It was the first time that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling felt that the woman-in-white really cared about them, but at this moment the vegetables and meat dishes arrived, the two boys did not have time to think further. They leaned forward on the table and gorged themselves without any care of the world. It was actually very unsightly.
The woman-in-white only ate two mantou, and already stopped eating. She seemed to have something in her mind; she looked out the window without saying anything.
When the two boys could not eat anymore, the dishes on the table have been swept clean, nothing remained. The two boys rubbed their belly and could not help but looking at the woman-in-white.
The woman-in-white sighed. She took out more than ten taels of fine silver and put it on the table in front of the two boys. She said softly, "Thinking about the trials and tribulations ahead, I am giving this money to you. Although right now there is confusion of war [orig. fire beacons in all four directions] everywhere, the South is still comparably peaceful. However, this peace won't last long, it will be dangerous later. It's not advisable for you to stay long. You two must behave.”
Ignoring the two boys' lit up eyes, she stared hard at the money on the table, and then she beckoned the waiter to settle the check.
The waiter respectfully said, "Miss' account has already been settled by the Gongzi that was sitting on the table over there. They have just left.”
‘Slam!' The woman-in-white took out a string of five zhu coins [1 zhu is 1/24 of a tael] and tossed it on the table. She said indignantly, "I don't want anybody else pay my bills, take it!”
She rose up and went down the stairs without saying anything.
The two boys saw how she decidedly left without looking back; since they already felt inferior and at a loss, after exchanging a glance, Kou Zhong sighed, picked up the silver and put it in his bosom, and dejectedly said, "Let's also go!”
Xu Ziling had also wanted to leave this heart-breaking place as soon as possible; hence he scampered behind Kou Zhong going down the stairs.
When they reached the street, they saw the sun was shining bright, people came and people went, but there was not a shred or warmth in these two boys' heart. When they were in Yangzhou, although life was hard, and often times they had to receive beatings and scolding from others, but they always had full hopes of the future.
Although now they were free, plus there was a small fortune in their pocket, they felt emptiness in their hearts instead. It was as though the world was so big, but there was nowhere for them to go.
They were thinking of looking for the woman-in-white again, but after looking for a while, they still could not see or even smell her fragrance. It was as if the woman had already become a distant and indistinct memory, adding to their sense of loss.
Deeply disappointed, the two boys walked shoulder to shoulder in the direction of the city gate.
Suddenly they felt something was different. A whiff of fragrance breeze blew, the woman-in-white came from behind and joined them; they walked together side by side. The boys were inwardly very happy, but they did not dare to express it; they did not dare to ask her even more.
When the gate was in sight, the woman-in-white coldly said, "Don't you two have any ideas. I am just afraid that Yuwen Huaji would catch up with you and take your ‘Secret to Long Life' and present it to the tyrant and get the credit for it, before he finally send you away to a distant land. I am doing this to deal with Yuwen Huagu [sic], not that I have any particular good impression toward you, the two little demons.”
Xu Ziling could not stand it anymore. He halted his steps and angrily said, "That being the case, no need to bother Dashi anymore. We have hands and feet, and we know how to run away. We don't need your money either. Kou Zhong, give the money back to her!”
Kou Zhong wanted to speak up, but in the end he just sighed, took the money from his pocket, and handed it over to her.
"Pfft!” the woman-in-white stifled her laugher, reached out to grab the two boys' arms, and pulled them to walk with her quickly. The instant they left the city gate, while heading toward the river, she released them and said, "Why such a temper? In all my life I have never learned how to curry favor like those girls trafficked into a brothel to work as prostitute; I have always lived a solitary life. Just consider I have offended you.”
It was the first time she was willing to lower her guard and plead with them. Xu Ziling, who actually had magnanimous nature, felt very bad instead. With a slight blush on his tender face, he said, "It's not that I've never been looked down upon by others, it's just that when Dashi looked down on me, I feel exceptionally angry and feel it was extremely unfair.”
Kou Zhong came closer and whispered in the woman-in-white's ear, "This fellow falls in love with you.”
The woman-in-white elbowed Kou Zhong's flank that he doubled-over in pain. She pointed her finger at him and angrily said, "If you dare to say such again to your Miss, I will … I will slap your mouth.” She had wanted to say that she would kill Kou Zhong, but knowing that she would not have the heart to do so, she corrected herself just in time and said a much lighter punishment instead.
Xu Ziling was baffled, "What did he say?” he asked.
