Golden Scale [EN]: Chapter 106

The Great War (1)

The moment Feng Yun was thrown into the air, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. In that instant, she yearned for a simple meal with Hou Longtao, a joyful conversation, to snuggle in his arms, and to be protected by him for the rest of her days.

This feeling was entirely new to Feng Yun, surpassing any desire she had previously known. It warmed her fever-chilled hands and feet. She realized she had fallen in love with that seemingly “good-for-nothing” man. Though she couldn’t pinpoint why or fully understand her transformation, she was certain of her feelings for Hou Longtao. While the traditional notion of men taking the initiative didn’t necessarily apply to Feng Yun, she had never expressed love before and needed time to process her emotions, to figure out how to convey them to Hou Longtao. Yet, each question only intensified her feelings. When he “confessed” to risking his life to save her, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

Feng Yun was a decisive person. Once she identified what she wanted, she pursued it relentlessly. What better way to express her feelings than through direct action?

Hou Longtao held her shoulders, turning her away gently, afraid of accidentally pushing her down, but his grip was firm. “You… what are you doing? Are you delirious from the fever?”

“I love you.”

“You… you… are you kidding me?”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“You… you…”

“No need for the ‘you-ing’ and ‘me-ing,’ just be straightforward. I want to be your girlfriend. Do you agree?”

“This…” Hou Longtao was caught between laughter and tears. First, his niece was trying to force marriage, and now his aunt was doing the same. Truly, they were a family. “You know I won’t abandon my women.”

“I’m not asking you to leave them. I don’t care how many women you have.” Feng Yun was serious. At twenty-seven, she was experiencing the joy of loving a man for the first time. For this incredible feeling, she was willing to pay any price.

“Don’t… don’t joke around,” Hou Longtao said, unsure of what she was thinking. “Even if you’re willing, your family won’t approve.”

“Did Chen Qian’s family approve?”

“I don’t know, probably not.”

“Then why don’t you care?”

“Your family is different. You must understand that.”

“Our affairs have nothing to do with them. I want to be with you. Who dares to interfere?” Feng Yun meant every word. Her family situation was quite complex.

Feng Guanglie had Feng Yun late in life and should have doted on her, but his important responsibilities left him little time to care for her. After her mother died of cancer, he sent his daughter, barely ten years old, to Beijing. This filled him with immense guilt. He would support anything that made Feng Yun happy, regardless of whether it was right or wrong.

“You are Yuqian’s aunt…”

“Isn’t He Liping Xue Nuo’s mother? Isn’t Chen Xi Chen Qian’s younger sister? You don’t even care about mothers and daughters, sisters. What does the relationship between an aunt and a niece matter?”

Hou Longtao’s immunity to beautiful women had always been low, especially to those he was attracted to. It was incredibly difficult for him to resist. But he couldn’t risk putting his loved ones in danger. “Even without Yuqian’s grandfather’s intervention, your brother-in-law and nephew have almost crippled me. Your father… haha.”

“Are you afraid of my family’s power?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because I like you. As long as I’m here, you don’t have to fear anything.”

“That sounds easy. I can barely handle the Zhang family, let alone adding the Feng family. I wouldn’t dare touch the women of your Feng family.”

“Really?” Feng Yun felt happy just talking to the man she loved, as if the pain was fading away. “You had a one-night stand with my cousin. Doesn’t that count as daring to touch a Feng family woman?”

“What!?” Hou Longtao’s eyes widened. “You’re making things up! You can’t say things like that. If Yuqian’s father hears about it, he’ll tear me apart!”

“Why are you afraid of him? What is he? Just a spoiled brat relying on his family background. With us sisters protecting you, would he dare to touch you?” Feng Yun was practically raised by Feng Jie. Their bond was incredibly strong. She knew how unhappy her cousin was in the Zhang family, so it was no wonder she despised her cousin-in-law.

“Then… what about Yuqian? Can she accept it?”

“We just won’t tell her. Keeping it from her is for her own good. Besides, do you think my sister is like He Liping? At most, she’ll do it secretly with you.”

“What, what? What are you talking about?” Hou Longtao finally understood. “It’s like it’s real. I’ve never touched Aunt Feng. I’ve always respected her.”

