Early in the morning, the sky was white and hazy, the mountain forests and the fis.h.i.+ng village lay faintly discernible among the light fog. A yellow-beaked sparrow perched on a bare branch, chirping away.
Xue Dongting was up early, busy in the kitchen. Chimney smoke wreathed the little cottage and there was the sweet aroma of flatbread. Husband and wife ate breakfast, then Song Yuming carried a wooden bucket to the well at the village entrance and drew several buckets of water, then took some of the soft flatbread Xue Dongting had made for his lunch and headed to the river to ferry people across.
Xue Dongting tidied up the house and washed the fisherman"s dirty hemp clothes. The water he had brought in from the well was not ice-cold, but already lukewarm, just right for was.h.i.+ng clothes.
She hung the clothes out to dry and spotted the green jade ornament on the trunk. She hesitated, then wrapped it in cloth and placed it deep within the closet. She knew that some things were better left hidden than destroyed. She could destroy a hundred bamboo & plum jade ornaments, but it wouldn"t mean a thing if Song Yuming still carried one in his heart. She trusted that one day, the fisherman would see that jade ornament and laugh it off, he would hold her in his arms and say, “I have no regrets having you for the rest of my life.”
When it was close to noon, Xue Dongting took the perch the fisherman had caught and gutted it and cleaned it, but she didn"t remove the scales. Mama Qiao had taught her her special trick of steaming it with the scales on, then once it was good and steamed, remove the scales and eat it. It was a simple method and it made the fish flesh tender and glossy, then add rice wine to the soup to make it fragrant and sweet. She put the steamed perch, juice and all, into an earthenware jar, wrapped a cloak around her, and headed toward the riverbank, carrying a bamboo basket.
Fog lay suspended over the vast river. Song Yuming"s fis.h.i.+ng boat was moored at the dock where he was sitting opposite Old Zhang on the deck. They were bent over studying something.
Xue Dongting got closer and saw they were placing white and black stones. A nineteen-line grid was carved into the deck, a simple weiqi (go) board carved with a knife into the wood. Song Yuming looked up at the sound of her footsteps, only to see his little wife standing prettily on the dock. He was surprised at first, then he was wreathed in smiles. “What are you doing out here in such cold weather?” Though he said that, there was not a trace of reprimand in his voice.
Old Zhang turned to look, smiling. “Lady Song, bringing your husband something to eat?” The old man took a big, loud whiff and praised her. “That fish soup smells terrific!”
Xue Dongting smiled happily. “It"s perch soup. If you don"t mind, Uncle, you should try some.”
Old Zhang laughed. “Mm, Uncle, that"s the right term of address, most excellent!”
Xue Dongting wsa a bit baffled, but Song Yuming"s helpless smile made her realize. He and Old Zhang must be pretty close, so they refer to each other as brothers. But she had called him uncle, so didn"t that mean she shorting Song Yuming?
She looked at the fisherman, laughing. “Looks like I got the seniority messed up.”
Song Yuming shook his head and kicked the old man playfully in the rump. “Old man,” he said grumpily, “make some room so my wife can come aboard.”
The old man laughed and when he had done he stood up and dusted off his b.u.t.t and turned to Xue Dongting, smiling. “I was just making some fun, I hope the lady won"t take offense.”
Xue Dongting shook her head and took Song Yuming"s offered hand and leaped onto the boat. She smiled at the old man. “For punishment you should try this soup and see if it"s edible.”
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xue Dongting. He clicked his tongue. “So pretty! A G.o.ddess like this, G.o.dd.a.m.n, Song, buddy, you really got lucky.”
He had a rough tongue, but he was sincerely complimenting her. Xue Dongting couldn"t help but be delighted. She was about to respond with something modest when the old man pinched his beard and said seriously, “But even though you"re beautiful, you"re no match for one person.”