Chapter 209 - 141: Dignity
Zhou Yan had expected him to use the "friend" excuse, but he never thought he would be so forthright.
"Grandmaster, isn’t your name Wang Ran?" Zhou Yan asked, surprised.
"The case was investigated for over a year. After Zhou—your grandfather—submitted the evidence he’d gathered, it caught the attention of his superiors. They later found an informant among the Jiangdong guerrillas who had been my contact, and my undercover identity was confirmed," Wang said in a slow, steady voice.
"When I got out of the prison in Rongcheng and returned to Jiazhou, the organization wanted to arrange a job for me, but I refused and became a librarian at the Jiazhou Library instead.
I have no family left in this world, so I changed my name to Wang Ran. I wanted to cut ties with the past and lose myself in books, hoping to numb the pain and torment in my heart.
I retired a few years ago and came back to Suji, where I volunteered to reopen the town library that had been closed for years. Just like that, eight years have gone by. I’ve kept company with my books, occasionally chatting with the patrons who come to borrow them."
"I never thought there was anyone left in this world who still thought of me." Wang looked at Zhou Yan, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Is Zhang doing well? She and Zhou saved my life. They pulled me from the fire twice.
To be honest, it’s shameful. I’m a coward. I haven’t dared to go see her all these years.
I was afraid my identity would bring her trouble, and I was also afraid of facing the man I was back then."
"You’re a true soldier. How could you be a coward!" Zhou Yan sat up straight, his face full of admiration. "My grandmother’s in great health. She has to have meat every day, and even drinks a bit of liquor."
’So that’s why Wang changed his name. For a man who’d lost his entire family, numbing himself with books must have been his way of healing.’
"It’s good she can eat and drink well. Her life hasn’t been easy either." Wang sighed. "When you have a free day, you’ll have to show me the way. I’d like to visit Zhang in Zhou Village."
"No problem. I’ll come find you when the time comes." Zhou Yan nodded. ’His grandmother was still thinking about the Fourth Young Master Wang, feeling he’d had a hard life. She’d probably be very happy to see him again.’
For people of their generation, each meeting might be the last.
Zhou Yan refilled Wang’s glass and clinked it against his before asking curiously, "What about your fiancée, the one who loved beef? What happened to her? My grandmother said that exactly two years after you left, a very beautiful young woman came to Suji. She was carrying the Blue and White Porcelain Bowl you always used. She bought some braised beef and left crying, holding the bowl."
The cup in Wang’s hand trembled, and liquor spilled onto his clothes. He stared at Zhou Yan, the rims of his eyes already red, and asked in a hoarse voice, "She... she really came?"
Zhou Yan nodded.
His grandmother had seen it with her own eyes.
Wang laughed, but tears finally streamed down his face. He murmured to himself, "Two years. That silly girl... She really waited for me for two years..."
Zhou Yan was silent. ’He could probably guess what the letter had said.’
’Miss Qiu was truly a woman who kept her promises.’
’Back then, that adjutant must have been forcing her hand. Perhaps the Duan Family was already in contact with the Qiu Mansion.’
’She waited until the very last day and came to Suji in person, probably intending to say goodbye to Wang Yu with that portion of braised beef.’
’To clear her conscience and honor her commitment to him.’
’In that dog-eat-dog world, beauty was a curse, not a blessing. She couldn’t control her own fate, but she had undoubtedly made the best choice for everyone involved.’
"She married a good man. A man who protected her very well." Wang Yu wiped away his tears, his smile tinged with relief.
"I’m actually very happy for her. If she had married me, her life would have been miserable. I’d rather die for her than watch her suffer in the slightest."
"He did what I couldn’t do. He let her live with dignity."
Zhou Yan fell silent. He thought he understood, but he couldn’t resist asking, "So, you were there that day?"
Wang’s head snapped up. He stared at Zhou Yan, his gaze intense.
Zhou Yan felt a little sheepish and explained, "The day they got married, my grandmother happened to be in Jiazhou. She said she saw someone squatting by the side of the road... someone who looked a bit like you."
"That wasn’t me. It was just a stray dog with no home to go to," Wang said with a self-deprecating laugh, shaking his head.
’So it was him.’ Zhou Yan thought of the figure squatting by the street. ’He really did look as lost and frightened as a stray dog.’
’But he had clearly rushed back to Jiazhou, only to choose to let her go and offer his blessing from afar.’
