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The first year at Beiyong academy passed by quickly, and before Jia Xu knew it, it was already the new year. As he packed his books, he thought, "But a lot has happened this year. I even met people like Guo Fengxiao, who is so clingy." Thinking of Guo Fengxiao, Jia Xu couldn't help but sigh uncontrollably.
As soon as winter arrived, he fell ill frequently, wheezing and coughing with every gust of wind. Will he have to return to Yingchuan to recuperate this winter?
The leave of absence form from Beiyong academy came early, notifying the students to leave before the heavy snow blocked the mountain passes. Therefore, as soon as the exams were over, everyone hurriedly packed their belongings.
The door was gently knocked, and Jia Xu turned to see Guo Jia draped in a fox fur cloak, holding a hand warmer and leaning against the door frame, with a plum blossom pinned in his hair from an unknown source. Seeing that Guo Jia showed no sign of speaking, Jia Xu closed and locked the book box before asking, "What's the matter?" "Are you going back to Liangzhou?" Guo Jia asked weakly.
Jia Xu made a soft sound of agreement and raised his hand to tighten the fallen cloak of Guo Jia.
Guo Jia reached out to hold Jia Xu's hand in the air, but withdrew it due to the cold, following closely behind Jia Xu as they entered the door. As Jia Xu packed up, he would say to bring this and that, all of which were left by Guo Jia with Jia Xu.
Jia Xu had a hunch about Guo Jia's intentions, but continued to pack his things calmly. He didn't touch any of the things Guo Jia mentioned until Guo Jia took the initiative to speak.
Guo Jia also guessed it, and with some annoyance, he paced around Jia Xu's desk a few times, then suddenly slammed his hand stove on the desk and exclaimed, "I want to go to Liangzhou with you!"
Jia Xu raised an eyebrow and asked slowly, "Why do you want to go back to Liangzhou with me instead of going back to Yingchuan with your senior?"
Guo Jia collapsed onto the zafu like a melting dough and said, "I don't want to go back every year and listen to those people chatter."
Jia Xu tugged at the bamboo slips that were being pressed down by Guo Jia, but they didn't budge. He then gently pushed Guo Jia and said, "Have you asked the senior brother? This isn't something you can decide on your own."
Guo Jia wrapped his arms around Jia Xu as if feeling a bit dizzy from the fever, resting his head on Jia Xu's elbow and mumbled, "The senior brother told me to ask you. He also said he'd give me a share of the winnings. He's very happy."
Jia Xu placed his hand on Guo Jia's forehead and sighed softly, "You have a fever again. How far is Liangzhou from Juoyang? How can I take you on the road like this?"
Guo Jia didn't answer, buried in Jia Xu's arms, he lightly hummed, whether it was a high fever or a low fever, it was a pain he had been accustomed to since childhood. But under Jia Xu's care, it became unbearable, making him hum in pain.
Jia Xu was worn down by Guo Jia, and finally relented, saying, "If you don't have a fever the day we leave, I will take you with me."
Guo Jia lifted his head, looking into Jia Xu's bright eyes and asked, "Really?"
Jia Xu asked with a hint of amusement, "When have I ever lied to you?"
Since the day he left, Guo Jia had not had a fever again. However, the smell of herbs on his body had become stronger, almost overpowering.
Xun Yu stood at the entrance of the academy, watching Guo Jia waving goodbye to him with a smile on his face while standing on a stool. He chuckled lightly and waved back at him.
Even after getting on the carriage, Guo Jia couldn't sit still. He lifted the curtain and shouted, "Don't forget about Fengxiao, senior brothers!"
A familiar senior brother also lifted the curtain and replied, "Don't provoke Wenhe, Fengxiao, he's far away in Liangzhou, and the senior brothers won't be able to save you again!"
Guo Jia raised his eyebrows and shouted back, "Senior Chen, you should focus on yourself more! I saw the tomboy from the Zhang family's red phoenix star move while observing the stars yesterday!"
Senior Chen, who was shouted at, did not argue with Guo Jia again, but instead urged the coachman to speed up and return home early.
Watching Guo Jia's lively and happy figure, Jia Xu remembered that when they were studying the Book of Changes at the academy, Guo Jia excelled very quickly in this subject. He smiled and warned several classmates about the misfortunes they would encounter.
