A Walk to the Mountain

They walked down the little footpath leading out of the village towards the mountain, side by side. Xuxian had his digging tools in his belt and his herb basket on his back; Suzhen wore a straw hat to shield her from the sun, as the village women always did, and swung a small cloth knapsack from one hand, which contained some pancakes and dried fish.

Susu glanced sideways at Xuxian and nestled her free hand into his. He smiled and held it tighter, swinging it lightly as they walked. "What beautiful weather it is, and how fortunate I am to have my wife accompanying me," he said gaily.

She laughed. "You mean, someone to help you carry your pancakes and look for dang gui."

"Well, you do have an uncanny eye for spotting herbs, my love. Even with all my years of experience I don't know the mountain half as well as you do," he admitted.

Suzhen smiled to herself. Well, she thought, to be fair you haven't been living on it for eight hundred years, my dearest.

She sensed someone's presence and turned to see Madame Zheng watching them silently from behind the fence in her yard, where she squatted tending the vegetables in the garden. Her hands were covered with soil, in the middle of stripping away some worm-eaten leaves, but she had seemingly forgot all about it as she watched them. A lock of damp hair fell over her face and there seemed to be shadows under her eyes, as if she had not slept well.

"Good morning, Madame Zheng." Suzhen bowed slightly to her. Her clear voice cut through the air and Madame Zheng stiffened involuntarily as their eyes met. Slowly she rose and leaned over the fence, a half smile hovering like a ghost on her lips.

"Why, Physician Xu and Madame Xu, going to the mountains?" she said casually.

Xuxian bowed as well, courteously. "We are going herb gathering. The weather is fine, a rare warm day as the winter approaches; I thought it would be a good chance to go."

Madame Zheng's eyes travelled leisurely over them, lingering deliberately on their clasped hands. "How heartwarming it is to see the two of you so harmoniously in love with each other," she said. "Especially after that scene with Song Gongzi in the marketplace. I am glad Physician Xu is not the kind of man to hold grudges and be jealous of another man's flirting with his wife."

Locking eyes with Suzhen, Madame Zheng smiled sweetly at her. "Madame Xu, how fortunate you are to be blessed with a husband who is so tolerant and generous! Any other man would have thrown a fit."

Suzhen smiled back, a smile that was as beautiful and cold as marble. Fortunately, she had sensed something like this might happen, and she had made sure she had been the first to tell Xuxian about the incident with Song Gongzi. Otherwise, someone like Madame Zheng could so easily cause a misunderstanding with her insinuating words.

Xuxian shook his head. "I was worried for her," he said honestly. "I do not like it that he is so bold. It is the husband's duty to protect his wife from harassment, and in that incident I have failed. But--" he patted her hand, "it seems she can take care of herself. I have never enjoyed a fish as much as I did that day." His eyes twinkled.

Suzhen hid a smile.

"Is that so," was all Madame Zheng could say.

"Xuxian, we should go or we won't have much time left. Good day, Madame Zheng." Suzhen took his arm. She looked keenly and meaningfully at Madame Zheng, and then turned away decisively.

Xuxian sighed, gazing up at the blue-gray mountain looming before them as they left the village and started up the worn trail leading towards it. "Susu," he said abruptly, "are you happy here?"

"How could I not be, since you are here?" she said lightly, dropping a kiss on his cheek.

"You lived on the mountains for so long, just you and Qingqing. It must be difficult for you, adjusting to the village life and the people. You have to work so hard every day because of me, when you used to live such a carefree life." Xuxian's voice was wistful. "And the people here--they are a good lot, but they are suspicious of outsiders, because we don't have many strangers. I know it's been tough for you."

Suzhen glanced at him, wondering if he was actually aware of the silent battle going on between her and Madame Zheng. Xuxian had such faith and goodwill towards the people in the village, she had never mentioned any of this to him because she knew it would trouble him, and make him worry more about her.

"Xuxian. Look at me," she demanded, turning his face towards her with a finger on his chin. "Do you really believe I am as wise as I am beautiful, or was that just something you said to make me fall in love with you?"

Xuxian laughed. "My love, are you fishing for compliments in this remote place?"

"Well, then you must believe I am perfectly capable of handling these things. If I can't, I should have told you so. Believe me, there may be many things I can't do--I may not know how to make fermented bean sauce, or how to clean a chicken, but I understand what people are like."

Suzhen set her jaw. Madame Zheng would not find this an easy battle, she promised herself silently. It had been such a tumultuous journey for her to reach this point with Xuxian. They would not be simply driven apart by petty gossip and malicious words.

"Sing that song to me again," she said instead, looking up at him with bright eyes. "The one you said your mother used to sing to you. The song about the mouse who fell into the rice sack."

As Xuxian's voice rang out, clear and carefree among the trees, it drowned out the sound of a slight rustling in the bushes. A pair of beady eyes emerged, watching them stroll down the path. The man with the bowed shoulders stealthily followed some distance behind them, careful not to come too close.