Tang Jinnian and Xue Qiming took some of the rations with them when they left, so Ye Beizhi and the other two stayed an extra day in Renyang City to replenish their supplies. After buying two more horses that would allow them to travel faster, the group left the small town and continued southward.
Xuanfeng Valley was located deep within the towering mountain ranges in the south of the Ruen Dynasty. Their journey was still far from over.
"If we follow the post road for another twenty li, we’ll reach Dongyuan City," Fang Dingwu said after asking for directions. "We can rest there for a while; the horses are tired."
"Dongyuan City..." Ye Beizhi froze for a moment upon hearing this, as if something had come to mind.
Chi Nanwei noticed Ye Beizhi’s change in expression and asked with concern, "What’s wrong, Dummy?"
Fang Dingwu also looked over. Ye Beizhi glanced toward the distance and then turned back to say, "Let’s take a detour... There’s a village east of Dongyuan City... called Niujia Ping."
"Dummy?" Chi Nanwei, seeing Ye Beizhi’s demeanor, couldn’t help but feel worried. "Is there something wrong?"
Fang Dingwu thought for a moment and tentatively asked, "Do you know someone there?"
Ye Beizhi lowered his gaze and, after a while, gave a slight nod. "I guess."
The departed could also be considered old acquaintances, couldn’t they? Ye Beizhi thought.
The three bypassed Dongyuan City and headed straight east. The road to the village of Niujia Ping wasn’t as easy to traverse because the small post road eventually gave way to a stretch of wild grass.
After repeatedly asking for directions along the way, the three eventually caught sight of the village nestled in the valley below. From the hillside where they stood, they could see that the small mountain village only consisted of only a few dozen houses.
Despite being secluded in the mountains, the village didn't feel like a tranquil escape. Instead, the weathered walls of the houses made the village seem desolate.
"This village is quite remote," Fang Dingwu remarked. "It’s far from the city. It would take a full day to hike the mountain roads to the city and back. Ox carts probably wouldn’t fare well here.
"Those few scattered patches of farmland look like they were ploughed by hand. It seems like the villagers hunt to survive... They must live very hard lives."
Ye Beizhi nodded noncommittally and took the lead, urging his horse toward the mountain village.
It seemed the village rarely saw outsiders. As they entered, they spotted several children squatting at the entrance, playing. The sight of three strangers was a pleasant surprise to the children, who bounded off excitedly toward the village.
The three dismounted and led their horses on foot. Before long, they encountered a woman walking toward them. She carried a basket in the crook of her arm, seemingly on her way into the mountains.
Ye Beizhi stepped forward and stopped the woman. She had been hurrying along with her head down and hadn’t noticed the three of them until a shadow fell before her.
Looking up, she saw a young man standing in her path. Startled, she took two steps back and eyed the three warily. "What are you here for?"
"I..." Ye Beizhi felt his throat inexplicably go dry. "I’m looking for Wang Cuihong."
"Wang Cuihong?" The woman adjusted her waistband. "What do you want with her? Who exactly are you?"
"I... I am..." Ye Beizhi’s voice suddenly quavered. Chi Nanwei turned her head to look at him and noticed that his hands, hanging by his sides, had unknowingly clenched into fists and were trembling violently.
"Dummy"—Chi Nanwei grabbed Ye Beizhi’s fist and held it in her hand—"what’s wrong with you?!"
Ye Beizhi didn’t answer her. He simply looked at the woman before him and said, word by word, "I... I am... one of Niu Dayong’s soldiers."
"Dayong?!" The woman covered her mouth in surprise. "You served with him?"
Ye Beizhi nodded vigorously. "Wang Cuihong... She is a sister-in-law to me. Where is she?"
The woman’s gaze turned a little strange as she pointed toward the far end of the village. "There—you see that house? She should be home now."
Following the woman’s gesture, they spotted a relatively conspicuous house. While it couldn’t be called luxurious, it was certainly in better shape than most of the other homes in the village.
Ye Beizhi cupped his hands toward the woman. "Thank you."
The woman waved her hand repeatedly. "No need for thanks... but hey, if anyone asks, don’t say I told you!" With that, she quickly walked away.
Fang Dingwu squinted at the woman’s retreating figure and sneered. "Something's fishy here..."
"Let’s go take a look," Ye Beizhi said softly and walked in the direction the woman had indicated.
Fang Dingwu quickly grabbed Ye Beizhi. "Don’t be in such a rush, Brother Ye. Let me ask around first."
Fang Dingwu chuckled, told Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei to wait, and headed into the village alone.
Fang Dingwu noticed clothes drying in the front yard of a house and decisively went up to knock on the door.
Before long, the door opened, and a woman appeared. "Who are you looking for?"
Fang Dingwu gave a simple, honest smile. "Hello, ma’am. I’m from out of town."
Just then, a man’s voice came from inside the house. "Who is it?" A man walked out, glanced at Fang Dingwu, and said, "Who are you? You look unfamiliar—you an outsider?"
Fang Dingwu smiled kindly. "You’ve got sharp eyes, brother. I’m here in Niujia Ping to look for a relative."
The man didn’t seem entirely convinced by Fang Dingwu’s words. "Who are you related to?" he interrogated.
Fang Dingwu rubbed his hands together. "Niu Dayong. Do you know Niu Dayong, brother?"
"Brother Dayong?" The man looked surprised for a moment before saying, "Then you’re probably out of luck. They said Brother Dayong died in battle several years ago."
Fang Dingwu chuckled softly. "I know, I know... I just heard that Brother Dayong had a wife. Passing through today, I thought I’d stop by and check on her. Would you do me a favor, brother, and tell me more?"
The man’s expression darkened slightly. After checking that no one was eavesdropping outside, he opened the door and said, "It’s not convenient to talk out here. Brother Dayong and I grew up together—come on in."
"Ah! Thank you, brother!" Fang Dingwu didn’t stand on ceremony and stepped into the house.
"Brother, judging by your demeanor..." Fang Dingwu blinked. "It seems like there’s more to this, isn’t there?"
The man turned to his wife. "Go pour a bowl of water for this man."
Fang Dingwu quickly stood up and thanked her. "Ah, thank you, sister-in-law! Thank you so much!"
"Brother, how are you related to Brother Dayong?" the man asked.
Fang Dingwu replied with a smile, "I served as a soldier with Brother Dayong at the border, fighting against Northern Qiang raiders for several years."
"I see!" The man suddenly understood. "Then let me speak plainly. Wang Cuihong—Brother Dayong’s wife—remarried a long time ago. Brother, let me give you some advice. It would be better to not look for her."
Fang Dingwu froze for a moment. "She remarried, huh..."
"Yes..." The man nodded. "Since you’re Brother Dayong’s relative, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to look for her after she’s remarried."
"She’s still my sister-in-law in a way. Isn’t it fine to just pay her a visit?" Fang Dingwu asked, puzzled.
"I told you, it’s not appropriate..." The man sighed and turned his head away.
Fang Dingwu squinted his eyes. "It seems, brother, you still don’t see me as one of your own... Is there something else you’re not telling me?"
The man remained silent.
Seeing that no answer was forthcoming, Fang Dingwu stood up angrily. "If you won’t tell me, then forget it! I’ll go ask her myself!"
"Hey! Don’t—" The man hurriedly pulled Fang Dingwu back into his seat.
"Fine, I’ll tell you..."
The man walked over to the bed, took out a pipe, lit it, and took a few puffs before speaking. "Wang Cuihong... not long after the news of Brother Dayong’s death came back, she remarried. She became the second wife of the village elder’s son..."
"She was forced to marry him..."