The matter of Shi Ting going to Qian Guan Cheng was already pressing and imminent, and this time Zheng Yun would be going with him.

He had not said how long he would be away. If things proved troublesome, it might be half a month or a full month; if things went smoothly, perhaps only seven or ten days.

But whether ten days or more than a month, whenever Yan Qing thought of the small parting that was approaching, she still felt a pang of despondency.

She fetched from Luo Huaimeng the newly completed clothes. The parts she was not skilled at had all been sewn neatly and perfectly by Luo Huaimeng.

When Shi Ting came out after washing up, he found her sitting there fussing with a cotton jacket in her hands.

“Is this the jacket you made for me?” Shi Ting set down the towel in his hand and walked over.

Yan Qing looked up with a smile. “Come try it on quickly — if it doesn’t fit, I can alter it overnight.”

Shi Ting spread his arms and let her slip the jacket onto him. He could not help pinching the fabric — the outer layer was a handmade silk, and the inside felt soft and yielding, as though something had been stuffed in.

The cotton jackets or overcoats he normally wore were stuffed with cotton wool, making them feel both heavy and thick. But this jacket’s interior was remarkably light and thin.

“What is this filled with inside?” Shi Ting squeezed at it curiously.

“White duck down,” Yan Qing said as she moved to stand in front of him and fastened each button one by one.

This black long-cut cotton jacket reached to just above the knee, providing excellent warmth. In its design, Yan Qing had borrowed from the style of sportswear — not heavy, with smooth lines, convenient for walking and running, and no obstacle even in a fight.

It was the first time Shi Ting had heard of someone stuffing a jacket with white duck down, and he found it rather novel.

“I had my third brother-in-law specially set this aside from the duck farm — taking only the softest and most delicate down from the ducks, then processing it before stuffing it into the fabric. I must also thank Mother for her help — she is truly skilled with her hands. Even if I studied for another ten years, I could not match her.” Yan Qing said. “Turn around so I can have a look.”

Shi Ting obediently turned around. Yan Qing looked at the cut around his waist — even wearing a down jacket, he did not look the least bit bulky. This man’s figure was truly something to behold.

“Does it feel warm?”

“Much warmer than a cotton jacket, and very comfortable.” Shi Ting felt the jacket on his body. “But most of all, it is the warmth of my wife’s heart that warms me more than anything.”

Yan Qing could not help wrapping her arms around him from behind, pressing her face against the comfortable fabric and nuzzling gently. “I sewed several hidden pockets into the jacket — you can use them to carry things. I have already loaded them with large denomination bank notes and small change. Oh, and there is one pocket that can hold your gun. It is very secure and won’t be difficult to draw from either.”

Shi Ting felt the warm embrace from behind, and the reluctance in her voice was unmistakable. He could not help but cover the hands she had clasped around his waist. “Qing Qing, I will be back very soon. While I am gone, the Military Police Division will be very busy. If you need people, go to the black market and find Xie Yan — he has no shortage of capable individuals.”

“I understand. You take care of yourself out there. As for home, you need not worry — I will look after Mother well and keep watch over the courtyard.”

“Good. With you here, I am naturally at ease.” Shi Ting patted the back of her hand. “Mother has not been well these past few days — I will have to trouble you to keep a closer eye on her. And you yourself — eat more, read less; otherwise your eyes will tire.”

“What do I do when I miss you?” Yan Qing nuzzled his back again.

“Qing Qing.” Shi Ting suddenly seemed to remember something and turned around, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Let me take you somewhere.”

“It’s so late — where are we going? Surely not to eat noodles again?”

“Of course not.” Shi Ting took Yan Qing’s rabbit fur cloak from the side and helped her put it on, then put the hood up for her. “Let’s go.”

Yan Qing did not know where he wanted to take her, but the brightness in his eyes was like an invisible hand guiding her, making her unable to resist following his steps, falling into his rhythm.

Shi Ting took Yan Qing to a photography studio. By this hour the studio had already closed for the night, its doors shut. But through the glass window they could still see that the lights inside were on, and the owner was still there.

Shi Ting went up and knocked on the door. A middle-aged man came over to open it, and upon seeing the two of them, he seemed briefly taken aback. “You two wish to have photographs taken? The shop is closed.”

“The photography equipment hasn’t closed, has it?” Shi Ting took out a silver dollar and handed it to the shop owner.

The owner quickly accepted it with a smile. “Please come in, please come in.”

Inside the small photography studio, the furnishings were quite simple. Photographs hung on the walls — some portraits, some landscapes. Against one wall was a white backdrop with a chair placed in front of it. On the other wall, several coconut trees and a beach scene had been painted in ink and wash, though the brushwork was somewhat crude.

“May I ask what kind of photographs you wish to take?” The owner, having received his money, was immediately most attentive.

“A portrait of the two of us,” Shi Ting said. “When can the photographs be developed?”

“One week.”

“Could it be any faster?”

The owner thought of the silver dollar and replied, “Three days then — no faster than that. Any faster and the quality would suffer.”

“Three days it is.” Shi Ting led Yan Qing to sit before the white backdrop and moved the two chairs closer together so they sat side by side.

Yan Qing had not had many photographs taken. In this era, having one’s photograph taken was an extraordinary luxury, and she rarely sat for portraits — not because she could not afford it, but because she simply did not care much for facing the camera.

