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墨書 Inktalez
Two days later, I saw the old woman again.
The Ruyi Rouge shop had just opened its doors when the old woman, supported by her son, stepped into the store, illuminated by the soft morning light. Upon seeing Xing Ruyi, the young man was somewhat surprised and directly exclaimed, "It's you!"
Xing Ruyi smiled and replied, "It's you!"
The young man helped the old woman sit down before saying, "I am Li Xiu Xian. Two days ago, I met you at Si Niang's Tavern. Later, I heard from Si Niang that the Crucian Carp White Jade Soup was made by you. Today, on behalf of Old Mother, I would like to thank you."
"Li Xiu Xian is too polite. The Fox Demon is actually half the owner of that Tavern. When customers come in and make requests, Si Niang agreed to it, so it was only right for me to help out. However, my culinary skills are lacking, and I couldn't recreate the flavors from the past for Madam. The Fox Demon feels a bit regretful for disappointing the elderly lady."
"It's just that Old Mother has a discerning palate; your Crucian Carp White Jade Soup is delicious—better than what that person made back in the day." The old woman's eyes narrowed slightly, making it hard to decipher her meaning. Unable to guess her thoughts, Xing Ruyi simply stood there with a faint smile.
Li Xiu Xian glanced at his mother and then at the array of items on display at the counter before asking, "I heard that your Ruyi Rouge shop has the most comprehensive selection in all of Luoyang City; not only is it unique, but its effects are also remarkable."
"I wouldn't dare claim to have the most comprehensive selection, but indeed, the Rouge here cannot be found elsewhere; it can be considered one of a kind. As for its effects, each person's mindset is different, so their experiences after use will vary as well. As a businessperson, the Fox Demon can only do her best to satisfy every customer. However, if a customer is not satisfied, there's nothing I can do but suggest they look elsewhere."
"Ruyi indeed has a unique personality compared to others!" Li Xiu Xian said with a slight bow and a smile on his face.
Xing Ruyi noticed that there was a refreshing clarity in this young man's smile, reminiscent of the sun around eight or nine in the morning—bright but not blinding; warm yet not scorching. It was evident he had good upbringing and character.
"Flattering me as having personality is nice; if said otherwise, it could be seen as stubbornness—doing things my own way and not being well-liked." Xing Ruyi poured two cups of tea and brought them over. "Li Xiu Xian and Madam have come today; I fear it's not just for the Crucian Carp White Jade Soup?"
"Indeed not!" Li Xiu Xian replied as he took out an object from his sleeve. It was an old and ordinary wooden box that had darkened with age but still faintly carried a scent of Rouge.
"I've long heard that Ruyi is different from others; thus there are some matters I won't hide from you," Li Xiu Xian said while glancing at his mother discreetly. Seeing her still with her eyes closed slightly, he continued: "My mother has been quite nostalgic lately and often reminisces about the past; she tosses and turns at night and finds it hard to settle down. My father and I have noticed this and feel pained for her. Therefore, my father ordered me to bring my mother back home to fulfill all her wishes. The Crucian Carp White Jade Soup at Si Niang's shop was her first wish. Unfortunately, though home remains home, everything has changed. This Rouge is her second concern; it is one of two keepsakes left to her by my Biological Father."
Li Xiu Xian handed the box of Rouge to Xing Ruyi. She accepted it and indicated to Li Xiu Xian before opening it with his consent. Inside were half a box of Rouge that had dried up over time; its color was deep and of poor quality—something that likely wouldn't have been considered good even back then.
Li Xiu Xian seemed to understand the expression on the Fox Demon's face and explained: "You must have heard about the story of that fish manor. My mother was once its mistress, while my Biological Father was its former owner. They met by the riverbank.
That year, the Luoyang River flooded and submerged my mother's hometown. She was swept away by the current until she reached the riverbank where she met my Biological Father. He was a fisherman whose family had relied on fishing for generations and also suffered during that flood. Both shared similar experiences and hardships; combined with his saving grace, my mother naturally ended up with him as partners through adversity. In those early days of poverty, they married without any formalities—just land as witness under heaven and earth—without even a new outfit."
Fortunately, Biological Father was very diligent. In order to provide a stable life for his mother, he would go fishing at dawn without fail. He was skilled and always managed to catch the best, largest, and freshest fish. Additionally, he was good at negotiating prices, so gradually their lives became more prosperous. When the grain merchant was selling his shop, Biological Father took all his savings and bought it, opening a fish restaurant.
The fish in the restaurant were all caught and cooked by Biological Father himself, which made the dishes fresher and cheaper than those of others. As a result, business thrived. This Rouge was the first thing Biological Father bought for his mother with the money he earned. Although it wasn't the best and couldn't be considered high-end, it was a token of Biological Father's affection.
