Chapter 102: Cherishing

The journey back felt quite different from the journey there. Zhang Yue and his two companions followed the stream, wound through the mountains, and eventually returned to the Pucheng border.

Guo Lin intended to return to Wuxi first to report to his parents. Zhang Yue, thinking it had been quite a while since he last visited, decided to accompany him to pay his respects to their master and mistress. He Qi, meanwhile, went on his own to the county school.

A light rain had just fallen in the mountains, though Zhang Yue had not noticed it on the road. They traveled east along the stream before turning back north. Along the way, Zhang Yue mentioned the small westward-flowing stream they had seen previously, but after searching for a while, they could not find it again.

Guo Lin stopped for a long time. Observing him, Zhang Yue asked, "Senior Brother, what is the matter?"

Guo Lin replied in silence, "I was thinking of Sanniang."

"Forget it! It has been so long."

Guo Lin gazed at the stream and said, "Junior Brother, I am a bit older than you and at an age to start a family, yet there is no girl who fancies me. I remain all alone."

The stream flowed eastward, never ceasing day or night, yet revisiting this old place inadvertently stirred up forgotten sorrows.

When Zhang Yue and Guo Lin reached Wuxi, they left the stream and took to the mountain path. Soon, they spotted the familiar large trees; they had not changed in the year they were away. The three thatched huts had been re-roofed, and the wattle fence had been repaired.

The familiar sound of children reciting their lessons reached their ears, and Zhang Yue felt as refreshed as if he had drunk a deep draught of cool, sweet mountain spring water. A village dog barked and charged out; only when it reached Guo Lin did it recognize its master, and it lowered its head to sniff his pant legs.

Zhang Yue laughed, "This dog hasn't changed a bit; still as foolish as ever."

Guo Lin also smiled, "It is I who have been away from home for too long."

Zhang Yue knew that Scholar Guo had taken no students other than the two of them, teaching only the village school. However, because he had produced two scholars for the county school, neighboring villages had begun sending their children to him for their elementary education. With the number of students increasing, his income from tuition had grown, allowing for the repairs to the fence and the roof. Perhaps Scholar Guo would no longer be scolded by his wife for being a "poor scholar" and could enjoy a small drink from time to time.

As he was thinking this, Zhang Yue saw a figure standing at the door. Scholar Guo had heard the commotion and stepped out. It had been over half a year, and his temples were visibly whiter.

The two men stepped quickly toward him and knelt in the courtyard, bowing three times.

Guo Lin said, "Father, the Junior Brother and I have been recommended by the prefecture to the Imperial Academy!"

"Good lads, both of you! You have not failed your studies." Scholar Guo patted their backs as he spoke. Zhang Yue felt his own back dampen, realizing that the old scholar was weeping, even wiping his nose on his sleeve.

Guo Lin stood up, wiped his eyes, and asked, "Where is Mother?"

Scholar Guo gestured toward the east room. Zhang Yue and Guo Lin hurried inside together. Upon entering, they were hit by the pungent smell of a medicine pot.

"Mother!" they called out in unison.

The Mistress was struggling to rise from the bed, but she was frail and pale. "Mother!" Guo Lin threw himself onto the bed in tears.

Zhang Yue looked at Scholar Guo, who had followed them in, and asked, "Master, what has happened to the Mistress?"

Scholar Guo shook his head. "She has been bedridden for two or three months. We have seen doctors and taken many doses of medicine, but she has not improved."

"Mother, why didn't you tell me? Oh!"

The Mistress wiped her tears and said, "I heard the news from afar that you had been recommended to the prefecture, but I was too weak to get up. Your future is the most important thing; my little illness is of no consequence, so I told them not to tell you."

Zhang Yue stepped forward and said, "Please set your heart at ease, Mistress. When I return, I will certainly bring the best doctor from the city to treat you."

"Third Son, you are very kind."

With those words from Zhang Yue, the family felt a little more at ease. Knowing they had much to discuss, Zhang Yue stepped aside. His heart felt heavy. Scholar Guo had aged, and the Mistress was ill; the family was not as he had imagined, and he could not help but feel anxious.

Just then, a young student he had known before came up to him. "Big Brother, are you a scholar?" the child asked timidly.

"I am," Zhang Yue replied.

"Big Brother is truly amazing!" The child said with envy, "Teach me a poem!"

Zhang Yue laughed, "Very well!"

Guo Lin’s family talked for a long time. Boni, the servant, went to the village tavern and bought some steamed buns and beef, inviting Zhang Yue to rest and eat in the west room. Zhang Yue glanced in and saw Scholar Guo and the Mistress talking anxiously with Guo Lin, who kept his head down and said nothing.

That night, Guo Lin returned to the west room, while Scholar Guo left the house in a hurry, not even having eaten. Seeing Guo Lin's red eyes, Zhang Yue asked, "What is it? Are you worried about the Mistress’s illness?"

Guo Lin shook his head, his eyes still red.

"Then what is it? Tell me, Senior Brother!"

Guo Lin said, "I saw that Mother was unwell, so I told Father I wanted to decline the opportunity to go to the Imperial Academy to stay and look after her. But Father would not allow it."