Sitting now beside Shi Ting, watching the owner busy himself nervously in front of them, she could not help but smile. “I feel a little nervous.”

Shi Ting held her hand and rested it on his knee. “We seem to have never taken a photograph together — not even when we got married. It is good that we can make up for it now. From here on, whenever we wish, we can come anytime — every year, until we are too old to move.”

“Then when we are old, we can arrange all the photographs we’ve taken in a row — it would make a very long display.” Yan Qing found herself daydreaming as well. “Looking at the photographs of ourselves going from youth to middle age, and from middle age to old age, remembering year by year — that would be a happy thing.”

“Then it is settled: on this day every year, we will take a photograph together.”

“Agreed.” Yan Qing curled her finger. “You are not allowed to forget.”

“You two truly are a devoted couple.” The owner had finished preparing the photography equipment, and every word of their conversation had fallen into his ears. “If you two would not think poorly of me, as long as this little shop does not close its doors, every year at this time I will take photographs for you free of charge.”

Yan Qing had not expected the owner to be such a warm-hearted soul. She smiled and said, “Then thank you very much.”

The owner gave a cheerful grin. “Please sit properly, both of you — straighten your backs, look toward my lens here, that’s right, just like that — bring your heads a little closer… smile a bit, good…”

With a soft click from the camera, the images of the two of them were perfectly captured on the film.

Three days later, Yan Qing went to the photography studio to collect the photographs, while by that time Shi Ting had already departed for Qian Guan Cheng.

Yan Qing had just entered the photography studio when Di Huai, who had been following close behind her, said quietly, “Young Mistress, it is Lu Shi — he has been following us.”

“Lu Shi may have something to say to me. Let us go in first.”

“Very well.”

Once Yan Qing entered the photography studio, the owner recognized her at a glance and, before she even spoke, handed over a brown paper envelope. “Madam, here are your photographs. As you instructed, two prints were made and both have been put into frames.”

“Thank you.” Yan Qing took it and drew out one of the frames. In the black-and-white photograph, she and Shi Ting sat side by side — he in a long Chinese robe, she in an embroidered top and trousers. Both of them gazed toward the camera, the corners of their eyes lifting in the same bright, radiant smiles.

She could not help but gently trace over his handsome face, thinking: this man looks just as good in a photograph as he does in person.

She had said: what do I do when I miss you? And so he had brought her to have photographs taken. He wanted to tell her: if you miss me, look at the photographs.

After putting the photographs away, Yan Qing said to the owner, “Does your shop have a back courtyard?”

“Yes, there is a small courtyard behind the shop with a door out the back.”

“In a little while, a young man will come in — not very tall, with a black mole above the left side of his eyebrow. When you see him, could you please direct him to the back courtyard to find me?” Yan Qing produced a silver dollar and held it out to the owner.

The owner quickly declined. “The amount that young master gave was already more than enough to cover photographs for you two every year. I cannot in good conscience accept something for doing nothing — this money I will not take.”

Yan Qing saw that the owner was in earnest and had no choice but to put the money away. “Then I will thank you in advance.”

“Please do not worry, Madam. A small matter like this — I will handle it properly.”

The owner led Yan Qing to the back courtyard. It was not a large space, with a table and a few chairs placed in the middle.

Yan Qing had been sitting there only a moment when Lu Shi came in.

“Young Mistress.” Lu Shi gave a respectful bow.

“Please sit, Mr. Lu.” Yan Qing smiled as she spoke.

Di Huai quickly pulled out a chair. Lu Shi, without any awkwardness, sat down straightforwardly.

“Mr. Lu has been following us all this way — you must have something to tell me.”

Lu Shi said, “You instructed me to cultivate a good relationship with the Second Master of the Qian Family and take the opportunity to inquire about news regarding the eldest daughter of the Qian Family. I have made some small progress.”

Yan Qing was pleased. She knew that entrusting this matter to Lu Shi would certainly yield results.

Lu Shi excelled at winning people over, and even more so at reading their hearts. His thinking was quick and unpredictable — not quite like the thinking of people of this era. She even suspected he was someone who had crossed through time from that other age.

“Please go ahead, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Shi said, “According to the Second Master of the Qian Family, the eldest daughter of the Qian Family was found and brought back from the area around Hu Xi Fang. At the time, the Qian Madam happened to be in the Hu Xi Fang area browsing around and came across a keepsake belonging to the eldest Qian daughter by chance.”

“Hu Xi Fang?”

“Hu Xi Fang lies to the north of Shun Cheng. It is a water township — a branch of the Liao He flows through Hu Xi Fang, and all the buildings there are constructed around this river. There is a town in Hu Xi Fang called Hu Xi Town, which has many dyeing workshops and many perfumery workshops. The fragrant materials produced by these perfumeries and the cloth produced by the dyeing workshops are sold all over the country.”

Upon hearing the words “perfumery workshops,” Yan Qing seemed to grasp at a ray of light that had suddenly shone in.

In Bai Yun Nunnery she had nearly lost her life, and the only piece of information she had come away with was that Qian Lan’s former family had been in the fragrance trade.

If Qian Lan had been brought back from Hu Xi Fang, then her family very likely came from Hu Xi Fang.