CLX Book 6 Chapter 8 – Part 1

Chapter 8 – Water Under the Moon, Moon in the Water

Chu Liuxiang loved to laugh. _{Translated by foxs}

Not only he loved to laugh by himself, he also loved to hear other people laughing, to see other people laughing. Because he always believed that laughing can not only lift his own spirit, stir himself up, but also make other people happy. Even the ugliest person, if there is a smile on his face that arises from the bottom of his heart, he will look radiant and much more lovely.

Even the most beautiful music on earth is not as inspiring as a sincere laughter.

Now that Chu Liuxiang heard this laughter, it was indeed more pleasant to listen to than a beautiful music.

But now that Chu Liuxiang heard this laughter, it was like someone had suddenly whipped him.

He could tell that it was really Zhang Shijie’s laughter.

Chu Liuxiang would never jump into a public water tub … Except when taking a bath, he would never ‘splash!’ into a big water tub like this.

No matter jumping down from what kind of place, it simply never happened. Even if he fell down from a very high place, even if he did not know that there was a big tub of water waiting for him below, he definitely would not really jump in. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

‘Chu Liuxiang’s qinggong is matchless’, this saying was not nonsense at all.

But now he really jumped into the water tub with a ‘splash’, simply because when he was about to take a breath, he suddenly heard Zhang Jiejie’s laughter.

As soon as he heard Zhang Jiejie’s laughter, the breath he was about to take was like it was suddenly taken away.

The water was very cold, surprisingly, it still carried some kind of cape jasmine [gardenia jasminoides] scent.

Chu Liuxiang’s anger was already strong enough to boil this tub of water.

He was not someone who could not take jokes. If this kind of thing happened to him in normal times, he would definitely laugh harder than anyone else.

But now his heart was really not in the mood for a joke.

No matter who, anybody who has just been sent by someone else to be a scapegoat in a muddleheaded manner, and then sent into a tub of cold water by the same person, if he was still not angry, it would be really strange.

Zhang Jiejie was laughing very happily.

Chu Liuxiang might as well sit down, he sat inside the cold water.

After sitting down, he turned his head to look at Zhang Jiejie, as if he was afraid that when he saw her he would explode with anger. _{Translated by foxs}

He saw Zhang Zhijie. He did not explode.

Suddenly, he also laughed.

No matter when, no matter where – when you see Zhang Jiejie, she always looked neat and clean, like a freshly peeled nut.

But this time she looked like a drowned rat.

She was drenched from head to toe, surprisingly she was also sitting in a big water tub, scooping the water with her hands and pouring it down on her head. While giggling, she said, “How nice and cold, how nice and cold! If you can find a place nicer and colder than here within a hundred li radius from this place, you will have my admiration.”

Chu Liuxiang roared in laughter and said, “I can’t.”

He originally did not want to laugh, he did not even the slightest bit of intention to laugh.

But now his laughter seemed to be jollier than Zhang Jiejie’s.

Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “If you can guess how these two water tubs were obtained, you will also have my admiration.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I can’t.”

He practically did not want to guess. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang Jiejie’s scheme, no one could guess.

Even if you smash your head, you still won’t be able to guess.

Her eyes grew big, she laughed so hard that tears were flowing down her cheeks. Those pair of new moon-like small eyes looked even cuter.

Chu Liuxiang looked into her eyes, suddenly he jumped up, and into her water tub.

Zhang Jiejie laughed tenderly, she pushed him hard; gasping for breath, she said, “No can’t do, you can’t come in here, we each have a water tub, no one is allowed to grab the other’s.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “I clearly want to come, my water tub is not as good as yours.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Says who?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I did … your tub of water is more fragrant than mine.”

Zhang Jiejie tittered and said, “I have just washed my feet here, you like to use the water I wash my foot with.” _{Translated by foxs}

She pushed Chu Liuxiang hard. Yet Chu Liuxiang stubbornly refused to leave, she could not push. Suddenly, her hands seemed to go limp, her whole body went limp.

She smelled so sweet, more fragrant than cape jasmine.

Chu Liuxiang could not help but hugging her, and pricked her face with his newly grown beard.

Her entire person shrank, she bit her lip and said, “When did your beard become like this?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Just now.”

Zhang Jiejie asked, “Just now?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “When a man is very angry, his beard will grow very fast.”

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes grew big, she asked, “Who are you angry with?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I’m angry with you.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Since you are angry with me, why instead of beating me up, you hug me desperately?”

She looked at Chu Liuxiang, her eyes turned tender, like the moon in the water, the water under the moon. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang suddenly turned her body over, pressed it on his own body, and spanked her hard.

Actually, he did not use too much force, but Zhang Jiejie screamed very hard.

