FMT 42

Chapter 42 New Year

At night before bed, as long as Chen Shuangning was not busy, he would come by to see the pair next door, the big one and the small one.

When Chen Shuangning told Xiaodan stories from picture books, Liandan sat beside him. His eyes could not help drifting to Chen Shuangning s face from time to time.

Chen Shuangning noticed. He lifted his eyes and looked over. He asked, “What is it?”

Liandan quickly pulled his gaze back. He shook his head, but the tips of his ears turned red for no reason.

…

As the thirtieth of the month approached, more and more people returned to the residence. By this time, most who came brought their families with them.

Chen Shuangning saw Liandan’s puzzlement and explained, “All the senior and junior brothers are busy with their own affairs on ordinary days. It is rare for everyone to gather together for the festival.”

That New Year passed easily for Liandan.

Whenever he wanted to help with work, people laughed and pushed him aside. Every day he only ate and drank.

He did not even need to worry about new clothes for the child. A tailor was specially arranged, and they even measured Liandan himself and made him new clothes.

But he still could not stay idle. He did not know why, but whenever someone came home, they would come to see him, sit down and talk with him.

They were all very young men. Some who had married brought their families, saying they wanted Liandan to see them.

Those who had not married came with Xue Ming and Liang Yun to visit him together.

At first Liandan was both puzzled and nervous at meeting strangers. But he soon discovered that most of them were easy to talk to, carefree, and interesting.

One told him about a young man from the household of a gang leader who was holding a martial contest to choose a spouse. He told it like a storyteller, lively and detailed. Liandan listened fascinated. Only when the man got up to say farewell did Liandan notice that the sky had grown dark. Chen Shuangning had already returned, washed his hands, changed clothes, and was waiting for him to eat.

That man saw who was at the table, scratched his head, gave a bow, and hurried away.

Another told him odd news from the major sects in the martial world. Some spoke of the life of a reclusive master on a certain mountain, stories once famous across the martial world, each one more strange, dangerous, and entertaining than the last.

Some were clearly not good at talking. They came, sat for a while, exchanged polite words, then, with nothing more to say, still did not leave. They said, “I’ll show you a few moves.”

Saying that, they went out into the courtyard.

Liandan ran out after them and watched helplessly as they struck at the fruit tree in the yard until fruit fell all over the ground, not even giving him time to stop them.

Only Xiaodan was delighted, laughing loudly in his arms.

When Chen Shuangning came back, the fallen fruit had not yet been picked up. He stopped under the tree and just looked.

That man stood up, embarrassed. He said, “I’ll pay for it.”

Chen Shuangning went into the house and said without turning back, “Five taels of silver. Compensate Liandan.”

That man quickly agreed.

Others came too. When they got carried away talking happily, they called for wine, saying they wanted to drink a few cups with Liandan. They only sat back down properly after Xue Ming smacked one on the back of the head.

Even though each day was strange in its own way, Liandan was not bored. Every day was fun.

The day before the New Year, Liu Shuqi also made a special visit, with Xue Ming accompanying him.

He held in both hands a short sword in its sheath. The sheath was carved with intricate and beautiful patterns. A pretty green gem was set in the hilt.

Liu Shuq i said, “Earlier on the road, when you passed through others’ places, they all gave gifts. Only I have not yet. I saw this short sword in a market in the south. The size suits a ge’er. Put it under clothes and it will not easily be noticed. It is just right for you to carry for protection.”

Liandan looked at Xue Ming in shock. Only then did he understand that the people he had met these past days were the ‘friends’ who had given him things along the journey here.

One look told him the short sword was worth a great deal. Liandan did not dare accept it. He quickly stood and said, “How could I accept this? And I would not use it in daily life. Giving it to me is too much of a waste. Brother Liu, you had better take it back.”

Liu Shuqi said, “A gift once given cannot be taken back. Better that you never have to use it. But if one day you do, then it is not wasted.”

Xue Ming also urged from the side, “This is senior brother’s good will. Just accept it.”

Liandan could only thank him and accept, though he still felt uneasy.

Liu Shuqi sighed. “We all grew up together. Other than Xue Ming, Chen Shuangning was the youngest among us, the one who came the latest. But afterward, it was always us who were looked after by him.”