“One night, I was on night duty at the team and received a call from Yuqian. My sister was drunk and wanted to go out and settle accounts with her father. She said she gave my sister some medicine to make her sleep peacefully, but she was still worried and asked me to go home and take care of my sister.”

“Which… which day was that?” Hou Longtao was beginning to understand.

“What about you? It took me a long time to find someone to cover my shift. When I got home, it was almost three o’clock. There were two people lying on Yuqian’s bed. The smell of alcohol in the room was very strong. You looked disgusting. Plus, I hated you at the time. I wanted to throw you downstairs, but since my sister got married, I hadn’t seen her with such a happy expression as that night, so I decided to spare your life for now and ask my sister later.”

“I… did I really with Aunt Feng…?” All the questions that had puzzled Hou Longtao were now clear. No wonder Yuqian had acted so strangely that night. No wonder he felt so close to Feng Jie. No wonder she always looked at him with such mournful eyes. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“My sister is a very traditional woman, very thin-skinned. If I had revealed the matter at the time, I think she would have committed suicide.”

“Feng… Aunt Feng she…” The revelation was so sudden that Hou Longtao felt lost. His pursuit of He Liping was one thing, but this was different. The success of the “Liping Campaign” was the result of careful planning. Given his current relationship with Yuqian, the sudden “Feng Jie Campaign” was not just difficult, but impossible. Moreover, he genuinely respected Feng Jie more than desired her.

“Don’t worry. I’ve talked to my sister. She just wants to keep that night as a beautiful memory. You are her son-in-law, she won’t pester you. I’m different.” Feng Yun placed her hands between his arms, pushing them aside, and touched his cheek before leaning in to kiss him.

Hou Longtao hadn’t expected this tigress to be so proactive and persistent once she was moved. He liked her quite a bit, but he still tried to block her lips. “Wait, wait. I’m flattered by your affection, but what about Yuqian? I love Yuqian. If we get together, how can I… how can I… how can you face her?”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Feng Yun said, wrapping her arms around his neck and gently breathing on his face. “You should know what kind of person I am. To be with you, I don’t care what the cost is, including helping you persuade Yuqian to come back.”

Happiness came so suddenly that it was hard to believe. While Hou Longtao was overjoyed, he couldn’t understand what he had done to deserve such a dramatic turn of events. He only knew that his hands had instinctively reached inside her clothes.

Feng Yun felt his warm palms gently stroking her waist and shivered. “Mmm…”

“Are you cold?” Hou Longtao retracted his arms and hugged her.

“No…” Feng Yun suddenly sat up, looking towards the cave entrance. Her hearing might not be as sharp as Hou Longtao’s, but her ability to assess the surroundings was stronger. “Listen.”

“What?” Hou Longtao strained his ears. Besides the wind, there was nothing. “What did you hear?”

“The wolf pack is restless again. They can hear things we can’t.”

“Damn,” Hou Longtao said, his hairs standing on end. “What is it?”

The two held their breath, still as statues. The wolf pack below the stone platform rushed out of the cave and disappeared. It was likely they had left. After three or four minutes, a buzzing sound grew louder.

“Helicopter,” Feng Yun said, kneeling and listening. “‘Zhi-9’ [Chinese attack helicopter], three in total.”

Hou Longtao didn’t argue with the reconnaissance soldier. “Are they here to find us?”

“It should be.” Feng Yun’s voice was excited. Now that her sweetheart had accepted her, she longed to return to civilization.

The sound of the propellers grew from a hum to a roar, as if directly overhead. A silver searchlight shone into the cave entrance.

“Block me, block me. Don’t let them see me like this.” Feng Yun sat down next to him, curling up.

“Yes, yes.” Hou Longtao scrambled to the edge of the stone platform and shouted at the soldiers with guns and flashlights who had just entered the cave, “We’re here! Throw up some clothes!”

“Where’s Feng Yun? Is Feng Yun up there? Is she injured?”

“Damn it,” Hou Longtao cursed inwardly. He was clearly not the priority. Compared to Feng Yun, he was insignificant…

Dandong First Hospital, located at No. 7 Jintang Street, Yuanbao District, Dandong City, was in the city center, yet two military helicopters landed directly outside the ward area. Doctors and nurses quickly transferred the two wounded into the emergency room.

Feng Yun still had a fever and needed an IV drip. Hou Longtao’s injury looked serious, but it was minor. They didn’t see each other again that night.

