Mei Qing nodded, and several of them entered the tea stall, finding only an elderly couple inside. The old woman was boiling water while the old man served tea. The group ordered several cups of wild tea and sat down at the roughly made tables and chairs under the stall’s awning. Mei Qing casually asked Liu Mengmei why he had ventured so deeply into the mountains.
A faint blush appeared on Liu Mengmei’s pale face, and he mysteriously whispered, “Esteemed gentlemen, do you happen to know that immortals appear in the Bai Zhao Mountains?”
Upon hearing Liu Mengmei’s words, Bi Zhen and Mei Qing exchanged glances involuntarily. Mei Qing softly chuckled and said, “Master Liu is joking. Matters of immortals are merely ancient legends. Even if they were true, they would be like the mythical dragon—heard of but never seen. How could ordinary mortals like us ever encounter them?”
“No, no,” Liu Mengmei shook his head repeatedly. “This is no illusion; I saw it with my own eyes. I’m absolutely certain I’m not mistaken.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing replied, somewhat surprised. “Then may I ask, how did you come upon this extraordinary encounter?”
Liu Mengmei picked up the coarse porcelain teacup in front of him, took a gentle sip, slightly frowned, and then pushed the cup aside before speaking. “Esteemed Brother Mei, do you know how I came by the name Mengmei?”
Mei Qing paused for a moment, then laughed, “In my opinion, surely it wasn’t because you missed me so much that you chose such a fine name.”
Liu Mengmei smiled and said, “Esteemed Brother Mei is teasing me. This name was indeed changed later. The story actually dates back to an event from when I was over ten years old.”
After saying this, Liu Mengmei seemed somewhat embarrassed and continued, “Please don’t laugh at me, Esteemed Gentlemen. I was originally from Anlu City. My family upbringing was very strict, so I never had any close friends. Seeing you two today, I inexplicably feel close to you both, and I’m even more grateful for your rescue. I apologize for being so forward in speaking so frankly.”
“Not at all,” Bi Zhen interjected quickly, “Ancients say that even lifelong friends can feel new and unfamiliar, while strangers can feel like old friends. Matters of fate are inherently mysterious. Meeting you today, Esteemed Brother Liu, is indeed a fortunate encounter. There’s no question of mockery.”
Liu Mengmei nodded repeatedly. “I’m glad you two don’t mock me; it eases my mind a little. Speaking of those days, it feels like a spring dream.”
“My family resides in Anlu City, but my grandmother’s family has lived long in the Bai Zhao Mountains. Every year, I would accompany my parents for a short stay in the mountains—to visit relatives and give me a chance to relax. Back then, I remember being twelve years old, forced to study all day, which made me feel quite miserable…”
Mei Qing nodded in agreement. He himself had lost both parents at an early age and bore the reputation of being dull-witted, so no one pushed him to study. But even without eating pork, he had seen pigs run. In those days, the imperial examination was the most valued pursuit, and people were eager to study and educate their children with great effort. He could imagine Liu Mengmei’s suffering back then.
“Later, when I was visiting the Bai Zhao Mountains with my parents, I overheard my father saying that I was mischievous and uninterested in studies, and that he would impose stricter discipline on me in the new year. I felt utterly hopeless. Being young and impulsive, I angrily ran away from my grandmother’s house alone,” Liu Mengmei said with a sigh.
Bi Zhen exclaimed, “Ah! At such a young age, where did you think you were going in these vast mountains? What if you had encountered wolves?”
Liu Mengmei nodded with a bitter smile. “Exactly. But back then, being young and naïve, I didn’t think about where I was going or how to cope. I just wanted to escape home, so I kept running with my head down.”
“What happened next?” Bi Zhen asked curiously. “Where did you go?”
“At the time, I didn’t care which direction I took, only wanting to avoid being found by my family, so I chose the most difficult paths. Unfortunately, I soon got lost,” Liu Mengmei said with another bitter smile.
Bi Zhen said, “Of course! These mountains are so vast that even ordinary adults often get lost. A child of about ten years old getting lost is no surprise.”
Liu Mengmei nodded in agreement. “Yes, I panicked and wandered through the woods without seeing a single house or finding a path. As dusk approached, I became increasingly frightened. Then I slipped and rolled down a hillside.”
Bi Zhen gasped, exclaiming, “Oh no! What happened then?… Ah, I know! You must have met a deity who saved you, right?”
