As soon as she boarded the Yongfu, Chou Yu immediately wrapped Mo Zi in a cotton blanket. That was already practiced tacit understanding—the tight-fitting suit couldn’t be seen by others.
With hot soup in her belly, Mo Zi bit her lip and bowed her head to the three brothers. “I—was wrong, wasn’t I?”
Chou Yu was startled. “Why does Brother Mo say this?”
“Because I was self-righteous. Not only did I nearly harm myself, I also implicated you brothers. From the start, I should have returned to Hongyu with our boat. Whether we could save two more people—what does it have to do with me?” She’d always wanted to live for herself, yet unconsciously a sense of justice would emerge at times. Only when she had to pay a price for it did she realize how foolish it was. In this time and space, with this status, righteousness was a luxury.
Xiao Wei stood outside the three brothers. Hearing these words, he frowned deeply.
“So that’s what it is.” What happened moments ago, Chou Yu saw very clearly. “I thought Brother Mo was upset over those two bastards.”
“For those two, I was powerless.” Not enough physical strength, and she couldn’t possibly sacrifice herself and Shui She for people she’d never met. Earlier she’d stayed for the last batch because she was quite certain she’d be fine. But they let her witness the tragedy of human nature—dying themselves yet not letting others live. If the quality of Great Zhou’s naval soldiers was all like this, then she seriously doubted whether they could hold their ground once war broke out.
“Isn’t that right then? Where did Brother Mo do wrong? We’re boat people. Boat people’s rules—until the very end, never abandon ship. Since we were rescuing people, we had to do it properly. Once on someone else’s ship, to run away first—damn it, that’s called having no guts!” River people with river attitudes—loyalty and courage ranked first.
Mo Zi was stunned by what Chou Yu said. So she’d inadvertently achieved the boat people’s reputation?
“Last year when Brother Mo fell in the water with us brothers, you weren’t familiar with us either. But you got ashore yourself and still desperately pulled us up.” Fei Xia’s memory was fresh. “Speaking honestly, after mixing around all these years, when everyone’s in trouble, they only step on each other—nobody extends a hand. If Brother Mo were like everyone else, we three brothers wouldn’t have followed you to this day. I said Brother Mo should be better to yourself, your luck would definitely exceed others’. Let me revise that. Precisely because Brother Mo is like this, everyone will give their luck to Brother Mo, better than anyone.”
“If Brother Mo only cared about yourself, you wouldn’t be Brother Mo.” Shui She only said one sentence.
Of these three brothers, except for the extroverted Chou Yu who constantly pestered her going east and west, Fei Xia and Shui She didn’t talk much with her, even on the water—only conversations about sailing. Thinking the barrier between men and women separated them, Mo Zi never knew they valued her so highly. Instantly, she was very moved, warmth flowing through her heart.
Who said small people don’t uphold great righteousness?
“Brother Mo, are we still saving people or not? If you’re fed up with them, we’ll just sail the boat back. Anyway, we brothers follow you in whatever you do. If you want to walk the main road, we’ll walk the main road way. If you want to cross a single-plank bridge, we won’t care about anything else.” Chou Yu stood on tiptoe looking at the river surface, clicking his tongue. “Just now after swimming a few strokes they stopped thrashing, thinking someone would rescue them anyway. Now their own people are choking their own people, trying to use others as cushions. Only caring about their own lives, strong as oxen. People like that—better off dead.”
Mo Zi met Xiao Er’s cold gaze. “Great Zhou’s naval forces are nothing more than this.”
Xiao Wei had originally been very worried about Mo Zi, but hadn’t expected her and Shui She to efficiently dispose of his two soldiers so quickly. He had an indescribable feeling. “They’re new recruits who enlisted less than three months ago. When people face desperate situations, naturally they only want to survive. The strong live, the weak die. Isn’t Brother Mo the same?”
