“Come, come inside.” Qu He pushed open the courtyard gate of their home, the door hinges letting out a soft “creak.” “We’ll have dinner at Aunt He’s place today.”
A gentle smile hung on her face. She had barely turned aside when Chu Qingyuan, understanding her intent without a word, pushed the Plain Sedan Chair and “charged” into the courtyard, leaving Pei Zhaoxue not a single opening to refuse.
He had just witnessed how mercilessly Pei Zhaoxue had turned down the county magistrate’s clerk. If he had been a step slower, Pei Zhaoxue would have certainly refused without a moment’s hesitation.
But once inside the courtyard, things were different. Considering the fact that “since we’re already here,” he would have to hesitate at least a little.
He also took the opportunity to lower his head and shoot Chu Mingse a meaningful wink.
His job was to push the person into a dilemma, and Chu Mingse’s job was to make Pei Zhaoxue stay for dinner.
Chu Mingse caught the meaning in her father’s eyes and blinked back at him in understanding. Then she wrapped both arms around Pei Zhaoxue’s arm, clinging to him like sticky candy, and pleaded in a soft voice: “Xuetuan gege, stay and eat with me, okay? When I think about what happened today, my heart is still pounding so hard.”
She furrowed her little brows, freed one hand to press against her chest, and patted it with exaggerated emphasis.
The little chestnut cat nestled in Pei Zhaoxue’s arms let out two “meows” in response, its pink, damp nose gently nuzzling against the protruding bone of Pei Zhaoxue’s wrist, as if echoing her words.
Pei Zhaoxue: “…”
He let out a silent sigh. This excuse was really not well thought out. They were already back at her own home, with both parents in the courtyard—what was there to be afraid of?
He very much wanted to retort with that question, but when he lowered his head and saw Chu Mingse trying so hard to look scared while a glimmer of anticipation sparkled in her eyes, he found he couldn’t muster the same cold, hard attitude he’d had when they first met.
What about Steward Wang? Pei Zhaoxue looked toward the courtyard gate, spotted Steward Wang’s figure, and signaled with his eyes for him to come in and rescue him.
But Steward Wang simply crossed his arms and stood leisurely at the courtyard entrance, beaming as he watched his young master’s flustered expression, showing not the slightest intention of coming to his aid.
Ah, the young master’s face had so many more expressions now, and he seemed so much more lively overall—this was how it should be!
It seemed the young master really did need to spend more time at the Chu residence. It was good for him! Steward Wang readily clasped his hands in farewell: “Then I’ll entrust my young master to Chu langjun and Madam Qu.”
Chu Qingyuan extended an invitation: “Steward Wang, why don’t you stay as well? It’s just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks.”
“No need, no need. I’m sure they’ve saved me a meal back at the estate. I’ll head back first.” Steward Wang declined politely while reaching out to considerately close the courtyard gate behind him. He turned and strode toward the main gate of the Pei estate, having made up his mind that even if he heard the young master calling for him, he wouldn’t come back to “rescue” him.
And Pei Zhaoxue, now “trapped” inside the courtyard, parted his lips but hesitated, unable to utter a single word.
The gate was shut—the matter was settled. Chu Mingse clapped her hands joyfully: “A-die, A-niang, what are we having for dinner tonight? Let’s make something delicious to calm everyone’s nerves.”
“It’s a secret.” Chu Qingyuan gently tapped Chu Mingse on the tip of her nose. He looked at Pei Zhaoxue, who sat stiffly in the Plain Sedan Chair, and said warmly, “Young Master Pei, please don’t be reserved. Feel free to treat this place as your own home.”
Pei Zhaoxue truly had no idea what expression he should put on, so he stiffly nodded.
Chu Qingyuan then turned to Chu Mingse with further instructions: “Sese, I’m going to help your mother in the kitchen. You take good care of Young Master Pei.”
“Don’t worry, Father!” Chu Mingse promised with absolute conviction. Before the words even faded, she had already hopped lightly off the Plain Sedan Chair and circled around to behind Pei Zhaoxue, bubbling with enthusiasm. “Brother Xuetuan, let me show you around the courtyard…”
“…around…” She pressed both hands against the back of the sedan chair and pushed forward with all her might, her little face turning red from the effort, yet the heavy sedan chair only managed to inch forward a single cun.
