You & Yu 10
When Zhang Shuo woke up, You Song was no longer in the room.
He had gone out at five o'clock. The ancient town was still shrouded in silence, its streets empty and deserted. A thin layer of mist clung to the bluestone pavement, as though it had just been washed by rain, damp and clean. A stray cat, disturbed by his presence, darted into an alley.
You Song jogged along the narrow lanes at a steady pace. He was slightly out of breath and had broken a sweat, but his whole body felt refreshed.
By the time he returned to the inn, exactly forty minutes had passed.
***
You Song took ten minutes to shower. By the time he had packed his luggage and come out, it was exactly six o'clock.
Thanks to his cooperation, everyone set off on time.
Lao Hu drove around downtown Lijiang for a while. Yu Nan turned around and asked, "What would you like for breakfast?"
Zhang Shuo was still yawning. "What are our options?"
Yu Nan said, "Braised pork ersi, grilled rice cakes, rice noodles." She thought for a moment. "There are also places selling soy milk and fried dough sticks."
"Let's have the braised pork noodles. No idea what it actually is, but why don't we give it a try?" Zhang Shuo leaned forward to ask You Song, "What do you think, You-ge?"
You Song wasn't picky. "Sure."
Zhang Qihui and Shi Ming had no objections either.
With everyone in agreement, Lao Hu turned the steering wheel and drove into an alley. After making a few more turns, he pulled over.
It was an ordinary breakfast stall, with a small storefront that wasn't particularly clean, but the entrance was packed with people.
There were no seats left. Some people were squatting by the roadside, holding bowls in their hands, lifting strands of ersi with their chopsticks and bringing them to their mouths.
Yu Nan said, "Shall we try somewhere else?"
You Song lit a cigarette and narrowed his eyes. "No need. Let's wait a bit."
The air around them was filled with delicious aromas. Among the crowd were young people in business attire, middle-aged women in pajamas, elderly men carrying birdcages, and women with children.
Steam rose from the bowls of ersi, and the diners were sweating profusely as they ate.
After five minutes of standing around, Zhang Qihui spotted an opening and reacted quickly. "Hey, hey, over there, over there..."
A table had just finished eating, and she hurried over to claim the seats.
The owner gave the table a quick tidy and wiped it down with a rag, but a layer of grease still coated its surface.
Zhang Qihui took out a wet wipe to clean it. Zhang Shuo scoffed at her. "Why are you so particular? It's not like you're going to chew on the table."
In just a few days, they had already grown familiar with one another and no longer held back when speaking.
Zhang Qihui tossed the used wipe into his lap. "You're so annoying! You're the one who chews on tables."
Shi Ming pulled her back toward him and said quietly, "We're eating. Stop fooling around."
Yu Nan told the owner, "Five bowls of braised pork ersi." She glanced at the menu on the wall. "And one bowl of rice noodles with tofu pudding."
Zhang Qihui asked, "Yu-jiejie, you're not having ersi?"
Yu Nan said, "I feel like having rice noodles today."
It was the breakfast rush, and the place was crowded. They waited about ten minutes before the ersi was finally brought to the table.
Braised pork ersi was made with pork hind leg and ersi, a type of rice noodle.
The pork was prepared using a special method. First, it was charred over charcoal, then placed in a clay pot with a seasoned stock and simmered until the flavors had thoroughly penetrated the meat. Once it had cooled, it was rubbed with soy sauce and deep-fried until golden brown.
Finally, it was served over ersi in the rich broth.
The meat was delicious without being greasy, the ersi soft and springy, and the broth wonderfully savory.
It was a specialty of Yunnan.
Zhang Shuo became so absorbed in eating that he forgot everything around him, making loud slurping sounds as he ate.
Shi Ming picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and put it in Zhang Qihui's bowl. She was just about to frown when Shi Ming said, "It's fine to eat a little in the morning. You'll have the whole day to burn it off."
Zhang Qihui pursed her lips and lowered her head to continue eating.
You Song, on the other hand, ate at an unhurried pace. He picked at his food with his chopsticks, then glanced sideways at Yu Nan. "Is it good?"
Yu Nan didn't raise her head. "It's good."
Lao Hu was sitting between them.
You Song asked, "What's that on top?"
"Rapeseed greens and peanuts."
You Song said, "That white stuff."
Yu Nan rolled her eyes at him. "Tofu pudding."
Caught between the two of them, Lao Hu began to feel uncomfortable.
There was something distinctly unusual about the atmosphere between these two.
You Song asked again, "What's it taste like?"
