On the morning of December 11th, Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin left Yanjing, planning to go on a few days’ trip.
The two took the bullet train to Jinling.
They didn’t bring any entourage, just Ye Xiaoli and Shi Yidan.
"Finally, it’s happening! I thought we wouldn’t have time to travel this year!" While waiting for the train in the departure lounge, Luo Ziling said to Yang Qingyin with some sentiment, "I really didn’t expect every day to be so busy. It’s not easy even trying to be a carefree playboy."
"You’re just busy flirting, aren’t you?" Yang Qingyin rolled her eyes at Luo Ziling, "Seeing different beautiful women every day, it’s really tough on you!"
"Anyway, for the next few days, I’ll only be dating you, the beauty. Is that okay?" Luo Ziling pinched Yang Qingyin’s cheeks, smiling shamelessly.
With a "slap" sound, Yang Qingyin knocked away Luo Ziling’s hand.
"Daring to tease me in public." Yang Qingyin pinched Luo Ziling and said sarcastically, "Believe it or not, I can call the police?"
"Go ahead, call whoever you want!" Luo Ziling still laughed shamelessly.
The result was his waist getting pinched again by Yang Qingyin.
Sitting on the other side, with a vigilant look at the situation around, Ye Xiaoli saw the two flirting openly and felt quite happy inside.
However, Shi Yidan was a bit uncomfortable.
Having been around Luo Ziling for a while, it was quite normal to like this handsome man.
Though she never showed it, as a woman, seeing the man she fancies flirting with another woman still made her feel uncomfortable.
Luckily, soon the tickets were checked.
Once on the bullet train, Yang Qingyin appeared very excited.
Throughout the journey, she hardly rested, continually talking to Luo Ziling.
Naturally, they didn’t talk about recent happenings but rather topics entirely unrelated to their usual exchanges.
The two discussed the places they would visit and the culture and legends associated with them.
If all went well, they would arrive at Jinling South Station by noon.
Yang Qingyin asked Luo Ziling what places he would take her after arriving in Jinling.
How about this, let’s visit the Qinhuai River area this afternoon, play until dark, have dinner nearby, enjoy the night scene, and then go back to rest.
"Alright, I’ll follow your lead." Yang Qingyin didn’t refuse.
She then asked Luo Ziling what the plans were for the next two days.
"Tomorrow we’ll visit Zhonghuamen, the Presidential Palace, then go to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. The day after, we’ll visit the Massacre Memorial Hall." When saying this, Luo Ziling’s smile faded, "Today is December 11th, tomorrow is the Double Twelve Memorial Day, do you know what the day after is?"
Upon hearing this, the smile disappeared from Yang Qingyin’s face too.
"I know, December 13th is our National Mourning Day. Over eighty years ago, the Japanese committed an atrocious massacre there, causing 300,000 Huaxia compatriots to perish!"
Luo Ziling’s voice became heavy as well, "Yes, the day after is a day of national sorrow. Let’s go pay respects to the fallen compatriots then. I think there will certainly be official commemorative events on that day, let’s attend some of them."
"Okay!" Yang Qingyin agreed immediately and asked Ye Xiaoli to make arrangements to participate in official ceremonies.
Because of this topic, the originally jovial atmosphere between them vanished.
Luo Ziling quickly shifted the topic, and after a while, Yang Qingyin’s mood improved too.
They arrived at Jinling at twelve forty in the afternoon.
First, the four of them went to the hotel they booked, checked in, placed their luggage, and then found a place to have lunch.
Although Luo Xusheng had worked in Jinling for a period and Luo Ziling had visited a few times, he wasn’t very familiar with Jinling.
Fortunately, Yang Qingyin had done a good job planning and led him to find delicious food.
After a hearty meal, it was already two o’clock in the afternoon.
The sun was shining nicely, there was no wind, everything felt warm.
The two didn’t take a car but walked to the Qinhuai River Scenic Area.
After arriving near the Qinhuai River Scenic Area, Yang Qingyin pulled Luo Ziling to first stroll through Wuyi Lane.
Wuyi Lane is located by Wendu Bridge in the Qinhuai River Scenic Area. Historically, many distinguished people lived here, including the powerful Wang and Xie families during the Jin Dynasty.
Of course, that is not why Wuyi Lane is famous.
Liu Yuxi’s poem "Wuyi Lane" is what brought Wuyi Lane to the attention of the world.
Wuyi Lane is just tens of meters from the Confucius Temple, a narrow alley that lacks the imagined serenity due to many tourists.
Crossing the Vermilion Bird Bridge, they entered Wuyi Lane.
"Wildflowers and weeds bloom by Vermilion Bird Bridge, Setting sun leans at the entrance of Wuyi Lane." As Yang Qingyin and Luo Ziling crossed the Vermilion Bird Bridge, Yang Qingyin softly recited these two lines from Liu Yuxi’s poem, then she asked Luo Ziling, "Do these two lines just invoke feelings of bygone melancholia?"
Luo Ziling pointed at the Vermilion Bird Bridge beneath them and then at the sky, "With tourists everywhere, wildflowers and weeds can’t easily grow, when wildflowers and weeds are striking, the place must be desolate then. As sunset fades, the day ends, naturally evoking sighs and nostalgia. So yes, it’s certainly a melancholic feeling."
"Sparrows from the halls of Wang and Xie fly into the homes of commonfolk. House sparrows prefer nesting where life thrives, even if their kind don’t want to nest at Wang and Xie’s halls anymore, it indicates those powerful families have waned." Discussing "Wuyi Lane," Yang Qingyin couldn’t help but feel sentimental.
"It’s normal for tides to rise and fall, times to change, victories, and defeats to alternate!" Luo Ziling squinted his eyes at the blue tiles and white walls before him and mused, "Just like the current powerful families in the Capital, maybe soon some will decline while new ones rise. When powerful families decline, surely the doorstep grows cold with scarce horses and carriages."
"I think the ones whose doorstep will grow cold are definitely the Chen Family and not our Yang Family or your Luo Family or the Ling Family!" Yang Qingyin tightened her hold on Luo Ziling’s arm, "However, starting a business is hard, and maintaining it is even harder. That’s something my grandpa often taught us, to stay vigilant in times of peace. Unfortunately, not many truly manage to be vigilant in times of peace."
"That’s why they say wealth doesn’t last three generations!" Luo Ziling said with a resigned smile, "The few large families we have now, are about three generations. What’s next, no one knows."
"At least the Ling Family definitely won’t end its wealth in three generations." Yang Qingyin smiled teasingly.
"The Ling Family is the Ling Family, not our Luo Family," Luo Ziling said seriously, "I am a son of the Luo Family, aiming to create glory for the Luo Family. In the future, you are the wife of the Luo Family, so our efforts and goals are the same!"
Yang Qingyin’s face turned red immediately, she spat at Luo Ziling and said angrily, "I won’t become the wife of the Luo Family!"
"How can you not be? The chosen bride, no one can change that!"
"Hmph!"