Their temporary residence was in a small village of fewer than fifty households, home to the local Dong ethnic minority. Due to limited transportation, the villagers had minimal contact with the outside world. According to Brother Gun, some elderly villagers had never ventured beyond the mountains in their lifetime, and even women like Sister-in-law Gun only visited the town once or twice a year. The newly developed tourism industry hadn’t brought substantial changes to their lives; they continued to be self-sufficient, following centuries-old traditions. During winter, when rain and snow sealed off the mountains, the village became completely isolated. Compared to the constant bustle of city life, time seemed to move particularly slowly here.
Chi Cheng, confined to bed with his leg injury, could only see the sky brightening and darkening through the small window each day. The days stretched endlessly, making him feel as if his flesh and bones were becoming one with the wooden bed. During these times, Xun Xun became his sole focus of attention.
Even when she was by his side, they weren’t always in harmony. Chi Cheng, anxious about his prolonged bed rest, would become particularly irritable. Xun Xun wouldn’t always accommodate him, and their conversations often escalated into arguments. However, whenever she left the room, Chi Cheng would grow restless, his hearing becoming extraordinarily acute. He could clearly distinguish between her and Sister-in-law Gun’s different rhythms while working, hear every little sound she made outside, and recognize her distinctively light footsteps.
Xun Xun was certainly aware of Chi Cheng’s dependence on her, but his illness made him more difficult than usual. Like that morning on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, when she had finally managed to heat a bucket of water for him to wash his face, he inexplicably insisted on using water freshly drawn from the well instead.
The well water was cold at that time – Xun Xun had already experienced this while doing laundry. She repeatedly advised him against such foolishness, but he stubbornly kept urging her to fetch the water. Finally exasperated, she brought in a bucket of well water. Chi Cheng then made another demanding request, asking her to use the host family’s large bowl to scoop some water for him. She complied, bringing him a full bowl of water, waiting to see what other tricks he had up his sleeve. He merely glanced at it from his position against the headboard and asked her to scoop again.
Considering his injured state and boredom, Xun Xun didn’t make much of it and scooped another bowl, but he still shook his head. After several rounds, even the most patient person would have been frustrated. The last time, Xun Xun forcefully scooped the bowl into the bucket, her anger causing her to use excessive force, splashing some water without caring. She thought that if Chi Cheng tried to find fault again, she would slap him. Surprisingly, when he saw this bowl of water, he showed a satisfied smile and persistently asked her to use it to brew tea.
The water was drawn from the well by Xun Xun herself, and she knew perfectly well it was just ordinary water with nothing but a few bubbles in it. She suspected Chi Cheng had either damaged his brain in the fall or developed some psychological disorder from the change in environment, deliberately creating trouble for her. She concluded that her excessive accommodation of his injury had led to this behavior. After brewing the tea, she barely spoke to him for the next couple of days.
On the eighth day, the rain finally stopped, and the temperature rose slightly. Although Brother Gun returned from scouting to report that the mountain road still had many icy patches and no vehicles could come up – including the mountain resort’s tourist buses – the plank walkway was now passable, requiring only careful attention to avoid slipping.
Out of kindness, Brother Gun asked Chi Cheng and Xun Xun if they wanted to move back to the hotel now since the facilities there were better. If they were willing, he could find help to carry him up the mountain via the plank walkway. Xun Xun hesitated. While Brother Gun was right about the facilities, the ice on the walkway had just melted, and the mountain was steep. Carrying an injured person would still be dangerous and too much trouble for others. Moreover, from what she understood, few staff remained at the resort during the Spring Festival, and the medical room still had no duty doctor. Apart from better accommodation, they would still be stranded up there.
Before she could decide, Chi Cheng directly expressed his stance. He asked Brother and Sister-in-law Gun if their extended stay was causing any inconvenience, while attempting to push money from his wallet into Brother Gun’s hands, repeatedly insisting he wouldn’t burden them without compensation.
Brother and Sister-in-law Gun looked at the money Chi Cheng was trying to give them, both extremely embarrassed and at a loss for words. Only after Xun Xun gave Chi Cheng a severe glare did he sheepishly withdraw the money, but his intention remained clear – he hoped their hosts would let them stay a few more days until the road reopened. The couple repeatedly expressed their delight in having guests and truly had no intention of asking them to leave, so the matter of moving back to the hotel was dropped.
Remembering that Chi Cheng still had luggage in his hotel room at the resort, Xun Xun decided to take advantage of the improved path conditions to retrieve his belongings. Chi Cheng, however, showed little appreciation for this gesture, saying they were just clothes and other items of little value, not worth the trouble. Xun Xun was puzzled, especially since just the previous night, while she was helping him clean up, he had complained about wearing the floral nightgown, desperately wanting suitable clothes to change into.
She still decided to make the trip, if only to check out of the room. Worried about accidents on the path, Brother Gun specifically asked Sister-in-law Gun to accompany her. As they left, Xun Xun noticed Chi Cheng’s extremely reluctant expression, as if her departure meant she was determined to abandon him, which she found somewhat amusing.
