Chapter 35: A Fall from a Donkey during the Outing

Although it was the depth of winter, the weather had been clear for the past few days. The woods, houses, and streams around Tangyin County were immersed in a windless, tranquil, and bright chill, bathed in dazzling light and pale blue shadows. Everything was pristine, soft, and pure white.

In the morning, Li Yanqing and his three companions set out on donkeys, enthusiastically following Tang Zongzong to the Little Tang River to admire the snowscape. Located about ten miles north of Tangyin County, the Little Tang River was a famous spot in Xiangzhou for viewing snow. The main road was crowded with travelers, and many scholars and refined gentlemen were heading there, just like them.

On both sides lay endless wheat fields covered in thick white snow, while the cloudless, deep blue sky arched over the earth like a vast dome.

"You are in luck!" Tang Zongzong, riding a large black horse, introduced to the four students with great interest, "Although the snow scenery at the Little Tang River is beautiful, it cannot be seen every year. The weather is perfect today, just right for sightseeing. Do you see? Many people are bringing their families along to enjoy the view."

Wang Gui lowered his voice and joked to the other three, "Actually, I think riding these donkeys is more interesting than the snow scenery."

Wang Gui’s words struck a chord with the others. It was their first time riding donkeys; the little creatures walked steadily at a leisurely pace, and on the rare occasions they broke into a trot, the sensation of riding through the clouds left the three of them exhilarated.

Among the group, Yue Fei was the best rider, while Li Yanqing was the worst. This was not because he lacked balance, but because he had not practiced the horse stance like the others, leaving his inner thigh muscles weaker and his control poor. While Yue Fei rode with ease, Li Yanqing was terrified, nearly falling off several times.

Just then, a broken-down ox cart blocked the main road. Several family members were busy repairing a wheel, and an approaching carriage blocked most of the path, leaving only a narrow, three-foot-wide trail on the side. Pedestrians squeezed through one by one.

Tang Zongzong guided his horse through smoothly, and Yue Fei, Wang Gui, and Tang Huai quickly urged their donkeys to follow. Li Yanqing was in the back; his little donkey, seeing its companions pull away, anxiously broke into a run. Li Yanqing panicked, shouting, "Slow down! Slow down!"

The donkey, however, was stubborn and, instead of slowing, picked up speed. Li Yanqing could not dodge in time and grazed the edge of the carriage. His fur coat caught on the vehicle, causing him to lose his balance. He tumbled off the donkey and rolled into the wheat field beside the road.

The field was covered in thick snow, so Li Yanqing was uninjured, but he was in a sorry state. His head, face, and neck were covered in snow, and his fur coat had a small tear. A young girl in the carriage cried out anxiously, "Father, a young brother fell into the field!"

A middle-aged scholar following the carriage immediately dismounted and stepped forward to brush the snow off Li Yanqing. "The carriage axle was too wide and caught your clothes. My deepest apologies!"

The scholar had clearly seen that it was his own carriage that had snagged the boy's coat, causing the fall. Seeing the man’s refined and scholarly appearance, Li Yanqing felt a sense of goodwill and waved his hand. "I am fine, sir, please do not apologize!"

As he spoke, Li Yanqing glanced at the young girl in the carriage. She was about four or five years old, wearing her hair in two flat buns. She had red lips, white teeth, a delicate oval face, finely arched brows, and bright, lively eyes. Holding a small palace fan, she looked at him with genuine concern. She was quite a little beauty, but realizing how clumsily he had fallen from his donkey in front of her, Li Yanqing felt embarrassed and scrambled to chase after his mount.

"You stupid donkey, stand still!"

The little girl watched with interest as Li Yanqing ran off and began laughing with his friends. Curious, she asked, "Father, there is so much snow on the road; where are they going?"

The scholar looked around and smiled. "They are likely going to the Little Tang River to see the snow."

"Oh! Mother said that is the most beautiful snow scenery in all of Xiangzhou. Father, I want to go too!"

"Father has business today, maybe next time!"

The girl pouted her rosy lips, unhappy. "It’s always 'next time.' I’ve already saved up dozens of 'next times'!"

The scholar doted on his youngest daughter. Seeing that it was still early and that a visit to the snowscape wouldn't take much time, he smiled. "Very well! We shall turn around up ahead."

...

Li Yanqing’s group turned onto another road and, after another half-hour, arrived at the Little Tang River. They stood on a bridge and looked out into the distance; the famous snowscape of the Little Tang River was just ahead.

Unlike the monotonous white snowfields nearby, the banks of the Little Tang River were dotted with well-spaced clusters of small trees. These trees outlined soft, undulating curves against the flat snow, turning every visible branch into delicate, silver coral.

