Chapter Fifty-One: The Moon Rises Over the Willow Tips

Tang Long and Zhang Xiue talked late into the night. By the time they stopped, Zhao Xiaoyue had already fallen asleep on the bed, and the mountain beast lay with its eyes closed as well. Yet, judging by her breathing, Tang Long sensed she was awake, listening to their conversation all along.

"Shall we go for a walk?" Tang Long looked at Zhang Xiue and whispered the suggestion.

Zhang Xiue hesitated. She understood what Tang Long meant—he wanted to speak with her alone. It was almost midnight now, and in a remote mountain village like Yutou, the night was truly deep and silent.

Go out to talk? Was it only to talk, or might something else happen? A blush crept onto Zhang Xiue’s face.

Tang Long thought she was unwilling and was about to find an excuse to ease the awkwardness and leave, when Zhang Xiue spoke.

She murmured a soft “mm,” and whispered, "I need to come back early to rest."

Her meaning was clear: if they went out to talk, it would be just for a little while—she would have to return soon. Women, after all, are reserved by nature.

Of course, perhaps that was only what men imagined; perhaps she was just saying, “Let’s go!”

As Tang Long and Zhang Xiue tiptoed out one after the other, the mountain beast opened her eyes.

Zhao Xiaoyue, on the other hand, was truly asleep.

“Out for a chat in the dead of night… what nonsense,” the beast muttered softly to herself. She hesitated but remained lying down—let them go and talk of love, perhaps do something more; she had no interest in spying.

Once outside, Zhang Xiue looked up. A crescent moon hung on the branches—night was beautiful. Occasionally, a distant dog barked; Yutou Village was peaceful in the darkness.

She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and wandered slowly out of the courtyard toward the ravine, with no particular destination.

Tang Long followed, watching her silhouette. Several times he opened his mouth to speak but stopped, feeling awkward; he didn’t know what to say.

After they’d walked about a hundred meters, Zhang Xiue stopped, turned, and gazed at him with a gentle question: "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

Tang Long grinned sheepishly. "You… you look beautiful tonight!"

A laugh escaped her. She rolled her eyes at him, teasing, "When have I ever not looked beautiful?"

“You always do—but especially…” Tang Long rubbed his nose.

“Especially when?” Zhang Xiue leaned closer. Though her cheeks were flushed, the night concealed it.

Truth be told, Zhang Xiue had been under a great deal of pressure lately—some from her worries for Yutou Village, some from her family.

Her family hadn’t supported her decision to serve as a village official in the countryside. With their background, she could easily have found a position in a provincial office, gained experience, been promoted, received raises. If she wished to enter politics, it would not have been difficult.

But Zhang Xiue had her own beliefs. She didn’t want her life plotted out for her, every step arranged—she found no meaning in such a life.

She wanted to live as she chose.

Yesterday, during a call with her mother, she’d been asked: What kind of life do you want?

Zhang Xiue had fallen silent. She realized she had no clear answer.

At first, she’d come to Yutou Village to escape; then, she’d grown to love it. Now, she felt deeply tied to the people and the place.

If she were asked to leave now, she couldn’t bear it. But she’d never planned to spend half her life here. Even when she agreed to the offer of fifteen percent shares in "Yutou Village Ltd.," it had only been a verbal commitment—she never truly intended to stay forever.

Once the new houses were built and the tourism business was on track—once the village no longer needed her—she would leave.

Many things left Zhang Xiue confused, but so many daily worries kept her from thinking about the future.

All she wanted was to do her best, here and now.

“Do you think I’m more beautiful, or the girl from the provincial capital?” Zhang Xiue stopped just half a meter from Tang Long.

He answered without hesitation, “You are!” True or not, the one before you is always the most beautiful. What matters isn’t who is prettiest, but the attitude you show.

When two people are compared, and one is a thousand kilometers away while the other stands before you—what other answer is there?

"Sweet talker!" Zhang Xiue scolded gently, eyes rolling. "Now I’m certain—you must have fooled plenty of girls with that mouth of yours."

"Injustice! I, Tang Long, never deceive anyone!" he thought to himself, though, sometimes a little white lie slips out.

If men never lied to women, would love even exist? Whoever first said this was, indeed, a wise soul.

"I’ve seen her photo—she’s elegant, with a great figure, and beautiful. She doesn’t look like just any ordinary girl, does she?" Zhang Xiue smiled, curiosity in her eyes.

Tang Long looked at her, laughing awkwardly, "You have elegance, you’re beautiful too, and not just any ordinary girl either."

“How long have you… been together?” Zhang Xiue knew he was dodging, but she wouldn’t let it go so easily.

“Five years.”

Tang Long answered honestly—he’d known Yao Handong for five years, but actually spent little time together, only holidays here and there.

“Five years already—haven’t you thought of marriage?” Zhang Xiue smiled.

