When Guaizai got new clothes, he wore them carefully; the bibs never even got worn out. Hengyang was prosperous, and when Zhao Ger took him there, he packed brightly colored clothes, bringing only one bib. Guaizai's favorite outfit was the little yellow-chicken one Fang Zichen had bought him. Zhao Ger and Lin Xiaoxia were busy and not at the Qin residence. When mealtime came, afraid of dirtying his clothes, Guaizai fished out his bib and put it on.
When Meng Ruqing and Old Madam Qin touched it, their hearts ached.
A child's skin was so tender—how could he wear something like that? But when they asked, they learned it was from when the family had been poor, and that before that, he'd worn the same clothes for three years, with other kids mocking him, calling him stinky, and spitting at him. And Zhao Ger clearly adored the child—it wasn't neglect. Meng Ruqing could only feel a deep, wrenching pain, like a knife scraping across his heart.
Meng Ruqing also understood that while bright colors looked nice on children, they didn’t hide dirt well — and Guaizai was an active one. When the fabrics were sent over, these three dark bolts had originally been a gift from Xia Jinghong to Old General Qin—they were warm and insulating. But Old General Qin had Meng Ruqing pack them for Guaizai instead.
Earlier, when Gungun and Dandan were unsteady on their feet, they were always falling and drooling—at their messiest stage. Guaizai couldn't escape the mess either. When winter came, Uncle Tang brought out this fabric and made clothes for the children.
They didn't look flashy, but as Fang Zichen would say, this outfit was "low-key luxury with substance."
Those without an eye for quality would mistake the clothes for rags. But that single piece wasn't just expensive—it was priceless, and couldn't be bought anywhere. Madam Huang might have gold hairpins, jade bracelets, and a wealthy appearance, but she and Huang Bingzhong together—everything they wore—couldn't match a single pair of the boy's shoes. (Those shoes were made by Uncle Tang from leftover fabric.)
Boss Lu felt a pang of sadness just looking at the shoes.
A child who could afford cloth of this quality—how could he be from an ordinary family? And the boy himself, with his delicate, doll-like features, so rare to see—definitely not the sort found among common folks.
That wasn't to say common families never had good-looking children—they did, but rarely. Most were average or slightly above. Why were children from wealthy households mostly good-looking? Because they had money to marry the most beautiful brides. Even if an ancestor had been rat-faced and shifty-eyed, generation after generation, with such choices, the descendants would eventually turn out presentable. And besides, fine feathers make fine birds. If a man read books and learned manners, and a woman dressed up a little, they'd carry themselves with an air of refinement. Even someone with plain features would stand out. Meanwhile, a good-looking commoner, dressed in shabby clothes, face tanned and dusty—at first glance, they'd just blend into the crowd.
With a quick turn of thought, Boss Lu knew exactly who this boy was.
"Young master, are you here to buy these fabrics?"
The boy nodded, clutching several bolts of cloth tightly. "Mm! Guaizai picked these first."
Boss Lu smiled amiably. "Of course, of course. Shall I wrap them up for you?"
Huang Bingzhong spoke in a heavy tone: "Boss Lu, my wife wants to buy these."
The meaning was clear enough.
Boss Lu understood, but: "But the young master chose them first, Young Master Huang. In business, we value integrity and..."
"So Boss Lu is saying you won't even do me this favor?"
And how much is your favor worth? More than the prefect's son?
"Young Master Huang, I have other goods in the shop. Why must you and Young Madam fight a child over these? Besides, the child picked them first."
"Exactly," someone in the shop murmured in agreement.
Madam Huang's face grew warm with embarrassment.
She'd done this sort of thing many times before, but no one dared to object, and they'd always give way without a fuss. Since there was no commotion, others couldn't really say much—maybe it was voluntary. But now the child clearly didn't want to give them up, and they were still pushing like this. Just because you have wealth and status, you can throw your weight around like that?
Huang Bingzhong's face darkened with wounded pride. "Boss Lu, you'd better think this through very carefully."
Huang Bingzhong was not a man of easy temper—he was petty and narrow-minded. He'd often socialized with other young masters from wealthy families in Hezhou, frequenting wine houses. When he drank too much, he'd get bold, and if someone talked back to him—something that wasn't even a big deal—he'd remember it and get back at them later with underhanded tricks. He had to have everyone agree with him at all times, and he was viciously vindictive.
Boss Lu knew this well, but he didn't take it to heart. He took the bolts of cloth from the boy's arms and carried them to the counter to ring up the purchase himself.
The boy grinned. "Boss, you're pretty smart, huh! Is it because Guaizai looks so cool that you already saw through Guaizai's hidden true identity?"
Boss Lu: "..."
Boss Lu almost laughed.
Huang Bingzhong gritted his teeth. "How dare you—"
Before he could finish, a group of soldiers surged in through the door and surrounded Huang Bingzhong and his party.
What was going on?
Everyone in the shop was stunned. They quickly stepped aside, not daring to get close.
Guaizai and Liuliu were caught off guard too—they hadn't called for anyone!
Da Li stepped out from among the soldiers and pointed at Madam Huang and the maidservant. "Arrest them."
Huang Bingzhong showed no fear, spreading his arms to shield them. A soldier shoved him aside without ceremony, and Huang Bingzhong's lower back slammed into the counter's edge, making him wince in pain. "What are you doing? I am the eldest son of the Huang family!"
Whether you're the eldest son of the Huang family or the biggest bear in the woods—if you've offended our young master, even the Huang family head wouldn't be able to save you.
Madam Huang, facing this for the first time, panicked too. "Let me go! Let me go!"
The soldiers showed no mercy, forcing both women to their knees. Da Li declared, "You dared to lay hands on our young master? Beat them."
What young master?
Everyone then saw Da Li bow with clasped hands toward Guaizai. "Young master, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," said Guaizai. "But Guaizai wanted to buy something, and they told Guaizai to get lost. Guaizai was here first, and she even hit Guaizai's hand. They're bullying people. That's not right—not good at all. Very, very not good."
Madam Huang and the shop assistant's faces went pale.
Oh... right. The prefect had returned from Anping County a couple of days ago.
Word was that the prefect doted on his son like the apple of his eye—giving him the moon if he asked for stars, and taking him everywhere he went.
This was bad. Really bad.
Huang Bingzhong stopped his blustering.
If it had been the previous prefect, he'd have done the Huang family a favor and wouldn't dare touch them. But this new one—they hadn't even had a chance to curry favor with him yet. His father had specifically warned him to keep a low profile lately, saying this official was not to be trifled with.
It was a small matter—no need for such a grand show of force.
But Da Li had just been leading the soldiers on patrol when he saw a crowd gathered outside the cloth shop. Spotting their young master inside, and a woman looking down on him with contempt, he asked around and was furious.
A mere merchant's wife and a shop assistant, daring to look down on and bully their young master like that. They must have thought the child had no one behind him. Furious, Da Li stormed in with his men.
Young master, Da Li is here to back you up!
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