Liu Mengmei looked at Bi Zhen in surprise. “Esteemed Sir, you are indeed perceptive. Actually, I don’t remember clearly how I survived the fall. All I know is that I was half-conscious, and I seemed to hear two female voices speaking.”
“One voice, clearly older, called to another girl: ‘Miss, although it was kind of you to save this young man, if the master finds out, it will be most inconvenient.'”
“Then I heard another voice, sweet and melodious, say: ‘He’s just a boy, all alone. If we throw him out, what if he meets someone bad? Old Lady Zhao, I know you’re kind-hearted. Let’s keep him just for tonight and send him away early tomorrow morning, okay?'”
“Old Lady Zhao muttered a few more words but said no more. At that time, I gathered all my strength and managed to open my eyes. I heard that sweet voice say, ‘Ah, you’re awake!'”
At this point, Liu Mengmei’s eyes seemed to relive the scene from years ago, and he spoke dreamily: “Esteemed Brother Mei, you asked if there are immortals in the world. You don’t know what I saw when I opened my eyes back then. The moment I saw her, I knew she must be a celestial being. How could there be such a woman in this world—so serene and unadorned, yet incomparably beautiful?”
Mei Qing nodded, and they entered the tea shed, where they saw only an elderly couple. The old woman was boiling water, and the old man was serving tea. They ordered several cups of wild tea and sat on the rough tables and chairs under the shed. Mei Qing casually asked Liu Mengmei why he had ventured so deep into the mountains.
A faint blush appeared on Liu Mengmei’s pale face as he mysteriously whispered, “Gentlemen, do you know that there are immortals roaming the White Zhao Mountains?”
Hearing this, Bi Zhen and Mei Qing exchanged glances. Mei Qing chuckled softly, “Brother Liu, you must be joking. The tales of immortals are ancient legends. Even if they were true, they would be as elusive as a dragon’s head. How could we, mere mortals, ever hope to encounter them?”
“No, no,” Liu Mengmei shook his head repeatedly, “This is not a figment of imagination. I have seen it with my own eyes, and I am certain it is true.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing expressed surprise, “Brother, how did you come across such a miraculous encounter? Could you share the details?”
Liu Mengmei picked up the coarse porcelain tea bowl in front of him, took a small sip, frowned slightly, and pushed the bowl aside before speaking, “Brother Mei, do you know how I got the name Mengmei?”
Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, then laughed, “I imagine it wasn’t because you missed me, right?”
Liu Mengmei smiled, “Brother Mei, you jest. Indeed, I changed my name later. It was an incident from when I was about ten years old.”
He then seemed a bit embarrassed as he continued, “I don’t mind sharing this with you two. I was born in Anlu City, and my family was very strict, so I didn’t have many friends. Today, meeting you two, I feel an inexplicable closeness, especially since you saved me. I hope you won’t laugh at me.”
“Not at all,” Bi Zhen interjected, “As the ancients said, ‘Meeting someone new can feel like reuniting with an old friend.’ The mysteries of fate are profound. Meeting Brother Liu today is a fortunate event in life. Why would we laugh?”
Liu Mengmei nodded repeatedly, “Your understanding puts my heart at ease. Speaking of the past, it feels like a spring dream.”
“Although my family lived in Anlu City, my maternal grandmother’s family had long resided in the White Zhao Mountains. Every year, I would accompany my parents to stay in the mountains for a while, both to visit relatives and to relax. That year, I remember I was twelve, constantly pressured to focus on my studies, which was quite painful…”
Mei Qing nodded in understanding. He himself had lost his parents early and was labeled as dull, so no one forced him to study. But he knew the importance of scholarly pursuits in their society, and how parents spared no effort in educating their children. He imagined Liu Mengmei must have suffered greatly.
“Later, during one of our stays in the White Zhao Mountains, I overheard my father saying that I was too unruly and disinterested in my studies, and that he would have to be stricter with me after the new year. Feeling hopeless, I, in a fit of anger, ran away from my grandmother’s house alone,” Liu Mengmei sighed.
Bi Zhen exclaimed, “Ah! At such a young age, where could you have gone in such a vast mountain? What if you had encountered wolves?”
Liu Mengmei nodded with a bitter smile, “Exactly. But at that time, I was too young to understand the world. I didn’t think about where to go or what to do; I just didn’t want to stay at home, so I kept running without looking back.”
“And then?” Bi Zhen asked curiously, “Where did you end up?”
“I didn’t care about directions; I just wanted to avoid being found by my family, so I took the most difficult paths. Not long after, I got lost,” Liu Mengmei said with a wry smile.