On the way, Xun Xun apologized to Sister-in-law Gun for Chi Cheng’s impulsive attempt to pay them. She wasn’t sure if Sister-in-law Gun understood what she was saying, but after she finished, Sister-in-law Gun chatted animatedly with her, her dark red face blooming like a flower. Xun Xun couldn’t understand a word and could only respond with awkward, polite smiles.
Sister-in-law Gun seemed to realize Xun Xun’s lack of comprehension and, both laughing and shaking her head, showed signs of mild frustration. She slowed her speech, using language as close to standard Mandarin as possible, accompanied by hand gestures to emphasize her point. Xun Xun listened intently, catching only words like “well water” and “drinking tea,” which seemed to explain Chi Cheng’s strange behavior from the previous days. Xun Xun recalled that when she was brewing tea that day, Sister-in-law Gun had stood by the stove, watching her with a constant smile.
This piqued Xun Xun’s curiosity. After reaching Ming Deng Resort and collecting the luggage, while handling the check-out procedures at the front desk, she had a sudden thought and asked if any of the service staff understood the local dialect. One young girl said she was a local, so Xun Xun asked her to translate Sister-in-law Gun’s meaning.
Sister-in-law Gun spoke again, and the young girl smiled after listening. She told Xun Xun that in their local village, there was a custom where the sixth day of the Lunar New Year was known as the “Water-Scooping Festival.” Traditionally, unmarried women would scoop well water on this morning to brew tea for their lovers. If the scooped water contained white foam, it was considered a good omen, symbolizing true love between the couple. If the man drank this tea, it meant they would grow old together.
After the girl finished explaining, Sister-in-law Gun continued nodding and smiling at Xun Xun. Brother Gun had casually mentioned this custom to Chi Cheng as an interesting tidbit, but he had taken it seriously. Sister-in-law Gun had watched the entire water-scooping and tea-brewing process, and hoping for the young couple’s happiness, she urged Xun Xun not to be angry with Chi Cheng over this matter.
Xun Xun rested both hands on the cold marble surface of the service counter, lost in thought.
She remembered that her first bowl of water had no foam – perhaps this truly represented heaven’s message. She was heartless, and Chi Cheng had ulterior motives; growing old together was just an illusion. He must have known this too, yet he stubbornly forced her to try again and again, willing to break the game’s rules to get his desired ending.
The delighted smile on Chi Cheng’s face as he held that bowl of tea was still vivid in her mind. A child promised a trip to the amusement park tomorrow would wear a similar expression of joy. Yet he was someone who believed in nothing.
Sister-in-law Gun grabbed Xun Xun’s hand, rubbing the back of it with her rough palm. The young girl served as interpreter once more as Sister-in-law Gun said that Xun Xun was a blessed person. Xun Xun smiled at Sister-in-law Gun but felt inexplicably sad.
On the way down the mountain, Xun Xun received a call from Xie Ping Ning. He said he had tried to contact her on New Year’s Eve but couldn’t get through. A few days ago, out of courtesy, he had brought some gifts to visit his former mother-in-law. Though he had prepared himself for Sister Yan Li’s sarcasm, she instead broke down crying upon seeing him, as if she had found a lifeline.
By then, Xun Xun had already called home to report her safety, and Sister Yan Li knew that although her daughter was stranded in the mountains, she wasn’t in any danger. Her tears were for her predicament and helplessness – even her former son-in-law, whom she had despised after the divorce, could bring her a rare moment of warmth and comfort.
Xie Ping Ning awkwardly consoled his former mother-in-law and expressed concern about Xun Xun still being on the mountain. He said he had been exploring various ways to get up the mountain these past few days, but every driver refused to risk it after hearing about the freezing rain on Guyang Mountain. Finally, hearing that the rain and snow had stopped and people could walk halfway up the mountain, Xie Ping Ning learned that a professional driver from a brother unit was passing near Guyang Mountain. After repeated requests, the driver agreed to wait at the scenic area entrance – if Xun Xun could make it there, she could return to the city today.
Xie Ping Ning added that if he wasn’t already at work and didn’t have an urgent matter at his unit, he would drive to pick her up himself.
“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble,” Xun Xun said hazily.
She found it difficult to adjust to this ex-husband who was now running around for her sake. When they were still together, there was once when she went grocery shopping and got stranded at the supermarket due to heavy rain. Though Xie Ping Ning’s workplace was nearby and he knew his wife might not be home yet, it never occurred to him to pick her up. Xun Xun waited for an hour until dark before finally getting a taxi home. It wasn’t that he was cold-hearted or cruel to his wife – he wasn’t that kind of person – he simply didn’t think of it. Many separations happen not out of hatred, but neglect.
“Don’t be so formal with me,” Xie Ping Ning said. “Xun Xun, don’t worry, I’ll figure something out about your mother’s situation. I have friends at the police station and have already spoken to them. They’ll find that scammer as soon as possible. Don’t think about selling the house yet. I have some money on hand – let your mother repay what she borrowed from relatives.”
