Chapter Eighty-Eight: Buy, Buy, Buy

For three whole days, every night, Gou Ye would slip to Yun Niang’s room like a thief, tiptoe to her door, and soundlessly crawl into her blanket. At first Yun Niang was shy and willing, but by the second day, when Gou Ye was still at it, she simply took it for granted. Though they slept clothed, neither of them cared in the slightest for the discomfort. So long as one’s beloved lay beside one, what was there left to mind? Nothing was more comfortable than being together.

Early this morning, Gou Ye gave the final stroke of his brush and tossed the page onto the desk with effortless flair. He let out a long breath and said to himself with satisfaction, “At last it’s finished. ‘Immortal Condor and Heroic Couple,’ my dear brother, today I say goodbye to you.”

Yun Niang came in smiling, carrying a steaming bowl of clear vegetable soup. “Brother Gou Ye, what has you so happy?”

“Yun Niang, I’ve finally finished this book. Come with me to the county town later. Let’s take these final manuscripts to the bookshop. It’s been a long time since I last took you out. Yesterday I saw that your rouge was nearly used up, and since we’ll be at the market, I’ll buy you another one.”

At the thought of going out, Yun Niang’s face broke into a bright smile. She had been shut at home for many days and had long since grown restless. She had wanted to tell Gou Ye, but feared he had too much to do and would be troubled by it. So Gou Ye’s gesture today struck her straight in the heart. She set the hot soup on the table and said, “Brother Gou Ye, I’m going to change clothes first. Hurry and drink the soup while it’s hot.” With that, she skipped upstairs.

Watching her cheerful departure, Gou Ye smiled with quiet relief, though a trace of guilt stirred in him as well. These past days he had been busy with the villagers, busy with the manuscript, busy with his own affairs. Since Yun Niang’s mother passed away, he still had not truly taken Yun Niang out for a proper day of fun. He truly felt he had let down the trust her mother placed in him.

Though the weather was still somewhat cold, Yun Niang changed into a lovely long robe. It had been altered according to Gou Ye’s suggestion, and in style it somewhat resembled a modern qipao. Not only that, she had deliberately put on rouge today and dusted her face with powder, making her look more mature, yet all the more captivating and beautiful.

“Yes. My Yun Niang is truly lovely today.”

Yun Niang gave an indignant huff. “Oh? So Brother Gou Ye means I wasn’t lovely before?”

Gou Ye grinned sheepishly, realizing he had misspoken, and hastily corrected himself. “I mean that Yun Niang is even lovelier today than yesterday. Of course you’re beautiful every day. I could look at you all day long and still not have enough.”

Yun Niang gave him a graceful way out and did not blame him further. Gou Ye quickly changed the subject, greeted Xiao Die, and the two of them hurried out the door.

The crisp autumn air was refreshing. Though a little chilly, only a gentle breeze was blowing. Yun Niang spun around as she breathed in the fresh air, looking utterly delighted.

When they reached the front of the bookshop, the place no longer showed the bustling crowds of old. Seeing only a sparse trickle of passersby, Gou Ye could not help but feel a chill of desolation. They went inside, where the same familiar shop assistant was still there. Though the bookshop had long lost its former glory, and Gou Ye’s books had been completely banned from sale, the assistant still greeted him with due respect.

Not long after, Boss Hu came out with his belly protruding. When old acquaintances met again, it felt as though much time had passed. With a soft sigh, Boss Hu said, “Alas, Brother Gou, you’re here. As you can see, after your novels were banned, the bookshop has fallen into this state. What brings you today?”

When Gou Ye took the thick manuscript from inside his robes, Boss Hu was deeply moved. “Brother Gou, after you told me that day, I thought you had put it out of mind. I never imagined you would truly finish the manuscript and bring it to me. I honestly don’t know how to thank you.” He then ordered the assistant to fetch two hundred taels of silver from the back room. Though only two hundred taels, in the present situation even that amount made Boss Hu wince with pain.

Gou Ye quickly stopped the assistant and placed the manuscript into Boss Hu’s hands. “Boss Hu, I already told you before: this manuscript is to make up for your losses. I’ve seen the situation now, and I know it can’t be easy for you either. Keep the manuscript safe and do as I said. You may yet recover some of your capital.”

“But now that you have no more payment for your writing and no livelihood at all, how will you live?”

Hearing Boss Hu’s concern, Gou Ye laughed heartily. “Don’t worry. What you gave me before was already more than enough. I saved quite a bit. Even if you don’t pay me this time, I have enough of my own money to get by.”

Boss Hu was deeply touched, grateful that when he had first met Gou Ye he had accepted his manuscript. In his heart he admired Gou Ye’s character even more. He had once thought the people who gathered at the bookshop entrance and loudly called him the Great Hero Gou were simply so captivated by his books that they had lost themselves in them. Now it seemed Gou Ye truly deserved that title. He immediately wanted to keep him for a meal at the tavern.

“All right, Boss Hu, I appreciate your kindness. Keep your silver to pay your assistants. I won’t keep you company at noon. This time I came to the county town first to deliver the manuscript, and second to take Yun Niang out and buy a few things at the market. Remember to come find me in Earth Gate Village when you have time, and we’ll drink until we drop.” With that, he laughed and walked out of the bookshop.

Boss Hu held the manuscript in his arms and stood there, watching Gou Ye’s retreating figure until it vanished at the far end of the street.

After handing over the manuscript, Gou Ye felt as though the stone in his heart had finally been laid down. His whole body and mind were wonderfully light, and he ran all the way with Yun Niang to the market.

Yun Niang had not been to the market for many days. She darted from one stall to another, then to the next, full of delight. Gou Ye was generous as well: whenever Yun Niang lingered for a long while before something, he would not even bother to ask the price before buying it for her.

Although Yun Niang was sensible and obedient, Gou Ye had discovered that, whether in ancient times or modern ones, shopping seemed to be a woman’s nature. So long as they could stroll through the shops and buy what they liked, they would be happy. Besides, Gou Ye was in a good mood today, and his purpose in coming out was precisely to bring Yun Niang out for fun. So he spent without the slightest stinginess.

Of course, Yun Niang was unwilling for him to spend so much on her, but she could not withstand Gou Ye’s persuasion. “We came out to be happy, didn’t we? Today’s goal is to buy, buy, buy. Your Brother Gou is letting it all go today, so if you like something, just buy it.”

Yun Niang did not want to dampen his spirits, nor did she want to spend too much money. Most of the things she bought were things useful at home, or things Gou Ye could use. Even so, Gou Ye had a carriage brought over specially, and before long the cart was packed full from top to bottom with all sorts of purchases.