Chapter 04
Du Weiyan tightly closed her eyes, and the sound of the air conditioner informed her that she was in a world she was familiar with
After gazing for a long time, Du Weiyan slowly sat down on the carpet, took off both her short boots and socks, and then gently slid her left foot into the shoe.
The road conditions are good. The drive has been smooth. When Yi Ziyong put down the magazine and turned to look at Du Weiyan, she was already asleep, leaning against the other end of the car.
In fact, those things, before I am completely certain to dismiss them... I do not know whether I should regard them with disdain or believe in them unwaveringly
However, it is of no use. If even Cantonese dim sum has already made its way in, let alone language? That is something one can encounter daily on television broadcasts. Du Weiyan concluded, casually taking the glass of water from the server's hand, with a beaming smile, "Thank you"
It should not be the case. Jiang Luwen patted her on the head, saying, "I think it is more likely to be this way. In the past, Mingwu was poor and had many brides brought in. The locals fabricated this story to scare those girls so that they would not run away."
Du Weiyan smiled lightly, avoiding the main topic: "I brought it from home. Originally, it was a pair. Later, I lost the one for my right foot." She took off her shoes and asked Xiao Liang: "Are you free tonight? I want to go out for a stroll."
Du Weiyan stood up, wearing only one shoe on one foot, not having time to take it off: "Indeed."
The door behind him opened with a click. Xiao Liang turned on the bright light and walked in: "Oh, you have already retrieved the luggage?"
Du Weiyan glanced at him; he sat on the opposite side of the Eight Immortals table, his thick brows furrowed, yet his eyes were filled with laughter and helplessness
"I mean... how long until we reach Mingwu?" Du Weiyan suddenly realized that he had made a mistake. He said nothing further; was it not exactly in line with his own intentions? Thus, he quickly added, "I didn't mean anything else."
Xiao Liang caught sight of it at a glance and asked with a smile, "Where did you buy this souvenir? These shoes are beautifully embroidered"
Jiang Luwen's long fingers gently tapped the edge of the table, and he finally asked her softly: "What is that play about?"
Du Weiyan wrapped her arms around her chest, lowered her head, walked for a while, and then slowly said: "What do you think?"
Du Weiyan turned to Xiao Liang and said: "Did you hear that? Her flat retroflex sound is still somewhat unclear."
Murmuring between her lips and teeth, she wanted to make a sound, somewhat intermittent, like a dream talk. However, at the final utterance, Du Weiyan's heart skipped a beat; she realized that the name she was calling out was another name.
Du Weiyan shook his head slowly, savoring his analysis. After a long while, he sighed, "Your analysis is truly a mood killer." He then laughed and said, "Mr. Jiang, is your specialty detective work?"
Xiao Liang was packing his luggage when he turned around and saw Du Weiyan coming in. He smiled and said, "This journey has been quite challenging."
As the waiter walked past, Du Weiyan called out to her: "Miss, I would like a glass of plain water"
That scene was long, yet it felt fleeting. It was as if she were engaged in a difficult contemplation and recollection, to the extent that the changes around her were suddenly cast aside.
As she turned back to her room, she couldn't help but open the envelope to take a look. Inside was merely a piece of paper, with strong and vigorous penmanship: Contact me after you return
The driver turned his head, signaling her to get out of the car. Du Weiyan, as if granted a great pardon, smiled gratefully at him and pushed open the car door
Du Weiyan's hotel is located in the old town, where the roads are narrow, mostly paved with gravel, and the houses on both sides are made of stone. Such a night possesses a unique tranquility
Working and traveling in such a place reminds her of another more beautiful and ethereal location, somewhat akin to dwelling in a poetic world
On the long and winding path, it seems that only the figures of the two of them remain. Amidst the shimmering starlight and moonlight, their shadows are elongated and dragged before them.
The various unexpected events during the journey, along with the ups and downs of emotions, culminated at this moment. Du Weiyan smiled sincerely and said, "Ah! That's wonderful!"
