Wearing a bamboo hat, Xu Shang walked through Sanqing Town and found the streets remarkably sparse, lacking any of the bustling liveliness of years past. Though a few shops remained, they were universally empty.
Xu Shang stepped into the inn where he and Su Biyun had once stayed. Memory after memory rose before his eyes, as if all of it had been nothing more than a dream!
The innkeeper was an elderly grandfather. He stepped forward with warm hospitality, "Welcome, traveler! Are you stopping for a meal, or staying the night?"
Xu Shang removed his bamboo hat, revealing a weather-beaten yet still handsome face. "I'll stay the night, and bring out a few of your signature dishes."
The innkeeper looked at Xu Shang, feeling he seemed somewhat familiar, but didn't dwell on it. "Right away, traveler. Please wait a moment."
Xu Shang found a table by the window and sat down. Gazing at the scenery outside, a wave of complex emotions washed over him.
Sitting by the window, his gaze passed through the mottled wooden frame to fixate on the world outside. Though the streets of Sanqing Town were desolate, a few children could still be vaguely seen chasing each other and playing. Their laughter, crisp and innocent, drifted over and carried Xu Shang's thoughts drifting back to the past.
He remembered how, back then, he and Su Biyun had walked side by side down this very street, their laughter just as carefree as these children's. Back then, Sanqing Town had been so prosperous—people coming and going in a continuous stream, carriages rumbling like clouds, every corner brimming with vitality and life. Now, everything had grown so desolate, as though time had stagnated here, leaving behind only memories and the marks of age.
The innkeeper brought out several plates of signature dishes, piping hot and exuding a rich aroma. Xu Shang snapped back to his senses, looking at the familiar food as a warm current surged in his chest. He remembered that Su Biyun's absolute favorite had been the braised pork ribs here; every time they came, she would order a portion. He gently picked up a piece of the ribs with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth. The familiar taste made the corners of his eyes grow slightly moist.
"Traveler, you seem to have something on your mind," the Innkeeper observed, noticing Xu Shang's unusual expression, and couldn't help asking.
Xu Shang smiled faintly. "It's nothing, just remembering some things from the past."
"The past is like smoke, traveler, no need to dwell on it too much," the Innkeeper comforted. "If you need anything at all, just say the word."
Xu Shang nodded, though he understood in his heart that some memories could never be erased. After finishing his meal and paying the bill, he intended to stay at this inn for the night. Perhaps here, he could find some trace of the past and relive those wonderful times.
As night fell, Xu Shang lay on the bed, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, his mind a flurry of thoughts. He knew he had to continue his journey tomorrow, but tonight, he would let himself quietly remember and yearn in this place that was both familiar and strange.
As the night grew deeper, the stillness of Sanqing Town became even more pronounced. Lying on the bed, Xu Shang watched the moonlight stream through the lattice window onto his body. The mottled light and shadows, mingling with his memories, left his heart heavier and more conflicted.
He thought of Su Biyun's smile—the smile that always made him forget his troubles. Her eyes always seemed to conceal stars, flickering with a warm glow. They had once strolled together down this street, gazed at the moon together from the inn's window, and discussed their dreams for the future. Back then, they had been full of hope and longing.
Yet now, Su Biyun was no longer by his side, and those wonderful times seemed as distant and unreachable as the passage of time itself. Xu Shang closed his eyes, trying to trace Su Biyun's features in his mind, but his memory was like smoke blown by the wind, growing increasingly blurred.
He rolled out of bed, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The night breeze carried a hint of chill, brushing against his face and clearing his head. He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the sorrow and longing in his heart.
At that moment, he heard the faint sound of a zither drifting from downstairs. Melodic and mournful, the music seemed to tell a tale unknown to the world. Drawn in by the sound, Xu Shang put on his clothes and tiptoed downstairs.
In the hall downstairs, a plainly dressed woman was playing a guqin. Her features were delicate, and her eyes revealed a deep, lingering melancholy. Xu Shang stood quietly to one side, listening to the moving zither music, a profound resonance stirring in his chest.
As the song ended, the woman raised her head and caught sight of Xu Shang. She smiled slightly, as if silently inquiring about his impression. Xu Shang stepped forward and said softly, "Your zither playing is beautiful. It made me think of the past."
The woman nodded gently. "Music always has a way of touching the human heart, bringing to mind those memories buried deep within."
And so the two began to converse. The woman's name was Qin Xin, and she was the innkeeper's daughter. She had loved playing the zither since childhood, but due to the desolation of Sanqing Town, her skill had never found many appreciative ears. Xu Shang's appearance brought a flicker of warmth to her.
They spoke of music, of life, and of their respective dreams. Xu Shang found that talking with Qin Xin had greatly lightened his mood. Perhaps in this small town, he could find something new to comfort his soul.
As the night grew late and Qin Xin's zither music gradually faded, the entire inn was once again swallowed by quiet. Returning to his room, Xu Shang did not immediately lie down. Instead, he sat at the table and lit an oil lamp. The faint lamplight flickered within the room, casting a glow over his thoughtful profile.
He took an old keepsake from inside his robe—a jade pendant left behind by Su Biyun. Carved onto the pendant was a cloud, beneath which hung a crescent moon. Gently stroking the jade, Xu Shang could almost feel the warmth Su Biyun had left behind. This jade pendant was his only remaining link to her, and the eternal ache in his heart.
He placed the jade pendant on the table, picked up a pen, and began to write on a sheet of paper. Every character condensed his emotions; every line recorded his memories. He wrote of their story, of his yearning for Su Biyun, and of his reflections on Sanqing Town.
The night deepened, yet Xu Shang's pen never stopped. It was as though he were racing against time, desperate to pour every drop of emotion onto the paper before dawn arrived. Not until the very last drop of ink was exhausted did he finally set down his pen and let out a long sigh.
He folded the written sheets of paper neatly, gently blew out the oil lamp, and lay down on the bed, gazing at the moonlight outside the window. The moonlight, like water, spilled over him and over the jade pendant, which cast back a faint glow in response to his feelings.
Xu Shang closed his eyes, silently reciting Su Biyun's name, hoping to meet her in his dreams. He knew that no matter how reality shifted, her place in his heart would never change. And Sanqing Town, the place that had witnessed their love, would forever remain his deepest attachment.
Just as he was drifting off to sleep, a faint gust of wind brushed past the window, seemingly whispering something. Xu Shang opened his eyes. There, under the moonlight, a figure stood outside the window—a figure so familiar it felt as though it were the Su Biyun he yearned for day and night.
Xu Shang bolted upright, wanting to see clearly, only to realize it was merely an illusion. He shook his head with a bitter smile, knowing in his heart that Su Biyun was gone, and her figure could only ever appear in his dreams.
He lay back down, closed his eyes, and let himself sink into deep longing. On this silent night, his soul found a trace of solace; though Su Biyun was gone, he believed that as long as love remained in his heart, she would never truly leave.
The moonlight remained, the zither music had long since faded, and on this night in Sanqing Town, Xu Shang drifted quietly into slumber, carrying his longing for Su Biyun and his hopes for the future into the realm of dreams.