She was laughing and screaming, while also kicking hard; kicking Chu Liuxiang, kicking the water, kicking the tub …

The loose trousers were rolled up from her kicking around, revealing her delicate ankles and snow-white, sparkling and translucent calves.

Her feet were also exposed.

Chu Liuxiang finally saw her feet. Her bare feet, without wearing shoes or socks, as if she really had just washed her feet. Her feet were clean, dainty and delicate.

Chu Liuxiang has seen many women’s feet, but now it was like he was seeing a woman’s feet for the first time.

At some point, his hand already stopped.

Zhang Jiejie panted lightly, she raised her head, looked into his eyes, bit her mouth and said, “What are you looking at?”

Chu Liuxiang did not hear her. It was a long time later that he sighed and muttered, “Now, I finally understand one thing.” _{Translated by foxs}

Zhang Jiejie asked, “What thing?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “A woman who has good-looking eyes, her feet can’t possibly be too ugly.”

Zhang Jiejie immediately pulled her feet back. Her face blushing, she said, “Your pair of these shifty eyes, why can’t you look at good places?”

Chu Liuxiang deliberately pulled his face and said, “Who says I never look at good places. If you can find a place better-looking than here within a hundred li radius from this place, you will have my admiration.”

Zhang Jiejie’s face turned red, she stared at him. Suddenly she took a bite on his nose.

She bit.

There was no sound, not even a laughter.

The two persons hid inside the water tub, as if they were afraid that the stars in the sky might come down to eavesdrop.

The water was very cold, but in their perception, it was as warm as the scenes of springtime under the sunshine. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Now, it was not springtime, and there was no sunshine either.

The springtime was in their hearts. The sunshine was in their eyes.

After no one knows how long, Zhang Jiejie sighed, although it was closer to a moan, and said softly, “You are so cruel, it hurt me so much.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I should have beat you a bit harder.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Why? Could it be that you think I intentionally deceived you, deliberately wanted to harm you?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Could it be that you did not?”

Zhang Jiejie bit her lip again, she said, “If I really wanted to harm you, why did I deliberately use that big gong to alarm you? Why did I wait for you foolishly in here?”

Her voice became even more choked with emotion, even the socket of her eyes turned red, as if she had just received big injustice. Suddenly she pushed Chu Liuxiang hard, wanting to jump up.

Naturally Chu Liuxiang would not let her to jump up.

Zhang Jiejie stared at him, she spoke hatefully, “Since I am such a vicious woman, why are you holding me back?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang said, “If I don’t pull you, whom should I pull?”

Laughing coldly, Zhang Jiejie said, “You can pull anybody you like, I don’t care.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Since you don’t care, how could the jar of vinegar be overturned?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Who overturned the jar of vinegar? Did you see a ghost ?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke leisurely, “Even if there is no jar of vinegar, there must be a bit of vinegar, hence a big gong of vinegar can’t possibly be too little.”

Zhang Jiejie spoke hatefully, “I think you must have been confused at that time, if it was not that big of a gong, how could it bring back your soul?”

Speaking of which, she herself could not help laughing; jabbing Chu Liuxiang’s nose hard, she sighed and said with pouted lips, “Look at you, it looks like until now your soul has not come back yet.”

Chu Liuxiang looked at her, he looked at her for half a day, suddenly he heaved a sigh and muttered, “I think I should really soak my head in cold water.”

Zhang Jiejie stared at him, she laughed and said, “Do you really want to drink my foot washing water?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

She laughed again until her whole body went limp, and she fell limply into Chu Liuxiang’s arms.

Chu Liuxiang embraced her with both hands, he sighed and said, “For the past few days, my head seems to be confused all the time, furthermore, it’s getting more and more confused. If I cannot think of a way to be clear-headed, sooner or later I’m going to die of confusion.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Die of confusion will be best, people like you, one die means one less of you.”

Chu Liuxiang fixed his gaze at her, he said, “You really want me to die?”

Zhang Jiejie also fixed his gaze at him, suddenly she also used both hands to hug his neck tightly and said softly, “I don’t want you to die … I would rather myself die than you die.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Really?”

Zhang Jiejie did not say anything, but she hugged him even tighter.

No matter whether she was telling the truth or a lie, this kind of hug definitely could not be fake.

Chu Liuxiang understood.

There were also times when he revealed his true feelings, he could not control himself too. _{Translated by foxs}

After a very long time, Zhang Jiejie let out a faint sigh, she muttered, “I don’t know, I really don’t know, I’m also confused.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “You don’t know that that Jin Guniang is … is sick?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “If I knew, how could I let you go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Now you know.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Mm hmm.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “When did you know? How did you know?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “After you went in, I was worried again, so I followed in.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “What did you see? What did you hear?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “I heard someone say that their family’s Xiaojie is … is a terrifyingly sick person, originally it was beyond help. Fortunately, now they finally found a scapegoat.”