As I was blow-drying my hair, Old Sun came to knock on the door, excitedly saying: "Xiao Du, the driver who took us over this afternoon just called, saying that your luggage will be delivered to you by tomorrow evening at the latest"
Du Weiyan turned his head to look at the falling raindrops outside the window, estimating in his heart how much longer it would take to arrive, and finally coughed softly: "Do not ... ..."
Du Weiyan focused intently, and in the blink of an eye, the stage was already empty. Meanwhile, the voices of the spectators in the teahouse began to rise again, a clamor that resembled the sudden onset of wind. When he shifted his gaze, it seemed as though a long time had passed. Du Weiyan slowly peeled a peanut from the fruit platter before him, not in a hurry to leave
The next morning, after waking up early, I had a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Du Weiyan peeled two boiled eggs, dipped them in soy sauce, and swallowed them hastily. He asked Xiao Liang, "What are the plans for today?"
The woman on the stage wore a mask, appearing not to be young, with a somewhat plump figure, and her voice could not be described as sweet. She began to sing slowly, perfectly following Jiang Luwen's words.
In the center of the box, there lay a single embroidered shoe, perfectly intact, but only one.
She placed the note back into the envelope, stuffed it into her bag, and took out the room card to open the door. The first thing she saw was the black suitcase already lying by the window. A sense of surprise swept through Du Weiyan's heart, and she felt a sense of relief.
She hesitated for a moment, but still turned back. Yi Zirong remained with her eyes closed, her profile was very beautiful, and she did not look at her.
Suddenly, a layer of invisible and heavy atmosphere enveloped the surroundings, and Du Weiyan nodded slightly, as if to acknowledge it.
As it approached 9 o'clock, for this traditionally quiet and peaceful small city, Du Weiyan could already be considered a latecomer. She bid farewell to Jiang Luwen in the elevator, and as they brushed past each other, she seemed to sense his hesitation to speak.
Du Weiyan's conjecture was that the luggage had arrived. She hurried over, but the young lady smiled sweetly and handed her an envelope: "This is from Mr. Jiang in Room 306."
"Miss Du, what is the purpose of your visit to Mingwu this time?" he asked with a smile that was not quite a smile, his thin lips pressed together, somewhat devoid of color, yet still maintaining an elegant line. "Is it official business?"
In fact, the men and women on stage have all passed middle age, wearing masks with coarse lines, which have little to do with beauty. The lyrics of the Nuo opera are not as graceful and melodious as those of Kunqu or Yue opera, mostly consisting of dialogues in local dialects that are simple and easy to understand
Jiang Luwen fell silent for a moment and then asked softly, "Is there really a Spirit King Temple?"
The intensely bright red color resembles the pomegranate flowers at the tips of the branches, as if a stream of red is flowing, rippling out and dyeing the gray T-shirt beneath it with the same hue. The soles of the shoes are quite thick, while the upper features exquisite peony patterns; the plain green leaves, contrasted against this extreme red, also become vibrant.
I want you to know that I did not come back to you lightly. He paused, "I have already divorced."
Not too big, not too small, just right, as if this pair of shoes was made for her by nature
When she is extremely tired, she likes to watch Taiwanese variety shows. When not working, she enjoys finding an outdoor café and ordering a cup of blueberry tea. During moments of daydreaming, the warm air of the city brushes against her face, carrying dust with it. Because she is young and has a touch of vanity, she enjoys the compliments from the outside world. It belongs to her, and also to this world, the flourishing of all beings.
Unable to think of a solution for the time being, Du Weiyan could only borrow a set of clothes from Xiao Liang and went to take a shower first. Fortunately, his wallet and identification were in the small bag he carried with him. At worst, he could go to the mall tomorrow, take a stroll, and buy whatever he needed to make up for the deficiencies.
The woman, dressed in a long coat, held a shoe in her hand and embraced the man, appearing to be in silent tears at this scene
Du Weiyan was taken aback for a moment, then he smiled wryly, for he truly understood himself. Having someone pass on a note was quite a primitive method. However, if he did not take the initiative to contact him, in the future, when he inquired about it, there would be ample evidence and witnesses, leaving no opportunity for him to argue his case.