Xun Xun felt as if a savior had appeared before her, but she knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, even if the person offering it was her ex-husband.
“Thank you, but you don’t need to do these things for me,” she told Xie Ping Ning.
Xie Ping Ning sounded disappointed and self-deprecatingly said, “We’re divorced, but do we need to draw such clear boundaries? Yes, I wasn’t good enough to you in the past, I neglected you…”
Xun Xun suddenly interrupted him, “Did my mother tell you about my breakup with Chi Cheng? Did she promise you something?”
Xie Ping Ning was startled, his tone faltering before continuing, “Actually, what your mother said doesn’t matter. What matters is knowing what we want. People can be quite pathetic. During the pre-Spring Festival cleaning, the hourly cleaner found an emergency kit under the bed. I remember you used to replace the water and dry food in it periodically. I always thought it was ridiculous back then. I had the cleaner open the kit to check – everything was expired. When she asked if we should throw it away, I found myself reluctant. It was only seeing these things that made me remember the days when you were still by my side. We could have been a couple growing old together, but now we’re past our expiration date.
I put the emergency kit back exactly where it was. Xun Xun, we probably both took the wrong turns, but perhaps it’s not too late to turn back. I… I hope you’ll personally replace the items in that emergency kit under the bed.”
These words weren’t easy for Xie Ping Ning, who was never good at expressing his feelings. After rushing through them, he held his breath, waiting for a long time.
Xun Xun felt a mixture of emotions. Was this what they called an ex-husband’s return? Often, it’s not that you only understand the value after losing something, but rather that even knowing it’s nothing special, a void remains in your heart.
She should have shown backbone and loudly refused. People say a good horse doesn’t eat returned grass because it’s usually tainted by others’ saliva. But what if there are only thorns ahead – would you eat it then? When a few more steps might mean starving to death on the road, would you eat it? Moreover, most people aren’t good horses and continuing to search might only lead to withered vines and old trees with dark crows. Turning back requires just a moment’s compromise and courage.
Xun Xun had tried growing old with Xie Ping Ning, and though it failed, that didn’t mean they lacked the ability. On the contrary, they were both content with simplicity, and having experienced their respective setbacks, might better cherish an ordinary life that doesn’t come easily.
Facing Zhao Xun Xun, who yearned for stability, it was an extremely tempting choice. However, she didn’t think for long before telling Xie Ping Ning “No.” She could walk down the mountain, but what about Chi Cheng?
She didn’t know what had come over her – perhaps she was bewitched by that bowl of water. If one lie often requires countless lies to cover up, could it similarly be proven that one night’s foolishness must be compensated with countless acts of foolishness?
Xun Xun returned to the cottage with Sister-in-law Gun. The wooden walkway was still wet, and they walked carefully, knowing someone was waiting for them at home. The journey took considerable time, and when the old mud-brick house with its peeling whitewash came into view, dusk was approaching, and they could see the long-absent sunset behind the mountain.
Brother Gun was cleaning his pipe in front of the house, and surprisingly, Chi Cheng, who hadn’t left his bed for days, was sitting by the door. He had a thick blanket over his legs and wore Xun Xun’s outdoor jacket. Sister-in-law Gun said something with a smile, which Xun Xun still couldn’t understand. She walked across the ground littered with rain-soaked red firecracker paper, getting closer to the people by the house.
Brother Gun stood up and gestured for his wife to go cook. Chi Cheng looked at Xun Xun with an ambiguous smile, saying nothing. Xun Xun suddenly felt that he could understand Sister-in-law Gun’s meaning.
After putting away Chi Cheng’s luggage, Xun Xun returned to the doorway and asked him why he was sitting in the wind. Chi Cheng refused her help to return to the room, saying he was almost molding in bed, and had suddenly discovered he was much better than before, able to take a few steps with assistance – the feeling was indescribably good.
Since that was the case, Xun Xun didn’t force him. She brought a low stool and sat beside Chi Cheng, washing their clothes from the previous night. Chi Cheng swung his uninjured leg back and forth, holding a small mirror to shave his stubble. He accidentally touched a newly scabbed scratch, yelped in pain, then continued humming an off-key tune.
After Xun Xun finished washing the clothes and was struggling to wring out the jeans legs, he mocked her clumsiness and asked her to come closer, grabbing the other end with one hand to help her wring the sheets.
The aroma of cooking soon wafted out, and Brother Gun came to call them for dinner. Xun Xun helped Chi Cheng up, and as he hopped forward, he suddenly touched her hand around his waist.
“Your hands are so cold,” he said.
Xun Xun smiled, thinking he finally understood the hardship of her washing clothes in cold water, but his next words turned mischievous again.
“You look like an old lady washing clothes.”
Xun Xun retorted irritably, “The one wearing a floral nightgown is the old lady.”
“I hope you’ll call me an old man,” he said shamelessly.
Xun Xun deliberately didn’t remind him about the doorstep threshold. Sure enough, as he was busy gaining the upper hand in their banter, his supporting leg hit the obstacle, and he nearly fell flat on his back.