“Regarding this, I just reflected with my own brothers—the General really needn’t mock me. According to your meaning, we should let these people in the water choke each other for a while, and after survival of the fittest, fish out the strong ones?” On the ice-cold river surface, like hell, cruelly testing human nature and hearts. Mo Zi watched water splashes blooming everywhere, their force fierce and violent, breaking through thorns and brambles, yet fighting over floating planks, searching for good swimmers to depend on. Whether she went ashore first or stayed until last, the wind direction wasn’t her control, the current wasn’t her will—this incomplete ending was unavoidable.
“…” Xiao Wei thought about how Mo Zi had truly put forth her utmost effort to help him this time, and those soldiers in the water were indeed disgraceful. “Please Manager Mo help us—save as many as we can.” These years the borders had been peaceful, with no great enemies besides bandits, resulting in new recruits getting worse year by year. He’d always worried about their combat effectiveness. Now his worries had become reality, and he suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
Without asking Xiao Wei, the Yongfu wouldn’t truly turn around and go back. Old Guan’s hand on the rudder had never changed direction. And before she could say anything, Shui She and Fei Xia had already started throwing ropes into the water, pulling people up.
Chou Yu scratched his head. “Brother Mo, looks like there are even better good people than you! If I hadn’t followed you, I wouldn’t have discovered that I’m actually pretty decent myself—still have a conscience.” After speaking, he thumped his chest with his fist, grinned, and joined his brothers in rescuing people.
Mo Zi’s lips curved into a smile. Because of this adorable crew, the depression in her heart dissipated. As long as they supported her, wanting to abandon righteousness seemed very difficult. Perhaps she shouldn’t stick her neck out, but having stuck it out, she had to face it bravely. Saved some people, harmed some people, half good and half bad—she had no regrets.
In the world, where there’s affection there’s righteousness, where there’s righteousness there’s light, and there’s still beauty worth fighting for.
“The people you brought…” Xiao Wei led his personal guards to help, suddenly turning to look at her. “Very excellent.”
“Every one stronger than me.” Mo Zi, wrapped in her blanket, went into the cabin to add a cotton robe.
Xiao Wei watched her bulky figure disappear behind the cabin door, then strode to the bow, calling for those sailors to help each other and wait for rescue. His voice was strong and powerful, his words extremely moving, and with the general’s title weighing down, it actually eliminated much of people’s fear of imminent death.
In the end, the Yongfu worked together with one heart and rescued over thirty people. More than half had frostbite, but compared to the number not rescued, it was enough to breathe a sigh of relief.
After disembarking, Shi Lei and Zhong An who came to meet them saw this batch had fewer people and asked for detailed reasons.
Xiao Wei only said the wind direction changed, the current suddenly shifted, some soldiers couldn’t be rescued in time, but didn’t mention half a word about Mo Zi’s and Shui She’s actions.
They were all military generals, accustomed to seeing others’ life and death. Though they expressed regret and lament, they didn’t grieve too long, quickly turning their attention to the wounded.
Xiao Wei also changed into clean clothing—didn’t know whose half-worn gray cotton clothes they were. Wearing them felt awkward but he couldn’t complain. As soon as he left the room, he asked Wei Qing who was attending him whether he could go see Hongyu’s shipbuilding shed.
Wei Qing had already received Mo Zi’s instructions. “The Young General just suffered water cold—it’s best to return to the capital to find a good physician to prepare some medicine for recovery, lest the cold qi harm your body. After all, early prevention is better than treating illness. I’ve already had people prepare a carriage—you can depart immediately.”
Xiao Wei was clever and immediately thought of Mo Zi. He snorted lightly. “Did Manager Mo instruct you thus?”
Wei Qing could really pretend, with an expression of astonished ‘how could you think that.’ “The Young General’s arrival is Hongyu’s good fortune, therefore Brother Mo repeatedly instructed that we must properly attend to the Young General and all the soldiers. It’s just that our shipyard has been open less than half a year, the place is simple, especially inside the big shed—it’s just rough ship workers and craftsmen, really nothing to see. If the General wants to see the soldier brothers, they’re all eating in the mess hall. Shall I lead the General there?”
