Chapter 110: The Mountain is High, the Road is Long, and There Is No Set Time

Gou Ye chuckled softly. This time, he did not choose to remain silent or change the subject. Looking into Wanxiang’s eyes, he replied, "Alright."

Hearing this, Dali, who stood to the side, felt somewhat awkward. Tactfully, he said, "I’ll go urge them to serve the food," and quickly exited the room.

The two stared at each other from just a foot away. Following the tropes of a romantic drama, the next step should have been a kiss. Just as Gou Ye’s mind began to wander, Wanxiang gave a mischievous grin and pulled back. "You know, I find myself hoping you won't succeed now. That way, the one hundred thousand taels I spent would be well worth it."

"Tell me, what virtue or talent do I, Gou Ye, possess to deserve such favor from you? Whether it is my bearing, my appearance, or even my scholarship, you could easily find a truly brilliant man."

"And how do you know you aren't that brilliant man? In my eyes, you are more authentic than those hypocritical scholars. I have never taken a fancy to any man, but the man I do choose, I will never let go!"

Gou Ye did not know how to respond. To say that his heart remained entirely unmoved would be a lie. Yet, he had to consider Yunniang’s feelings. To him, Yunniang would always come first; this was a bond forged through storms and the shared bitterness and sweetness of life, something no amount of money or any other person could ever replace. And yet, the woman before him was kind to him—truly, deeply kind.

Wanxiang could read Gou Ye’s thoughts, so she did not press the matter further. She poured a cup of wine for both of them and said, "After we part ways, I know not when we might sit and talk like this again, nor when I might hear you recite glorious poems or play such beautiful music. The mountains are high and the road is long, with no set time for return. Let this cup serve as a toast to your journey."

The two drank together. Wanxiang continued, "I will have the silver delivered to the Duke’s mansion tomorrow. When you come to the county next time, you can collect it directly. Now that you suddenly have so much money, have you thought about how you will tell Yunniang?"

Gou Ye smiled and replied, "How else? I will tell her the truth!"

Just as Wanxiang had said, this departure marked an uncertain future. When Gou Ye left this county, it meant he would likely never have the chance to return. For Wanxiang, this was both a sorrow and a hope. Deep down, she wished for this man to achieve greater things—not because his talent required a grander stage to be displayed, but because only with greater achievements would he be truly worthy of his own brilliance.

Without realizing it, they talked until dusk. Despite having drunk quite a bit, neither felt the slightest bit tipsy. Perhaps they were suppressing their emotions, or perhaps it was simply the feeling that even a thousand cups are not enough when meeting a kindred spirit.

Gou Ye walked Wanxiang all the way to the entrance of the brothel. Looking at him, Wanxiang longed to ask for one final embrace before he left, but she held herself back. She simply gave him a radiant smile, said nothing, and turned to walk inside. Watching her retreating figure, Gou Ye felt a complex mixture of emotions and murmured, "Thank you."

That night, Gou Ye returned to Tumen Village with Dali. Once home, he told Yunniang everything that had happened that day. Yunniang looked at him in silence for a long time. This silence filled Gou Ye with an uneasy, anxious feeling. Then, Yunniang smiled gently. "Brother Gou Ye, that vanity case you gave me last time—it was from her, wasn't it?"

Gou Ye nodded without a word. Though filled with curiosity, he dared not ask, nor did he know how to, looking at Yunniang with such guilt that it felt as if he had committed some grave offense.

"Brother Gou Ye, actually, I know everything. I knew she liked you from the very first moment I saw her. But I believe in you. The fact that you told me the whole truth today makes me trust even more that there is nothing between you. But I want to say, if you truly have feelings for her, Yunniang can understand."

"Yunniang, I..."

"Listen to me, Brother Gou Ye. I know your character. I know you will be good to me for the rest of our lives, and you will always cherish me. But I cannot bind your heart. I can feel that you still have feelings for her. I truly do not mind if one day you bring her home. To be honest, I don’t particularly like such women, but because of you, I will get along with her well. After all, one hundred thousand taels must be her entire savings, perhaps even money she borrowed elsewhere. That she could do this, emptying her coffers to help you, shows she is sincere. So, I agree to your bringing such a woman who loves you into our home. In some ways, she is far superior to me."

As she spoke, Yunniang’s eyes reddened, and tears began to fall. After all, what woman would willingly share her beloved? These words had taken immense courage to utter.

Gou Ye pulled Yunniang into his arms, gently stroking her hair as he always did. "Yunniang, we have been together for over a decade. We are childhood sweethearts, and I have no doubt that you are the only one in this world who truly understands me and knows my heart. I told you all of this because I did not want to hide anything from you, whether it be actions or feelings. You are right; I was indeed moved. But I do not want to bring another woman into our home and make you feel uncomfortable. I do not want to see you grieving in silence.

"Remember what I told Mother? I said I wanted you to be happy, and I meant it. I never want you to feel sad or hurt. As for her, you need not mention it again. We are leaving now, and we will have no further chance to cross paths. Once I repay her, it signifies that we have returned to our own separate lives. She will eventually forget me and find a better place to belong, and we will marry, have children, and build a beautiful future."

Gou Ye gently wiped the tears from the corners of Yunniang’s eyes, then gave her a light, fleeting kiss on the lips. Smiling at her, he said, "My silly Yunniang, you are so magnanimous, never thinking of yourself. But Brother Gou Ye wants you to know: having you is already more than enough."