Inside his dilapidated small bamboo home, Lee Dachin sat at the small table, meticulously making a sword tassel. He knew that Fang Yaoting would not take back the hairpin, nor could he afford to buy any expensive things for Fang Yaoting, so he had decided to make a sword tassel for Fang Yaoting. After he finished making the tassel, he carefully placed it on the clean clothes that he had borrowed from Fang Yaoting a few days ago. He decided to return Fang Yaoting's clothes back to him tomorrow morning. After that, he would not meet with Fang Yaoting again.
When he was lying on the bamboo bed, he realized that he had been truly happy two days ago. No one usually paid attention to him because he had lost both his parents at a young age. He had been tossed from one family to the next until his distant uncle and aunt decided to take him in.
He worked tirelessly on the farm to make money, so his uncle could send his cousins to school. He often ate leftover food, but he didn't mind, because for him, as long as it was edible, he would not be picky. He knew that people like him had no choice or entitlement. He accepted his fate willingly, without complaint.
He was lucky when he met Guo Longtong. Guo Longtong was the first person who genuinely wanted to be his friend. It was because of Guo Longtong that he was educated. Guo Longtong also introduced many other friends to him, expanding his small world.
Fang Yaoting was the first person, except for his parents, to show him profound love. He knew his own humble status. He knew where he should stand in society. He closed his eyes and could still vividly taste Fang Yaoting's lips. He could still feel Fang Yaoting's tender touches.
He couldn't sleep, so he decided to walk around the house. He came to his uncle's house. His uncle's family was having dinner with their two sons and the little girl. He stood quietly by the window, listening to their conversation, his heart heavy.
"Did you tell him?" Aunt Lee asked.
"Tell him what?" Uncle Lee replied, feigning ignorance.
"You need to make it clear to him," Aunt Lee insisted. "We are selling the land on which he built the hut. He needs to move before the end of the month."
"I'm still finding him a place to stay," Uncle Lee mumbled, trying to defer.
Aunt Lee sighed. "He will not be staying with us. We don't have more space. If he really wants to stay with us, he will have to sleep in the wooden shed. If you don't want to tell him, I will tell him."
"Let's wait two more days," Uncle Lee pleaded. "No matter what, he is the son of my cousin. I will take time to talk with him."
"Also, you must tell him to save money," Aunt Lee added, frowning. "If he decides to get married, we don't have the money to hold his wedding. I just can't support everyone."
"I will find time," Uncle Lee promised weakly.
He walked back to his small bamboo shed as quietly as possible so that his uncle and aunt would not hear his footsteps. He sat on the doorstep, leaning his head on the door frame, looking up at the moon. Tears fell from his eyes, tracing paths down his cheeks. He cried many times before finally falling asleep, knowing this was not the first time, nor would it be the last.
He smiled sadly at the moon and whispered, "Ping'an, what a lucky woman you are."
In the early morning, Fang Yaoting was awakened by a knock on the door. He opened the door, and Lee Dachin stood in front of him. He was still reeling from Lee Dachin's departure the previous night, looked at Lee Dachin coldly, a mask of anger on his face.
"I told you, we are through," Fang Yaoting said, his voice laced with bitterness.
"I know," Lee Dachin smiled faintly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Can I come in?"
Fang Yaoting walked back, lay on the bed, and then closed his eyes, his back to Lee Dachin. "What do you need to wake me up this early in the morning for?" he muttered, still pretending to be asleep.
"I'm sorry to disturb you," Lee Dachin said softly. "I'm returning your clothes. I have already washed them. Also, I know you won't take the hairpin back, so I made a sword tassel for you."
"Just put it on the table and you can leave," Fang Yaoting commanded, his voice cold.
Lee Dachin looked at Fang Yaoting lying on the bed where they had made love two days ago. The bed where Fang Yaoting had embraced him and promised to love him until death parted them. Now, Fang Yaoting was a different person, seemingly distant and indifferent. He put the clothes and tassel on the table. He walked to the door and turned around to look at Fang Yaoting for the last time, but to his surprise, Fang Yaoting didn't even look at him.
Lee Dachin stepped out, closing the door softly behind him. "Sorry, I disturbed you early in the morning, Childe Fang."
As soon as Lee Dachin closed the door, Fang Yaoting opened his eyes and walked to the table. He saw a red string tassel with two neatly braided black strings the size of a finger. He carefully checked the woven black thread, which was unmistakably made of hair. A flicker of emotion crossed his face.
Lee Dachin walked to the lovers' room. The door was open, and Ping'an was sitting at the table, writing. He knocked on the door frame. Ping'an looked up at him and smiled warmly.
"Dachin, come in," Ping'an invited.
Lee Dachin walked in and sat opposite Ping'an.
"I'm so glad you are not hurt," Ping'an said, her voice filled with relief.
"Me too," Lee Dachin replied softly.
"What's the matter?" Ping'an asked, sensing his underlying sadness. She poured him a cup of tea.
Lee Dachin sipped the tea. "Ping'an, when you feel unwanted, apart from death, what are some other ways out?" he asked, his voice low.