’Being unable to protect her... that must have been his deepest pain.’
Zhou Yan chose his words carefully, then twisted the knife. "And after that? Did you ever contact her?"
"Some chances, once missed, are gone forever. Deep affection can’t change that." Wang smiled and shook his head, continuing softly, "No pestering, no badmouthing, no bothering her. That’s just basic decency. It was the last kindness I could show her."
Leaning on the wall, he rose unsteadily to his feet. He opened a cabinet, pulled out a box, and set it on the table.
CLICK.
The small lock sprang open. He opened the box with great care.
The box was filled with letters, neatly stacked.
Hundreds of them—all sealed in envelopes, stamped, and addressed, but never mailed.
Some of the envelopes were yellowed with age, while others looked new. They must have spanned decades.
"I wrote her so many letters—every year, every month. I just never mailed them." Wang’s hand gently brushed across the envelopes, as if counting the rings of his own life. He whispered, "If she received them, she’d probably be troubled, wouldn’t she? She’s living so happily. She shouldn’t have to worry about someone like me."
"But what if she’s been waiting for your letters all these years?" Zhou Yan asked, looking at him. "She doesn’t even know if you’re dead or alive. I’m sure it’s been on her mind. If she knew you were still alive—even if it were just one letter to say you’re safe—I think she’d be very happy, wouldn’t she?"
Wang froze. After a long silence, he said in a low voice, "Perhaps I really am just a coward."
"Duan Yu Yan is her granddaughter, isn’t she? You must have guessed," Zhou Yan said, watching him.
"You... How did you know?" Wang looked at Zhou Yan, his eyes full of confusion.
"Mr. Duan passed away three years ago. Mrs. Qiu is living in the Qiu Family’s Old Mansion now. She refuses to move to Xiangjiang to retire, and she won’t live in the renovated Duan Family’s Old Mansion either." Zhou Yan didn’t answer his question, but continued, "Who do you think she’s waiting for?"
"She..." Wang’s eyes showed a mix of surprise, confusion, and a flicker of joy.
"Duan Yu Yan was sent by Mrs. Qiu to buy the braised beef. Zhang’s Braised Beef, from the Suji Stone Bridgehead... she never forgot." Zhou Yan’s voice softened. "Duan Yu Yan found me and explained everything. That’s why I went to ask my grandmother. I guessed you might be the person she’s been waiting for."
Wang’s breathing grew ragged. He steadied himself with a hand on the table, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Is she... doing okay?" Wang asked, looking at Zhou Yan.
"I haven’t met her yet, so I’m not sure how she is." Zhou Yan shook his head. "But I’m about to deliver some braised beef to the Qiu Mansion and meet her. I need a straight answer from you now. If it’s you Qiu Qi is waiting for, if she wants to see you, will you go or not?"
"And these hundreds of letters... do you plan to give them to her yourself?"
Wang slowly straightened his back, his gaze turning resolute. "If it’s me she’s waiting for, I’ll go!"
"You’re a real man!" Zhou Yan stood up and capped the liquor bottle. "I’m off, then. Don’t drink too much. Wait for my news."
As Wang watched Zhou Yan pedal away on his old roadster, it suddenly dawned on him. "You little rascal! Were you plying me with liquor just to get my story out of me?"
Zhou Yan pedaled even faster, pretending not to hear. A smile played on his lips, but at some point, his eyes had grown moist.
Zhou Yan took a trip to the supply and marketing co-op and found a white porcelain bowl similar in shape to the Blue and White Porcelain Bowl from his memory. It cost him sixty-eight cents. Back at the restaurant, he sliced up the rest of the braised beef and arranged it neatly in the bowl, just as he remembered it being plated.
’Nice!’
’Looks just right.’
’This is guaranteed to jog her memory the moment she sees it.’
He placed the bowl of beef inside a large enamel basin, put the basin in a clean cloth sack, added a pair of fresh chopsticks, and wheeled his bike out the door.
"Going out again? Where are you off to?" Mrs. Zhao called out casually. She was playing cards by the door with Zhao Hong and two other women who ran stalls nearby.
"Jiazhou—" Zhou Yan’s voice drifted back from a distance.
Outside the Qiu Mansion, Zhou Yan parked and locked his bike. He opened the sack and lifted the lid of the enamel basin.
He sighed.
