Chapter 4.2

Today’s destination was “Chengfo Cliff,” a simple name for a cliff. Was he planning to commit suicide? She didn’t understand what was so interesting about a cliff. Her questions were met with Qi Tianlei’s smile. She decided to start hating that strange smile of his, even if it made him look handsome. It was too weird. No one should be happy to see someone being made a fool.

“We’re here,” he said, pulling the reins and dismounting.

At this moment, they had reached a mountaintop. Daiyun Mountain had many taller peaks also surrounded by clouds, but this particular place seemed unimpressive. It was bare, with just a few large rocks. The only notable feature was a large, smooth, white stone standing several feet tall. Yuhu felt disappointed. This place was called “Chengfo Cliff” (Cliff of Becoming a Buddha)?

“Can you become a Buddha here?”

“Come on! It’s almost time,” Qi Tianlei said, taking her small hand and leading her around the white stone. Behind the stone was a flat area, about ten feet square, with a sheer drop-off. It might not be a thousand feet down, but it was certainly several hundred feet, enough to ensure death if one fell. But whether it would lead to becoming a Buddha was another matter.

“Almost time for what? You can see these clouds from below. Being among them just feels like being in a fog,” she remarked.

Qi Tianlei put his arm around her and pointed to the big stone. “Look, there are a lot of names carved on it.”

Indeed, the white stone was covered with various characters. Some were carved, some written with ink, and others just stamped with muddy handprints. There were at least a hundred names.

“How unethical. Do people feel the need to prove they’ve been here by marking this stone? Such a nice white stone, ruined.”

“No! It’s not to prove they were here. It’s to prove they became Buddhas.”

Yuhu looked at him in shock and whispered, “Do they think jumping off will make them immortal? How foolish! If it were that easy to become a deity, the Western Paradise would be overcrowded!”

“Ah! You’re not easily fooled,” he laughed heartily.

She poked his chest with her finger. “I told you, just because I’m uneducated doesn’t mean I’m stupid!”

“Yes, yes, my good wife!” he exaggeratedly bowed, making Yuhu laugh. She playfully punched him.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

Qi Tianlei pulled out the food and wine they had brought, and Yuhu spread out a cloth. He was someone who enjoyed life’s pleasures, and the high vantage point was perfect for wine and food. Yuhu thought she might be catching his taste for such enjoyment. Even strong liquor, which she usually disliked, seemed appealing. They were somewhat kindred spirits in their shared tastes.

As they ate and drank, Qi Tianlei explained the legend of “Chengfo Cliff” on Daiyun Mountain.

“‘Chengfo Cliff’ is also known as ‘Sacrifice Cliff.’ This legend is all due to the clouds that perpetually shroud the mountaintop. At a certain time on a certain day, sunlight shines through the clouds, creating beautiful, multicolored light rays. This phenomenon is seen on all the mountain peaks and is not news. But on this peak, it’s different. Perhaps it’s the angle or the refraction; it happens to reflect off a large white stone. When the sun shines directly, it reflects back into the clouds. If someone stands in front of the stone at this moment, they’ll see their image, majestic and radiant, in the clouds, looking like an immortal. Some foolish people believe it’s a heavenly sign indicating they are divine beings ready to return to the celestial realm. They jump off the cliff, happily meeting their end. Over the centuries, many have died here, which is why it’s called ‘Sacrifice Cliff’ or ‘Chengfo Cliff.’ Those who sought immortality wrote their names on the stone with the date, shamelessly asking for temples to be built in their honor.”

P.S.: This is not fictional. There really is such a cliff in mainland China, though I don’t know which mountain range it’s in.

Yuhu’s almond-shaped eyes blinked as she stood up to look at the beautiful cloud sea. The sun was slowly rising, gradually coloring the clouds with a myriad of hues.

“Could such a thing really happen?” she asked.

“Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. You’ll see in a moment. Three years ago, Liu and I spent a month climbing the mountain every day at dawn and descending at dusk to witness this phenomenon. This time, we timed it right so you can see it. In the future, there will be more wonderful places to visit, and I will take you to see them all.”

Yuhu sat beside him, leaning into his embrace, feeling he was a remarkable man.

“Tianlei, you’re so good to me. I didn’t know husbands treated their wives like this.”

“How else should a husband and wife treat each other?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and offering her a cup of wine.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been married before,” she shrugged. “But my father never let my mother go out. He always gave her so many chores that she couldn’t finish them by the time he came home. Then they would argue, and my mother would return to her parents’ house when she was angry. That’s how they interacted. You’re too good to me. People might think it’s strange.”

“Or they might say I’m afraid of my wife? Who cares? I don’t live for them. When I become a prominent figure, people will be eager to befriend me. Whether they praise or criticize me won’t matter.”

She laughed lightly and kissed his cheek. “Right! So you do whatever you want, ignoring others’ opinions. Rumors don’t hurt you.”

