Beneath the Surface Chapter 68 extra 2

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival once again, and Song Chuzhao had been in the county city for a month.

Lanterns hung high, the crowd bustling, children holding hands chased each other through the streets, the rhythmic calls of vendors on both sides, blending into the joyous atmosphere of the festival.

Song Chuzhao stood in a secluded corner, her gaze constantly sweeping over the crowd.

Fu Changjun circled around, placing his hand on Song Chuzhao’s shoulder, pointing in a direction, and said, “See him?”

Song Chuzhao squinted her eyes and took a closer look, hesitantly saying, “No, I don’t see anyone.”

Fu Changjun: “The one wearing gray clothes. He’s been sneaking around with shifty eyes, and he just stole someone’s money pouch.”

Song Chuzhao followed his gaze and noticed that the man in gray did seem to be acting suspiciously, his eyes darting around.

Song Chuzhao asked, “What then? What should we do?”

Fu Changjun: “Chase him.“carpreads.pages.dev

“Ah?” Song Chuzhao said, “How do we chase him?”

Fu Changjun cupped his hand and pushed her from behind, “Chase him like this!”

Song Chuzhao stumbled a step, quickly adjusting her pace and chasing after the man. The man in gray seemed to sense something, his face turning pale with panic, and he turned to run.

Although the man was thin and looked frail, unable to lift a finger, his speed was incredibly agile as he weaved through the crowd, hunched over, using the people as cover, and disappeared in a flash.

Song Chuzhao turned around, realizing that she had lost him again.

Song Chuzhao sighed softly, and Fu Changjun followed her again, instructing her, “He’s over there.”

Song Chuzhao hurried over. The government officials from the government office arrived a step behind, chasing after Song Chuzhao, ready to reap the rewards.

By the time they emerged from the night market, it was almost hai¹ time. The two walked along the street, heading home.

Although they were only two streets apart, the bustling crowds were replaced by a desolate silence. Song Chuzhao looked back and saw only darkness swallowed by the deep night.

Gradually, a fragrant aroma of lard wafted through the air. Song Chuzhao followed the scent and discovered a small stall that was still open.

A dim lantern hung by the cart, white mist slowly swirling in the air.

Song Chuzhao had been out with Fu Changjun all night and was now famished. She immediately said, “I want to eat dumplings.”

Fu Changjun nodded, gesturing for her to go.

Song Chuzhao called out to the stall owner, “Two bowls of dumplings, one without scallions!”

“Coming right up!”

The two sat down at a simple wooden table by the street.

Fu Changjun reached into his sleeve and pulled out a handkerchief, carefully and vigorously wiping the oil stains on the table.

Song Chuzhao heard the sound of the dumplings being dropped into the pot and watched Fu Changjun take out another handkerchief to wipe the chopsticks in the box. She couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Uncle Fu, when you’re out on official business alone, what do you eat?”

Fu Changjun said, “Noodles.”

Song Chuzhao: “What kind of noodles?”

“Plain noodles, yang chun² noodles.” Fu Changjun said, “Or a flatbread if I have to.

Song Chuzhao said, “Isn’t that too bland?” Fu Changjun replied, “Convenient.”

Fu Changjun handed her the wiped chopsticks. Song Chuzhao took them, crossed them in her hands, and tapped them together. She said, “My mother likes to cook noodles.”

Fu Changjun looked up and glanced at her. He said, “Really?”

“Yes,” Song Chuzhao said. “Her noodles are especially chewy. Fifth Son also says they’re delicious. It’s just that she doesn’t make them often. She finds it tiring.”

“She likes to eat meat, not noodles,” Fu Changjun said. “She only eats two bites of noodles and prefers to drink the broth.”

Song Chuzhao said, “I like to eat meat and drink broth too! My mother makes me give the noodles to Fifth Son. Her old chicken soup is so delicious.”

Fu Changjun chuckled at that.

“The dumplings are here!”

Perhaps the vendor was busy and forgot Song Chuzhao’s request. When he brought the wontons, both bowls were topped with green, oily scallions.

Song Chuzhao looked up at the old man. The vendor slapped his forehead and said in annoyance, “Oh, I forgot. You don’t want scallions.”

Seeing this, Fu Changjun said, “You can scoop them into my bowl.”

Song Chuzhao immediately said happily, “Okay!”