Bi Zhen nodded, “That’s not surprising. The Bi Mountain is so vast that even adults often get lost. It’s no wonder a child like you would lose his way.”
Liu Mengmei agreed, “Yes. I panicked, wandering through the forest without seeing any houses or paths. As it got darker, I became more frightened. Then, I slipped and rolled down a hillside.”
Bi Zhen gasped, “Oh no! What happened then?… Ah, I know, you must have met an immortal who saved you, right?”
Liu Mengmei looked at Bi Zhen in surprise, “You are indeed perceptive. Actually, I don’t remember much about what happened after I fell down the slope. I was in a daze, half-awake, and I seemed to hear two women’s voices speaking beside me.”
“One voice was clearly older, calling the other ‘Miss,’ and said, ‘Miss, it’s not appropriate for you to intervene and save this boy, even though it’s a good deed. I can’t say much, but how can we allow outsiders here? If the master finds out, it would be very unpleasant.'”
“Then I heard another, very sweet voice say, ‘He’s just a boy, alone. If we throw him out, what if he encounters bad people? Auntie Zhao, I know you have a good heart. Let’s keep him for the night and send him away tomorrow morning, okay?'”
“Auntie Zhao muttered a few more words before falling silent. I mustered all my strength to open my eyes. The sweet voice said, ‘Ah, you’re awake?'”
At this point, Liu Mengmei’s gaze seemed to drift back to that moment, as if entranced, “Brother Mei, didn’t I ask you if there are immortals in the world? You wouldn’t understand the scene when I opened my eyes. I knew immediately that the fairy before me was an immortal. How could there be such a serene, unadorned, yet incomparably beautiful woman in the mortal world?”
Mei Qing sighed at Liu Mengmei’s infatuated expression. Bi Zhen, however, was not convinced, “Brother Liu, you’re mistaken. There are many beautiful women in the world, but that doesn’t mean they are immortals.”
“Brother Mei, you don’t understand,” Liu Mengmei waved his hand, ignoring Bi Zhen’s expression, “If you had seen that fairy in person, you would understand what I mean. Such a woman could not exist in the mortal world.”
Bi Zhen was indignant and wanted to argue, but Mei Qing, seeing the situation, quickly intervened to stop her.
In the world, there is no woman who does not appreciate beauty, and no beautiful woman who is not proud of her looks.
Bi Zhen, who prided herself on her beauty, could not bear to hear others praise another woman’s beauty, especially in front of Mei Qing. If it weren’t for her disguise as a man, she would have revealed her true appearance to show Liu Mengmei what true beauty was, so he wouldn’t mistake ordinary stones for precious jade.
Blind, utterly blind, unable to recognize gold inlaid with jade, mistaking a hen for a phoenix—Bi Zhen, restrained by Mei Qing, could only silently curse in her heart while glaring at Mei Qing with a warning in her eyes.
Mei Qing pretended not to notice and turned back to Liu Mengmei, who was still reminiscing, “So, it was that fairy who saved your life. What happened afterward?”
Liu Mengmei snapped out of his reverie, somewhat embarrassed, “I’m sorry, whenever I talk about this, no one believes me. Today, hearing you two willing to listen, I got carried away. My apologies.”
He shook his head and continued, “When the fairy asked me, I was at a loss for words. She smiled faintly and asked, ‘Young man, where is your home? Why are you alone in this wilderness?’ I felt as if there was no one in the world as close to me as this fairy, and I poured out all my troubles to her.”
“The fairy listened and then shook her head, ‘Your father wants you to study for your own good. Running away like this will only worry your family. You should go back tomorrow.’ Hearing her words, I felt she was right and nodded repeatedly, not knowing what else to say.”
“The next morning, Auntie Zhao came to send me away. She was quite stern, warning me never to speak of what I had seen. I only wanted to see the fairy again, but Auntie Zhao kept urging me, so I had to follow her out.”
“When we left, she told me to close my eyes. I thought the fairy might appear, so I pretended to close them but kept a slit open. As we walked out, I peeked through my eyelids and was stunned.”
“Outside, the area was filled with plum blossoms. Though my eyes were half-closed, all I could see was a sea of flowers. Unfortunately, before the fairy could appear, I suddenly felt my body tighten, and then I seemed to fly up before losing consciousness.”