"Dachin! You are not thinking about..." Ping'an began, her eyes wide with concern.
"No, if I were thinking about it, it would have ended long ago," Lee Dachin reassured her, a sad smile on his face.
Ping'an sighed, recalling her own past. "At that time when I felt unwanted... I always wanted to leave and never look back. Start a new life somewhere, even change my name." She held his left hand, offering comfort. "If you feel unwanted, please remember that this friend still wants you. If you have no other place to go, then this friend will always welcome you with open arms. If you don't want to live with us on the mountain, you can open a school in Cloud City. There is no teacher to teach the younger generation. Renshu bought a big house that is now vacant." She smiled, trying to offer a beacon of hope. "Did you know? Renshu owns fifty percent of the land in Cloud City."
"Thank you, I accept that offer," Lee Dachin said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Since you have no one else here, why not go with us?" Ping'an suggested.
"What are you doing?" Zhao Renshu asked Guo Longtong, patting him on the shoulder as he observed the scene.
Guo Longtong turned around, put one finger on his lips. "Hush... You don't believe they have an affair? See for yourself!" He pointed excitedly to Ping'an and Lee Dachin, who were talking and holding hands.
"When are you going to get that idea out of your head?" Guo Baiyu sighed, exasperated.
"Wait, don't go in, wait until they are in bed..." Guo Longtong whispered conspiratorially.
Zhao Renshu and Guo Baiyu walked into the room, while the spy Guo Longtong stood speechless outside the door, his jaw dropped.
"Dachin, how are you?" Zhao Renshu asked, sitting next to Lee Dachin.
"It's better now. Thank you, Baiyu, for the medicine," Lee Dachin replied, glancing at Guo Baiyu.
Guo Longtong walked in and pointed his finger at Lee Dachin. He questioned madly, "Dachin, why are you having an affair with Ping'an?"
"A what?" Lee Dachin asked, bewildered.
"He got this idea that the two of you are having an affair," Zhao Renshu explained, shaking his head.
"Guo Longtong! This is outrageous and unacceptable!" Lee Dachin exclaimed, genuinely offended.
"Then explain to me why you two are holding hands!" Guo Longtong demanded.
"This is not the first time I hold Ping'an's hands," Lee Dachin retorted. "I also hold your hand, what's the difference?"
"The difference is we are friends," Guo Longtong argued. "She is the wife of Baiyu and Renshu!"
"She is also my friend!" Lee Dachin shot back.
"We have been trying to explain to you," Guo Baiyu interjected, sighing.
"So, you are not having an affair with Ping'an?" Guo Longtong asked, finally relenting slightly.
"No, we are talking in general," Lee Dachin replied.
"About?" Guo Longtong asked, still curious.
"Renshu, the house you bought," Ping'an interjected, "we can easily turn it into a school."
"Yes, why?" Zhao Renshu asked, intrigued by the sudden change of topic.
"You know there is no school in Cloud City," Ping'an explained. "If Dachin teaches there, it will benefit the children."
"This is a fantastic idea," Guo Baiyu agreed, his eyes lighting up. "If Dachin is willing to teach, the families will be very happy."
"As mayor of Cloud City, I agree," Zhao Renshu declared with a grin.
"Mayor?" Guo Baiyu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Since I own half of Cloud City, I voted myself as mayor," Zhao Renshu said proudly.
"You are unfit for the position," Guo Baiyu stated bluntly.
Zhao Renshu grimaced. "You want to challenge me?"
The two men stared at each other, a playful challenge in their eyes.
"Dachin, do you want to move to Cloud City?" Guo Longtong asked sadly, remembering Lee Dachin's plight.
"Mnm... My uncle sold the land I built my hut on," Lee Dachin admitted, a pained smile on his face. "My face is not thick enough to move in with you." He looked at Guo Longtong. "I hope to have a new beginning like Ping'an. Hopefully it can bring some benefits to me."
"I don't mind if you live with me, otherwise I can build a brand-new house for you," Guo Longtong said, his sadness evident. "What about Yaoting?"
"What about him?" Lee Dachin asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Does he know?" Guo Longtong pressed.
"We are mutual friends," Lee Dachin replied. "If he asks me, I will tell him."
"Now that everything is settled down, Ping'an is better," Guo Baiyu said. "We are going home."
"By now the peaches will be delicious and sweet," Zhao Renshu added, looking forward to it.
"Baiyu, are you going to attend Lady Wu's funeral?" Guo Longtong asked, changing the subject.
"No," Guo Baiyu replied. "I am no longer a member of the family, and I don't need to be there."
"But..." Guo Longtong began to protest.
Huang Hongse stood at the door. "Breakfast is ready," she announced. "Dachin, you are here. Now, everyone can have breakfast together before we part." She turned and walked away.
Guo Longtong got up and chased Huang Hongse. "Hongse, you are leaving too? Why? Where?"
Guo Baiyu looked at Lee Dachin. "You are going to love Cloud City."
"I'm hungry, let's go down," Zhao Renshu said, already heading for the door.