Tang Long returned the smile, asking, “Do you think she’s the kind of girl who’d come live in Yutou Village?”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Zhang Xiue shook her head. A woman that elegant and beautiful—how could she bury herself in this remote place?

Tang Long smiled, “I plan to spend the rest of my life in this poor mountain village. Do you think we could ever marry?”

Zhang Xiue tilted her head, considered seriously, and shook her head. “Definitely not. A girl as lovely as she is couldn’t possibly waste her youth in a mountain village!”

Tang Long shrugged, laughing, “Exactly—not possible. We all have our roads to travel.”

“She can’t, and neither can I,” Zhang Xiue glanced at him, then looked away, her voice barely more than a whisper.

She didn’t know if Tang Long heard, but if he did, he would understand her meaning.

Tang Long was stunned, gazing at her with a deep look. Quickly, he brought back his smile.

He nodded, “I know you can’t either. Women like you belong to the bustling cities. Still, you’re more admirable than her, because you came here, you worked here. Even if you leave one day, your legacy will remain; Yutou Village will always remember you.

When I was in the provincial capital, I told her you are a woman worthy of her respect.”

Zhang Xiue turned to him, her eyes shining. "You really think so?"

"I do," Tang Long nodded, his smile sincere. Even if she left one day, she would always be remembered with gratitude in Yutou Village; it would be her second home, and whenever she returned, she would be treated like a queen.

Zhang Xiue bit her lip, gazing at him for a long moment. Blushing, she softly asked, "Would you like to be my boyfriend? I don’t care who else you have out there, but when you’re with me, you’re mine."

She paused, then continued, "But I won’t marry you. If ever I need to leave, you mustn’t stop me. Let’s just date, enjoy the happiness of being together; when we part, let’s not dwell on the past. Will you?"

Hearing these words surprised Tang Long, but they also felt natural.

Perhaps Zhang Xiue didn’t really know Tang Long; perhaps Tang Long didn’t truly know Secretary Xiue either.

"Alright, as long as you don’t cry or curse me for deceiving you in the future," Tang Long said, smiling with a trace of helplessness. He wasn’t sure if this was the kind of love he wanted.

But right now, he wanted to be with her—even if it was just ‘dating,’ just for the present. Even if they’d part one day, he wanted to experience it, to have at least once possessed such a moment.

Zhang Xiue hesitated, then stepped forward and embraced him, her ear pressed to his chest. "I can feel your sadness. Is it because of me?"

"No, it’s just that the night is too lonely," Tang Long smiled, shaking his head, gazing up at the waning moon.

"We’ll talk about the future when it comes. For now, let’s just love each other well, enjoy the present, and work together to build up Yutou Village—is that alright?" Zhang Xiue asked softly.

"Alright," Tang Long replied, a fleeting smile in his eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Don’t you think you’re at a disadvantage, being with me?"

"At a disadvantage?" Zhang Xiue looked up, cheeks flushed, and shook her head. "Not at all. I feel lucky—I get to enjoy you for a long time, and later, I won’t have to take responsibility or be forced to marry you. It’s perfect!"

Hearing those words, Tang Long didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Wasn’t that supposed to be a man’s line?

How heartless!

"Then I must take good care of our Secretary Xiue," Tang Long joked. "Ah, my fate is bitter, always having to sacrifice my looks wherever I go."

In the provincial capital, he’d sacrificed a few days for Yao Handong for Er Mao’s sake. Now, back in Yutou Village, to keep Zhang Xiue, he had to make another sacrifice. Not that he minded, but still—it felt a bit strange.

"Don’t act like you’re not willing! If you don’t want to, there are plenty more lining up behind you, ready to ‘sacrifice’ themselves," Zhang Xiue quipped, blushing, her eyes rolling. Some people never know how lucky they are.

Tang Long gazed at her, his finger twitching. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "If we’re together, will you give me permission… in that way?"

Zhang Xiue felt as if she’d been set alight, her big eyes both shy and burning. She answered softly, "That’s up to you—if you’re willing to ‘sacrifice’ your looks, I don’t mind!"

She didn’t mind!

At those words, Tang Long’s confidence swelled. He picked her up, ready to find a place to put theory into practice.

"Hey, what are you doing? Put me down!" Zhang Xiue cried out in alarm, her small fists thumping his shoulder.

Tang Long looked at her in surprise. "What? Didn’t you just say you ‘didn’t mind’?"

Blushing furiously, Zhang Xiue huffed, "I was only saying that—I didn’t mean right now! Let’s take our time. Anyway, we have to go survey the supply point tomorrow. Walking too much might give us away. Let’s wait for another time!"

"Is it your first time?" Tang Long was taken aback.

Face flaming, Zhang Xiue pressed close and whispered something in his ear—whatever she said was so shy and intimate that even the moon ducked behind a passing cloud.

"Heh, that works for me," Tang Long grinned wickedly, carrying her off toward the edge of the village…