Qi Tianlei leaned back against the white stone, gently stroking her hair. “The Qi family is ruthless in business. Making money is the primary goal, but being kind-hearted is important. The biannual grain distribution to the poor is just for show. But destroying others’ lives for profit is unacceptable. Yuhu, I don’t care who takes over the Qi family. I can’t handle the tyrannical ways of the Grand Madam. That’s why I co-founded ‘Hongtu’ with Lianhong and Liu. It’s tough for you to deal with the Qi family’s ways. No woman wants a useless husband, but you…” he smiled, recalling how she always stood up to protect him.

Yuhu sighed. “So you were testing me those days. What if I didn’t meet your standards?”

“Nothing. I’d just keep trying to put babies at your feet! Ow!”

His beloved wife pinched his waist hard. “You pervert! You always take the chance to bully me!”

He laughed heartily, hugging and kissing her. “I only have one wife. If I don’t bully you, who will I bully?”

Yuhu was about to give him a good beating when she suddenly paused. The clouds opposite them quickly changed. She sat back down, focusing on this magical moment.

Their images gradually appeared in the clouds. With the sun at the center, their images were surrounded by a golden halo, and rays of light radiated into the clouds. It really did look like they were becoming immortals, their figures magnified three or four times, their clothes fluttering. Just like the pictures of deities with golden halos around them.

“If only there were celestial music, we could jump off and become a pair of happy lovers,” she whispered.

In that fleeting moment, as the sun moved slightly, the illusion vanished. Yuhu exhaled the breath she had been holding. It was no wonder scholars and poets praised famous mountains and scenic spots. Only those born in such a beautiful country could understand and deserve to be poets. For a moment, Yuhu wished she had the talent of Cao Zhi, who could create a poem in seven steps, to convey this moment’s profound beauty. She vowed to learn to read and write well, even if she couldn’t become a poet, understanding others’ poetry would be satisfying.

“If celestial music played now, we could jump and be happy lovers in death.”

He pulled her from her reverie.

“No way! Jumping would break us into pieces. Too ugly! Worse, we might survive but be half-dead,” she said practically, thinking anyone wanting to die was foolish.

“Yeah! We haven’t put enough babies at your feet yet,” he murmured.

“Qi Tianlei! Don’t run!” she shouted, leaping to chase him.

They mounted their horses and rode down the mountain, their voices fading into the distance. The lower slopes of Daiyun Mountain were home to “Hongtu” logging areas. That afternoon, they inspected the logging and soil conservation efforts. Cutting down a century-old tree required planting a hundred saplings. Landslides were once common, but Liu Ruoqian and Qi Tianlei had persistently investigated the causes and prioritized hillside protection.

Quanzhou was famous for its wooden coffins, with affluent people nationwide insisting on buying their coffins there. Though the trade seemed morbid, it significantly contributed to Quanzhou’s economy. Besides coffins, Qi Tianlei had a keen interest in shipbuilding, heavily investing in it. Three years ago, people laughed at him, but the surge in orders now made “Hongtu”’s shipbuilding profits surpass those from coffins. The coffin business was monopolized by the Grand Madam, making “Hongtu” her main competitor. The Grand Madam tried to poach shipbuilding clients, while “Hongtu” aimed to steal coffin customers.

Madam Shu explained this to Yuhu, making her realize the intense rivalry. The Grand Madam knew “Hongtu” was the most formidable newcomer. If not subdued now, it would threaten the Qi family’s reputation as Quanzhou’s best.

At dinner in Madam Shu’s mansion, her expression turned hateful when mentioning the Grand Madam. Yuhu was puzzled by the animosity. Someone like Madam Shu must have a backstory.

During dinner, Xiubo didn’t appear. The men discussed

the day’s inspections, balancing work and play. Madam Shu, relieved from business matters, chatted with Yuhu. Whenever these men visited, she took a break and left the work to them.

“Madam, the young lady is awake,” a plump middle-aged woman announced, carrying a little girl.

The girl, about three or four, shared her mother’s stunning beauty. Dressed in a red cotton jacket, she clung to her mother, still sleepy but utterly charming.

“Come, Shanshan, say hello to your aunt.”

“Aunt,” Shu Shanshan greeted sweetly, her big round eyes fixed on Yuhu. Then, spotting the two men, she excitedly ran to them, calling out, “Uncle Liu, Uncle Qi, it’s been so long!”

The two men, charmed by the little girl, took her to the courtyard to play.

“Such a beautiful girl! If I have children who are even half as lovely as Shan Shan, I’ll have ten or eight of them!” Yuhu said wistfully, though she felt sorry for Madam Shu, who had been widowed so young. What a pity for such a stunning woman!

Shu Lianhong seemed to see through her thoughts. She took a sip of hot wine and sighed at the stars. “Three years ago, Brother Liu bought me.”

“Huh?” Yuhu was taken aback. She realized Madam Shu was about to tell a story and quickly focused on listening.

“At that time, I was eight months pregnant, yet that man still sold me.”

Yuhu’s mouth fell open. No way! Madam Shu’s demeanor carried an air of nobility. Even when she drank heartily and laughed loudly, there was an innate grace that couldn’t be diminished. She seemed like someone raised in a wealthy family, completely lacking the rustic mannerisms of a village girl. Yuhu knew how common girls behaved. How could Madam Shu have been sold?