The next day, Zhang Shuisheng and his cousin Zhang Quan arrived early outside the small courtyard. They only knocked on the door knocker after hearing sounds from within.
Old Lady Liu opened the door for the two men. After the five of them had breakfast, Zhang Shuisheng and Zhang Quan helped Wu Wei and Embroider Maiden with their luggage, and they set off.
Old Lady Liu was advanced in years and could not bear the thought of parting. She held Embroider Maiden’s hand, seeing her off again and again while wiping away tears and urging her to stay safe on the journey and return home soon.
Embroider Maiden’s eyes also grew red-rimmed. She reassured Old Lady Liu repeatedly that nothing would happen, which finally steadied the old woman’s emotions somewhat.
“Weiwei, Third Sister has never been on such a long trip since she was little. I’m counting on you to look after her along the way,” Old Lady Liu said worriedly to Wu Wei.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Liu. I’ll take good care of Third Sister.”
“Mother-in-law, rest assured. I’ll watch over both sisters. Second Lady will come keep you company every day. Just wait for us to come back,” Zhang Shuisheng promised.
Only then did Old Lady Liu turn back, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. The four of them descended the mountain and headed toward the village entrance. When they passed Zhang Shuisheng’s house, they saw Second Lady Liu and Old Lady Zhang waiting at the roadside, with Zhang Shuisheng’s and Zhang Quan’s luggage set on the ground.
Seeing them approach, Old Lady Zhang and Second Lady Liu picked up the luggage and followed behind. Second Lady Liu kept instructing Embroider Maiden nonstop. “Things are different when you’re out and about—it’s not like being at home. Listen to Weiwei and your brother-in-law, don’t go off alone. If strangers try to strike up a conversation, ignore them if you can and let the two men handle it. And… I heard from the young wife next door at Aunt Zhang’s place that if you meet overly friendly types offering water or food, don’t pay them any mind—they might be human traffickers. Same with anyone prying into your business; don’t engage. No good deed comes without a motive—it’s either treachery or theft. Got it?”
“Got it, Second Sister. Don’t worry.”
“Weiwei!”
“Yes, Second Sister?”
“Embroider Maiden’s never traveled far, so I’m relying on you to look after her this trip.”
“Don’t worry, Second Sister. Once we reach Cangshi County, if I spot any interesting local specialties, I’ll buy some to bring back for you.”
“Don’t waste money like that. Just come back safe.”
…
The group reached the village entrance, where the carriage was already waiting. Seeing such a spacious and fine carriage, Second Lady Liu and Old Lady Zhang felt relieved. At least the journey wouldn’t be too rough—it was far better than walking or riding in an ox cart.
Once all the luggage was loaded onto the carriage, Second Lady Liu privately handed Embroider Maiden a palm-sized earthenware jar. “Quanzi mentioned that even riding in a carriage on a long trip can be grueling—most folks can’t handle the jolts. These pickled plums, I asked around several neighbors to get them. In the village, any pregnant woman with morning sickness eats one and feels better. Take it. If you feel queasy, pop one right away—don’t go vomiting in someone else’s carriage.”
“Thank you, Second Sister. Take care of things at home. I’ve asked Eldest Sister Li to stay over at night, and if you have time during the day, check on Mom for us.”
“Got it. Get going now.”
Watching all four climb aboard, Second Lady Liu couldn’t help wiping a tear. She waved her hand and called out, “Off you go!”
With a crack of the whip, the carriage lurched into motion.
Second Lady Liu and Old Lady Zhang watched until the carriage was out of sight before turning back.
…
The carriage left Zhang Family Village and traveled a short stretch along a wooded path before merging onto the main post road, gradually picking up speed.
Zhang Quan had been an itinerant peddler in the past, visiting many places, but he had rarely ridden in a carriage. Excited, he said, “Brother Shuisheng, I’m heading outside to chat with the driver. You folks stay comfy.”
“Go ahead.”
Zhang Quan stepped out of the compartment and settled on the driver’s bench. Soon, the sound of him chatting idly with the driver drifted back.
With Zhang Quan gone, Embroider Maiden relaxed. She uncorked the earthenware jar, fished out a plump, jet-black pickled plum, and held it to Wu Wei’s lips. “Weiwei, here.”
Wu Wei opened her mouth and took it. The sourness made her shiver. For someone like Wu Wei, who had sampled endless snacks and dried fruits from Blue Star, this pickled plum was hardly a treat. But since it was being fed to her by Embroider Maiden, she had to eat it.
“What’s wrong? Too sour?” Embroider Maiden poured Wu Wei a cup of water and handed it over.
Wu Wei waved it off. Her mouth was puckered tight from the acidity, her features all scrunched up. Only after a good while did she recover. Once the sour tang faded, a faint sweetness lingered, along with the plum’s fragrance—it wasn’t so bad after all.
Wu Wei finally took the cup and sipped. Holding it in her hands, she suddenly felt playful. “You have one too, or you might get carsick later.”
Embroider Maiden obliged without hesitation, twisting open the jar for herself. The instant it hit her tongue, she clutched Wu Wei’s arm, her face twisting in even greater agony than Wu Wei’s had.
Wu Wei burst out laughing. She poured a cup of water from her empty one and waited until Embroider Maiden’s expression eased before handing it over. “So, not bad, right?”