That play tells this story. The girl was taken away by a bully, and the male protagonist sought help from the spirit king to rescue her.
Yes
The clothes that had just gotten soaked were being dried little by little in the car with the heater on. Du Weiyan shifted slightly to one side of the car, feeling uncomfortable all over. She occasionally stole glances at Yi Zirong, but he was engrossed in a magazine, almost covering his face with it, reading with intense focus and no longer paying her any attention.
Jiang Luwen could not help but raise his eyebrows slightly and chuckle as he said, "You know I can't understand."
The cool breeze carried in some scattered rain, and just as Du Weiyan was bending down to go outside, he inexplicably felt that someone was staring at his back
The girl's voice was filled with confusion, spreading out in the vast space, as if blue smoke were dispersing over an open plain, ultimately becoming ethereal and gradually losing its trace
The lights are mostly focused on the stage, while the lighting in the teahouse is somewhat dim, with shadows flickering, making everything even more indistinct. Only Jiang Luwen's face is close at hand, his gaze lightly flowing with a hint of a smile: "I chased you out of the hotel, and in the blink of an eye, you disappeared. I thought you had gotten lost."
He only glanced for a moment, yet his eyes appeared even darker and more intense. After a while, he tapped on the back of the driver's seat, signaling him to raise the temperature a bit.
Xiao Liang expressed some sentiments, noting that along the way, although the mountain roads were rugged, it was not without its sights. It seems that the inconvenient geographical environment has, in fact, served as a protective umbrella for some ancient cultures, preventing modern civilization from encroaching all at once
He reached out his hand to her, then paused for a moment, creating a brief stalemate. For some reason, Du Weiyan felt that even this momentary pause was intentional on his part
After waiting for a long time, the young lady apologetically said, "I am sorry, Mr. Jiang seems to be out of the room"
Du Wei Yan pressed her lips together, did not look at him, yet let out a soft laugh.
The clever waiter has already come around from the side, asking in Mandarin with a strong dialectal flavor: "What would you like to drink?"
The chirping of a few insects resonates, as the world stands in solemn tranquility
That night, everyone was somewhat fatigued and turned off the lights to sleep early. Du Weiyan lay in bed, clearly exhausted, yet unable to fall asleep. Her eyes were wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling, as if there existed an invisible yet familiar mask above her.
Du Weiyan quickened her pace in that direction. She knew that this was a unique form of opera here, which could also be considered a type of Nuo opera. In this cultural tourism development, this particular opera was also a key project to be examined.
This story, in fact, relates to a certain folk custom. Du Weiyan propped his chin on his hand and said leisurely, "Let us return; I will tell you about it on the way back"
The office is located in a small building next to the teaching building. It has a wooden structure, and the floor creaks when stepped on. Technicians are installing equipment, and the sound of students reading can be heard clearly from outside. Du Weiyan gazes slightly into the distance from the corridor; the distant mountains appear dark green, perhaps due to the recent rain, the air is fresh and humid, reminiscent of Wang Wei's verse: "After the new rain in the empty mountains, the weather turns to autumn in the evening."
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, Jiang Luwen suddenly reached out his hand, causing the doors to be momentarily obstructed before slowly swinging open to both sides
Alright, please wait a moment
In fact, the faith in the Black Dog Spirit King originated from the Red Jade. A couple, as long as they are in love, can make a solemn vow at the Spirit King's place, and then one of them will leave a shoe in the Spirit King's temple. In this way, if that person changes their mind and runs away, the Spirit King will use that shoe to find the one who has changed their heart
Du Weiyan hurriedly averted his gaze and nodded: "Official business"
In a state between half-asleep and half-awake, illusions appeared in this scene
The Mingwu Municipal Government first dispatched vehicles to transport their group to Mingwu Senior High School, where three vacant classrooms were allocated for them to serve as a voice laboratory and office.
Her colleagues arrived ahead of her and had already gone to their respective rooms. Du Weiyan inquired about the room numbers and then turned to head to the second floor
Jiang Luwen chuckled softly: "Weiyan, you are also a scientist, do you really believe in such things?"