At first, everyone laughed and called Guo Jia a liar, but soon after, his predictions came true one by one. Some people wanted Guo Jia to take another look, but he refused. He lazily lay on Jia Xu's knees, grabbing Jia Xu's hand and staring intently at the deep and chaotic palm lines. Guo Jia's fingertips slowly traced the long and thin lifeline, saying, "Wenhe, the lines on a person's hand are a kind of feedback from fate. Your palm lines are deep and chaotic, indicating a winding life journey."
Jia Xu glanced at Guo Jia and compared the two palms, sarcastically saying, "Your lifeline is so shallow, be careful of an early death."
Guo Jia didn't get angry, and said with a smile, "Yes, yes, I won't live long, won't see Wenhe live to a hundred, become a marquis, and have many descendants..."
Jia Xu felt a heavy weight in his heart, unable to describe the feeling, so he tightly pursed his lips and remained silent.
Guo Jia is still tracing the lines on Jia Xu's palm and saying, "But you see, having many lifelines also means that one's life experiences will change just as much. We, Wenhe, are destined for great things! Let me take a look at Wenhe's love life..."
Jia Xu suddenly pulls back his hand and sternly says, "Stop talking nonsense."
Guo Jia sits up, leans in next to Jia Xu, and asks with a smile, "What, can't say anything?"
Jia Xu covered Guo Jia's mouth with his hand and whispered, "Don't say you won't live long."
Guo Jia paused, and for a moment, the usual smile in his eyes disappeared, then he smiled and leaned against Jia Xu, saying, "Alright, I won't say it."
As the carriage set off, Jia Xu reached out and pulled Guo Jia, indicating him to sit properly. After just a short while, Guo Jia became restless and started asking Jia Xu to tell him about the sights of Liangzhou.
Jia Xu has never told anyone about this before, and for a moment, he couldn't figure out how to talk to Guo Jia. After thinking for a while, he finally said, "The sandstorms in Liangzhou are heavy, you must not be used to it."
Guo Jia let out a long "oh" and said, "In the sandstorm, a water-like Wenhe is nurtured."
Then he gave Jia Xu a fierce glare.
Because of Guo Jia, they took a longer time than before to return to Liangzhou, stopping and going along the way, and by the time they arrived at Liangzhou, it was close to the end of the year.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the Jia Family gate, they heard the sound of hooves in the distance. Guo Jia turned to look and saw a woman in red, silver armor, and long hair tied high on her head riding towards them. As she approached the carriage, she reined in her horse, and with both hooves in the air, the horse's tail flying, she was truly a breathtaking sight.
"My son is back!" The red-clad woman threw the long knife in her hand towards Jia Xu. Jia Xu caught the handle with the fan from Guo Jia's sleeve, and then threw it to the steward who was coming down the steps. With both hands forward, Jia Xu bowed and respectfully said, "Greetings, mother." Jia's mother snorted lightly and said, "You don't seem to have slackened at all. Why are you back so late these days?"
On the side, Guo Jia took a step forward and made a deep bow, saying, "It's my fault for delaying Wenhe's journey. Please don't blame him, Auntie." Jia's mother waved her hand and said, "It's okay. Since you're back, just rest well. I still need to patrol the border with your father. You guys can stay by yourselves tonight." After saying that, Jia's mother tightened the reins and prepared to leave, but then remembered something and asked, "Are you Ah He's friend?"
Guo Jia smiled and said, "Yes, I am Yingchuan the Guo, Guo Jia, with the courtesy name Fengxiao, and I am classmates with Wenhe this year."
Jia's mother nodded meaningfully, then rode away on horseback, leaving the steward to pack up the luggage brought back by the two.
After the elder left, Guo Jia dropped the pretense and whispered to Jia Xu, "Ah, and?"
It's a normal way of addressing someone, but when it rolled off Guo Jia's lips, it seemed to be wrapped in layer after layer of honey, so sweet that it gave Jia Xu goosebumps. He simply reached out and pinched Guo Jia's soft waist, and replied with a smile, "Yes, my dear, filial, learned, elder brother."