“Where is Manager Mo right now?” Did she think sending someone could dismiss him?
“Brother Mo felt body cold. The physician prescribed medicine which was just taken, and is resting in the room.” Wei Qing thought, sure enough as difficult to dismiss as rumored.
This rumor was spread by Mo Zi’s wagging tongue.
“Is that so? That’s not good. Manager Mo fell ill because of rescuing Xiao and a shipful of people. If Xiao doesn’t visit personally, how can I express my heartfelt gratitude? Trouble you to take me to see her.” Xiao Wei didn’t believe it. When disembarking he saw her lively and jumping around. He was quite surprised, knowing her water skills weren’t ordinarily good, but hadn’t expected her constitution was also good.
Wei Qing bowed his head, lips slightly curving, voice obediently replying, “The Young General’s kind intention—I dare not refuse. Please follow me.”
Xiao Wei hadn’t expected Wei Qing to truly agree. He was stunned, but could only follow him.
It was a different direction from the big shed—a small cobblestone path winding inward. After the waist-high dried grass on both sides disappeared, a small courtyard appeared with blue-tiled white-walled houses scattered here and there, separated by trees and flower beds. Further up, one could see walled independent courtyards with several gates.
“This is the shipyard dormitory.” Wei Qing voluntarily answered Xiao Wei’s question, pointing to the depths. “Brother Mo’s house is at the very back—still some distance to walk. Young General, don’t be hasty.”
What was there for him to be hasty about? Hearing the words “dormitory” and “Brother Mo’s house,” Xiao Wei really wanted to find Mo Zi and ask—a woman not only living outside but also living together with a group of men. Even relying on Qiu Sanniang’s favor, didn’t she care about her reputation? However, upon reaching where Mo Zi lived and discovering it was also an independent courtyard, his mind eased slightly.
The door was opened by A Hao. Hearing Wei Qing say Young General Xiao wanted to visit Brother Mo, she said to wait a moment and shut the two men outside again.
“Quite the airs.” Xiao Wei sneered coldly. She was completely unlike a maid anymore.
Wei Qing heard this and strongly defended Mo Zi. “General Xiao misunderstands. Brother Mo originally has no rules about closed doors and announcements—most likely it’s inconvenient to let people enter directly.”
The door quickly opened again, and A Hao let the two in.
The courtyard was very small—from the main room door to the courtyard gate was only about ten large steps for Xiao Wei. Entering the house, he saw Mo Zi wearing an old green padded jacket and velvet skirt, warming her hands with a copper warmer, talking with a handsome young man. Her mood seemed very good, all smiles. This made him once again strongly aware of Mo Zi’s change in status. Not that she’d become a falsely proud young lady of noble birth, because both her clothing and the furnishings in the room were extremely simple, but rather that she now had power that could no longer be restricted by the maid label.
Seeing Xiao Er, Mo Zi properly rose from her seat and yielded her position. “Many thanks for the Young General’s personal visit. Please take the seat of honor.”
“I am A Song, Hongyu shipwright. I’ve met the Young General.” That handsome man performed a salute.
Xiao Wei nodded slightly and unceremoniously sat in the host’s seat Mo Zi had yielded. “I heard Manager Mo’s body suffered cold and was unwell. I see you’re actually fine.”
“Still fine, just a bit tired. Thank you for the Young General’s concern.” Mo Zi wasn’t really pretending to be sick. After all that happened, she just wanted to hole up here and get through today. “Besides visiting the sick, does the General have other matters?”
“Indeed there are several matters.” Being constantly surrounded by men of all kinds—whether her reputation was damaged or not had nothing to do with him. Telling himself this, his heart still simmered like a low fire.