“I’ll do it myself.” Seeing this, Pei Zhaoxue’s wrist moved slightly.
Just as he placed his hand on the wheel axle, Chu Mingse suddenly popped her head out from beside him. “Wait!”
Chu Mingse stared seriously at his right hand. “Your hand is still injured! Wait right there—I’ll go get you some medicine!”
“No—” Before his refusal could even leave his lips, Chu Mingse had already dashed off like a gust of wind.
The courtyard fell silent in an instant. Pei Zhaoxue sat alone, holding Little Chestnut, in the midst of the dissolving twilight.
He looked around. The Chu family’s small courtyard wasn’t particularly large, yet every corner exuded delicacy and vitality. Various flowers and plants whose names he couldn’t identify were carefully arranged into layered, picturesque scenes—blooms full and lush, branches and leaves verdant and green. It was clear the owners of this home tended to them with great care.
The climbing frame prepared for Little Chestnut was cleverly nestled among the courtyard’s existing flora, blending in seamlessly without the slightest hint of incongruity.
An evening breeze brushed past his face, carrying not only the fresh fragrance of flowers and trees but also the aroma of cooking wafting from the neighbors’ kitchens.
The Chu family’s kitchen was also sending up wisps of cooking smoke. Through the hazy window paper, he could faintly make out the silhouettes of the husband and wife working together in tacit harmony, with soft murmurs and the clinking of cookware faintly interweaving—a scene that stirred a sense of peace and security.
Pei Zhaoxue was vaguely reminded of his early childhood, when he too had sat beneath the eaves with a book in hand, watching through the open door as his mother—having dismissed the servants—tied back her wide sleeves with a breast strap and personally cooked him snacks in the small kitchen.
His mother’s cooking skills were actually quite ordinary, but to the young Pei Zhaoxue, the snacks made by his rarely-cooking mother’s own hands were precious delicacies to be savored bite by bite.
Just as he was lost in thought, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from afar. Chu Mingse came running back, clutching a medicine jar and clean gauze, panting heavily with fine beads of sweat glistening at her temples.
“Why did you run so fast?” Pei Zhaoxue said helplessly. It wasn’t as if he could run away.
“I was worried you’d get bored waiting too long.” Chu Mingse dumped everything in her arms into Pei Zhaoxue’s lap. Little Chestnut obediently rolled over and nestled deeper, making room for Chu Mingse to set down her things.
Chu Mingse picked up Pei Zhaoxue’s hand and carefully applied the medicine and bandaged it, her expression so focused it was as if she were facing a formidable enemy.
However, her technique was frankly hard to commend. For just a single wound on his tiger’s mouth, she managed to wrap his entire palm along with several fingers together, binding them so tightly it looked like a giant dough ball, leaving his fingers completely immobile.
Pei Zhaoxue was momentarily speechless: “…”
Little Chestnut curiously leaned in to sniff the “big dough ball,” its front paws eagerly reaching out to hug it, attempting to practice its hunting skills.
“Oh, little Chestnut, you can’t bite that!” Chu Mingse grabbed Little Chestnut by the scruff of its neck and pulled it away, gently setting it down on the ground. She placed a small dried fish in front of its paws. “Alright, go eat your dried fish.”
From the kitchen, Qu He’s voice rang out: “The food’s ready, come on over.”
It was early summer, and the weather was warming up, so dinner was set up in the courtyard.
A few sparse stars dotted the deep blue sky, their faint light echoing the lanterns in the yard.
When Chu Qingyuan pushed Pei Zhaoxue to the table, he caught sight of his heavily wrapped hand and couldn’t help but laugh. “You child, wrapped up like that—how are you supposed to eat?”
Chu Mingse’s brows drooped as she looked at Pei Zhaoxue and asked, “Did I wrap it badly?”
Pei Zhaoxue paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, “It’s very distinctive.”
Distinctive—that meant she did a good job. Chu Mingse’s eyes curved into crescents. “Brother Xuetuan is the one who truly understands me! Father, you don’t know anything at all!”