“When I woke up, I was back at my grandmother’s house. My grandparents and parents were by my side. They said I had been found in a valley a few miles from home. When I told them about my experience, about entering a valley full of plum blossoms, they all said I must have been dreaming, as there were no such places in the White Zhao Mountains, let alone a valley like that.”
Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had been paying close attention when Liu Mengmei mentioned the plum blossoms. Hearing that no one knew of such a place, they exchanged glances. Bi Zhen asked, “Are you saying your family didn’t know about this place? Could it be that the place is just not well-known, so few people know about it?”
Liu Mengmei shook his head, “I’ve always kept this in mind. After returning, I remembered the fairy’s words and worked hard on my studies, making good progress and earning the approval of my father and teachers. Later, I insisted on changing my name to Mengmei, and they didn’t object. Since then, I’ve been searching and sending people into the mountains. To be honest, I’ve almost walked every valley in the White Zhao Mountains. I can probably count every plum tree within dozens of miles around Anlu City, but there is indeed no place in the mountains filled with plum blossoms.”
“Esteemed Brother Mei, you wouldn’t understand,” Liu Mengmei waved his hand, ignoring Bi Zhen’s expression. “If you had seen that fairy in person, you would understand what I mean. A woman like her simply cannot exist in this world.”
Mei Qing nodded, and they entered the tea shed, where they found only an elderly couple. The old woman was boiling water, while the old man served tea. They ordered several cups of wild tea and sat on the rough chairs and tables under the shed. Mei Qing casually asked Liu Mengmei why he had ventured so deep into the mountains.
A faint blush appeared on Liu Mengmei’s pale face as he whispered mysteriously, “Gentlemen, have you heard that there are immortals roaming the Bai Zhao Mountains?”
Upon hearing this, Bi Zhen and Mei Qing exchanged glances. Mei Qing chuckled softly, “Brother Liu, you must be joking. The tales of immortals are ancient legends. Even if they were true, they would be as elusive as a dragon’s head. How could we, mere mortals, ever hope to encounter them?”
“No, no,” Liu Mengmei shook his head repeatedly, “This is no illusion. I have seen it with my own eyes. I am certain of it.”
“Oh?” Mei Qing looked surprised, “How did you come across such a miraculous encounter? Could you share the details?”
Liu Mengmei picked up the coarse porcelain teacup in front of him, took a small sip, frowned slightly, and pushed the cup aside. Then he said, “Brother Mei, do you know how I came to be named Mengmei?”
Mei Qing was momentarily stunned, then laughed, “I imagine it wasn’t because you were missing me when you chose such a fine name.”
Liu Mengmei smiled, “Brother Mei, you jest. This name was indeed changed later. It stems from an incident when I was about ten years old.”
He then seemed a bit embarrassed as he continued, “I’m from Anlu City, and since childhood, my family was very strict, so I didn’t have many close friends. Meeting you two today, I feel an inexplicable closeness, especially since you saved me. I hope you won’t laugh at me for speaking so openly.”
“Not at all,” Bi Zhen interjected, “As the ancients said, ‘Old friends are like new, and new friends are like old.’ The mysteries of fate are profound. Meeting Brother Liu today is a fortunate event. How could we laugh?”
Liu Mengmei nodded repeatedly, “Your understanding puts my mind at ease. Speaking of those past events, it feels like a spring dream.”
“My family lived in Anlu City, but my maternal grandmother resided in the Bai Zhao Mountains. Every year, I would accompany my parents to stay in the mountains for a while, both to visit relatives and to relax. That year, I was twelve, and I was constantly pressured to focus on my studies, which I found quite painful…”
Mei Qing nodded in understanding. Having lost his parents early and being labeled as dull, he had never been pressured to study. But he knew the importance society placed on imperial examinations and how parents pushed their children relentlessly. He imagined Liu Mengmei must have suffered greatly.
“Once, while staying in the Bai Zhao Mountains with my parents, I overheard my father saying that I was stubborn and uninterested in my studies, and that he would discipline me more strictly in the coming year. Feeling hopeless, I ran away from my grandmother’s house in a fit of anger,” Liu Mengmei sighed.
Bi Zhen exclaimed, “You were so young! Where could you have gone in such a vast mountain? What if you had encountered wolves?”
Liu Mengmei nodded with a bitter smile, “Exactly. But at that age, I didn’t think about where to go or what to do. I just wanted to escape from home, so I ran without a destination.”
“Then what happened?” Bi Zhen asked curiously, “Where did you end up?”