’Just as I thought. The ride jumbled it all up.’
Luckily, he had anticipated this. He took out the chopsticks and neatly rearranged the beef in the bowl.
’There. Absolutely perfect.’
He put the lid back on the empty basin and tossed it and the cloth sack into his bike basket.
Zhou Yan walked up and knocked on the main gate of the Qiu Mansion.
Business was slow at the braised meat shop next door. Hearing the knock, the owner came out for a look. He was surprised to see Zhou Yan and asked with a grin, "Hey! You again? Here to check on the house for your friend?"
"Nope, I’m delivering braised beef to the Qiu Mansion," Zhou Yan replied with a smile.
"Braised beef?" The owner’s smile vanished. He looked at the white porcelain bowl in Zhou Yan’s hands and asked hesitantly, "You... you sell braised meat too? And you’re delivering it to Mrs. Qiu?"
"That’s right." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. "We’re colleagues, aren’t we? We should compare notes sometime."
The owner’s face fell. ’Compare notes? What was there to compare!’
’His shop had been open for over a year, and Mrs. Qiu had only bought from him once, right when he opened. She’d never been back. The reason was obvious.’
’Everyone on the street knew Mrs. Qiu was particular about food. The only places that met her standards were the old, time-honored shops on East Main Street—clean and delicious.’
’The fact that this guy was making a delivery to her door meant Mrs. Qiu thought his beef was better than mine.’
The sound of a latch sliding came from within, and the large gate opened slowly. A stout, middle-aged woman opened it, eyeing Zhou Yan warily. "Who are you looking for?"
"I’m looking for Miss Duan Yu Yan. Could you please let her know that Zhou Yan is here with her braised beef?" Zhou Yan said with a polite smile.
"Alright, wait here," the woman said before shutting the gate again.
In the driver’s seat of the Toyota Crown parked nearby, Yan Fei shot bolt upright. He stared wide-eyed at Zhou Yan. ’Huh? How did this guy follow her all the way to the Qiu Mansion? No, this is bad! A persistent suitor is a maiden’s worst nightmare. Miss Duan can’t fall for his tricks, or my bonus is toast!’
Yan Fei scrambled out of the car and strode toward the Qiu Mansion’s gate.
The gate to the Qiu Mansion opened again. Duan Yu Yan, dressed in a loose, cotton maxi dress, ran out. She looked at Zhou Yan with pleasant surprise. "That was so fast! Do you have concrete news?"
Zhou Yan nodded, then hesitated. "I do, but... I’m not sure if you can handle it."
"What?" Duan Yu Yan looked at Zhou Yan’s complicated expression, and her mind began to race uncontrollably. ’Grandma’s lover, who she hasn’t seen in decades? A long-lost illegitimate son? Is Zhou Yan really my cousin?’
Seeing her eyes darting back and forth, Zhou Yan couldn’t help but cut in, "It’s probably not as complicated as you’re imagining."
"Then at least give me the gist so I can prepare myself. The suspense is killing me." Duan Yu Yan leaned in closer, cupping her ear. "Quick!"
"Did you know that before your grandmother married your grandfather, she was engaged to her childhood sweetheart? They were already at the point of discussing the wedding," Zhou Yan asked.
"What? That really happened? Doesn’t that make my grandfather the ultimate villain who bullied his way in and stole another man’s love?" Duan Yu Yan’s eyes went wide with disbelief.
Zhou Yan was struck silent. ’What a dutiful granddaughter you are.’
"So, the one my grandmother’s been waiting for is that childhood sweetheart?" Duan Yu Yan asked thoughtfully, then pressed, "Is he still alive?"
"He’s alive, but I can’t be sure he’s the one your grandmother is waiting for. After all, I’ve never even met her." Zhou Yan presented the braised beef. "Why don’t we go ask her ourselves?"
"Let’s go, let’s go! Let’s go right now! I can’t wait!" Duan Yu Yan grabbed Zhou Yan and pulled him through the gate, her eyes filled with nothing but a burning desire for gossip.
Yan Fei had just reached the gate when he saw Miss Duan pull Zhou Yan inside, saying, "I can’t wait..."
"Hey! Wait... You can’t do this." Yan Fei stared at the closed gate of the Qiu Mansion, on the verge of tears.
’Damn it!’
’I watch him day and night, but that buzz cut is impossible to stop!’