She stuck her tongue out at Chu Qingyuan and ran off to help Qu He fetch the bowls and chopsticks.
Chu Qingyuan chuckled and quickly unwrapped Pei Zhaoxue’s hand to redo it, making sure it wouldn’t hinder his ability to hold chopsticks.
“Thank you… Uncle Chu.” Pei Zhaoxue gave a slight nod of gratitude.
His slightly lowered eyes had a crescent-moon curve to them, just like his mother, Yun Niang.
Chu Qingyuan suddenly recalled the time Yun Niang had asked to meet him and confessed her plan to flee her wedding. She had lowered her head just like this in front of him, and whenever she mentioned her beloved’s name, a maiden’s blush would rise to her cheeks, her eyes brimming with anticipation and joy.
But in her most recent letter, every line was steeped in weariness and desolation.
Looking again at Pei Zhaoxue’s legs, which hung limply by the side of the chair, Chu Qingyuan felt a pang in his chest, and his eyes suddenly grew moist.
He blinked rapidly twice to suppress the surging emotions, then smiled warmly and patted the young man’s head. “Good child. Sese has been spoiled by me and her mother since she was little, so she tends to be a bit self-centered. These past few days must have been hard on you, hasn’t it?”
Pei Zhaoxue glanced at Chu Mingse, who was happily running in and out, and gave a slight shake of his head. He opened his lips a few times before finally saying, “Sese… is wonderful.”
Chu Mingse happened to be dragging her little stool over to sit beside Pei Zhaoxue, and she looked up with a sweet smile. “I’m sitting next to Brother Xuetuan!”
Pei Zhaoxue unconsciously curved his eyes slightly in response.
On the square dining table sat a homely spread of three meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a soup, all steaming with warmth.
Pei Zhaoxue froze for a moment—there were actually three or four dishes he loved.
Qu He enthusiastically served him food. “I’m not sure if my cooking suits your taste, but give it a try and see if it’s to your liking?”
“Thank you, Aunt He.” Pei Zhaoxue tasted each dish and praised, “It’s delicious.”
“Then eat more. Oh, Sese, what are you doing?”
Chu Mingse was just about to secretly push aside the greens she didn’t like when Qu He’s gaze landed on her, and her chopsticks froze mid-motion.
Chu Qingyuan cleared his throat lightly. “Sese, Brother Xuetuan is here today. Don’t you want to set a good example for him?”
Chu Mingse’s face scrunched up in displeasure. She slowly picked up a piece of greens, squeezed her eyes shut, and shoved it into her mouth, swallowing it whole as if it were bitter medicine.
“That’s a good girl.”
Chu Mingse, as if pardoned, stuck out her tongue in relief. When she looked down, she saw a piece of honey-glazed ham had appeared on her plate.
Her eyes widened in surprise at first, then the corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably. She bit her chopsticks and looked at Pei Zhaoxue.
Pei Zhaoxue gave her a gentle wink, and Chu Mingse broke into a smile.
The evening breeze gently carried the sounds of insects, birds, and rustling leaves. At the dinner table, the family ate together, chatting casually, with occasional laughter breaking out.
Pei Zhaoxue sat among them, his initially stiff body gradually relaxing as he sank into the warm, harmonious atmosphere of the Chu family.
Ever since he could remember, his father had rarely dined with him and his mother. Even on the rare occasions when they shared a table, it was mostly in accordance with the ancient precept of “no talking during meals, no speaking in bed.” The only sound during the meal was the faint clink of silver chopsticks against porcelain, and the meal was eaten in complete silence.
On the very few exceptions, his father would only casually ask how his studies were going—a few brief words, a test of his knowledge—and then say nothing more.
It was only at this moment that he realized, for the first time, that a family dining together could be so unreserved, so relaxed and joyful.
For the first time since he was injured, he finished all the food in his bowl and even enjoyed the calming, qi-nourishing longan and red date soup served after the meal.
The sweet, clear soup soothed his throat. He thought, tonight, he should be able to sleep well.
Author’s note:
Wishing everyone a good night’s sleep every day.