The borderlands indeed lacked as many entertainment options as the south, with few lively song towers and mostly solemn patrol troops. However, the people wrapped in the wind and sand had their own kind of fun. Walking on the street, Guo Jia had been praised for his beauty by more than one child. The young children couldn't distinguish a beautiful face and called Guo Jia and Jia Xu sisters. The old women who came to apologize repeatedly made Guo Jia unexpectedly gain a new teasing nickname.
Jia Xu thought that Guo Jia would only stay for a few days and then make a fuss about going back, but to his surprise, Guo Jia adapted very well. He even got along with the local women and often sat in the sun on the woven rattan chairs at the alley entrance, teaching the children how to weave southern-style patterns.
Before the New Year, poachers were rampant on the border, and when Jia Xu returned home, he couldn't rest and led a small team to patrol the border. While sharpening a knife, Jia's mother asked why he didn't bring that pretty child with him. It took Jia Xu a moment to realize that his mother was referring to Guo Jia, and he replied that he was not good at riding.
Jia's mother looked at Jia Xu with some confusion and said, "If you're not good, then just learn."
"Since they have come, we can't keep them cooped up in the house all the time. His ability to get along with the girls in the streets and alleys doesn't mean you don't have to do anything." Jia's mother shook her head and said, "The child he has raised is even more ignorant in social matters than his father. Thinking of this, she impulsively grabbed an apple from the fruit plate and threw it, only to be caught and bitten into by Jia's father, who was all smiles.
With a heavy accent from the border, Jia Xu knew he needed time to correct his own fashion when he arrived at Liangzhou, let alone the old women who had lived there for many years. Thinking of this, Jia Xu dared not think about how hard Guo Jia had been working recently, but he didn't show any signs of frustration.
So Jia Xu stood next to Guo Jia, who was basking in the sun, and asked, "Do you want to join me?"
Guo Jia lazily stretched and said, "Wenhe, you finally remembered me. I thought you had forgotten about me. You really hurt my heart."
Hearing Guo Jia's words, Jia Xu felt like he had worried for nothing.
Jia Xu led a small group of soldiers and went with Guo Jia to the grasslands. In the days leading up to the new year, poachers were rampant, causing constant trouble for the herdsmen.
The iron riders passed through the gradually withering grassland. Guo Jia leaned half against Jia Xu, looking around. The spring grassland was mostly endless green grass, but in winter, it almost became a wasteland. Halfway there, Jia Xu felt somewhat annoyed. Why did Guo Jia bring him to see the withered grassland? It was not as interesting as basking in the sun at the alley entrance.
But Guo Jia still smiled. Every time they passed some unknown flowers and plants, he would point and ask Jia Xu what they were. Occasionally, Jia Xu couldn't answer, and the accompanying light cavalry would take over and talk about their habits and effects.
Suddenly, Guo Jia patted Jia Xu's arm and asked, "Are those nomadic herders over there?"
Jia Xu As Guo Jia looked over, his face suddenly changed. This was no ordinary herdsman, but a brazen poacher.
The distance was estimated to be around a hundred paces, and even the heaviest longbow wouldn't reach. Jia Xu signaled for another light cavalry to protect Guo Jia, and in the next instant that Guo Jia settled onto his new horse, Jia Xu lashed out, charging forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
At a distance of less than sixty paces from the poacher, Jia Xu drew back the bow shaped like a crescent moon, and the arrow pierced through the poacher's knee as he attempted to flee. Guo Jia suddenly gasped, realizing that Jia Xu had even held back in his archery skills from the academy.
Accompanying the arrow was a Eurasian goshawk with a jingling anklet, its clear cry mingling with the shadow of its wings that covered the sky. Another arrow was shot, hitting the wrist directly. Following that, Jia Xu's light cavalry swooped down from their horses and engaged in a struggle with the poacher, disarming him and delivering him to the authorities. The hospitable herders insisted that the group stay for a meal before letting them go.
After this, Jia Xu became busy again, but this time with the affairs of the New Year ceremony. Liangzhou is located at the junction of the Loess Plateau, Mongolian Plateau, and Loess Plateau, adjacent to the Qilian Mountains. The area has both high plateau mountains and river valley plains, and to the north, there are deserts and gobi deserts crisscrossing each other.
