Autumn Leaves

The dull sound of the pestle echoed through the yard as Xuxian pounded carefully away at a tough root. He stopped to wipe a trace of sweat from his brow, but felt a cool hand reach out from behind to do it for him.

"Susu." he said, turning round with a smile as she rested her chin on his shoulder, and put her arms around his waist.

She said nothing, but squeezed him lightly. "I want to help," was all she said. "I can't sew another stitch, my eyes are tired."

"You can help me sieve what I've pounded through this piece of cloth, into the little jar over there. Pick out all the larger pieces and put them back into the pestle to be pounded again. We can't afford to waste any of this, it's expensive."

She sat down, folding back her sleeves, and stretched the piece of muslin over the mouth of the jar, tying it tightly with string. "I'll be very careful," she promised.

The wind blew a chilly breeze across the yard as they worked in contented silence. Suzhen shivered slightly as she scraped at the powder with a tiny metal spatula.

Xuxian glanced at her, and put down his pestle again. He went into the house and came back carrying something in his arms.

She looked up, startled, as she felt something warm and soft cover her shoulders. "What's this?"

Touching the downy fur lining wonderingly, she looked up to see Xuxian glowing with a quiet pleasure.

"Do you like it?" he asked. "I meant to give it to you when the first snow falls, but since the weather is already turning cold, why now let you start using it now." He drew the hood down over her head and leaning forward, hugged her. "There. That should keep you warm enough for winter."

The rabbit fur tickled her face delicately, trapping a halo of warmth inside the hood. She smiled with a touch of amused irony as she remembered Song Weiming's unfortunate attempts at seducing her, and squeezed his arm. "The cloak, or your embrace?" she teased.

"Both," he said promptly. "But especially the hood, since I unfortunately can't be hugging you all the time. I thought, you get cold so easily, a furred cloak would help."

"So that's why you were so busy with those rabbit traps," she exclaimed.

"Exactly. And I had enough to trim a pair of boots, too." he said proudly. "I wasn't sure what colour to choose for you. I looked through all of them--they were all pretty--and I couldn't make up my mind. So I thought I would choose white, since I know you like to wear white. Did I make the right choice?"

Suzhen had a thoughtful look in her eyes, and she did not answer him. "That's why you were so angry when Song Gongzi arrived with a pair of winter boots and a cloak, isn't it?" she said softly, looking searchingly up at him.

Xuxian hesitated. "Yes." he admitted, ruefully.

"You were perfectly right." Suzhen said decisively. "What business did he have sending me clothes, when my husband had already painstakingly made such a beautiful set for me? I love it, Xuxian. I'm deliciously warm. White is my favourite colour too. I shall wear it every day from now on."

"Which reminds me," Xuxian added. "I haven't seen Song Gongzi for days. They say he's kept to his home, claiming his nerves are affected by a delirious fit he had after drinking too much. So at least for now, we don't need to worry." He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Really! What a relief to hear that." Suzhen said lightly.

A shower of leaves from the wisteria blew through the air, scattering across the yard like children playing tag. Suzhen plucked one off his shoulder in a caressing gesture.

"I miss the blossoms," she remarked. "But it is so cold now, it is impossible for the poor flowers to last."

Xuxian rocked her gently to and fro in his arms with a happy sigh. "No matter. When spring comes next year, we'll wait for the wisteria to blossom again." he said with a smile.

She looked up with sparkling eyes. "That's a promise, then. We'll have a holiday, when it does. I'll wear my white robe, and you'll make your pancakes, just like that day by the river when we had first met."

She felt Xuxian's arms tighten around her, and his breath on her cheek. "Susu, there are many things I don't understand, and I'm far from the bravest or noblest man. But having you as my wife has been the greatest blessing the gods have given to me, in all of my ill-fated and hard life. I have so little to offer you, and yet you are so happy and contented. I--"

His voice was cut off as Suzhen twisted round and kissed him deeply, catching his face in her hands. The white hood fell back onto her shoulders as she tipped her head back.

A stray leaf landed on Suzhen's hair. Xuxian reached up to brush it away, and simultaneously draw her closer to himself.

They remained motionless for a moment, a pretty little tableaux amid the yellow rain of autumn leaves whirling around them, and the wind playing with Suzhen's hair.

She opened her eyes and gazed starrily up at him. "Let's continue like this," she whispered. "Let's be faithful to each other, and not lose hope, even though life is difficult. Let's not be afraid, because we have each other. Let's live simply and peacefully, working hard and finding happiness in the small things each day with each other. That will be the best gift you can give me."