Chapter 24 Under The Moonlight

After everyone finished eating, they started to leave the teahouse on the roadside, Yong Taihua stood up and stopped Rao Zhengsheng.

Yong Taihua, "Xiong-tai, I heard that you are going to Sword Village."

Rao Zhengsheng, "Yes, we are heading there. I promised leader Yuan that I will send Xiurong there."

Yong Taihua, "I am Yong Taihua of Sword Village. It takes five days to walk to Sword Village from here, and it only takes two days to get there on boat."

Only then did Rao Zhengsheng realize that his group of people were injured. Since Yong Taihua offered a free ride, even if he didn't like to rely on others, he shouldn't deny it. Rao Zhengsheng said, "Then I will trouble Yong gongzi for a two days."

Yong Taihua, "May I know your name?"

Rao Zhengsheng said, "I am Rao Zhengsheng of The Rao Household."

Yong Taihua said, "Now I understand why Cao gongzi thinks that you killed the two qianbei and blame chief Cao."

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Since you know who I am, do you want to take me with you."

Yong Taihua said, "Within the bounds of the four seas, all men are brothers. Rao-xiong, rest assure. Also, if you are with me as my guest, Cao gongzi will not do anything irrational."

Rao Zhengsheng, "I thank Yong gongzi, in advance."

Yong Taihua, "Let's go, I will take you to the dock."

It took two hours for the group to reach the pier. People sell everything from accessories to motion sickness medicines and patches on the dock. Xue Horan brought an embroidered handkerchiefs of two fish and got a small sewing kit. He paid the old saleswoman and quickly chased the others who are boarding the boat.

Once everyone was on the boat, the boat started to leave. Yong Taihua came to Rao Zhengsheng and said, "Sorry, there are many people on this boat, but there are only two compartments left. I'm sorry, but the three of you." He looked at Rao Zhengsheng, Yongzheng, and Xue Horan. "The two gu niang could share the smaller compartment, the three of you wouldn't mind sharing the larger compartment. I hope Rao-Xiong doesn't mind."

Rao Zhengsheng said, "It doesn't matter, thank you again for your hospitality."

As soon as the three men entered their compartment, the bed is a little too small to fit three grown men. Yongzheng suggested that the two classmates should sleep on the bed, and he could sleep on the floor. Rao Zhengsheng and Xue Horan could say no more because Yongzheng is already lying on the wooden floor.

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Horan, I will be back. I'll see how Lanying and Xiurong are. If there is snack, I will bring it to you."

Xue Horan smiled, "Okay."

Xue Horan watched Rao Zhengsheng slide the wooden board and close the door. He took out the handkerchief and sewing kit he had brought earlier, and began to stitches around the two plain orange fish. After he finished his creation, the two fish were surrounded by water lilies under the pink lilies. He also sewed a blue butterfly on the pink lily. He folded his handkerchief into a square and began to sew the four corners to make a money bag.

Suddenly, Yongzheng got up and rushed out of the sleeping compartment. Xue Horan stuffed the newly-finished money bag into his robe and chased after Yongzheng, but he couldn't find Yongzheng. He walked towards the back of the boat. Just when he was about to walk past the stack of rice, he saw Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong talking in the front deck of the boat.

Rao Zhengsheng held Yuan Xiurong's hands. He said, "Xiurong, I'm sorry, I haven't paid attention to you these past two days."

Yuan Xiurong said, "I understand. Lanying told me about you and Horan." She looked up at Rao Zhengsheng in tears. "Rao gege, tell me honestly, do you really plan to marry Horan?"

Rao Zhengsheng, "I promised him to marry him."

Yuan Xiurong said, "The promise of a child should not be taken to heart."

Rao Zhengsheng, "You don't understand." He sighed. "Horan has done a lot for me, I can't leave him. No matter what happens in the future. I know I must marry Horan."

Yuan Xiurong asked, "Rao gege, did you marry him out of pity or because you like him?"

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Both."

Yuan Xiurong pulled her hand away, turned around and wiped away her tears. "What about me? Did you promise to marry me out of pity or do you really like me?"

Rao Zhengsheng turned Yuan Xiurong around and said, "I promise to marry you because I like you." He sighed. "Xiurong, in the future you will be my wife and the mother of my children."

Yuan Xiurong, "What about him?"