"..."
Yu Nan said, "Want me to order you a bowl?"
"No need," You Song said. "I'll try some of yours."
Yu Nan: "..."
She slowly stirred the tofu pudding into little pieces. "...It's not that good, actually."
You Song was amused by her behavior and let out a laugh. Then he lowered his head and began eating his own food. After just a few mouthfuls, his bowl was nearly empty.
Once they finished breakfast, they got back on the road.
The drive from Lijiang to Lugu Lake would take seven or eight hours.
Everyone had originally planned to catch up on sleep, but the road conditions were simply too poor, and the journey was bumpy all the way. Some stretches of road ran through treacherous terrain, where minor landslides had occurred.
Lao Hu concentrated on driving, carefully steering around the fallen rocks and loose gravel.
The vehicle moved slowly, winding its way along the mountain road.
On one side rose the mountains; on the other flowed the Jinsha River.
Amid the sharply defined peaks, a vast expanse of emerald green suddenly came into view. It was midsummer, the flood season, and the river roared through the landscape, the view magnificent and boundless.
The mountain road was narrow, with no guardrails, making the journey feel fraught with danger.
The experience was both thrilling and awe-inspiring.
The windows were open, and cool wind rushed in from all sides.
There was the scent of mountains, the scent of green grass, and the scent of the river.
They continued forward. Deep in the mountains, there were homes.
Nestled in the lush green valleys were a few scattered white houses. In the distance, mountain ranges stretched endlessly. Something, whether cloud, mist, or cooking smoke, hung from the rooftops all the way up to the mountainsides.
It was a scene straight out of a painting.
Gradually, the road became easier to travel, much smoother than before.
By now, everyone's drowsiness had more or less faded, and they were all full of energy.
Yu Nan took the opportunity to introduce the area to them.
Leaning sideways against the back of her seat, she turned around and talked about Lugu Lake's scenic attractions, local delicacies, and the customs and traditions of the Mosuo people.
Zhang Qihui was particularly interested in walking marriages and asked Yu Nan to tell them more.
Yu Nan said, "The Mosuo people often hold bonfire gatherings in large open spaces, where everyone sings and dances. If a man sees a woman he likes, he'll go up to her, take her hand, and give her palm a little scratch. If the attraction is mutual, the woman will tell him where she lives. That night, the man has to climb in through her window and sleep with her. The next morning, he must leave before daybreak without being seen by anyone."
Zhang Qihui exclaimed in amazement, "Are the Mosuo people really that open?"
Yu Nan smiled. "Compared with the monogamous marriage system advocated in China," she shrugged, "...it certainly does seem a little inconceivable."
"Holy shit..." Zhang Shuo exclaimed. "That's a real perk for men!"
You Song laughed. "Well, since you're already here, why don't you give it a try?"
Zhang Shuo chuckled foolishly, rubbing his hands together. He really did look a little eager to try.
Yu Nan said, "You won't think that way when the time comes."
Zhang Shuo asked, "Why not?"
Yu Nan only smiled without answering.
At that moment, Shi Ming asked, "Do they maintain these relationships? Don't they form families?"
"Perhaps," Yu Nan said. "But the Mosuo are the only ethnic group that has preserved a matrilineal clan system. Children are raised from an early age by their mothers, grandmothers, and maternal uncles. Some mothers don't even know who their children's fathers are, and biological fathers aren't required to take responsibility for raising them. Of course, the men here won't have just one woman in their lifetime, and the women won't have just one sexual partner either."
"Holy shit," Zhang Shuo exclaimed again. "That's fucking paradise."
Yu Nan smiled but made no comment.
Zhang Qihui rolled her eyes at him. "It's because everyone thinks like you that society's morals are going downhill."
Zhang Shuo wasn't pleased. "Hey, hey, who are you talking about? Whose morals are going downhill?"
"Who else but you?"
Zhang Shuo retorted, "I'm just talking, that's all. My character is impeccable."
The two argued across Shi Ming.
Zhang Shuo said, "Fine, fine, fine. Only your Shi Ming is any good."
"You're absolutely right. My Shi Ming is handsome, educated, and responsible, too."
With that, she wrapped an arm around Shi Ming's shoulders and gave him a little shake. Shi Ming affectionately rubbed the top of her head.
Yu Nan listened to their bickering, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. When she raised her eyes, she met You Song's gaze.
He was studying her with mild amusement, a cigarette held between his fingers, his arm resting casually outside the window. A thin wisp of bluish smoke drifted backward with the wind. The cigarette had nearly burned down.
