Chapter 9: No Longer Human
The next day, at noon, Dumb Bay.
An old, black-awning boat lay quietly by the water. Tea boats were known for their good quality and low prices; for three coins, you could drink barley tea all day at the bow, and the stove at the stern was always burning brightly.
The scattered guests, mostly porters and artisans, were now sitting on the boat deck, chatting idly.
Today was the day the childhood friends from Dumb Bay had agreed to meet.
In the corner of the stern, Chen Qing, Liang Badou, Xiaochun, Erya, Li Hu, and others sat in a circle.
Liang Badou’s slightly oversized dark blue long gown made him seem less impetuous than before, adding a touch of deliberate “maturity.”
He cleared his throat and, with a hint of barely suppressed pride, said, “Someone else is coming later.”
“Who is it?” Erya immediately asked with curiosity.
Chen Qing and the others also cast inquiring glances.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Just then, a clear voice sounded.
The group turned to look, only to see a dark figure standing at the threshold. The material of her silk skirt gleamed with a delicate luster in the sunlight, and a simple silver hairpin meticulously gathered her stray hairs.
She stood ramrod straight, even the pleats of her skirt seemed carefully arranged.
Chen Qing said with some uncertainty, “Xu Fang?”
The young woman’s lips curved into a perfectly appropriate arc, neither overly warm nor distant: “Brother Qing, it’s been a long time.”
Their families used to be neighbors, and when they were young, they often hid in the reeds, blowing reed whistles. Whenever water ducks on the bank flapped their wings and flew up, they would laugh so hard they doubled over.
When she was hungry, Chen Qing would catch wild water caltrops for her in the river branch, often pricking his fingers.
Erya’s mouth formed a perfect O, Liang Badou uncomfortably tugged at the rough corner of his clothes, while Xiaochun quickly adjusted his posture, trying to look more presentable.
Li Hu looked at her and sighed, “The change is truly too great.”
Xu Fang was also a fisher girl from Dumb Bay. Her parents died of an epidemic three years ago, and she was later taken in by her aunt, who had married into a wealthy family in the Inner City.
Since then, the children of Dumb Bay had never seen her again.
“I happened to run into her at Wang’s Rouge Shop last time, so I tried inviting her to join us,” Liang Badou explained, his voice a few shades louder than usual. “I didn’t expect her to actually grace us with her presence.”
Xu Fang gently shook her head, “Why say such formal things? We all grew up drinking the water of Dumb Bay.”
Her gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Chen Qing’s face for a moment. “Three years later, everyone has changed.”
“You’ve changed the most!” Erya exaggeratedly gestured. “Back when you were following me around, eating ‘Dragon King’s meals,’ who would have thought…”
Chen Qing noticed Xu Fang’s fingers subtly curling under the table, but her face maintained a polite smile.
Xiaochun looked at Xu Fang and stammered, “If I saw you on the street, I definitely wouldn’t recognize you.”
After a round of sighs, the atmosphere gradually livened up.
And Xu Fang undoubtedly became the center of attention; no one had expected to see her again today.
No one had thought that the timid Xu Fang of yesteryear would reappear in such a manner.
Chen Qing quietly sipped his tea on the side, observing secretly.
Xu Fang had undoubtedly changed the most. Before, when she was in Dumb Bay, she was timid and spoke haltingly, always following Erya around.
Now, her words and actions were graceful and confident, and her appearance had blossomed, with a touch of elegance in her features, drawing frequent glances from Liang Badou and Xiaochun.
Both her speech and her demeanor were distinctly different from the others.
Next was Li Hu. After that incident, his father didn’t survive the winter and passed away. This series of events made Li Hu completely withdrawn, and he spoke less.
As for Xiaochun, because he worked as a young apprentice in Wanbao Hall, he had become more sophisticated in his dealings with people, and he knew how to weigh his words.
Erya hadn’t changed much; she was still outspoken. Now working as a rough maid in a wealthy family, although her status was humble, she had seen some of the world, and her words occasionally boasted about the master’s family’s extravagance.
Liang Badou followed his relatives, doing odd jobs at the county yamen while also studying literature and literacy. His every gesture deliberately carried a hint of scholarly air, and his conversations couldn’t hide his self-satisfaction of “having someone in the yamen.”
“A Qing doesn’t seem to be doing well either.”
Xiaochun’s gaze swept over Chen Qing’s faded, old clothes, and he inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
The Chen family was an orphaned mother and son, with no savings to support Chen Qing’s studies. Being able to barely eat was already good enough.
Liang Badou seemed to have thought of this too, and with a casual yet seemingly deliberate concern, he asked, “A Qing, I remember you said you wanted to learn martial arts last time. Have you found a master?”
Everyone looked over.
Learning martial arts was a way out, and once successful, participating in the Martial Examination could bring glory to one’s family and achieve prominence.
But learning martial arts was too difficult, especially for common folk; it was as hard as ascending to heaven.
In their perception, learning a skill to make a living and earning a stable income was the right path.
Learning martial arts was simply a pipe dream.
Chen Qing took a sip of tea. “I’m temporarily studying martial arts at Zhou Yard.”
“You actually went!?”
Erya’s eyes widened. She said, “Learning martial arts is really hard. Not only do you need good bones, but you also need to eat meat every meal to have a chance to make a name for yourself!”
Xiaochun couldn’t help but ask, “How do you know all this?”
“Isn’t it what those guards said?” Erya replied. “Except for the leader, who is somewhat respectable, the other two, tsk tsk, are ordered around like dogs all day just for a meal. And, I heard them say that years of strenuous training leave them with hidden injuries, and they don’t live long…”
She suddenly caught Li Hu’s warning glance and realized she had been too blunt, quickly shutting her mouth.
