Chapter 19: It Is Fortunate to Have You

Su Yunqing slept soundly that night, free of dreams.

Upon waking, she smoothed her hair and deliberately skipped washing her face. She examined her reflection in the mirror carefully; the tiny piercings in her earlobes were barely visible, yet Ling Yuan had spotted them so easily.

She lifted her arm and took a sniff, muttering to herself, "Where is this fragrance?"

For the past few days, she had been sitting under the tutelage of Master Guan, surrounded by the incense of the temple; if she smelled of anything, it should have been sandalwood.

However, the matter of her chest was more troublesome. Flattening it completely was nearly impossible, so she had no choice but to bind it even tighter.

*Knock, knock!*

There were two soft taps at the door.

"Is that you, Brother Ling?"

"Yes." It could be no one else but Ling Yuan.

She hurried to dress and checked herself once more before running to open the door.

Ling Yuan glanced at the bundle she had already packed and set on the table. "Weren't you going to mail those letters? Is everything ready?"

Su Yunqing nodded. "Yes."

Ling Yuan waved his hand. "Let's go. It’s getting late. Once the letters are posted, we shall set off. We might not be able to dock by this evening."

"Oh, I see."

Not docking? Perhaps they weren't intended to go ashore at all; after all, apart from Ling Yuan, not a single person from that cabin had disembarked the previous night.

It had been dark when they arrived, so she hadn't truly observed the environment of this small coastal town.

The sky was a dull gray, and the entire street seemed shrouded in a thin, lingering mist. The damp sea breeze carried a salty tang, and a few scattered shops along the street were beginning to open their doors to customers.

At intervals along the stone steps, several ragged, disheveled beggars lay huddled against the walls, eyes closed, still lost in sleep.

Su Yunqing reached the post station and, after explaining her intentions to the station master, asked, "Sir, Golden Fish Tail Wharf is by the sea, home mostly to fishermen who live by the catch. With ships coming and going, surely people can trade to make a living. Why are there so many beggars on the roadside?"

The station master, a sympathetic middle-aged man, sighed. "Those beggars are not locals, of course. They are displaced refugees from all over the country. The city gates are guarded strictly; since they cannot enter the city, they drift into small towns like ours."

"With so many refugees, does the government not intervene?"

The station master shot her a look. "Young lady, I am but a humble station master. My duty is to run this station well. As for the government..."

Su Yunqing could tell from his expression that he only wished to stay out of trouble and protect his own position. She bowed her head to him and said, "Thank you, sir. I shall take my leave."

No sooner had she stepped out of the station than she was blocked by a group of refugees.

"Young Master, please, spare some food. I haven't eaten in three days."

"Young Master, have mercy! Take pity on us!"

"Young Master..."

They were skin and bones, their clothes in tatters, their faces so filthy their original complexions were unrecognizable, their hair matted into strange, rigid shapes from neglect.

"I am sorry, everyone. I have no money. I am merely passing through on my way south to visit family."

This was her first time encountering such a situation, and her complex emotions left her at a loss. Having always lived a relatively stable life within Zejiang City, she knew from her uncle that the world outside was in chaos, but she had never imagined it had reached such a state.

She pitied them and felt for their plight, yet she lacked the means to help.

Just as she was feeling guilty for her own helplessness, a man with sunken cheeks and bulging eyes spotted the bundle on her back. His eyes lit up. "Young Master, I see your bundle is bulging—you must have food. Please, have a heart. Share some, and the Bodhisattva will bless you."

With that, he reached out to grab her parcel.

Su Yunqing quickly sidestepped, dodging his hand. "What are you doing?"

"Come quickly, there's food here..."

At this cry, a dozen more refugees swarmed from all directions, surrounding her tightly.

Su Yunqing’s sympathy turned to deep anger. "What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to rob me?"

She looked back toward the post station, thinking that as imperial clerks, surely they would not ignore a disturbance at their doorstep.

Just as she was about to call for help, a guard at the entrance shouted, "Don't cause trouble at the station entrance! Get lost!"

Hearing this, the mob of refugees began to shove her further away while tugging relentlessly at her bundle.

Though they were thin, there were many of them. Soon, she felt the bundle giving way, hearing the sound of fabric beginning to tear.

Infuriated, she snapped, "Let go! There is no food in here, you unreasonable scoundrels!"

But they would not listen.

"Let her go!" Ling Yuan stood outside the circle with his arms crossed, Huangtu perched on his shoulder. His expression was solemn, his tone cold and sharp.

The refugees turned to look. Seeing a tall, sturdy youth with eyes full of murderous intent, they instantly froze.

Seizing the chance, Su Yunqing pulled hard, reclaimed her bundle, and gave a shove. The refugees, caught off guard and crowded together, tumbled over one another to the ground.

She hurried to Ling Yuan’s side. "Brother Ling, thank goodness you arrived in time. These people are completely unreasonable."

Ling Yuan was still surprised by the strength with which she had pushed them over. Only after hearing her did he respond, "When the granaries are full, people learn of etiquette; when they are well-fed, they know of honor and shame. They are starving to death—how can you expect them to be reasonable?"

With that, he pulled a few coins from his sleeve and tossed them toward the group.

"Thank you, Young Master! You are a kind soul, may you live a hundred years..."

Su Yunqing watched as they scrambled to their feet, bowing and kowtowing with expressions of profound gratitude, as if they hadn't been the same fierce, greedy mob moments before.

Once they reached the wharf, Su Yunqing asked, puzzled, "Why didn't they rob the others on the street? Why target me? And why did they listen to you the moment you spoke?"

Ling Yuan replied, "This is the seaside. The locals are weathered by the sea breeze, their skin coarse and dark. You, however, have soft, delicate skin; anyone can tell you aren't from here."

"Furthermore, you are dressed cleanly and carry a bundle, making you look like a wealthy young master. On top of that, you were alone. If they didn't rob you, who would they rob?"

"Then why were they afraid of you?"

"Because they knew they couldn't beat me. They are hungry, not stupid."

Su Yunqing nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm lucky to have you."

Huangtu arched his back and leaped onto her shoulder. The chubby creature had some weight to him, and she had to brace herself to keep her balance.

Ling Yuan glanced at Huangtu, then comforted her, "I promised to see you to Cenzhou. Do not worry. From now on, just stay by my side when we go ashore."

Su Yunqing nodded with a smile.

She could foresee how many similar troubles she would have faced had she been traveling alone. In such a situation, there would have been no one to turn to for help. This incident made her realize how truly fortunate she was to have met them.

Once they boarded the ship, she took the initiative to stand by the door and greet the men inside with a smile. "Good morning, Uncle Kun. Good morning, Brother Hu. Good morning to you all."

Faced with such sudden warmth, the men exchanged confused glances.

She was determined to build a good relationship with them; the journey ahead was long, and she could not afford to be isolated just because they thought she was aloof.