“I didn’t care about directions; I just wanted to avoid being found. So I took the most difficult paths and soon got lost,” Liu Mengmei admitted with a wry smile.
Bi Zhen said, “No wonder. Even adults often get lost in these mountains. A child like you would have no chance.”
Liu Mengmei nodded, “Yes, I panicked. I wandered through the forest, seeing no houses or paths. As it grew darker, I became more frightened. Then, I slipped and rolled down a slope.”
Bi Zhen gasped, “What happened then? Oh, I know! You must have met an immortal who saved you, right?”
Liu Mengmei looked at Bi Zhen in surprise, “You are indeed perceptive. I don’t remember much about what happened after I fell. I was in a daze, half-conscious, and I heard two women’s voices.”
“One voice was older and called the other ‘Miss,’ saying, ‘Miss, you shouldn’t have intervened. Saving this boy is a good deed, but I can’t say much. However, how can we allow outsiders here? If the master finds out, it won’t be good.'”
“Then I heard a sweet voice reply, ‘He’s just a boy, alone. If we throw him out, what if he meets bad people? Auntie Zhao, I know you have a kind heart. Let’s keep him for the night and send him away in the morning, alright?'”
“Auntie Zhao muttered a few more words but didn’t object. I struggled to open my eyes and heard the sweet voice say, ‘Oh, you’re awake?'”
At this point, Liu Mengmei’s eyes seemed to relive the scene as he said dreamily, “Brother Mei, I asked you if there are immortals in this world. You don’t know what it was like when I opened my eyes. I knew immediately that the lady before me was an immortal. How could there be such a serene, unadorned, yet incomparably beautiful woman in the mortal world?”
Mei Qing sighed as he watched Liu Mengmei’s rapt expression. Bi Zhen, however, was indignant, “Brother Liu, you’re mistaken. There are many beautiful women in the world. Just because someone is exceptionally beautiful doesn’t mean they’re an immortal.”
“Brother Mei, you don’t understand,” Liu Mengmei waved his hand, ignoring Bi Zhen’s expression, “If you had seen her, you would know what I mean. Such a woman could not exist in the mortal world.”
Bi Zhen, unable to contain her frustration, was about to argue when Mei Qing, suppressing a laugh, quickly stopped her.
All women in the world love beauty, and beautiful women are naturally proud. Bi Zhen, who prided herself on her looks, couldn’t bear to hear someone praise another woman’s beauty, especially in front of Mei Qing. If she hadn’t been disguised as a man, she would have revealed her true appearance to show Liu Mengmei what true beauty was, so he wouldn’t mistake a pebble for a gem.
Blind, utterly blind, unable to recognize true beauty, mistaking a hen for a phoenix—Bi Zhen, restrained by Mei Qing, could only silently curse in her heart while glaring at Mei Qing with a warning look.
Mei Qing pretended not to notice and turned back to Liu Mengmei, who was still lost in his memories, “So, it was the immortal lady who saved you. What happened afterward?”
Liu Mengmei snapped out of his reverie, somewhat embarrassed, “I’m sorry. Whenever I talk about this, no one believes me. Today, hearing you two willing to listen, I got carried away. My apologies.”
He shook his head and continued, “When the immortal asked me, I was at a loss for words. She smiled gently and asked, ‘Young man, where is your home? Why are you alone in these wild mountains?’ I felt an inexplicable closeness to her, as if I could pour out all my grievances. So I told her everything that was troubling me.”
“She listened and then shook her head, ‘Your father wants you to study for your own good. Running away like this will only worry your family. You should go back tomorrow.’ Hearing her words, I realized she was right and nodded, not knowing what else to say.”
“The next morning, Auntie Zhao came to send me away. She was quite stern and warned me never to speak of what I had seen. But all I wanted was to see the immortal lady again. Unfortunately, Auntie Zhao kept urging me, so I had to follow her out.”
“As we left, she told me to close my eyes. I thought the immortal might appear, so I pretended to close my eyes but kept them slightly open. When we stepped outside, I peeked through my eyelids and was stunned.”
“Outside, the entire area was covered in blooming plum blossoms. Even with my eyes barely open, all I could see was a sea of flowers. But before I could catch a glimpse of the immortal, I suddenly felt my body tighten, and then I seemed to fly into the air before losing consciousness.”
“When I woke up, I was back at my grandmother’s house. My grandparents and parents were all by my side. They told me I had been found in a valley several miles from home. When I told them about my experience—entering a valley full of plum blossoms—they all said I must have been dreaming, as there were no such plum groves in the Bai Zhao Mountains, let alone such a valley.”
Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had been paying close attention when Liu Mengmei mentioned the plum blossoms. Hearing that no one knew of such a valley, they exchanged glances. Bi Zhen asked, “Are you saying your family didn’t know about this place? Could it be that the valley is just not well-known?”
Liu Mengmei shook his head, “I’ve been obsessed with this ever since. After returning, I followed the immortal’s advice and focused on my studies, making significant progress and earning my father and teacher’s approval. Later, I insisted on changing my name to Mengmei, and they didn’t object. But I’ve been searching for that valley ever since, even sending people into the mountains. To be honest, I’ve explored almost every valley in the Bai Zhao Mountains. I could probably list every plum tree within dozens of miles of Anlu City, but there’s no place in these mountains that’s covered in plum blossoms.”
There is no woman in the world who doesn’t appreciate beauty, and no beauty who doesn’t take pride in her looks.
Bi Zhen usually prided herself on her appearance and couldn’t bear to hear someone praise another woman’s beauty, especially in front of Mei Qing. She couldn’t contain her frustration at hearing someone gush about another woman being a celestial beauty unmatched on earth. If it weren’t for her disguise as a man, she would have revealed her true face long ago, just to show this young man what true beauty looks like and correct his mistaken judgment.
What an idiot! Completely blind! Mistaking an ordinary stone for a precious jade and treating a common hen like a phoenix—Bi Zhen, restrained by Mei Qing, could only silently grumble inwardly while shooting Mei Qing a few fierce glances as a warning.
Mei Qing pretended not to notice and turned to Liu Mengmei, who was still lost in his reverie. “So, it was that fairy girl who saved your life, Master Liu. May I ask what happened afterward?”
Liu Mengmei snapped out of his daydreaming and said somewhat embarrassedly, “Forgive me, Esteemed Gentlemen. No one has ever believed me when I speak of this before. Today, hearing that you two are willing to listen, I became overly emotional. I’m truly ashamed.”
He shook his head and continued, “When the fairy asked me, I was momentarily at a loss for words. She smiled gently and asked again, ‘Esteemed Young Master, where is your home? How did you end up alone in these remote mountains?’ I felt that there could be no one in this world closer to me than this fairy. Feeling all my inner sorrows could be shared with her, I poured out all my troubles to her.”
“After listening, the fairy shook her head and said, ‘Your father wants you to study for your own good. Your running away must have worried your family greatly. You should return home tomorrow.’ Her words made perfect sense, so I could only nod repeatedly, not knowing what else to say.”
“The next morning, Old Lady Zhao came to send me away. She was quite stern and warned me not to speak of what I had seen here. My only wish was to see the fairy one more time, but the old woman kept urging me forward, so I had to follow her out.”
“When she asked me to close my eyes, I thought the fairy might appear, so I refused to shut them completely. I pretended to close them but left a small slit. As I was leaving, I peeked through my eyelids and was stunned.”
“It turned out that outside the house, the entire area was covered with blooming plum blossoms. Although I was squinting, all I could see through that narrow slit was an endless sea of flowers. Unfortunately, before the fairy could appear, I suddenly felt a jolt in my body, as if I had been lifted into the air, and then I fainted, knowing nothing more.”
“When I woke up, I had no idea how much time had passed. I was already back at my grandmother’s house, with my grandparents, father, and mother all by my side. They told me that I had been found beside a stream valley a few miles from home. When I told them about my experience—about the valley filled with plum blossoms—they all said I must have been dreaming. They insisted there were no clusters of plum trees in the Bai Zhao Mountains, let alone such a valley.”
Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had already been paying close attention when Liu Mengmei mentioned seeing plum blossoms. Now, upon hearing that no one knew of this valley, they exchanged glances. Bi Zhen asked, “You mean your family doesn’t know about this place? Could it be that the location is simply obscure and little known?”
Liu Mengmei shook his head. “This matter has always lingered in my heart. After returning, I heeded the fairy’s words, applied myself to my studies, and made considerable progress, which pleased both my father and my teacher. Later, when I insisted on changing my name to Mengmei, they did not object. Since then, I have tirelessly sought information and even sent people to search the mountains. To be honest with you two, I have almost explored every stream and valley in the Bai Zhao Mountains. I could probably name every location within dozens of miles around Anlu City where plum trees grow. Yet, there truly is no place in these mountains where plum blossoms bloom so abundantly.”
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