Liangzhou's herdsmen raise eagles, and there is also an eagle division in the army. The military and civilians have always been closely connected on the border. As the son of the light cavalry general Jia Gong, Jia Xu naturally had to show up at the festival.
On the thirtieth day of the lunar new year, the scene was exceptionally lively. Prayer flags were hung with long colorful ribbons. The young Jia Xu rode a glossy black steed, with a magnificent eagle perched on his arm like a snow-capped mountain from the northern frontier. Jia Xu led the crowd, and even the sturdy herdsmen following behind seemed somewhat less imposing.
The slender figure of the young man and his sharpness were like a long lifeline drawn on the map of Liangzhou covered in early snow.
The sound of drums shook the sky, and when Jia Xu came to find Guo Jia, he saw him leaning against the fence playing pitch-pot. Jia Xu stood silently behind Guo Jia, watching him. Guo Jia, born into a wealthy family, never lost at pitch-pot. He skillfully placed the third arrow on the tails of the first two, winning the famous "Ink Bamboo Picture". Guo Jia grabbed the painting and turned to find someone, only to realize that Jia Xu was standing behind him.
"Ah, Wenhe, when did you arrive?" Guo Jia stuffed the painting into Jia Xu's arms and pulled his hand, continuing to run to the next place.
Guo Jia seems to really like it here, dragging Jia Xu around and trying out almost every activity on the grassland. Even beads of sweat formed on their foreheads in the hot air against the cold weather of Liangzhou.
As the sun sets in the west, the temperature on the grassland drops sharply. Guo Jia, who was still full of energy during the day, now feels a bit down, wrapping a cloak made of animal skin around themselves, still feeling cold and close to Jia Xu. Jia Xu pinched Guo Jia's cold hand and said, "We'll light a fire soon. Did you get the twigs?"
Guo Jia smiled and waved a small section of twigs in their hand, saying they did.
On the grassland, there is a legend that fire is the incarnation of the gods. Jumping over the bonfire can dispel impurity, and the gods will bless you. Each person carries a piece of wood, and thousands of pieces of wood form a grand bonfire. At the first sound of the eagle's cry at dusk, an arrow with flames pierces the night sky, and a raging fire ignites in an instant. The elders boldly push their own children to jump over the bonfire. Whenever a brave child emerges, the crowd erupts in intense applause and blessings.
Jia's mother at some point squeezed through the crowd and pushed the two to the edge of the bonfire, saying, "Be brave, jump over!"
Guo Jia and Jia Xu locked eyes, reached out and held each other's hands. With the hot flames blowing across their faces, they ran and jumped. Looking at the terrifying burning flames didn't seem so scary. Jia Xu pulled him, leaping over the burning golden bonfire, the scorching flames brushing the edge of the cloak, leaving a burning sensation.
Guo Jia shouted in the wind, "From now on, we will be safe for years to come!"
After that, the Morin khuur played melodiously, the drum beats were crisp, Guo Jia and Jia Xu were held in the inner circle by the crowd and danced around the bonfire, their hands never letting go throughout.
As the end of midnight approached, fireworks burst, and the new year began.
Guo Jia whispered to Jia Xu's ear, "Wenhe, happy new year."
When the two of them were packing up and returning to Beiyong academy, Guo Jia reluctantly leaned against the car window, waving goodbye to the people who came to see them off. As the carriage departed, a sharp eagle cry pierced the sky. Guo Jia lifted the curtain to look and saw many familiar faces spontaneously riding horses to see them off, including Jia Xu's father and older brother. The eagle soared in the deep blue sky, its cries echoing continuously.
Liangzhou is north of the Gobi Desert, where there is a cold and harsh wind unique to the northwest. Even in spring, the Gobi Desert remains very cold, and on some days, it will snow as if it were still the depths of winter. Young men will stand on the rough rocks covered in ice and snow, arms outstretched to welcome the message brought by the cold wind. Eagles will flap their large wings and swoop down urgently, then gently land on their shoulders. In just over two months, the Gobi Desert will bloom with unknown flowers, tougher than thorns, rooted in the land of broken stones and sand year after year.
The wind in Liangzhou is sharp, leaving rough marks on exposed skin, but the snow in Liangzhou is gentle, like the kiss of a butterfly landing.
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