None of them said what kind of illness Jin Guniang was suffering from.

Because that kind of disease is really terrifying. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Everyone knows that there is absolutely no disease in the world more terrifying than ‘leprosy’.

It is actually cannot be considered some kind of a disease, but some kind of a curse, some kind of a disaster. It already made people do not dare to mention, also cannot bear to mention.

Zhang Jiejie said sadly, “Jin Siye originally did not approve this action, but he had no choice but to do it, hence in his heart he was in so much pain, he is extremely uneasy, hence the reason he wanted to kill you to shut your mouth.”

When someone feels ashamed of himself and uneasy, they often want to harm other people.

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “I don’t blame him at all. A father, for the sake of his daughter, even if he did something wrong, he deserves to be forgiven. Besides, I know it wasn’t his idea.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Do you know whose idea was it?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Naturally the one who wants my life.”

Zhang Jiejie sighed and said, “That’s right, I was also tricked by him, so I asked you to go. I thought he was there because he told me that he would wait for you there.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Did he tell you personally?” _{Translated by foxs}

Zhang Jiejie nodded.

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Do you know him?”

Zhang Jiejie nodded.

Chu Liuxiang said, “Since you know who he is, why are you not willing to tell me?”

Zhang Jiejie stared at the darkness in the distance, some kind of indescribable horror suddenly appeared in her eyes, suddenly she hugged Chu Liuxiang tightly again and said, “Now I want to run away. You … will you be willing to run away with me?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Where do you want to run away to?”

Like she was talking in her sleep, Zhang Jiejie murmured, “Anywhere is all right, as long as there is no one else, there’s only you and me. Over there, no one will find me, no one will look for you either.”

She closed her eyes, sparkling and translucent teardrops hung on her beautiful eyelashes, she continued as if she was in a dream, “Now I don’t want to think about anything, I want to be alone with you, to pass our lives in peace and quiet.”

Chu Liuxiang did not speak; he did not speak for a long, long time. His eyes carried some kind of a very strange expression, it was unclear whether he was thinking deeply, or he was dreaming? _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zhang Jiejie suddenly opened her eyes again, she stared at him and said, “You don’t you believe what I said?”

Chu Liuxiang slowly nodded his head, he said, “I believe you.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “You … you are not willing?”

Her face was pale, her body seemed to be trembling.

Chu Liuxiang held her pale face with both hands, he spoke softly, “I believe you, and I am willing, only too bad …”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Only too bad what?”

Chu Liuxiang heaved a deep, deep sigh and said, “Only too bad that there is absolutely no such place on earth.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “There is absolutely no such place?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke sadly, “There is absolutely no place where others can’t find us. No matter where we run away to, no matter where we hide, sooner or later, someone will find us.”

Zhang Jiejie’s countenance turned even paler.

She was originally a bright and cheerful and happy girl, but now she suddenly seemed to have a lot of fear, a lot of worries. _{Translated by foxs}

What was the reason?

Was it love?

Love is the most unfathomable thing.

Sometimes painful, sometimes sweet, sometimes it makes people happy, sometimes it makes people sad.

The most painful person may become happy because of love, and the happiest person may become extremely painful because of love.

This is the mystery of love.

Only true love will forever be bright and cheerful, will forever exist.

Hanging her head down, Zhang Jiejie was silent for a long time, tears were already dripping into the cold water.

The water reflected the starlight, the starlight was hazy.

Suddenly she raised her head again, she seemed to hide the hazy starlight filling the sky entirely in her eyes. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

She looked at Chu Liuxiang in daze, and she spoke in daze, “I also know that there is absolutely no place in the world that other people cannot find us forever. But … as long as we can spend time alone over there for a year, for a month, even if we can spend time alone over there for a day, I am already very happy, very satisfied.”

Chu Liuxiang did not say anything.

If you were Chu Liuxiang, on a night where the starlight was hazy, and the night was as cold as water, there was a girl that you like, snuggling in your arms and expressing her true feelings to you, wanting you to make a decision for her, what else can you say?

There must be time in everybody’s life where he has emotional impulses and can’t control them. At this time, except for his sweetheart, he might forget all other things and set them all aside.

Everybody has done this kind of silly, yet also sweet – thing at least once or twice in his ‘lifetime’. Maybe this kind of thing will not bring him any benefits, but at least it can leave him a warm memory that he can recall when he is old and lonely.

In a cold winter in one’s latter life, without a memory like this to remember, how could one endure such a long winter? At that time, he might feel that his life has been in vain.

The sun had just risen, when the sunshine passed through the trees, it cast fragments of light and shadow, like sparkling diamonds.