The next morning, Hou Longtao woke up to find his body free of gauze. The three wounds had already scabbed over, only his ankle was still wrapped. He put a plastic bag on his foot, took a refreshing shower, and ate some snacks. He felt refreshed, as if nothing had happened.

He found Feng Yun’s ward on the same floor, also a single room. She was awake, sitting up in bed reading the newspaper.

Hou Longtao knocked lightly on the door. After entering, he closed the curtain to block the window.

“How’s your injury?” Feng Yun asked, tossing the newspaper aside.

“If you cared, why didn’t you visit? My foot is injured.” Hou Longtao limped to the bed, pulled up a chair, leaned in, and looked at her closely. She looked tired, but her spirits were better.

“See if you miss me. Why are you so close?”

“I lost my glasses. I need to see your… your face clearly, so I have to get closer.” Hou Longtao omitted the word “beautiful.” Now wasn’t the time for compliments.

“Your injury…” Feng Yun reached out, pulled down the collar of his hospital gown, looked inside, and showed surprise. “They’ve all scabbed over!?”

“The doctor wanted to stitch them, but when he unwrapped the gauze you used, it was already like this. Your bandaging skills are top-notch.”

“I already like you, so you don’t need to flatter me. But really, are you naturally gifted? You’re the person I’ve ever seen with the hardest bones and the fastest healing wounds.”

“I don’t know.” Hou Longtao didn’t want to dwell on it. He reached out and touched her forehead. “No fever?”

“My physique is no worse than yours. One IV drip solved it.” Feng Yun gently pushed his hand away. “I’m not used to people being so close.”

Hou Longtao didn’t reply, placing his hands on either side of her head, tilting his head, and kissing her.

This time, he took the initiative, and the situation was different from the night before. The friction of lips, the entanglement of tongues, the exchange of fluids, were both firm and lingering, lasting a long time.

This was Feng Yun’s first long kiss, and she hadn’t mastered the breathing technique, so she was soon panting, her face flushed. She didn’t want to push him away. “You… huff… you want to suffocate me?”

“Do you like it?”

“I don’t like it!” Feng Yun said with a smile.

“Liar?” Hou Longtao leaned back happily. “What do we do next?”

“There will be a military plane to send us back to Beijing at 5 pm.”

“Military plane? How did they find us yesterday? I asked the doctors and nurses, and they didn’t know.”

“The place where we fell happened to be between two pick-up points. They didn’t realize we had an accident until half an hour later, but by the time they found your backpack, you had already kidnapped me.”

“I kidnapped you? Since you knew someone was coming, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“I didn’t know either. The guy named Dong knew my temper and didn’t dare to tell me in advance.”

“You’re quite proud of yourself?” Hou Longtao took her hand. “You have to change your temper. Now that I care about you, you can’t always act on impulse. One person’s strength is limited.”

“Hey, it’s too early to lecture me.” Although her words were tough, a rare tenderness appeared on her face. “I really admire you. When you showed me the map yesterday, I didn’t think much about it. You carried me around, and the straight-line distance alone was fifty kilometers [approximately 31 miles].”

“Fifty?” Hou Longtao was surprised. He was unusually strong, probably thanks to Zou Kangnian’s elixir [a medicinal concoction].

“Yes, fifty. If I have time, I have to study you carefully.”

“Hmph, hmph, hmph.”

“The guy named Dong didn’t expect you to slip away so quickly. At first, he searched with his hundred or so people. That would have been enough normally. Some had reconnaissance training, and we didn’t deliberately hide our tracks.”

“But it started to rain.”

“Yes, that’s when he got nervous. If he lost me, it would be troublesome. He called the division. Do you know what happened? A group of combat brains studied it and thought we might be in that cave. In addition to the ground troops, three ‘Zhi-9’ were sent out as soon as the rain stopped.”

“What happens in the future?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“No, I mean the future.”

“Oh…” Feng Yun understood. “I won’t interfere with your women. We’ll keep to ourselves.”

“No problem.” Hou Longtao wasn’t worried. There was time to integrate them. “I’m most worried about Yuqian.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t bother you anymore.”

“Can you persuade her?”

“What can’t I do? Yuqian listens to no one but me. No one has ever hit her, but I’ve beaten her twice.”

