Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

Chapter 586 The Bandits Are Here

"Sister, wear flowers!" Ji Yong'an called out, waving a small purple wildflower in his hand.

Ji Yongling nodded silently to Lin Shengwen, turned around and took the wildflowers from Ji Yong'an's hand, smelled them, then smiled and patted the little girl's head, letting Ji Yong'an put the wildflowers on her head.

Young love is simple and pure.

Ji Yongling had been through it all; how could she not understand Lin Shengwen's youthful feelings? But she wasn't really a teenage girl; her soul had experienced too much, and she knew all too well that youthful emotions were beautiful yet fragile and fleeting.

If she were truly a teenager, and such a young man traveled thousands of miles to be with her, she would surely be moved by his passion, and she would not care about his status, wealth, or poverty; she would be willing to be with him regardless of anything.

Unfortunately, she isn't!

She used to be insecure and cowardly in love, and in the end, she was completely defeated. Now, she is like an old monk who has left the world, and she has long since lost the desire for love.

Her soul and experiences had long ago taught her that love is merely a hormone secreted by a person, and it is fleeting. Hormones cannot be secreted continuously, and love cannot last or be reliable.

When people are young, they often like to do things that move them, such as going through countless dangers and overcoming all difficulties just to see someone, and they often call these moving experiences love.

However, Ji Yongling knew clearly that being moved was not the same as love.

Young love is often amplified and even romanticized due to momentary impulses and passion. Those vows made for love, that courage to disregard everything, though beautiful, are easily faded by the trials of reality.

People always change.

Feelings are like that—they come and go, growing and fading in cycles, never occupying a large part of a person's life. The feelings you have now are real, and the feelings you develop later, like mutual dislike, are also real.

She knew perfectly well that she couldn't reciprocate Lin Shengwen's feelings, so she decided to cut ties before he spoke up or became too deeply involved.

Now, she carries too many things in her heart: responsibility, mission, attachment to her family, and expectations for the future, but no need for romantic love.

She was alienated from this era; her soul did not belong to it.

Ji Yongling turned back and smiled at Lin Shengwen. "Lin Shengwen, may your future be filled with beautiful scenery and wonderful days!" She didn't say these words aloud, but they were her most sincere blessings. No matter what the future held, she hoped Lin Shengwen would be happy.

Lin Shengwen stood there, watching Ji Yongling, wearing a small purple flower in her hair, turn back and smile at him before leaving with Ji Yong'an and Ji Yongru. His heart was filled with bitterness. Ji Yongling was clearly a kind person, so why was she so cruel to him?

As dusk settled over him, he looked somewhat lonely, sad, and a little aggrieved.

He had never been rejected so many times in his life. He had traveled a thousand miles, full of joy, only to have his feelings shattered by Ji Yongling before he could even utter the words "I like you." He was filled with resentment!

But he also knew that Ji Yongling was a stubborn and inflexible person, and that if he said "I like you" out loud, he might never have the chance to see her again.

That night, Lin Shengwen couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned on the kang (a heated brick bed), gazing at the bright moon outside the window. He thought, perhaps, he shouldn't have come all this way...

But if he doesn't come, he might regret it for the rest of his life... Liking someone is such a simple thing, so why is it so difficult!

He went over and over Ji Yongling’s words from earlier that day, and finally made a decision—he was going to persuade his father to allow him to marry Ji Yongling.

.....

In the dead of night, all was quiet except for the chirping of insects and the sound of the wind. The wheat had been stored away, and everyone could finally get a good night's sleep; those on their heated brick beds were fast asleep.

The night was as dark as ink, and thick, dark clouds obscured the sky, shrouding the entire Ningping County in a deathly silence.

From afar came the sound of rapid hoofbeats, like muffled thunder rolling across the ground, breaking the stillness of the night near Zhao Family Village, the estate of the wealthy Zhao.

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer and closer, and soon, amidst a series of rough shouts, the gate of Zhao the Rich Man's estate was forcefully smashed open from the outside.

"Bandits are coming! Bandits are coming! The King of the Northwest is coming!" The old gatekeeper's hoarse shouts pierced the night sky, echoing throughout the village and igniting the sparks of panic.

Instantly, the entire village erupted into chaos, with the sounds of roosters crowing, dogs barking, shouting, and screaming all mixed together in complete disarray.

Inside Zhao the Rich's house, Zhao the Rich, who had just gotten off the kang (a heated brick bed), slumped into a chair, his body ice-cold, and muttered, "It really was that beast who brought the bandits here, it really was him!"

Zhao the rich man's wife was frantic, pacing back and forth, crying out, "Father, hurry, hurry, the King of the Northwest is coming! What do we do? What do we do? Where do we run?"

Zhao the Rich Man's hands hung limply at his sides, his eyes vacant. He shook his head weakly and said, "Run? Run to Ada? It's no use, we can't escape! Bingwei, that beast, is narrow-minded. Since he brought the Northwest King, this bandit leader, he just doesn't want to leave us any survivors!" His voice was low, as if he had already accepted his fate.

"What? Bingwei? Bingwei is back?" Zhao's wife asked, raising her voice.

Zhao the rich man did not respond.

Two days ago, someone from below reported seeing a man who looked like Hu Bingwei outside the estate. He had instructed that if the man was seen again, he must be brought back.

But his men said Hu Bingwei arrived on horseback, accompanied by a menacing-looking man who might be a bandit. He didn't think much of it at the time, but now, thinking back, it really was something that beast would do!

"What to do, what to do? That Northwest King is notoriously wicked! We...we...oh God...what sins have I committed!" Zhao the rich man's wife cried out as she frantically packed her valuables like a headless fly.