Yu Nan said, "You could give it a try."
"Try what?"
"A walking marriage."
"With whom?"
"A Mosuo girl."
You Song remembered how eager Zhang Shuo had looked earlier and laughed. "I like women with pronounced feminine features."
"You're picky, too?" she said. "Haven't you been getting all..."
Halfway through, Yu Nan stopped herself at just the right moment. Given the nature of their relationship, there were certain things she shouldn't take too far.
You Song took a drag on his cigarette, his dark eyes narrowing unconsciously. "Getting all what?"
"Nothing."
She turned away, only to hear him say, "Horny?"
Yu Nan thought to herself that it was much worse than that. She wanted to answer, "In heat," but held back.
A long while later, his voice came from behind her again. "I like doing things out in the open, damn it."
Not climbing through windows in the middle of the night, sneaking around like a thief.
***
With everyone chatting and laughing along the way, the hours became a little easier to endure.
There were no rest stops nearby, so at noon they ate at a farmhouse restaurant run by local villagers.
The dishes weren't particularly refined, but one dish of hot-and-sour lotus root slices was definitely appetizing.
Halfway through the meal, You Song seemed to remember something. He called the owner over and asked, "Do you have rice noodles with tofu pudding?"
Yu Nan abruptly raised her head.
You Song had his head turned away and wasn't looking at her.
The owner said, "At this time of day, we only serve cooked dishes."
You Song said, "Never mind, then."
"But..."
"Hm?"
"There's still one bowl left over from this morning. How about I heat it up for you? The rice noodles might not taste very good, though."
You Song said, "Thanks. Heat it up, then."
The owner turned and went back to the kitchen. You Song picked up his bowl and continued shoveling rice into his mouth, the hot-and-sour lotus root slices crunching between his teeth.
Zhang Shuo found a moment to look up. "Why are you eating that stuff in the middle of the day?"
You Song said, "Just want to try it."
Before long, the owner came out carrying a large bowl.
Steam rose from it. The rice noodles had gone a little soggy, there wasn't much broth, and only a few scattered pieces of scallion floated on top. There were no rapeseed greens or peanuts.
But there was certainly no shortage of tofu pudding. Two large, tender white pieces were piled high over the rice noodles, rising to a peak like a little snow mountain.
The owner said, "I won't charge you for this. Consider it on the house."
You Song thanked him and scooped up some tofu pudding with his spoon.
It trembled delicately, white and translucent.
He put it into his mouth. It was so slippery it was almost impossible to hold on his tongue. With the slightest press of his tongue, it dissolved completely, like clear water, impossible to retain. It slipped down his throat, but a lingering taste remained on the tip of his tongue, faintly sweet, with the fragrance of soybeans.
He heard someone beside him ask, "Is it good?"
He answered, "It's good."
"What's good?"
You Song ate another piece. "...The tofu pudding."
Yu Nan fell silent.
But he asked, "Want to try some?"
The conversation felt strangely familiar.
The atmosphere turned peculiar.
Zhang Shuo pretended to concentrate on his rice, secretly raising his eyes over the rim of his bowl.
She didn't respond. Zhang Shuo ventured, "How about I try some?"
You Song said, "Fuck off."
Yu Nan laughed aloud, a very soft, faint laugh.
A gentle breeze stirred the wind chimes by the window. The little bells danced with the wind, coming together in a clear, melodious tune.
The wind was blowing, and the sounds were beautiful. Laughter and wind chimes.
***
After lunch, they still had roughly four hours of travel ahead.
The road was smooth. They could sleep the whole way.
At four in the afternoon, the car entered the Lugu Lake Scenic Area.
Yu Nan went to buy the tickets, while You Song got out to smoke.
Through the entrance gate, the lake was already faintly visible. The sky was a deep, vivid blue, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see. The clouds were high above, like clusters of willow catkins suspended in the sky. All around, verdant mountains encircled the lake, cradling its waters.
When Yu Nan returned with the tickets, she saw him smoking.
She decided to stay outside for a while and stretch her limbs as well.
You Song held the cigarette between his fingers, his hand hanging at his side. He wasn't smoking it, and a length of ash had already formed at the tip.
He leaned against the car door, gazing into the distance, the colors of nature reflected in his bright, dark eyes.
You Song said, "This place isn't bad."
Yu Nan's gaze settled on him. You Song still didn't look at her. His fingers moved slightly, and the cigarette ash scattered lightly into the wind.
This was the first time throughout their journey that she'd heard him give such an assessment.
✦
Author's Note: The male lead is shameless...
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