Time Is Slow - Chapter 1
The spring breeze was like scissors, cutting out patches of light green and delicate red. The farther south one went, the richer the spring atmosphere became.
A simple tea stall stood by the official road, and as noon approached, it was filled with people. An elderly tea master weaved through the crowd, carrying a long-spouted copper teapot, diligently refilling cups for the guests.
This place was about ten miles from Baoling City. Travelers leaving the city casually chatted about recent happenings, while those heading toward Baoling listened with interest.
At that moment, someone mentioned that a few young gentlemen had arrived in Baoling City today. Judging by their accents, they were from the capital, each one refined and handsome. Among them, one was said to rival Pan An and Song Yu in looks.
A skeptic questioned, “Could he be more handsome than the famous Young Master Qiao from Jiafeng?”
Jiafeng lay south of Baoling, a two-to-three-day journey by boat. For Young Master Qiao’s reputation to reach this far, it spoke volumes of his outstanding qualities.
The person who had spoken earlier took a few gulps of cool tea and grinned, revealing a crooked set of teeth. “I’ve never seen Young Master Qiao, but if you ask me whether he can match the young master I saw in the city, I highly doubt it.”
This immediately sparked debate. Several others who had also seen the young men in the city jumped in to argue.
A voice interrupted, “Old man, bring a pot of tea and two plates of sweet cakes.”
Everyone turned toward the speaker—a man in his thirties who had stopped near the tea stall. He turned to help a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl down from a donkey.
Seeing the crowd staring, the man tied the donkey to a roadside tree and moved to shield the girl from view. He sounded impatient as he called out, “Hurry up! My daughter isn’t feeling well, and we’re in a rush to enter the city.”
“Right away!” The tea master quickly served a pot of tea and two plates of sweet cakes.
The man pushed one plate toward the girl and said, “Eat.”
After that, he grabbed a cup and gulped down his tea.
For ordinary families, it wasn’t unusual for a girl to ride a donkey while traveling, so the crowd soon lost interest. However, a few sharp-eyed individuals couldn’t help but take another glance at the girl’s delicate features.
Noticing this, the man scowled and let out a heavy snort.
He was tall and burly, with an air of intimidation. The people in the simple tea stall were all common folk who had no desire to provoke trouble, so they quickly resumed their previous conversation.
“I still say the young master from the city can’t compare to Young Master Qiao! The capital may be grand, but it can’t rival our beautiful mountains and waters here. Jiafeng is especially famous for producing beauties.”
The young girl, who had been sitting quietly, couldn’t help but look up at the speaker.
“That’s nonsense! I heard Young Master Qiao is from the capital too!”
“That’s true, but he’s actually a native of Jiafeng. Three years ago, after Mr. Qiao passed away, his family returned home to observe mourning for his grandfather.”
“So, Young Master Qiao is the grandson of Mr. Qiao…”
Whenever locals spoke of Young Master Qiao, they would add the prefix “of Jiafeng County.” But if someone mentioned Mr. Qiao, everyone across the land would immediately think of the same person—Qiao Zhuo, the former Grand Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, a renowned scholar celebrated as the most talented man of his era.
Unfortunately, Mr. Qiao had passed away more than two years ago.
Sighs of regret filled the tea stall.
The girl lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes. The chatter around her faded into the background.
She had woken up as a thirteen-year-old girl named Li Zhao, stolen away by human traffickers. But before that, she had been Qiao Zhao, granddaughter of Qiao Zhuo and wife of General Shao Mingyuan, a hero of the Northern Campaign.
Now, after all the twists and turns, she was unexpectedly close to her hometown again.
Grandfather…
Qiao Zhao murmured in her heart.
After marrying into a family in the capital, she had never imagined returning in a different identity and under such circumstances—so close to the place she had longed for countless nights in her dreams.
Jiafeng, where her beloved grandfather was buried and where her closest relatives, who had returned from the capital, still lived.
By now, her father and elder brothers would have finished their mourning period.
Qiao Zhao clenched her fists slightly and cast a discreet glance at the man beside her, who was drinking tea greedily.
In her scattered memories, the young Li Zhao had tried to escape multiple times after falling into this man’s hands, but each attempt ended in failure.
The most desperate attempt had been when she finally broke free and ran through the streets, crying out that she had been kidnapped. The commotion attracted many onlookers.
The man had caught up to her, his face full of sincerity and tears as he pleaded, “Daughter, I know you hate me for stopping you from eloping with Wang Erniu next door. But no matter how much you resent me, I can’t let you ruin your life! Stop this nonsense and come home with me. Your mother has cried her eyes out!”
Despite Li Zhao’s desperate screams, the gathered crowd eventually dispersed, and once they were alone, the man beat her severely. After that, he watched her even more closely.
The only reason she now had some freedom was because Qiao Zhao, who had replaced her, had been especially obedient for the past two days.
“Let’s go.” The man tossed a few copper coins on the table and stood up.
Qiao Zhao immediately followed suit, keeping her gaze steady as she walked behind him.
Her movements attracted attention again.
There was an effortless elegance in the way the girl carried herself, making the man frown.
This time, his “merchandise” was the best he had ever gotten, but she might be too refined—she stood out even when simply walking.
Why hadn’t he noticed before?
The man sighed and made up his mind to rent a carriage once they reached the city.
An hour later.
Qiao Zhao sat on the donkey, looking up at the “Baoling” characters above the city gate, momentarily lost in thought.
She had been to Baoling before.
Her grandfather, Qiao Zhuo, had been carefree and unrestrained, resigning from office early to travel with her grandmother. Later, when his health declined, they settled in Jiafeng.
She used to visit Baoling twice to seek medicine for him.
The city remained the same, but she had changed completely.
For the first time in days, she allowed herself a brief moment of relief. A trace of self-mockery flickered across her lips before vanishing.
The man led her into the city, sold the donkey, and walked through the bustling streets. Wary that the little girl might cause trouble again, he spoke softly, “Behave yourself. I’ll take you to a fine restaurant for a meal and hire a carriage for you—so you won’t have to suffer in the wind and sun.”
“Where are we going?” Qiao Zhao, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly asked.
She met his gaze, her eyes as clear as a spring breeze rippling over water.
Caught off guard, the man answered instinctively, “Yangzhou.”
Realizing his slip, he was annoyed but quickly reassured himself. What did it matter if she knew? Once they left Baoling, Yangzhou was only a short distance away.
Yangzhou.
Qiao Zhao’s heart sank.
The route to Yangzhou would take them farther away from Jiafeng. Once they reached an unfamiliar place, even if she escaped, a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl alone would be in grave danger.
She hadn’t figured out how to reunite with her family yet, but she knew her father and brothers were honorable men—if she could reach them, she would be safe.
No matter what, she had to escape from Baoling!