Xu Fang, who had been listening quietly, now also looked at Chen Qing with a hint of surprise.
He actually went to learn martial arts?
At this moment, Liang Badou puffed out his chest. “A Qing, if you ask me, you might as well work with me. Once I become a scribe, I’ll recommend you to be a strongman. I can’t promise you great wealth, but I can guarantee you a stable meal.”
These words sounded like an invitation, but the condescending tone clearly meant he wanted to take Chen Qing as a follower.
Chen Qing shook his head. “Forget it, I’ll just keep learning for now.”
Erya shook her head, looking disappointed. “A Qing, you’re good at everything, but you’re just too stubborn.”
Xiaochun, seeing Chen Qing’s refusal, felt his suspended heart quietly drop back into his stomach, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
In his eyes, being able to cling to Liang Badou, this ‘small tree by the yamen,’ was an incredibly good thing. Chen Qing, however, didn’t know how to appreciate it; he was truly foolish.
Li Hu sighed and said, “Practicing martial arts is indeed not easy.”
He had once fantasized about practicing martial arts to change his fate, but it was just a thought.
Xu Fang glanced at Chen Qing, pursed her lips, and hesitated to speak.
Brother Qing, Brother Qing, you still can’t see through it. This world has long woven thousands of threads in the shadows—some are tightening around your neck, some are entangling your hands and feet, and some are quietly tying themselves to your destiny.
No one believed Chen Qing could succeed in martial arts.
Just as Erya said, those guards who were ordered around like dogs might be Chen Qing’s entire life.
Everyone chatted for a while longer.
Liang Badou, while refilling everyone’s bland tea, brought up a topic: “You all heard about Qian Ye’s matter, right?”
“Bah! What Qian Ye!”
Li Hu spat, his face showing schadenfreude: “That beast was walking alone at night and was beaten beyond recognition. He must have been killed by an enemy. Ordinary people wouldn’t have such guts.”
Erya gritted her teeth and said, “Good riddance.”
Chen Qing, the ‘instigator’ of all this, was also filled with righteous indignation.
Xiaochun nervously glanced around, lowering his voice: “Let’s keep it down. Qian Ye and the Jinhe Gang leader have a close relationship, and they’re looking for the killer everywhere.”
Qian Biao’s ability to run rampant in Dumb Bay certainly didn’t rely on his own meager abilities.
Rumor had it that he was Song Tie’s, the Jinhe Gang leader’s, brother-in-law.
Liang Badou waved his hand dismissively, “Jinhe Gang? They can barely protect themselves now. The Tiger Gang is scouring for their men everywhere. Song Tie has probably been hiding in some rat hole for ages.”
He paused, then lowered his voice mysteriously, “Li Hu, did you see Liu Laizi on Huai Tree Street yesterday? He’s Song Tie’s trusted lackey. I reckon Song Tie is most likely hiding in that area!”
Chen Qing’s heart stirred, but his face remained calm, merely picking up his teacup and taking another sip.
Liang Badou seemed to feel the topic was sensitive and changed the subject. “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about these unlucky things.”
Afterward, everyone drank tea and chatted.
They occasionally recounted childhood anecdotes and half-seriously, half-jokingly imagined their future.
Liang Badou imagined becoming well-known in the yamen, Xiaochun dreamed of becoming the second shopkeeper of a store, and Erya hoped to be noticed by the master’s young master one day.
Xu Fang listened quietly, her face adorned with a polite smile, but her eyes were somewhat distant, clearly showing little interest in these topics.
However, she did not interrupt the lively, down-to-earth chatter of her childhood friends from Dumb Bay.
Unknowingly, it was already afternoon.
Xu Fang looked at the sky, elegantly stood up, and prepared to bid farewell.
Liang Badou took a deep breath, as if steeling himself, and quickly stepped forward. “Xiaofang, I happen to be going to the Inner City. How about I escort you back?”
His words carried clear expectation.
Suddenly, a crisp horse bell rang out from the dock.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a blue-curtained carriage steadily parked. The two bay horses pulling the carriage had glossy coats and gleaming horseshoes.
An old nanny with graying temples, dressed in simple cotton clothes, stepped down from the carriage shaft.
“Young Miss.” The old nanny bowed to Xu Fang. “The Old Madam instructed that you must return to the manor before Shenshi (3-5 PM).”
“I understand.”
Xu Fang replied. She glanced at her childhood friends, her gaze finally resting on Chen Qing’s face.
The boat deck suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of river water lapping against the hull.
Xu Fang’s lips trembled slightly, as if she had a thousand words to say, but in the end, she only let out a soft sigh.
“If fate allows, we shall meet again someday.”
Her voice was very soft, yet it struck everyone’s heart like a heavy stone.
The words were polite, but everyone present understood that after today’s farewell, it would likely be difficult to meet again.
The carriage slowly drove away, the rattling sound of its wheels on the bluestone pavement gradually fading into the distance.
Everyone stood frozen at the bow, watching the carriage disappear into the dust it kicked up at the alley entrance.
Erya unconsciously rubbed the corner of her clothes, Liang Badou clenched his fists, and Xiaochun stared blankly at the water.
Chen Qing looked down at the coarse porcelain teacup in his hand; the tea had long since grown cold, reflecting his blurry image.
At the bottom of the bowl lay a few rough tea stems, no matter how much they swirled, they would ultimately settle at the very bottom.