Liandan paused, he wanted to ask how old Chen Shuanning really was. But Liu Shuqi was already looking at the short sword in his hand and continued, “These past two years, every year we brothers wanted to give him something. He never accepted. Even if we managed to send it in, he would only have it sent back out again.”

“This time you came, he was very happy. Everyone thought of the idea to try sending you things. Sure enough, he did not stop it, and he accepted them all one by one.”

Liandan froze completely. Only after Liu Shuqi cupped his fists in farewell and left did he come back to his senses. He hurriedly returned the gesture and sent him out.

….

On the thirtieth, the residence was filled with red lanterns. Every pavilion in the garden had all kinds of delicate and tasty pastries and sweets.

Leng Shan’s son Qiu was the oldest child in the residence. He was the leader of the children. The ones who came later all followed him. They ran everywhere in the residence, playing wildly and asking for lucky money.

Chen Shuangning had already prepared the red envelopes. He gave them to Liandan. During the day, when he was not in the house and children came to ask for lucky money, Liandan gave them one by one in his place.

The red envelopes were heavy. The children were very happy. Xiaodan also had a red envelope from his father. Liandan kept it for him, to use when he grew up.

At night, everyone stayed up together in the largest courtyard of the residence. There were six or seven banquet tables set out. The bustle was extreme.

The day had no restrictions. Even Qiu had wine set in front of him.

Chen Shuangning did not talk much, but people kept coming to toast him. He drank cheerfully.

Liandan also drank a lot. Maybe from practice these past days, he felt dizzy but he was not drunk.

So Liandan could clearly feel that today Chen Shuangning was not quite the same. He seemed even more silent than usual. He hardly said a word the whole night.

His face looked calm as always, but his eyes hardly lifted. His lowered eyelids covered his gaze.

Xue Ming also spoke little tonight. She ate in silence. Only when people spoke to her did she show a smile.

Halfway through the meal, Chen Shuangning went out once. He came back only after a long time.

When he returned and sat down, Liandan, sitting beside him, smelled the burnt scent of smoke on him.

Liandan looked at him in doubt. The others at the table showed no reaction. When the banquet ended, Chen Shuangning was drunk.

Liu Shuqi and Xue Ming supported him back to his room. Liandan carried the sleeping Xiaodan and followed right behind.

In the room, Liu Shuqi took off Chen Shuangning’d outer robe and helped him lie on the bed.

Xue Ming gave him a cup of water to drink.

Liandan left the child in the next room. He hurried back, washed a cloth, and wiped the man’s face and hands.

Even drunk, Chen Shuangning did not make a scene. He half closed his eyes and let Liandan take care of him.

After wiping, Liandan pulled the quilt over him. He closed his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep.

Liandan looked at the two others in the room. He whispered, “It’s late. You should go rest. I’ll watch him tonight.”

Xue Ming said, “Then we’ll trouble you tonight.”

Liu Shuqi also bowed.

Liandan sent them out. When he came back, he saw the man on the bed with his eyes open, staring fixedly in the direction the two had left.

Liandan walked quickly over and squatted by the bed. He asked softly, “How do you feel? Are you thirsty, do you want to drink more water?”

Chen Shuangning pulled his gaze back from the door and turned it to Liandan.

He shook his head. His hoarse voice came slowly, “Not thirsty.”

Liandan wanted to ask more. But when he finally saw his eyes clearly, his mind buzzed, and every trace of dizziness from the wine vanished.

Chen Shuangning was not looking at him. It was like he was looking through him, back to some past memory.

That look seemed to hold all the sorrow in the world, so thick it was about to turn solid, neither dispersing nor fading.

It was so heavy it made one’s heart tremble. Liandan lowered his head and looked at him. His fingers clenched tightly together on the bed’s edge, pressing his palms until they hurt.

Chen Shuangning closed his eyes. His chest rose and fell in long, slow breaths, as if from the deepest part of his chest he had let out one heavy sigh.

Liandan saw faint wet marks on his closed lashes. His heart tightened, twisting in pain.

Just then, Chen Shuangning opened his eyes. His lips moved. In an extremely low voice he said, “Liandan, I feel terrible.”