“You’ve hit her? How did you hit her? Like you hit me?” Hou Longtao frowned.

“Heartache? Spanking.”

“How much older are you? Only six or seven years? Spanking?”

“I’m her aunt. The seniority is there. I spanked her when she was fifteen. That girl grew up spoiled, and sometimes she’s unreasonable. You can’t correct her without hitting her.”

“I don’t want you to…” Hou Longtao didn’t know what to say. This Feng family sister was more willful than the Zhang family one, but she was now in love with him.

“I know, even though I’ve hit Yuqian, she has a good relationship with me. I’ll persuade her, but you have to understand that the possibility of her agreeing is small. Sometimes, you should give up.”

“What do you mean?” Hou Longtao understood, but he didn’t want to face reality. Reality was cruel, but daydreams were perfect.

“I’m confident I can make Yuqian let you go, but can you let her go? You can’t have both fish and bear’s paw [an idiom meaning you can’t have it both ways].”

“Cigarette, do you have a cigarette?”

“This is a hospital.”

Hou Longtao’s hands trembled. He knew he could never forget Yuqian. He had never forgotten any girl he liked, but he understood that to get through this, a temporary “sacrifice of a pawn to save the chariot [a chess analogy for sacrificing something small to gain a larger advantage]” was inevitable. “You decide.”

“I know your feelings for her,” Feng Yun said, rubbing his arm. “I’ll do my best.”

“How do you know? Haven’t you always thought I was deceiving her?”

“I didn’t believe it when my sister said you really loved Yuqian, but what you said before you threw me up yesterday made me believe it.”

“What did Aunt Feng say? How did she know?” Hou Longtao’s words were out of instinct to protect Yuqian. He didn’t remember the specifics, but it wasn’t important. He remembered Feng Jie.

“Actually, it’s nothing. She heard it in your voice. She used the words ‘sincere feelings,’ which gave me goosebumps.”

“How should I face Aunt Feng?” Hou Longtao didn’t know if he wanted Feng Jie. Although he had been back for less than a year and a half, he was no longer a rookie, at least not with women.

Was Feng Jie charming? Yes. A few months ago, Hou Longtao would have pursued her, but now he had too much to consider. Responsibility was the best catalyst for a boy to become a man.

“Why do you always ask the same question twice?”

“Do you want the truth?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know how to handle the relationship between me and your two families. I’m afraid I’ll be killed if I take the wrong step, so I need you to teach me completely and specifically.”

“I thought you weren’t afraid of death,” Feng Yun said, cupping his face and staring into his eyes. “Aren’t you brave?”

“I’m afraid of death. I have dozens of relatives and friends who need me, and a group of beloved wives who need me to love.”

“Didn’t you disregard them when you saved me?”

“I didn’t have time to think.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you die.” Feng Yun kissed him. “My sister has been a widow in the Zhang family for over ten years. Under the surface is the pain of a marriage of convenience. I’ve told her she has the right to pursue her own happiness, but she’s traditional. Only if you have already been intimate with her, and she is not resistant to you, and Yuqian doesn’t know…”

“I understand. I also have a good impression of Aunt Feng. Age isn’t a problem for me, but…”

“I don’t mean to use you as a tool. Both of you have to have feelings.”

“I know, but your brother-in-law and Zhang Yuqiang are powerful. They can’t hide this, right?”

“Hide it if you can, don’t hide it if you can’t.”

“If they make a fuss, can I handle it?”

“Make a fuss? Let’s not talk about what the women of our Feng family do, do the people of the Zhang family dare to interfere? Do you think they will make a big deal out of this?” Feng Yun curled her lips, nonchalant.

“I’m confused about you. It’s okay if you hate your brother-in-law, but Zhang Yuqiang is your sister’s son. You don’t even give him face?”

“Which family doesn’t have a scourge? That kid is a complete bastard, a real playboy. He’s done so many bad things that you can’t even count them. If it weren’t for my sister and Yuqian stopping me… In ancient times, that was called cleaning up the house [a euphemism for dealing with problematic family members].” Feng Yun was displeased with her nephew.

“Since you said so, I will do my part.” Hou Longtao turned, sat next to her, put his arm around her shoulder, and all the problems had a temporary solution. It was time to establish the relationship between the two…(Golden scales are not things in a pond [a metaphor for someone destined for greatness])