momentarily stunned, then realized he had unwittingly confessed again.

Her laughter deepened. “With the way you are, it’s obvious it wasn’t your own idea. But Auntie gave good advice. Keep it up.”

She took the bundle, opened it, and marveled, “These fish… they’re so beautiful. Why do they glow?”

“Well, that’s a long story…”

Li Xiangyang recounted how he had caught the fish, and Li Xiaoyun listened with curiosity. The black cat let out a proud “meow” from the side, as if claiming credit for the feat.

“By the way, there’s a market in town tomorrow. Will you go?” Li Xiangyang asked shyly.

Last time, they had planned to go down the mountain together, but when Wang Jingyun came by, it was delayed.

“I knew you’d ask that,” Li Xiaoyun smiled as she folded the clothes, looking up at him. “We missed it last time, but if you miss it again, I won’t let it go easy.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll come to fetch you tomorrow,” Li Xiangyang said happily.

“You’re quite attentive,” she teased, though a flicker of anticipation shone in her eyes. “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”

Li Xiangyang helped finish gathering the remaining clothes and offered to build a fire to stew the fish.

“The fish is fresh, best to cook it now,” he said, already adding wood to the stove.

Li Xiaoyun watched him bustling about with a gentle smile. “You’re getting better at taking care of people.”

Soon, the fire blazed warmly. Li Xiangyang placed the fish and seasonings into the pot, added water, and covered it to simmer slowly.

Gradually, a faint aroma of fish wafted through the air. Unlike ordinary fish soup, it carried a subtle sweetness that whetted the appetite.

“It smells amazing,” Li Xiaoyun said, leaning in to inhale. “This fish really is different.”

“Wait and see,” Li Xiangyang smiled.

They lingered by the stove, chatting about everyday matters. The firelight flushed their faces, yet could not conceal the bashfulness in their eyes.

When the fish soup was ready, Li Xiangyang ladled a bowl and handed it to Li Xiaoyun.

“Be careful, it’s hot,” he cautioned.

She took the bowl, gently blew on the surface, and sipped the broth. “So delicious! What kind of fish is this?”

“I’m embarrassed to say, I don’t really know. It must be unique to the special terrain of Fox Spirit Valley.”

The two shared the fish soup, laughing and talking until dusk quietly fell.

“It’s time to go back,” Li Xiangyang stood up. “I’ll come early to pick you up tomorrow.”

“Mm,” Li Xiaoyun saw him to the door. “Be careful on the way.”

Such a simple phrase made both young hearts flush.

In these times, feelings were always subtle; a glance or a word could express all that needed to be said.

The black cat leapt down from the wall, landing nimbly at Li Xiangyang’s feet. It glanced back at Li Xiaoyun, then at him, as if amused by their youthful awkwardness.

As twilight deepened, Li Xiangyang’s figure gradually faded into the distance. Li Xiaoyun lingered at the doorway until his silhouette disappeared before turning back inside.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li Xiangyang rose early to wash and prepare himself.

He planned to borrow the donkey cart from his second uncle and needed to act promptly.

When he arrived at his second uncle’s house, the courtyard was already bustling.

His second uncle was feeding the donkey and looked up at the sound of footsteps.

“Good morning, second uncle,” Li Xiangyang greeted with a smile.

“Oh, Xiangyang, so early?” the uncle said, setting down the hay and brushing off his hands.

“I’d like to borrow the donkey cart to go to the market.”

Hearing this, his uncle smiled knowingly. “I knew you’d come today. Your mother told me yesterday you were going to pick up Li Xiaoyun, right?”

Li Xiangyang scratched his head sheepishly. “Yes…”

“Alright, take it as long as you need,” his uncle chuckled. “I just finished feeding the donkey. You can hitch it up right away.”

“Thank you, second uncle.”

After harnessing the donkey, Li Xiangyang drove the cart toward the youth settlement.

The dawn light was just breaking, casting a pale glow over the horizon.

He carefully laid a thick layer of dry straw on the cart bed, covering it with a clean hemp cloth.

By the time he arrived, Li Xiaoyun was already waiting at the gate.

Today she had braided her hair into two neat plaits and wore a plain cotton jacket. Though simple, she looked exceptionally neat and fresh.

“You’re early,” Li Xiaoyun said with a smile.

“The journey takes over an hour. The earlier we leave, the better the chances of finding good things,” Li Xiangyang said, hopping down from the cart. “Get in.”

“I can manage on my own,” Li Xiaoyun blushed and avoided his outstretched hand, nimbly climbing aboard.

The black cat appeared from nowhere, leapt onto the cart, and curled up in a warm spot.

“That cat,” Li Xiaoyun laughed, “is really attached to you, following you everywhere.”

The cat glanced at her once, then closed its eyes again, its tail twitching slightly as if to respond.

Li Xiangyang pulled two steamed corn buns from his pocket. “My mom told me to bring these for the road.”

Li Xiaoyun took one, split it in half, and gave him one piece. “Let’s share.”

The donkey cart creaked as it moved slowly along the road in the early morning.

In the distance, the mountains became clearer in the dawn light, snow along the roadside reflecting the sun’s first rays.

They chatted intermittently, both eager to speak but also feeling no need for many words.

“I want to learn hunting,” Li Xiaoyun suddenly said.

Li Xiangyang was surprised. “Why do you want to learn that?”

“You said you want to open a hunting supplies shop one day and teach people how to hunt,” she said earnestly. “I think I could help.”

“Well…” Li Xiangyang hesitated.

“Is it because you think I’m slow? Or that girls can’t do it?” she asked.

“Neither,” he replied sincerely. “It’s just too dangerous in the mountains. Hunting is my hobby, not yours. You don’t have to force yourself.”

He looked at Li Xiaoyun. “Besides, don’t you want to be a teacher? That’s a proper future. As for me, I want to learn some knowledge from you.”

“Alright then, I won’t insist. I’m only…” Li Xiaoyun shyly raised her head, a smile playing in her eyes. “If you’re going to learn from me, you’ll have to study hard. I’m a strict teacher.”

“Perfect,” Li Xiangyang smiled. “I like strict teachers the best.”

Upon saying this, both froze, neither daring to meet the other’s gaze for a moment.