Zhang Yue said, "You have worked so hard for this, and it is a rare opportunity. Master and Mistress would never let you pass it up."

Guo Lin said, "But it is thousands of miles to Yingtian Prefecture. Once I leave, I do not know when I will see my parents again. How can you expect me to study with peace of mind?"

Zhang Yue did not know how to advise him. After thinking, he said, "How about this? Let us go to the Prefect and ask for a grace period, allowing you to stay until the Mistress is better before you depart."

Guo Lin said, "Junior Brother, you know I do not like to beg favors, and besides..."

"Then do you really intend to abandon this chance? You must know that such an opportunity... likely comes only once in a lifetime," Zhang Yue urged.

Guo Lin sighed, "That is why I discussed it with my parents and we found a middle path."

"What path?"

"To marry first."

"Marry?" Zhang Yue was stunned.

Guo Lin said, "I will be at the Imperial Academy for at least two or three years, maybe longer, before I can return home. So, my parents want me to get engaged and take a wife now, so she can look after them in my stead."

"My parents said they have already found someone—the Li family down the mountain. They are of the same clan as the village head, so there will be support on both sides. I have met the girl once; she is illiterate, but seems very virtuous."

Zhang Yue asked, "And you agreed?"

Guo Lin was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"This is a lifelong commitment. You are going to spend your whole life with this person, and you decided it in just a few words?"

Guo Lin shook his head, "I have made up my mind. I must go to Yingtian Prefecture, but my parents must also be cared for. There is no other way. Father has already gone to the Li family to propose. My departure is imminent; there is no time to delay."

Zhang Yue thought to himself that this was even faster than the merchant Yu’s dealings.

"Senior Brother, I understand."

Guo Lin looked at Zhang Yue and gave a bitter smile, "Junior Brother, do not be like this. I have thought it through. At my age, there is nothing to be picky about. Once it is settled, my mind will not wander, and I can focus solely on my studies."

"I will be grateful to this woman for the rest of my life, and I will respect her, but... why do I feel so sad?"

Zhang Yue said, "Senior Brother, as long as you have made up your mind, just cherish her once you are married, or you will miss out on another good girl. I do not know much about marriage, but the saying 'cherish the person before you' cannot be wrong."

Guo Lin said, "Junior Brother, I have thought it through. My life will be as it is, but to have known you... and Sanniang, this life is enough!"

Zhang Yue laughed and scolded, "You are already a married man, why are you saying such things to me? What have you been learning from Huang Haoyi?"

The next day, Guo Lin was married. The ceremony was rushed, and the wedding banquet consisted of only a few tables. Hearing of the Li family’s eagerness to marry off their daughter, it seemed they hoped Guo Lin would at least conceive a child before leaving for Yingtian Prefecture. Compared to such a life event, all customs and rituals were set aside. Since no one else cared, as long as they were happy, it was fine.

Thus, Zhang Yue was unexpectedly treated to Guo Lin’s wedding feast.

Afterward, it was time for Zhang Yue to return home. Guo Lin and his new wife walked a long way to see him off. Guo Lin held his wife's hand as he talked to Zhang Yue. Looking at his senior brother’s display of affection, Zhang Yue was truly annoyed. Only two days ago, he was acting as if his life were over, and now he was all lovey-dovey. No wonder people always complained, "Ah, such is the nature of men!"

However, looking at the bride, though she was not as bright and moving as Miao Sanniang and was perhaps a bit quiet, she was, as his brother had said, a virtuous woman. Zhang Yue felt they were a well-matched pair and began to accept her as his sister-in-law.

"Junior Brother, I have something to tell you!"

Guo Lin let go of his wife's hand and walked aside with Zhang Yue. The stream rippled, the mountain trees swayed, and the wind rustled through the branches.

They stopped on a boulder by the stream. Guo Lin said, "Junior Brother, I have decided to ask the Prefect for a one-month leave of absence to delay my departure for Yingtian Prefecture. I cannot travel with you."

Zhang Yue said, "Then after today, who knows when we will meet again!"

Guo Lin said, "No, we will meet again." After a pause, he added, "The road to the capital is long and arduous. You are the brightest scholar I have ever known, but in the past, you always relied on your wit rather than hard work. I fear that with me not by your side, there will be no one to remind you, so you must keep yourself in check."

Zhang Yue laughed, "I know what you mean, Senior Brother. You just wanted to use this advice to call me bright."

"You!" The two brothers laughed together.

Zhang Yue thought that with his brother gone, there would be no one to laugh so heartily with him. But he said, "No matter how long the journey, one must eventually say goodbye. Senior Brother, I am leaving!"

Guo Lin nodded and bowed, "Very well, take care, Junior Brother!"

Zhang Yue bowed in return, "Take care, Senior Brother, and take care, Sister-in-law!"

With that, Zhang Yue strode forward along the stream. After walking a distance, he could not help but look back. He saw Guo Lin and his wife standing side by side on a large boulder, standing on their tiptoes and waving at him.

Seeing this, Zhang Yue could not hold back his tears. He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted loudly, "Take care, Senior Brother! Take care, Sister-in-law!"