The vendor apologized, “Sorry, sir. Please enjoy.”

Song Chuzhao used a soup spoon to carefully scoop the scallions floating on top into Fu Changjun’s bowl. The white dumplings were flipped over, looking quite tempting.

Song Chuzhao asked, “Does my mother not like scallions either?”

Fu Changjun said, “You’ve lived with your mother for so many years, don’t you know?”

“My mother never puts scallions in her cooking,” Song Chuzhao said. “My mother says she doesn’t have picky tastes and doesn’t allow me to be picky either. Since I was little, she wouldn’t let me leave any food on my plate.”

Fu Changjun laughed again.

Song Chuzhao understood immediately and exclaimed, “She lied to me! How could she do that?!”

Fu Changjun said, “When you have children in the future, you’ll have to lie to them like that too.”

“I wouldn’t!” Song Chuzhao chuckled. “If I like something, it’s definitely delicious.”

The bowl of dumplings was a small portion, but since it was already evening, Song Chuzhao didn’t want to eat too much. She put down her chopsticks and stood up again with Fu Changjun.

“I’m full and satisfied,” Song Chuzhao said, rubbing her eyes. “I’m a little sleepy now.”

Fu Changjun pointed ahead, motioning for her to walk faster. Song Chuzhao laughed and said, “Why don’t you carry me back, Uncle Fu?”

Fu Changjun looked at her helplessly, but still bent down in front of her. “Get on.”

Song Chuzhao hopped onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and excitedly pointed ahead. “Giddy up!”

Fu Changjun couldn’t help but laugh.

Besides Tang Zhanglian, perhaps only Song Chuzhao dared to treat him like a horse. Both of them were lawless individuals.

Fu Changjun bent slightly so Song Chuzhao could lie comfortably, then used his light footwork to stride forward at a rapid pace.

He walked quickly and steadily. Soon, the person on his back leaned against his shoulder and gradually fell asleep.

The once lively person was now silent. Fu Changjun found the quietness a bit too much. The entrance to the Gu Mansion was already in front of him.

Fu Changjun hesitated for a moment. He wanted to knock on the door, but he was afraid of waking Song Chuzhao. He didn’t call out to anyone, but instead went around to the side and used his light footwork to fly over the city wall and into the mansion.

He entered the Gu Mansion, following the main path, familiarly heading towards the back courtyard.

Hearing some movement, He Wan, accustomed to Song Chuzhao’s stealthy returns, came out with a lamp in hand and asked, “Is it Zhaozhao who’s back?”

Fu Changjun, shrouded in shadow, walked into the light, allowing He Wan to see his face. Seeing it was him, she nodded, momentarily stunned.

“In the inner courtyard,” He Wan said, “Fifth Son is in the room with the lit lamp.”

Fu Changjun went there, carrying Song Chuzhao. Gu Fengjian was reading in the room. Seeing Song Chuzhao sleeping soundly, he came over and carried her back to bed.

After settling Song Chuzhao, Gu Fengjian wanted to ask Fu Changjun to stay another night. But when he turned around, he found that the man had already disappeared.

As soon as Fu Changjun left, Song Chuzhao immediately jumped out of bed. Gu Fengjian couldn’t stop her, calling out, “Where are you going?”

Song Chuzhao made a silencing gesture: “I’m going to the privy!”

She ran out for a short while, then came back dejectedly. Before Gu Fengjian could even sit down, he saw her stealthily closing the door, her face full of restraint.

Gu Fengjian asked, “Why are you back?”

“Isn’t it because Uncle Fu hasn’t left yet?” Song Chuzhao said, “He’s chatting with my mother outside. If I go out now, he’ll definitely notice, and then I’ll disrupt their good time.”

Gu Fengjian chuckled: “So you’re just going to endure it?”

Song Chuzhao sat down on the edge of the bed, legs spread wide, and said with a hint of defiance: “I’ll wait!”

Gu Fengjian teased: “Others might worry themselves sick, but what are you doing? Worrying yourself to death?”

Song Chuzhao said, “I’m afraid my heart and kidneys are both broken, and they’re just pretending nothing happened. All my efforts have been in vain.”

Gu Fengjian was still concerned about her kidneys. He turned and went out, returning a moment later and saying, “Go. They’ve gone somewhere else.”

Song Chuzhao smiled and hugged him: “Fifth Son, Fifth Son, you’re the best!”