The river itself was like a ribbon of jade winding through the woods. Thin, gauzy mist hung among the trees, and the golden sunlight filtering through made the mist look like a spread of transparent red silk.

One could only explore the scenic area on foot. The small bridge was crowded with the ox carts and livestock of other visitors. Tang Zongzong smiled and said, "Go on ahead! I will stay here and watch the donkeys."

"Aren't you coming, Uncle?" Li Yanqing asked.

Tang Zongzong chuckled. "I have seen it countless times; I will pass this time."

Wang Gui and Tang Huai were already impatient and had run down the slope. Yue Fei waited for Li Yanqing. "Brother Qing, hurry up!"

"Uncle, we are going now."

"Follow the crowd, don't get separated," Tang Zongzong shouted after them.

Li Yanqing and Yue Fei followed a path beside the bridge, joining the flow of people heading east. Many had come to see the snow today, most gathering on the south side of the river. The north side was less crowded, though the scenery was no less impressive.

Carefully crossing the icy surface of the river, Li Yanqing and Yue Fei entered a world of silver trees and jade branches.

Though the scenery was beautiful, the biting cold was hard to endure. After wandering for half an hour, they prepared to head back.

"Where on earth did those two run off to?" Li Yanqing and Yue Fei searched, but could not find any sign of Wang Gui and Tang Huai.

"Brother Five, let's look separately. You take the south side, I'll take the north, and we'll meet back at the bridge."

"Agreed!" Yue Fei replied and headed toward the south side of the river.

Li Yanqing walked slowly back along a small path in the northern woods. His waist had been struck hard by the carriage; he hadn't noticed at the time, but now it began to throb with a burning, sharp pain.

Finding a quiet clearing, he sat on a large rock and pulled back his inner garment. There was a six-inch-long welt on his waist; though it wasn't bleeding, it was swollen a finger’s width high—a truly shocking sight.

"Ah!"

A gasp came from nearby. Li Yanqing quickly pulled his garment down, only to see a group of people emerging from the woods. At the front were the father and daughter from the carriage, followed by several attendants.

The scholar had seen Li Yanqing from a distance and had come over to check on him, not expecting to catch him inspecting his injury.

The scholar hurried forward. "You are actually hurt! Let me see."

Behind him, the little girl in her fur-lined green dress clutched her father’s clothes, peering out with concern.

"I'm fine, just a small scrape!" Li Yanqing waved his hands dismissively.

The scholar ignored him, pulled his hands away, and lifted the garment to inspect the injury. Li Yanqing had no choice but to turn his head away.

"Father, the area is all bruised!"

Hearing the girl’s exclamation, Li Yanqing turned back, only to find the little girl right in front of his injury. He hastily pulled the garment down. "It's fine, I must be going!"

He turned to leave, but the scholar grabbed him. "I happen to have medicinal balm in my carriage. Apply some to reduce the swelling, otherwise, the injury will worsen."

Without waiting for an answer, he led Li Yanqing away. Li Yanqing, finding the pain increasingly unbearable, realized he truly needed the medicine and had to follow the scholar toward the bridge.

...

Inside the carriage, one of the scholar’s attendants applied a thin layer of fragrant herbal medicine to the wound and carefully covered it with a medicated patch.

Yue Fei stood at the carriage door, looking at Li Yanqing with concern. Li Yanqing gave him a weak, lopsided smile, then turned his head, only to see Wang Gui and Tang Huai chatting up the little girl, vying with each other to boast about their own heroic exploits.

Li Yanqing glared at them—two friends who valued a pretty face over friendship.

"Stay lying down and don't move!"

The attendant pressed him down, then stepped out of the carriage to approach his master.

The scholar was speaking with Tang Zongzong. Seeing the attendant emerge, he hurried over. "How is the injury?"

"Reporting to the master, the injury is quite serious. Fortunately, the medicine was applied in time; any later and it might have festered."

Tang Zongzong stepped forward and asked, "Can he ride a donkey?"

"I am afraid not!" The attendant shook his head. "He must lie flat for now; he cannot ride or walk. Let us see if he improves by tomorrow."

"What are we to do? He is supposed to participate in the final round of the Children’s Competition tomorrow. Without him, we are certain to lose." Tang Zongzong was deeply worried. He asked again, "Will he be able to sit up tomorrow morning?"

"I cannot say for sure!"

The scholar said, "How about this: I will take the child into the city, find a physician to examine him, and let him rest for the night. The injury should improve."

Tang Zongzong had no choice but to agree. "Let us return to the inn first. I will go and fetch Zhang Deliang from the Qianjin Hall; he is the most famous doctor for external injuries in Tangyin."

Li Yanqing could no longer ride a donkey and had to return to the county seat lying in the carriage, while Tang Zongzong and the other three rode their donkeys behind them.