Although the new house was already furnished, they still needed to pack three carts of belongings, with two carts dedicated solely to the children’s things.
The two children darted around inside the carriage, climbing from one side to the other. Both curtains were rolled up, revealing the lush greenery and fragrant flowers along the official road, a stark contrast to the desolation of winter. The children’s energy was much higher than during the cold months.
However, as they grew older, they also became more mischievous.
“Come and sit properly! Don’t fall!”
Xu He managed to grab one child, only for the other to escape. While the older brother could be reasoned with, Little Ruili was completely uncontrollable. Xu He had stayed up late with their father the previous night, and the children’s antics were giving him a headache.
He lifted the curtain and called out to Zhang Fangyuan, who was riding his horse majestically ahead. “You’re so good at avoiding responsibility by riding outside! Can’t you control your own children?”
Zhang Fangyuan guided his horse to the carriage window and poked Little Ruili’s cheek. “Little Ruili, are you being naughty and making your little dad angry? Come out, and I’ll take you riding.”
“No! Little Ruili wants to stay in the carriage with Dad and eat fruit.”
“Still eating? You’re already two catties heavier than your brother.”
“I want to eat! I don’t want Daddy.”
Zhang Fangyuan shrugged helplessly and glanced back at Xu He. “See? It’s not that I don’t want to take him, he just doesn’t want me.”
“You’re always arguing with the kids. No wonder they don’t want you,” Xu He retorted, glaring at him.
Zhang Fangyuan then turned to the more obedient Ruijin. “Ruijin, do you want to ride the horse?”
The quiet Ruijin stood up. “Yes!”
“Ruijin is so much better. He doesn’t dislike his dad.”
Zhang Fangyuan lifted the child onto the horse, placing him in front and holding him securely. The horse was tall, giving Ruijin a better view from the carriage. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Are you scared?”
Zhang Fangyuan leaned down and kissed Ruijin’s cheek. The child showed no fear and even urged his father to go faster. Seeing no other carriages on the road, Zhang Fangyuan spurred the horse into a gallop. Xu He could only watch as the father and son disappeared into the distance.
He sighed deeply. “These two!” It would have been easier to keep the children in the carriage where he could keep an eye on them.
After several hours of travel, the carriage finally entered the city.
Since last autumn, Xu He hadn’t brought the children to the city. They had spent most of the past year at home. Now that they were out, they were like a young horse that had slipped its reins, full of energy and unable to sit still. Despite playing for hours on the road, they showed no signs of fatigue.
[脱缰的小马 (tuō jiāng de xiǎo mǎ): lit. A young horse that has slipped its reins; fig. Someone who is wild and unrestrained.]
However, the unfamiliar environment of their new home made them slightly more restrained. They weren’t as wild as they were in the village and stayed close to the adults.
Qingshan Lane was quiet and spacious, with houses not as tightly packed as in the bustling city center. Each house was separated by a distance of about ten feet, making the area even more peaceful.
Their procession of carriages and servants made quite a commotion as they moved belongings in and out.
The door of the neighboring house creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out, followed by the voice of a maid calling, “Young Master!”
The couple had planned to visit their neighbors after settling in. Seeing the door open, they decided to greet them. Before they could speak, a soft, childish voice came from the crack in the door. “Uncle.”
Zhang Fangyuan found the voice familiar, and Xu He also looked at him in surprise. Little Ruili, standing by their legs, craned his neck to see who it was.
“Is that you?”
At first glance, Zhang Fangyuan didn’t recognize the child, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was the little ge'er he had met on the official road when entering the city. It had been some time since then, and the child had been dressed simply while being carried by an adult. Now, in the grand courtyard and dressed in fine clothes, Zhang Fangyuan might not have recognized him if not for the child’s fair and adorable appearance, which had left a deep impression.
“Do you live here?”
Luo Yuxing nodded softly. “Xing’er lives here with Grandfather.”
Zhang Fangyuan glanced at the house. “What a coincidence! Once we’re settled, I’ll come and pay my respects to your grandfather. What’s your name?”
The child replied, “Luo Yuxing.”
“Little Xing’er.”
Zhang Fangyuan repeated the name affectionately and waved kindly at the child before turning back to continue moving their belongings. He then recounted to Xu He the story of how he had met the grandfather and grandson on the road when entering the city.
Xing’er didn’t rush back into the house with the maid. Instead, he quietly watched through the crack in the door as the Zhang family busily moved their belongings. Seeing the lively and cheerful family of four, the Luo family seemed even more desolate and lonely in comparison, making Luo Yuxing appear particularly pitiful.
“My dad brought red-tailed carp from the village to raise in the pond at our new house. My brother also caught some tadpoles for me. Do you have any at your house?”
The sudden voice startled Luo Yuxing.
While Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He were busy, Little Ruili sneaked over to the Luo family’s gate. Tilting his head proudly, he began introducing his belongings.
Luo Yuxing looked at the confident little ge'er who had squeezed up to the door crack. He took a small step back but didn’t run away.
He felt that the slightly taller ge'er was showing off, which made him a little sad. His eyes lowered, and he looked downcast.
His family had a big pond and large carp, but there were no carp brought from the village by his father, nor any tadpoles caught by an older brother.
Thinking of this, his eyes reddened, and he seemed on the verge of tears.
“You don’t have any at your house?”
Luo Yuxing nodded.
“Then do you want to come to my house to play?” Little Ruili pointed to Ruijin, who was standing by the gate with his hands behind his back, looking like a little adult supervising the workers. “I’ll ask my brother to share some with you.”
Luo Yuxing glanced several times at the Zhang family’s gate. He really wanted to go over, but he softly replied, “I haven’t finished learning the characters Grandfather assigned me today. After I memorize them and read them to him, can I come find you?”
Little Ruili thought to himself, How can someone start studying earlier than my brother?
“Alright then.”
Although he was a bit unhappy about the rejection, seeing Luo Yuxing’s pitiful expression, which reminded him of the chubby snowman his father had built last winter, Little Ruili couldn’t help but pinch Luo Yuxing’s cheek, imitating his rough-handed father. However, Luo Yuxing’s cheek was so soft and comfortable that he ended up using both hands.
Luo Yuxing’s face was kneaded back and forth. Although Little Ruili’s hands were soft and didn’t hurt, being treated like dough was still uncomfortable. Yet, he furrowed his brows and didn’t dare to protest, fearing that Little Ruili might get angry and not let him come over to play.
“If you don’t go back soon, the tadpoles will die of thirst!”
Ruijin, unable to stand by any longer, pulled Little Ruili away. Luo Yuxing who was already pitiful, now had reddened cheeks from being kneaded and looked even more miserable.
Holding Little Ruili with one hand, Ruijin took a handful of wrapped candies from his pocket and handed them to Luo Yuxing. Then, he dragged his troublesome younger brother away.
Luo Yuxing looked at the candies in his hand, which were the same as the ones the uncle had given him earlier. Watching the two brothers leave, his eyes flickered with emotion.
“Ah! Big Brother gave all my candies to Little Xing’er! Mean Big Brother!”
Ruijin spoke seriously, “Who told you to go around bullying people? You bully kids in the village, and now you’re doing it in the city too.”
“If you keep this up, I won’t share my fruits with you anymore, and I’ll eat all of yours too.”
Awww, the little babies are so cute 😍😍😍
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates!!!