The woman-in-white glowered at him, but did not say anything. Momentarily the three of them did not know what to say.
The woman-in-white turned her gaze toward big and small boats moored along the pier outside the city. "How come there are so many boats sailing back from the west, but no boat sails to the west?” she muttered to herself.
The two boys composed themselves and took a look; indeed it was strange.
The pier was full of people waiting to board their boats, busily talking to each other. Suddenly a gentle and pleasant voice was heard right next to them, "May I ask if Miss and these two Xiao Xiongdi [little brother] are waiting for your boat?”
Still clutching the painful spot, Kou Zhong stood up. He and Xu Ziling looked at the speaker up and down. Turned out it was the young master at the restaurant a while ago, the one who could not keep his eyes from the woman-in-white, and the one who later on settled their bill.
This man indeed looked naturally handsome, his demeanor was elegant, and he was still half a head taller than Xu Ziling, but did not look like a weak scholar. His back was straight, his shoulders broad. Although he was dressed like a scholar, he gave the impression of someone who was well-versed in martial art.
Without even turning her head, the woman-in-white said, "It's our business; it does not concern you!”
The young master was not offended at all; raising his cupped fist, he said, "Let me, Song Shidao, offer my apology first for offending a beauty. Zaixia [I, humble, see Chapter 4] did not dare to be presumptuous; it's just that noticing that Miss seemed to be puzzled by the boats turning back on the river, I ventured to inquire. There is no other intention.”
Like a whirlwind the woman-in-white turned around. After sizing him up and down for a moment, she coldly said, "Speak up!”
Song Shidao was overwhelmed by the beauty's favor; he said in great delight, "The reason is Li Zitong's militia army from East China Sea; they had just crossed the Huai River, and formed an alliance with Du Fuwei, dealing a heavy blow to the Sui (Dynasty) army. Furthermore, they are sending an army going south. They are fast approaching Liyang. If Liyang is under attack, Yangtze River's waterway will be cutoff. Therefore, right now everybody simply adopts wait-and-see approach. Nobody dares to venture to the west without being able to see the situation clearly.”
The two boys noticed how the woman-in-white was listening attentively. They also noticed that this Song Shidao seemed to be a lot stronger than they were; they could not help feeling deeply upset, yet they could do absolutely nothing.
While the woman-in-white was still deep in thought without saying anything, Song Shidao spoke up again, "Miss, if you don't mind, you can take Zaixia's boat. I guarantee that even if we come across thief army, you won't be disturbed.”
The woman-in-white coldly stared at Song Shidao; she said indifferently, "You talk big; apparently you have a bit of background.”
With a straight face Song Shidao said, "How could Zaixia dare to ‘swing an axe before a carpenter' in Miss' presence? It's just that my humble family can be considered as having a bit of reputation. As long as we fly our banner on the boat, friends on the road will give us a bit of face.”
At this point, even Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had no choice but to praise how this fellow has struck the right note; neither haughty nor humble, it was just right.
The woman-in-white swept the two boys with her gaze while she pondered in silence. Evidently she was a bit tempted. Traveling with the two kids by land, not only it was time consuming, they were bound to meet some mishaps as well. But if they travel by water and managed to cross Liyang, they would not have to be afraid Yuwen Huaji would catch up with them.
Kou Zhong could not resist, "I prefer to travel by land,” he said.
Before the woman-in-white could answer, Song Shidao already pressed her, "Excuse me Miss, these two Xiao Xiongdi are …”
The woman-in-white impatiently cut him off, "Nothing, no relation whatsoever. Don't ask anymore. Where is your boat?”
While Song Shidao was giving direction with great delight, Xu Ziling pulled Kou Zhong aside and said, "The time to go our separate ways has arrived. Let her ride her boat, we'll travel our road.”
Kou Zhong aptly showed his lofty spirit; with a loud laughter he held Xu Ziling's shoulders, "Good kid!” he praised. And then he pushed Xu Ziling to start walking to the west.
The woman-in-white angrily shouted, "Stop right there!”
Kou Zhong looked back and waved his hand, "Good bye!”
The woman-in-white stomped her foot angrily and said to Song Shidao, "Song Xiong, please board the boat first, we will come later.”
In a flash she was already behind the two boys. Capturing them, she brought them back like carrying chicken.
Song Shidao was puzzled, but recalling that the beauty has agreed to come onboard, there was no need for him to worry that he would not have the opportunity to win her favor later. So why would he have to worry about other things? Therefore, he happily ran after her.