With her cheeks flushed, Embroider Maiden shot Wu Wei a fierce glare, drained the cup, and said, “What did they pickle these sour plums in? Old vinegar?”
“Hahaha! Now we’ve shared the hardship and the… treat!” Wu Wei said, eyes crinkled in mirth.
Zhang Shuisheng, seated across from them, glanced from Wu Wei to Embroider Maiden, his gaze shifting between the two young women. They seemed like close sisters with deep affection—or perhaps like newlyweds on their honeymoon…
Unfortunately, the driver’s bench was too small for three. Otherwise, Zhang Shuisheng might have joined them up front right then. It was just too…
After Wu Wei and Embroider Maiden played around for a bit, Wu Wei noticed Zhang Shuisheng’s curious gaze and felt a flush of embarrassment. She cleared her throat and said, “Brother-in-law, want a sour plum? Good for preventing carsickness.”
“No, no thanks. Your Second Sister scrounged these from several houses just for you two. Save them for yourselves. What would a big guy like me need sour plums for?”
“Fair enough.”
…
Two hours later, the driver pulled the carriage to a stop, letting everyone stretch their legs and giving the horses a chance to graze.
A black shadow shot from the carriage with a whoosh, startling Zhang Quan and the driver. Looking closely, they saw Zhang Shuisheng bent over by a roadside tree. The next moment, he heaved with a retch, spewing the morning’s breakfast all over the ground.
…
Zhang Shuisheng’s nausea proved relentless. He heaved until the world spun and his stomach was empty, still dry-retching.
Embroider Maiden and Wu Wei appeared one on either side behind him. Embroider Maiden offered a bowl of water, asking with concern, “Brother-in-law, are you all right?”
Wu Wei, barely containing her schadenfreude, held out the earthenware jar. “Brother-in-law, sour plum?”
…
Zhang Shuisheng became the biggest victim of carsickness. Even that evening as they entered the city, he still looked dazed and out of it.
Zhang Quan struggled to stifle his laughter at the sight, while the driver showed no mercy. “A big strapping fellow like you, and you can’t handle it as well as two young ladies? First time on a long trip?”
Zhang Shuisheng felt an arrow pierce his heart.
That night, Wu Wei booked two rooms at an inn recommended by the driver. The driver was acquainted with the innkeeper and bedded down in a storage closet.
For dinner, Wu Wei ordered several dishes delivered to the room by a waiter. After the meal, hot water arrived—but just enough for one tub.
The inns of this era fell far short of those glamorized in Blue Star dramas. Hot water required advance payment and reservation, and supply depended on how busy the kitchen was.
Wu Wei urged Embroider Maiden to bathe first, but Embroider Maiden refused. After a few rounds of polite refusal, Embroider Maiden couldn’t outstubborn Wu Wei and was half-pushed, half-hugged behind the screen.
Hearing the splashes from behind the screen, Wu Wei sat vigil on the bed like a guard—ears tuned to the corridor outside, eyes fixed on the window.
The inn’s walls were thin; footsteps of anyone passing the door rang out clearly.
Only after Embroider Maiden finished did Wu Wei quickly wash up behind the screen. Together, they rolled up the inn’s musty bedding and stowed it on the table, then spread out their own brought from home. Inside the quilts were their own fluffy pillows, which Wu Wei had sunned thoroughly before departure. The bedding was soft and fresh-smelling, just like at home. Breathing in the familiar scent chased away much of the journey’s fatigue.
Wu Wei held Embroider Maiden close and chuckled. “Who knows how Brother-in-law’s faring. When we stopped at the midday inn, he looked positively green around the gills.”
“Thanks to you tricking me into eating that pickled plum, the carriage rocked hard in the afternoon. Without it to settle my stomach, I might’ve hurled worse than he did.”
Wu Wei gently stroked Embroider Maiden’s back and murmured tenderly, “Want me to teach you a trick so you never get carsick?”
“There’s a method for that?”
“Yes, tomorrow I’ll have the coachman roll up the curtains and prop open all the windows. When we reach the bumpy stretches, just look straight ahead—keep your line of sight the same as his. Then imagine that you’re the one driving the carriage yourself.”
Embroider Maiden blinked, a puzzled look crossing her face. “What’s this trick?”
Wu Wei explained patiently. “Third Sister, you know coachmen never get motion sickness, right? People feel carsick because the actual road doesn’t match what our minds expect. Say we imagine the path ahead is nice and smooth, but then it jolts us unexpectedly. Do that enough times, and our bodies start to rebel. But the human brain and nerves are incredible things. If you picture yourself as the coachman, judging the road ahead through your own eyes, your body will make the adjustments preemptively. No more sickness.”
“Really?” Curiosity lit up Embroider Maiden’s eyes.
“You can try it tomorrow and see. Still, to play it safe, you should eat a pickled plum too.”
“Okay~.”
Wu Wei pressed a soft kiss to Embroider Maiden’s forehead and pulled her close. “It’s getting late. We should rest—tomorrow’s another full day on the road.”
“Mm.”
Soon enough, the steady rhythm of Wu Wei’s breathing filled Embroider Maiden’s ears. But Embroider Maiden opened her eyes once more. In the dim light filtering through from the corridor, she studied Wu Wei’s sleeping face for a long moment. Then, with a secretive little smile, she leaned in and returned the kiss to the corner of Wu Wei’s lips before finally closing her eyes.
Awww..☺️