Chapter 2: Rescued by Someone

Late at noon, in Mingfu Village, a small group of young people who had just finished lunch gathered in twos and threes along the banks of the Tang River, each holding their simple fishing tools.

Not far from them, women and girls who had taken a break from washing clothes occupied small patches of the riverbank.

While they worked, they chatted loudly and jovially with familiar neighbors.

Hidden underwater, having evaded two would-be killers and then drifting face-up for an unknown length of time, Xie Guanniang keenly distinguished the noisy voices from the sound of the flowing river.

She moved her cold, barely stirring body just enough to let the current carry her toward the shore.

A thin, dark-haired boy by the riverbank, who had yet to catch a fish, muttered complaints under his breath as he prepared to find another promising spot to cast his line.

But when he looked up, a sudden vision appeared in his line of sight: a pale girl, her black hair and dress swirling wildly in the water, yet her body remained motionless.

“Momma!” the skinny boy blurted in shock. “A dead… dead person!”

Hearing the commotion, the villagers of Mingfu raised their heads and gazed toward the boy’s pointed direction.

“Is she really dead? I think I saw her move.”

“Maybe it’s just the water.”

“Who cares if it’s the person or the water moving!” A short, squat young man with bulging eyes dropped his fish basket and began taking off his shoes and rolling up his pants. “With clothes like that, her family must be well off!”

Xie Guanniang wore a purple dress, undoubtedly made of fine cloth or silk. Even soaked, it shimmered faintly in the sunlight—a craftsmanship impossible to find in coarse fabric.

The squat man not only had sharp eyes and quick reflexes but was already calculating his prospects eagerly.

Barefoot, he stepped into the river, rubbing his hands with excitement. “Heaven help me, let this young lady stay at my house as my wife.”

Several bachelors nearby were stunned, realizing they had overlooked this opportunity.

They exchanged glances, restless with desire, but before they could rush forward to compete with the bulging-eyed youth, he suddenly shouted angrily, “Jiang Yuan!”

He charged toward Jiang Yuan, who had somehow gained a three or four-step lead and deftly scooped the girl from the river’s grasp.

“You shameless bastard! How dare you snatch the one I like?”

Jiang Yuan ignored him, using his height and long legs to swiftly bypass the bulging-eyed youth, carrying Xie Guanniang toward the gathering group of women who had stopped their chores, eyes wide with curiosity.

He shielded most of her body with his own, so the men trying to snatch her or those watching from the shore could only glimpse her dripping hair, dress hem, and embroidered shoes.

“Auntie Wu, can I borrow a blanket?” Jiang Yuan asked.

A woman called Auntie Wu snapped back to attention, “Ah, yes, yes, here.”

She unfolded a blanket from her bucket, not yet soaked, and gently covered the pale, breathless Xie Guanniang.

“Thanks,” Jiang Yuan said. “I’ll wash it and return it tomorrow.”

“No need, no need. I’ll bring it back myself shortly.” Auntie Wu waved her hand dismissively.

Jiang Yuan looked puzzled.

Clearing her throat, Auntie Wu said, “You’re taking this girl home, aren’t you? Since you’re the only one there, I’ll come along to help clean her up and change her clothes.”

Grateful, Jiang Yuan nodded. “That would be a great help.”

Having secured the prime spot to watch the unfolding drama, Auntie Wu smiled and waved off his thanks.

Other women eager to join in soon clamored to volunteer.

“I’ll go fetch the village head!”

“I’ll call Doctor Chen!”

“My daughter has some new clothes she hasn’t worn yet. I’ll bring them over!”

“I’ll make scallion, ginger, and sugar water. We still have a bit of brown sugar at home!”

The women’s chatter filled the air as they eagerly divided the tasks among themselves.

The men, also hoping to follow along and witness the event, barely had time to react before Jiang Yuan, carrying Xie Guanniang wrapped tightly in the blanket, swiftly left.

The bulging-eyed youth, defeated in the river, hurriedly put on his shoes and tried to pursue Jiang Yuan to continue his attempt to claim the girl. But the women formed a human barrier, arms laden with basins and buckets, blocking his path.

Once the women joyfully dispersed, the youth prepared to rush after Jiang Yuan again but only caught sight of Jiang Yuan’s tall back disappearing quickly into the distance.

Cursing under his breath, he started to give chase but abruptly changed direction halfway and returned home.

Jiang Yuan carried the bundled Xie Guanniang steadily but swiftly back to his modest three-room house at the village’s edge.

One room was his own, another belonged to his maternal uncle and mentor, and the third was reserved for guests.

Initially, he planned to place Xie Guanniang in the guest room, but then he reconsidered.

Under the bright, gossip-fueled gaze of Auntie Wu, who had lent him the blanket, he carried Xie Guanniang into his own room.

He carefully laid her on the clean straw mat covering the kang bed. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Jiang Yuan quickly looked away.

He fetched a clean set of bedding and pillows from his chest and arranged them on the kang. Then, he moved his own bedding and his box containing clothes and money to the room opposite, belonging to Hao Yu.

After tidying everything, he told Auntie Wu and Xie Guanniang, “I’ll go boil some water.”

“Go ahead, go ahead,” Auntie Wu encouraged.

While waiting for the water to boil, Auntie Wu intended to ask the girl’s name and background, but before she could speak, the courtyard erupted with the loud voices of her old friends.

“The clothes are here!”

“Here’s the brown sugar and ginger!”

“Doctor Chen has arrived—make way!”

“Where’s the girl?”

“Right here!” Auntie Wu called out, and the crowd surged forward.

Doctor Chen, an elderly man with trembling arms and legs, was nearly worn out from the rush. Luckily, he had the foresight to entrust his medicine box to his eldest grandson, who was learning medicine with him. Otherwise, he feared he would collapse before even seeing the patient.

“Everyone, don’t crowd inside. Please wait outside,” the doctor said firmly, taking the medicine box and sending away all but Auntie Wu, who stayed to assist.

He slowly took Xie Guanniang’s pulse and stroked his beard thoughtfully. “She’s been in cold water too long, caught a chill, and her strength is completely drained. Being cold and hungry, it’s no wonder she’s dizzy and confused.”

He instructed Auntie Wu, “Wipe her down, change her into dry clothes, and give her plenty of scallion, ginger, and sugar water.”

After she agreed, the doctor stepped outside to prepare a prescription and gave Jiang Yuan a few additional instructions.

Before he could say more, the bulging-eyed youth arrived at the door with his father, mother, and brother, forcing their way in.