After using the privy, Song Chuzhao went to fetch some water and washed up, changing her clothes. After putting on her nightgown, she sat cross-legged on the bed, waiting for Gu Fengjian to come over.

It was still early, and Gu Fengjian was originally reading behind the desk. Seeing her staring at him, he moved the desk to the bed and sat opposite her.

Gu Fengjian pulled the blanket over her and told her to cover herself. He then touched her hands and feet, finding them slightly cold. Perhaps because she had taken a bath and hadn’t worn socks, and had been outside for a while, she had gotten cold again.

Gu Fengjian placed her feet on his lap, covering them with one hand, and couldn’t help but say, “The weather has been unpredictable lately. I see the wind in the city has picked up. Don’t let the warm weather of the past two days make you careless. You should wear the clothes I told you to wear when you go out.”

Song Chuzhao said, “I know.”

Gu Fengjian: “You know, but you come back all sweaty. You don’t like to wear clothes.”

Song Chuzhao crawled over and threw herself into his arms, looking up at him innocently and smiling.

Gu Fengjian was completely helpless against her. He used his fingers to tidy her messy hair, lowered his head and kissed her lightly on the cheek, asking, “Are you sleepy?”

Song Chuzhao nodded.

Gu Fengjian said, “Then I’ll go put out the lights.”

But in the middle of the night, Song Chuzhao’s stomach started to ache.

She carefully got up and went to the privy again, discovering that her period had arrived. After returning, she couldn’t sleep well, lying on the edge of the bed, uncomfortably gasping for breath.

Gu Fengjian seemed to have woken up. He hugged her from behind, placing his hand on her abdomen.

Song Chuzhao turned around, and heard Gu Fengjian’s voice, thick with nasal congestion, say, “Don’t move.”

His voice was low and his enunciation unclear, as if he hadn’t fully woken up yet.

Song Chuzhao lay there, the warmth spreading from his palm, making her feel much better.

After a while, Gu Fengjian moved closer. Judging by his voice, he had completely woken up.

He asked, “Still feeling unwell?”

Song Chuzhao shook her head. “Much better. Just a little hungry.”

Gu Fengjian asked, “What did you eat for dinner?”

Song Chuzhao said delicately, “Just a few small dumplings.”

Gu Fengjian said something that pleased her greatly, “How could that possibly fill you up?”

Song Chuzhao said, “Yeah.”

Gu Fengjian couldn’t help but laugh. He wrapped the blanket around her, pulled her up, and said, “Let’s go see what else is good to eat in the kitchen.”

The two of them put on their outer garments and quietly went out, whispering to each other. Gu Fengjian held her hand and walked carefully. Before they even reached the kitchen, they could smell a rich aroma.

Song Chuzhao was instantly delighted. She dashed forward, bursting into the kitchen, which was still lit with lamps. She saw He Wan cooking soup, while Fu Changjun, with his sleeves rolled up, was kneading dough.

As soon as He Wan saw her, she laughed, “How did you lure this little glutton out? Your nose is too keen!”

Song Chuzhao exclaimed, “I want some too! I want some! Uncle Fu, you don’t have enough noodles like that!”

Fu Changjun, feeling obligated, picked up the cloth bag filled with flour and scooped out another bowl.

Gu Fengjian followed from behind, smiling and saying, “She said she only had a bowl of dumplings for dinner and was feeling uncomfortable from hunger, so she came to find something to eat.”

He Wan pretended to be angry, while adding more water to the pot, “I told you to eat properly.”

Half an hour later, the four of them sat around the table, eating this late-night snack by candlelight.

Warmth rose up between them.

Gu Fengjian picked up the meat from his bowl and gave it to Song Chuzhao. Song Chuzhao secretly glanced at the other two, then gave the meat to Fu Changjun.

Fu Changjun and He Wan both looked up.

He Wan said, “Eat yours. You’re so fussy.”

Song Chuzhao winked at Fu Changjun and said, “Yeah, I don’t know who I take after.”

Fu Changjun chuckled and scooped the meat slices and broth from his noodles into He Wan’s bowl.

He Wan lowered her head, remaining silent, only holding the soup spoon and continuing to eat her noodles.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its bright light casting a silvery glow. The sound of sheng yu³ seemed to come from beyond the clouds. For the first time in many years, Fu Changjun realized that today was the Mid-Autumn Festival.