Rao Zhengsheng, "He is the person I can never leave behind. No matter where I go, he will always be with me, and you are the same. Xiurong…I may ask you too much, but can you accept it? In fact? I like you, I like him."

Yuan Xiurong said, "Rao gege, I have only liked you since our first meeting. I also hope for you to only like me."

Rao Zhengsheng said, "Give me some time to make up my mind."

Yuan Xiurong said, "A flower is beautiful in the eyes of others only when it is newly blossom. Once it wrinkles, no one will look at the flower anymore." Rao Zhengsheng pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead. "Rao gege, can you not go back to the compartment."

Rao Zhengsheng, "Hmm…"

Yuan Xiurong hugged Rao Zhengsheng, "Thank you."

As Xue Horan watched Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong hugged each other under the moonlight, he had to admit that the two were perfect to some extent. One is a big hero with dreams and ambition. The other is an elegant woman who is very knowledgeable and can help the great hero to achieve his dream and his ambition. If he stayed in Butterfly Island, he would never know that Rao Zhengsheng had a person named Yuan Xiurong who was the most suitable life partner for Rao Zhengsheng. If he didn't decide to leave Butterfly Island, right now, he would still be the fool who waits obediently. He would still be dreaming that one day Rao Zhengsheng will walk on the red carpet with him, kneel before his parents, and serve them tea. How stupid is he? He never knew that life outside of Butterfly Island was not full of cupcakes and rainbows. He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and walked slowly towards the stern of the boat. Then he saw Yongzheng vomiting on the side of the boat.

Xue Horan, "Yongzheng, are you alright?"

Yong Zheng wiped his mouth, "I vomited up everything I ate before boarding the boat."

Xue Horan, "Why didn't you tell me that you were seasick? I didn't have any medicine either." He looked at the roof of the sleeping compartment. "Over there. When we are higher up you will feel less sick. Let's find a way to get up."

Yongzheng hugged Xue Huoran's waist, and the two flew onto the top of the boat. They sat on the roof, feeling the wind passing by them.

Xue Horan said, "Take a few deep breaths and you will be fine."

Yongzheng said, "Thanks."

Xue Horan reached into his robe and handed Yongzheng the money bag he had just made. "Here." He handed the money bag to Yongzheng. "I see your old money is severely torn and stale. I made a new one for you."

Yongzheng took the money bag and asked, "You made this?"

Xue Horan said, "I didn't stitch the two fish, but I added a little bit more. I thought the two fish by itself look ugly, so I added the water, the two lilies pads, the pink lily, and more." He pointed to the blue butterfly. "This butterfly reminds you that you have met someone like me." He smiled at Yongzheng. "Do you like it?"

Yongzheng said, "I like it." He took out the money and put it in a new money bag. He tied the money bag tightly to his belt and tucked it into his belt. "Horan, thank you for your money bag.

Xue Horan was lying on the roof with his hands behind his head. He remembered that even if he returned to the bed in the compartment Rao Zhengsheng would not sleep next to him, so it didn't make sense to sleep in the compartment or sleep here in the cool breeze in the late summer. Think about it, he really loves Rao Zhengsheng, and whatever Rao Zhengsheng tell him, he would believe it wholeheartedly even when if he know that it's a lie. So this is why Rao Zhengsheng wants him to stay on Butterfly Island. Rao Zhengsheng will have his life here in Central Plains, while he waits like a dry well on Butterfly Island. Suddenly his heart ached, and before he knew it, tears were already streaming down his eyes.

Yongzheng looked at Xue Horan and saw a shining light from Xue Horan's right temple. He put his hand behind his neck and lay down beside Xue Horan. "Why are you crying? Did your Zhen ge bullied you?"

Xue Horan said, "No, I think I have been away from home for too long, and miss my parents." He sniffed.

Yongzheng asked, "Are you going to go home?"

Xue Horan said, "I guess so. I have nothing here but a burden to others." He sighed. "Also, I have found the answer I was looking for, so there is no reason to stay longer."

Yongzheng said, "If I ever travel down south. I will come visit you."

Xue Horan said, "Alright." He looked up at the bright full moon. "Yongzheng, look at the full moon tonight, it's so beautiful."

Yongzheng turned his head to look at Xue Horan and he said, "Yes, the moon is very beautiful."

The night was young, and a young couple hugged each other in the front of the boat deck. On the top of the sleeping compartments on the top of the boat, another young couple is enjoying the starry night sky.