As the saying goes, "It is easy to seek priceless treasures but hard to find a true lover." This Rouge may be ordinary, but your father's intention is truly precious.
This Rouge was originally kept by my mother. However, some time ago, she suddenly remembered it and instructed her maid to find it. The box remained intact, but the Rouge had already wilted and could no longer be seen in its former color. My mother felt sorrowful about this, so I brought her here to see if there were any similar ones in your shop.
Xing Ruyi lowered her head to smell it and said, "This material is called Purple Ore, also known as Purple Stem or Purple Grass. It is derived from the body and secretions of a creature called 'Purple Coccus,' making it quite rare. To make this type of Rouge, you need to soak the Purple Ore in cold water beforehand, then heat it over a fire, filter out the impurities, and finally bake it into a paste. The final color is a reddish-purple hue. If stored properly, it has a relatively short shelf life. The fact that your mother's box of Rouge has maintained its appearance speaks volumes about her care and effort."
"Do you have any here?"
"To be honest, no! The Rouge I sell is mostly made from herbal ingredients and various flowers because I tend to choose materials that are visually appealing." Xing Ruyi said as she handed the Rouge box back to Li Xiuxian. Seeing a hint of disappointment in his eyes, she quickly added, "Although I don't have any in my shop, that doesn't mean I can't make some fresh ones. However, just like that carp white jade soup, any newly made Rouge will always be different; even if the colors are similar and the flavors close, it won't be the same as that original soup or box of Rouge."
"Xiander!"
"Mother!"
"Ruyi, even if we manage to buy the same Rouge, what difference does it make? That person is no longer here; the Rouge he personally bought has also withered away—just like the past years that have gone by; they will never return." The old woman said as she opened her eyes; it was evident that her eyes were moist.
Xing Ruyi found this strange. Looking at the old woman's demeanor, she didn't seem like someone who held onto old grudges. Yet when mentioning her son’s Biological Father, referring to her ex-husband, she consistently referred to him as "that person." Was it because Li Xiuxian's current adoptive father forbade it or did this old woman harbor her own unresolved feelings?
Li Xiuxian observed his mother's expression and felt a pang of discomfort in his heart. He took back the box of Rouge and gently comforted her: "Mother is right; what happened in the past is already behind us. We don't need to search for this Rouge. Your health is more important; please take care of yourself."
The old woman patted Li Xiuxian's hand and sighed softly: "Don't worry; I'm fine. It's just that after all these years, there are still things I can't let go of or understand. But when I think about it again, how can one make sense of everything in this world? It's impossible to clarify every single matter."
"Mother—"
"You've had a hard time these days too; accompanying me around has surely taken up much of your time."
"What are you talking about? This is what a son should do." Li Xiuxian replied before turning his gaze back to Xing Ruyi: "I came here today with another request for you."
“Li Xiu Xian, please!”
“It’s like this. When I first arrived at Rouge Shop, I heard that the young lady can exorcise evil spirits.”
Xing Ruyi couldn’t help but glance at the Old Woman. No wonder she felt something was missing when the Old Woman entered today; it was that shadow. Today, that shadow did not follow.
“Regarding exorcism, how should Li Xiu Xian respond to the Fox Demon?” Xing Ruyi picked up a cup of tea and said, “Just like this tea, since you entered the door, you haven’t tasted it at all. If the Fox Demon were to ask you now whether this tea is good, how would you answer?”
“The young lady’s meaning is understood.” Li Xiuxian cupped his hands and said, “This matter is strange! Mother and my father moved away from here a long time ago, and life has been relatively smooth for over ten years. But just a month ago, Mother began to frequently reminisce about the past, even saying that she could feel my Biological Father returning!”
“Returning?” Xing Ruyi frowned because those three words sounded quite eerie in this context.
“Yes! He has returned!” Li Xiuxian repeated. “To be honest, when I first heard Mother say this, I thought my Biological Father was still alive in this world, that he had merely gone missing and not passed away. Now he must have found out where Mother and I live, so he came back. But later, I realized that things were not as I thought.”
“What do you mean?” Xing Ruyi pressed on.
Li Xiuxian shook his head and took a while before he finally said, “Honestly, I can’t describe that feeling clearly; it’s like there’s an invisible person beside you whom you can’t touch or see. You can’t see his presence, but you can distinctly feel him. At first, only Mother had this feeling, but I don’t know if it’s because I heard her describe it so much or if there really is something to it; I actually started to have this strange feeling too. To be honest with you, Li Xiuxian even consulted a doctor who said I was mentally distressed, but I always felt that what Mother said was right: my Biological Father has returned.”
As soon as Li Xiuxian finished speaking, Xing Ruyi felt a slight darkness in front of her. She looked up and saw a person crouched on Li Xiuxian’s back, their features blurred; they were currently peering at her.
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