Chapter 40: The Secret of Ah Xun’s Identity

In fact, during these past few days hunting in Little Tuo Mountain, the poor and mediocre prey made Ah Xun consider several times the idea of going to Big Tuo Mountain. However, every time he thought of He Miao’s instructions, he would give up on the idea.

Today, the fur merchant informed him that if he were to hunt a tiger or a bear, the pelts could fetch up to three hundred taels of silver. If luck was on his side, wouldn’t that mean he could quickly gather enough money to go to the capital? 

Ah Xun had made up his mind to hunt in Big Tuo Mountain. To get there, he would have to cross Little Tuo Mountain, a journey that would take nearly two hours one way. Since it would be impossible to return on the same day, and finding prey like a tiger or bear could take several days, he would have to stay in the mountains. That would mean not returning to the village, so he needed to come up with a reason not to let He Miao suspect anything.

With the plan in place, and the reason figured out, Ah Xun decided to stop by the medical clinic in town. He wanted to ask the doctor about He Miao’s bleeding, to understand what was really going on. 

He had asked He Miao about it more than once, but each time she seemed embarrassed and answered vaguely, brushing it off. Ah Xun was concerned and wanted to know if the bleeding could harm her health, but not daring to ask He Shun, he decided to go to the doctor himself.

At the clinic, after speaking with the doctor, Ah Xun learned that it was the monthly “gui shui” (menstrual cycle) that all women experienced. While it pained him to know He Miao went through this every month, he was relieved that it wasn’t a serious illness.

After leaving the clinic, Ah Xun noticed a bookstore next door. Realizing that he was clueless about women’s matters, both physically and emotionally, he remembered his interactions with He Miao over the past two months. He had often unintentionally upset her, making her cry or angry. Determined to change this, he decided to go into the bookstore.

“Customer, may I help you find a book?” The shopkeeper greeted him.

Ah Xun looked around at the shelves packed with books. Not wanting to waste time searching, he directly asked, “Excuse me, do you have any books that teach how to win a woman’s heart?”

The shopkeeper paused for a moment before smiling knowingly. “We do have such books! You’ve come to the right place!”

The shopkeeper went to the back room, and soon came back with several books. In a low voice, he said, “These five books will guarantee you a harmonious and loving relationship with your wife!”

Ah Xun flipped through the books, not finding anything particularly special, but he was determined to study them carefully when he got home. After paying, he bought all five books, thinking that once he understood them, he would be able to maintain a peaceful and loving relationship with He Miao and stop upsetting her.

Meanwhile, He Shun had grown increasingly worried about Ah Xun and He Miao’s relationship. He began to suspect Ah Xun’s true identity and decided to investigate. One day, he went into the woods behind He Miao’s house. He remembered that He Miao had said she had found Ah Xun nearby. He thought maybe there was something he had dropped when falling down the slope, so he decided to search the area.

Although He Shun felt his idea was naive and the chances of finding anything were slim, he continued searching for three days but found nothing. He then turned his attention to the slope that connected to the forest, suspecting that Ah Xun might have fallen from there.

He Shun had often gone to Little Tuo Mountain to gather herbs, so despite his age, he was still able to climb the slope. He started searching the area and, though the vegetation was thick and the view was limited, he managed to find some rare medicinal herbs.

But after several days of searching, he hadn’t found any clues about Ah Xun’s identity. Just when he was feeling disheartened, he found a golden plaque next to the roots of a crooked tree. The sunlight reflected off the plaque, blinding He Shun for a moment. He quickly pocketed it, climbed down the slope, and examined it carefully.

When he saw the design on the plaque, he froze, and his blood seemed to run cold. After a long pause, his trembling hands regained composure, and he finally understood what he had found. The pattern on the plaque was a depiction of a “Song” character, the emblem of the Song family.

If this wasn’t Ah Xun’s, why would this plaque appear on the slope where he had fallen? Why would it be found in this remote village?

He Shun returned home with the plaque, deep in thought. After much contemplation, he was uncertain whether to tell He Miao or directly confront Ah Xun. Regardless of whom he told, it seemed impossible to keep this secret any longer. If Ah Xun was indeed from the Song family, it would mean he was part of a rebel group, which would make his identity dangerous. He couldn’t let Ah Xun continue his search for his family in other villages or the capital, as being discovered would lead to his death.

It had been seven days since He Miao last saw Ah Xun. Seven days ago, Ah Xun returned from the town, bringing her many treats: jujube cake, milk cake, candied chestnuts, fried twists, and more. He also brought a light green hairband, decorated with two small pale yellow flowers, which matched perfectly with her new dress.

He Miao loved the small gifts, feeling happy and excited, but then Ah Xun told her he would be leaving for a few days to help some merchants from the nearby county with urgent business. The journey wasn’t far, so he promised it wouldn’t take too long, but days had passed, and she hadn’t seen him return.

Now, she was alone at home, still waiting for him, hoping he would come back soon, but even after seven days, he had not returned.