The sound of silk and bamboo instruments, along with the singing of women, slowly unfolds along the cold streets, as if a traveler were walking through a desolate wilderness, suddenly discovering a flower blooming freely.
With a crisp snap, she casually lifted it, only to suddenly freeze in place
Du Weiyan was momentarily taken aback and instinctively reached out to take it: "Jiang Luwen?"
Oh, today I will meet with the leaders in charge of cultural education from the municipal committee; they will also show some hospitality and entertain a bit
Subtle Words
How can she still be able to sleep? Or is it that such an encounter means nothing to her? Yi Zirong slightly turned her face, her gaze revealing a hint of inquiry as she looked at her淡淡的望向她
He was an exceptionally handsome man, turned sideways, silently pressing his lips together as he looked at her
A banner at the entrance of the hotel reads: Welcome esteemed experts for your visit and inspection
After walking for a while, she suddenly saw a shop ahead, its lights glowing in a warm orange hue, casting a bright yellow warmth over the area, while the sounds of chatter and laughter emanated from within, creating a lively atmosphere
Yi Zirong set down the magazine, casting a complex glance at her, yet remained silent
The driver in front replied: "There are still more than two hours left."
Du Weiyan smiled at him, made a "shh" gesture, and focused intently on watching the performance
As the brakes were applied, Du Weiyan woke up, glanced out the window, and realized they had already arrived at Mingwu Hotel. She looked at the man who was resting with his eyes closed, unsure whether she should wake him up or not
After having lunch and taking a stroll around the city, when Du Weiyan returned to the hotel, the front desk attendant called out to her: "Miss Du?"
Du Weiyan stood at the door for a long time, his expression changing unpredictably. When he finally spoke, it felt as if the sky had fallen: "Where is my luggage?"
Yi Zirong smiled and released her hand: "Are you still investigating dialects?"
She approached the front desk, hesitated for a moment, and then asked: "Could you please make a call to Mr. Jiang in room 306?"
Is he Yi Zirong
Jiang Luwen turned his head to glance at her, his tone calm yet gentle, "What do you think?"
It turned out to be a teahouse, where Du Weiyan found a corner table with eight immortals and sat down comfortably. The angle was also quite good, allowing for a clear view of the small stage.
After a flurry of searching, it was finally confirmed that it was the kind-hearted driver who had placed her suitcase in the trunk of Yi Zirong's car. Now, their vehicle is likely driving through the lofty mountains on the route from Mingwu to Hongyu.
She turned slightly to the side, her head tilted gently, the soft and light rain-soaked light fell upon her fair neck, while her ear-length hair created varying shades of shadows. It was as if ink had been splashed in an expressive manner
Hmm? Du Weiyan stood a distance of an arm's length away from him, "What happened?"
When Du Weiyan wanted to withdraw her hand, she found that, evidently, Yi Zirong had no intention of letting go of her for the time being
She let out a soft "oh" and, seeing that Yi Zirong had started flipping through the magazine again, finally couldn't help herself and slowly unbuttoned her coat. Underneath, she wore a thick T-shirt, and she could only make do by leaning there, remaining completely still
In such a realm, one feels a sense of tranquility and refreshment of the spirit
Before Du Weiyan could speak, a pleasant male voice had already answered for her: "Two cups of Eight Treasures Tea"
Du Weiyan let out a sigh of relief, and her tone became more cheerful: "It's alright, thank you."
Mingwu City serves as a dividing line for the economy and geography of Linxiu Province. Further south lies a region of ethnic diversity, characterized by more complex terrain and interspersed hills. Within Mingwu City, there is already a significant coexistence of Han Chinese and various ethnic groups, creating a unique cultural landscape.
The fair-skinned instep, adorned with a red satin shoe upper, creates a delicate foot shape once worn, reminiscent of the refined young ladies of ancient times
The car drove into Mingwu territory, and due to the gentle wind and evening rain, the sky was nearing darkness.