Pulling Chu Liuxiang’s hand, Zhang Jiejie walked silently along this tranquil path. Her heart was also brimming with tranquil happiness, only to feel that she had never been this happy before. _{Translated by foxs}

What about Chu Liuxiang? Although he also appeared to be very happy, he seemed somewhat at a loss. Because he did not know whether this was the right thing to do.

There were many things that he was actually very ready to put aside. There were many people that it was really hard for him to forget.

“There must be time in everybody’s life where he has emotional impulses.”

Chu Liuxiang was also human, so he could not be an exception.

The wind was blowing straight ahead from the end of the road, in the depths of the green shade, there was a pair of sparrows whispering in secret talk.

Zhang Jiejie suddenly raised her head, she spoke sweetly, “Do you know what they are talking about?”

Chu Liuxiang shook his head.

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes carried child-like innocence, she spoke softly, “Listen, that sparrow Guniang [reminder: Miss, young lady] is begging her sweetheart, begging him to take her to fly to the east, to fly to the ocean, but sparrow Xiansheng [mister] does not agree.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “Why doesn’t he agree?”

Zhang Jiejie’s eyes grew big, she said, “Because he is so stupid, unexpectedly he thinks that a stable life is more important than finding happiness. He is afraid of the wind and snow on the road, and he is also afraid of hunger and cold, but he forgets that a person who refuses to endure hardship will forever not obtain real happiness.”

Chu Liuxiang said slowly, “In some people’s eyes, a stable life is also a kind of happiness.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “However, he hides in other people’s trees like this, and he has to be on guard every day against an urchin’s catapult, could this be considered a stable life?”

She sighed softly, and then continued, “Therefore, I think he should take the sparrow Guniang away, otherwise he will regret it. If he has never been through trials and tribulations, how could he know what real happiness is?”

They walked under the tree, the sparrows on the tree suddenly flew up, they flew to the east.

Zhang Jiejie clapped her hands and laughed tenderly, saying, “You see, they are still leaving. This sparrow Xiansheng can’t be considered too stupid after all.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Can I be considered too stupid?”

Zhang Jiejie stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek lightly, she said softly, “You are practically too smart.” _{Translated by foxs}

“Where do you want to go?”

“It’s up to you.”

“Are you tired?”

“Not tired.”

“Then let’s us just go straight on like this, all right? Wherever we end up, that’s where we are going.”

“All right.”

“As long as you are willing, even if you go to the ends of the earth, I will always follow you. I am determined to follow you.”

Dusk.

The dusk in the small town was peaceful and serene.

A pair of husband and wife in their twilight years were strolling under the setting sun filling the whole sky. The old man wore a ridiculous-looking tall yellow hemp [jute, Corchorus capsularis Linn] hat on his head, but he acted very solemn, also very serious. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

His wife walked beside him silently, appearing obedient and content, because she already gave her life to her husband, and already regained her life’s stability and happiness.

They walked over quietly, neither wanting to be disturbed nor disturbing others.

Chu Liuxiang lightly heaved a sigh.

Every time he saw elderly husband and wife like this, there would be some kind of indescribable feeling in his heart.

Because he never knew whether when he reached his later years, he would also have a partner to accompany him and snuggle up to him throughout his life.

Only this time, he felt more happiness than melancholy. Because Zhang Jiejie was accompanying him by his side.

He could not help holding Zhang Jiejie’s hand

Zhang Jiejie’s hands were as cold as ice.

Zhang Jiejie was looking down at her own toes. After a long time, she raised her head and smiled sweetly, she said, “I’m not too cold, but I’m very hungry. I’m going crazy from hunger.”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “What do you want to eat?” _{Translated by foxs}

Zhang Jiejie rolled her eyes and said, “I want to eat shark fin.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “How can there be shark fins in this kind of place?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “I know there is a town ahead, a few li more, it will be a big town.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “You are already going crazy from hunger right now. Can you still walk over there?”

Zhang Jiejie laughed and said, “The hungrier I am, the more I want to eat delicious food.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “Turns out unexpectedly you are just like me, also a glutton.”

Zhang Jiejie laughed sweetly and said, “That’s why we are truly a couple made in heaven.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Very well, let’s go.”

Pouting her lips, Zhang Jiejie said, “I’m too hungry to walk. Do you still have money to hire a carriage?”

Therefore, they hired a carriage. ^{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

The carriage moved very fast, because Zhang Jiejie kept urging it.

Looking out of the carriage window now, they could already see the lights of the town ahead.

Chu Liuxiang was looking out the window in a daze.

Zhang Jiejie suddenly said, “Are you still thinking about that person?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “What person?”

Zhang Jiejie said, “The person who has been harming you?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “Sometimes it is hard to avoid thinking about it.”

Zhang Jiejie said, “Do you know why I all along I did not want to tell you who he is?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I don’t know.”

Zhang Jiejie said softly, “Because I don’t want you to beat him, hence I want to ask you one thing.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Speak up.”

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