Explore Chapter 45 of 'Spring Ming Outer History' with the original Chinese text, English translation, detailed Chinese vocabulary explanations, and audio of the Chinese original. Listen and improve your reading skills.
Now, since parting with Li Yun that day, Yang Xingyuan always felt a lingering sense of concern. Every day, aside from going to the newspaper office for work, he often stayed at home reading and writing to dispel his melancholy. This afternoon, he suddenly received a registered letter. Opening it, he found mountain delicacies sent by distant friends. There were mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, seafood, and other such items, about ten packages in all. A letter was enclosed, saying these were minor local products, merely to express thoughts of remembrance. Yang Xingyuan was deeply grateful upon reading it. He thought to himself, these friends were scattered far and wide, usually out of touch, yet they still remembered him so fondly. It showed that in life, the true worth of friendship lay in mutual understanding.
While he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard laughter and talk outside the door. It was Li Dongqing who had arrived. Yang Xingyuan hurriedly welcomed her in. Seeing many packages piled on the table, Li Dongqing asked with a smile, "Where did all these good things come from? Has Mr. Yang struck it rich again and bought so much food?" Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "I haven't struck it rich at all. These are mountain delicacies sent by some distant friends. I was just worried that I couldn't finish them all by myself." Li Dongqing said, "Since you have such fine products, why not let me show off my skills? I can make a few dishes, and we can share a meal together. What do you think?" Yang Xingyuan was overjoyed and said, "If that could be arranged, it would be simply wonderful."
Li Dongqing then rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen. Yang Xingyuan wanted to help, but Li Dongqing smiled and said, "You just sit and wait. I'll call you when it's ready." Yang Xingyuan had no choice but to wait in the study. Before long, Li Dongqing brought out four dishes. One was chicken stewed with mushrooms, another was pork braised with dried bamboo shoots, a third was a seafood soup, and the last was stir-fried seasonal vegetables. There was also a pot of fragrant rice. Yang Xingyuan looked at them and praised incessantly, saying, "I never knew you had such fine culinary skills!" Li Dongqing smiled faintly and said, "It's just home-cooked fare. Please don't laugh, Mr. Yang."
The two sat facing each other and shared the meal. Yang Xingyuan found the dishes delicious, far surpassing ordinary restaurant food. He asked, "Where did you learn such skills?" Li Dongqing said, "My mother passed away early, so from a young age, I helped with household chores and thus learned a few dishes. Later, when I went out to study, these things fell by the wayside. Today, I'm just showing off clumsily." Yang Xingyuan sighed and said, "Nowadays, women like you, who are both literary and martial, are truly rare." Li Dongqing lowered her head without a word, slowly eating her rice.
After the meal, Yang Xingyuan brewed a pot of tea, and the two chatted leisurely. Li Dongqing said, "Mr. Yang, have you been frequenting the hutong lately?" Yang Xingyuan's face reddened, and he said, "Since that day, I haven't set foot there again. Such places are ultimately not for people like us." Li Dongqing nodded and said, "It's truly commendable that you can do so, Mr. Yang. I often hear that those who visit the hutong start out by chance, but later become unconsciously addicted, with some even ruining their reputations and lives. Mr. Yang is a sensible man, naturally able to rein in at the brink."
Yang Xingyuan said, "Thank you for your concern. I've come to realize that in life, one should engage in proper endeavors. Those indulgent pleasures are ultimately fleeting." After chatting for a while, Li Dongqing noticed that it was getting late and stood up to leave. Yang Xingyuan saw her to the door, watching her figure recede into the distance. An inexplicable sense of melancholy arose in his heart.
Returning to the room, he saw the cups and plates still on the table, the aroma of the dishes lingering. Yang Xingyuan sat down alone, recalling Li Dongqing's gentle demeanor and her busy figure in the kitchen. He felt that the camaraderie of this meal far surpassed the thousand cups and ten thousand toasts of wine-and-meat friends. Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly received another letter, from Wu Bibo, inviting him to go see the red leaves at Western Hills the next day. Yang Xingyuan wrote back agreeing, and the night passed without incident.
The next day, Yang Xingyuan rose early and went with Wu Bibo to Western Hills. Along the way, they saw maple leaves as red as fire, the autumn scenery delightful. The two walked and talked, greatly enjoying themselves. Wu Bibo said, "Xingyuan, you seem preoccupied lately. Is it love troubles?" Yang Xingyuan laughed and said, "Nothing of the sort. I'm just somewhat moved by the autumn scenery." Wu Bibo didn't press further, only pointing out the mountain views and chatting cheerfully.
They lingered on the mountain for a day until the sun set in the west before descending. Returning to the city, it was already a myriad of lights. After parting with Wu Bibo, Yang Xingyuan went back to the Guild Hall alone, but he still thought of Li Dongqing cooking yesterday. He felt that having a confidant in life left no regrets. Yet, being a wanderer with an uncertain future, he couldn't help but feel a touch of melancholy.
In the following days, Yang Xingyuan often interacted with Li Dongqing. They would discuss poetry and literature, or brew tea and chat leisurely, their friendship deepening daily. Li Dongqing didn't avoid suspicion either, often coming to Yang Xingyuan's place to sit and talk, sometimes cooking some small dishes for them to share. Whenever Yang Xingyuan received food from distant places, he would invariably invite Li Dongqing to enjoy it together. These days were the most leisurely and happy time for Yang Xingyuan since coming north.