Jiang Zhuo didn’t mind either. His mother had told him that sick people were prone to being unhappy, and could even throw tantrums like children. He couldn’t go picking fights with a child.
Uncle Zhong followed him upstairs, unable to stop himself from sighing. In the next instant, he felt like wiping away tears again, cursing the unfairness of it all. Why did this have to happen to the young master?
Before Qiu Xianzhi could ask anything, Uncle Zhong told him honestly and in full where Jiang Zhuo had come from.
As usual, Qiu Xianzhi only said indifferently, “Send him away tomorrow morning.”
Uncle Zhong gave a slight nod. He had already expected this outcome.
The old residence had sent over plenty of people before, every kind imaginable, men, women, the youngest only fifteen, the oldest pushing forty. There had even been widows, sex workers, and even hermaphrodites.
Anyone with eyes could tell what those people were after. They knew Qiu Xianzhi couldn’t move, so this was just another way to disgust him, to dig into his heart.
Uncle Zhong had just turned to leave when he suddenly remembered what his wife had been whispering in bed. This child Jiang Zhuo seems like a good one to me. He’s cheerful too, just the sort to complement young master. What if their temperaments really do match?
So he stopped in his tracks and, summoning his courage, said, ”The old residence is always stirring up trouble every few days. If this one gets sent away, the next one will just come. Keeping him here only means two extra bowls of rice.”
Qiu Xianzhi lifted his head, about to look at Uncle Zhong, but Uncle Zhong had already lowered his own and fallen silent.
Just when he thought there was no hope, Qiu Xianzhi spoke. “We’ll see tomorrow.”
On the surface, the answer sounded perfunctory, like he was just putting it off, but Uncle Zhong knew there was hope.
So he thought he’d go downstairs and have a word with Jiang Zhuo, tell him to behave tomorrow, not to be so rash, bounding around like an overexcited dog or a burrowing rabbit. Be a little steadier and try to stay.
Jiang Zhuo nodded at every word, took a shower, then lay down on the bed, thinking over what Uncle Zhong had just told him.
It seemed like he’d said: there was a burrowing rabbit in the back garden, and tomorrow they should get up early and catch it together.
The next day, Jiang Zhuo really did get up at the crack of dawn.
The Villa, which was usually quiet and lifeless all day long, was filled early that morning with the pattering slap of slippers.
Jiang Zhuo: “Good morning, Qiu Xianzhi!”
As soon as Jiang Zhuo ran downstairs, he greeted Qiu Xianzhi. With those two pointed little canine teeth, he looked especially adorable.
Qiu Xianzhi remained as cold as ever and ignored him.
Jiang Zhuo didn’t mind. He admired that handsome face for a moment and thought the more he looked at it, the better it looked, better than every star on television.
Jiang Zhuo: “Qiu Xianzhi, Uncle Zhong said there’s a burrowing rabbit in the back garden. Wait for me to catch it and give it to you.”
Uncle Zhong, sharp-eared as ever, caught Jiang Zhuo mentioning his name. Rabbit? What rabbit? How did he not know there was a rabbit in the back garden, let alone that he was supposed to take Jiang Zhuo to catch one?
As for this rabbit that had come out of nowhere, Jiang Zhuo and Uncle Zhong searched the garden all the way until nearly lunchtime and still failed to catch this so-called rabbit.
All morning, Qiu Xianzhi sat in the living room, watching the news and reading the paper without saying a single word.
When Aunt Zhong came over to refill his water and change his tea, he drank it. Even when the cup ran dry, he never called for anyone.
Jiang Zhuo: “Qiu Xianzhi, I didn’t catch the rabbit, but I picked some pretty flowers for you.”
Like he was presenting a treasure, Jiang Zhuo brought out a bouquet from behind his back and crouched down to offer the flowers to Qiu Xianzhi.
Qiu Xianzhi faintly caught the scent of the flowers, and he also saw those two cheerful little canine teeth.
He had originally meant to reach out and take them, but suddenly changed his mind. He grabbed the bouquet and threw it straight to the floor, then quietly watched Jiang Zhuo’s expression.