A streak of white exploded across the horizon, and in no time, the white light spread outward. The earth, blessed by this bit of brightness, became visible all around, though not particularly clear. Lin Yue got up, half-squatting by the pond to wash his face. Gu Jun also got up, wrapped in the other’s inner garment, and half-squatted beside him, following suit to wash his face.
The pond exuded a chill, its surface a lush green, surrounded by some grass. No one drank the water here; the nearby people came to fetch water for household chores. They didn’t drink the water here either; Gu Jun knew of a clean stream, and this place was only used for washing up.
Before this, Gu Jun had tried to get food from here, but the fish were cunning. Even when he stood by the edge and watched them swim below, he couldn’t catch any. Once, he almost fell into the pond and became fish food himself.
A fishing rod, Gu Jun had thought about it, but before he could grit his teeth and pawn his short jacket to buy one, he received bad news: the pond had an owner. The owner was from a nearby village, allowing people to use the water but not to catch fish. The fish were to be raised until winter, then shared among everyone.
Gu Jun had to give up, lest he be caught, beaten half to death, and driven out for miles, unable to even stay at home.
The two quickly finished washing up, and Gu Jun followed Lin Yue, stepping carefully into the county town. It was still not fully light, and Gu Jun was hungry. He opened a reed leaf package, revealing three cakes neatly stacked together. The bean flour cake he had bitten into was separated from the clean cakes by a layer of reed leaf.
Gu Jun gave two sorghum cakes to Lin Yue and took out his unfinished bean flour cake, happily munching on it. The porridge stall was steaming hot, and Lin Yue walked over to the stall owner, saying, “Two bowls of porridge, please.”
The stall owner replied, “Alright, sir, please have a seat!”
Gu Jun, hearing this, got anxious and said, “One bowl, just one bowl…”
Lin Yue pinched his wrist, and Gu Jun met his calm eyes, his voice weakening until it disappeared. Lin Yue let go and told the stall owner, “Two bowls.”
The two bowls of porridge quickly arrived, just like last night. Gu Jun sipped the porridge in small mouthfuls, “Next time, don’t order mine…”
Lin Yue didn’t speak. After they finished eating and left the porridge stall, he finally spoke, “You are my wife. Whatever I eat, you eat. Don’t say more. This is the third time. If it happens again, don’t blame me for scolding you. I have hands and feet; I won’t fail to earn money and let you starve with me.”
Gu Jun looked up at him.
Lin Yue: “Do I need to say it a second time?”
Gu Jun shook his head repeatedly, agreeing with a guilty conscience. As for why he felt guilty, perhaps only he knew.
Lin Yue’s workplace was in a small alley called Er Yang Alley, with a big tree at the entrance and a group of children running around. Lin Yue told him to play with the children while he went to work.