Chapter Nine, The Sparrow Perches on the Branch (Six)

In business, there is always give and take

However, this time he paid an additional silver dollar with the highest denomination, prompting the young girl to come all the way to deliver it.

She lowered her head, fiddling with the candy wrapper in her hand

Old man Yang politely saw off Su Qing and then relaxed his mind to smoke

Su Qing looked up at him for a while, and in her dark eyes, a sense of youthful shyness finally emerged: "Can I choose one on the first floor?"

Now, Su Qing also smiles and shows humility, but her smile is polite, lacking the usual warmth and heartfelt essence.

During the meal, Mrs. Su was still sobbing, quietly glancing at Su Qing while crying. Su Qing continued to serve soup to Su Yu as usual, watching him eat.

He looked at her wrist exposed while she was playing with the water, imagining how the bracelet would look on her hand. It was only when he heard her speak that he pulled his thoughts back: "Your dog is too silly."

Su Qing reached out to catch it, feeling a dull, small object like a bullet collide in her hand, a piece of candy wrapped in cellophane.

Su Qing arrived at the second floor of the Yang family's jewelry store for the first time

Ye Qin : `` ... ... ''

Mrs. Su still had many questions to ask, but she noticed a smaller box underneath the bottom of the larger box. She grabbed that box and said, "What is this?"

Mrs. Su felt a sudden sense of panic, sensing that something was amiss, yet she could not articulate what it was

Su Qing began to eat: "That won't do, I have to return the bracelet and the change to the person tomorrow"

At this ball, Ye Qin, who had no dance partner, met Miss Lin for the first time, his future wife with whom he would share his life

Su Qing looked at him with a calm gaze, her brush-like eyelashes gently settling down, remaining silent

Su Qing did not look up at her, but turned around and gracefully walked out of the awkward scene, heading to the kitchen to cook, her silhouette slender and silent

"She has gone to the lakeside, eloping with a wild man!" Mrs. Su poked her finger at her forehead, "Don't think I don't know. I tell you, scandalous deeds spread far and wide, and you actually have the audacity to do this!"

Mrs. Su was at a loss for words to refute her, when suddenly an idea struck her: "Then you can take the dog with you"

Su Qing looked straight ahead without glancing aside and saw that his tobacco leaves were carelessly scattered on the glass cabinet, leaving large patches of dried glue marks on the originally clean surface of the cabinet

What does this indicate? He, with the mindset of a businessman, pondered laboriously, going around in circles, ultimately returning his gaze to Su Qingbai's fair face.

He was very pleased that she called his name this time, and her call was more pleasant to his ears than that of others. He said, "What?"

Su Qing looked at the bracelet, then at her face, and after a while, seemed to gently sigh: "A Yu, then let's wish Mom a happy birthday in advance."

Su Qing suddenly realized that Ye Qin had always been like this, whether teasing or joking, always stopping just short, never putting her in a difficult position, and she could never quite grasp what he was really thinking

Su Qingfu replied, "That is certain." After a pause, he added, "The people of Min Town are not wealthy and must work with their hands; they are afraid of damaging jewelry and precious stones. If one wishes to expand their business, low-priced items that can be worn around the neck are favored by everyone."

Su Qingwei smiled: "Thank you, Mom, I am not hungry yet"

Su Yu raised his head and curiously listened for a moment, only to be immediately scolded by Mrs. Su: "You are growing up and should understand some things. Take good care of your sister, do you understand?"

In the new society, Ye Qin is her guide

While chaos ensued behind her, Mrs. Su remained silent, facing away from them as she gazed at the lake

Thus she insisted: "It is dirty, you might as well take it and wash it; come back home quickly after you finish washing."

Madam Su's anger immediately shifted: "What are you asking your brother to do while he is at school?" As she spoke, she quickly tore open the box, revealing a new silver bracelet lying on the green velvet, its engraved patterns sparkling.

Where did you go this afternoon

Su Qing was unaware if she had absorbed the words, her eyes solely fixed on the pair of soaring phoenixes

"It is not foolish." Su Qing played with the yellow dog, turned around and smiled. The droplets of water in her hair reflected the sunlight, resembling sparkling jewels. "It is quite clever and can even eat candy."

Su Qing was afraid that it would bark wildly, so she fed it well in advance, hoping that it would be full and sleepy, thus avoiding startling Ye Qin

Su Qing remembered this invitation. That world was too distant for her, and her original self did not dare to go, thus she naturally declined

"Mother." She was astonished that Su Qing actually took a step back, avoiding her hand, and looked at her reproachfully, "That is the fifth young master of the Ye family."

Ye Qin's eyelashes fell down, and she slammed the jewelry box shut with a harsh "click," casually stuffing it into her pocket

It seems that the commotion at the Cui family was intentional; the girl whom Cui Lan has painstakingly raised has caught someone's attention

Su Qing glanced at her, paused for a moment, and avoided answering: "Mom, this time I am going with A Yu."

"Miss Su, thank you for making the trip," said the old man Yang, seeing that she was unaware of the situation. Fortunately, he managed to coax her, putting the silver dollar into the box and symbolically giving her a few copper coins. After doing all this, he smiled kindly and said, "Take a look at which one you like in this cabinet, and I will give you another one."

Mrs. Su looked at his face, and with that complex expression, she began to cry again, her face resembling a palette of spilled oil paint

The waterfall cascades with a loud roar, stirring up a mist of water, which should be quite cool. Yet he still feels hot, with a burning sensation in his chest and back

Little did anyone know, Su Qing walked to the door, then turned back and carefully placed the package beside the table

He pointed to the display case: "Since you, Xiao Su, have agreed, then don't be polite"

Su Qing's gaze paused, realizing what she had just said

The woman grew impatient and stopped to shoot her a glance: "What of the young master of the Ye family? You, a widow, worry so much."

She hasn't stepped out of that small courtyard for a long time. At first, it was due to laziness, making Su Qing run errands, and later on, she truly became unable to move.

Su Yu just pushed the door open and entered. He had been out all day, feeling famished, but the table was empty with no food, not even a glass of water. He slammed his backpack onto the chair and stormed into the room looking for someone: "Mom!"

He took the bracelet out of the glass cabinet and carefully placed it on the velvet cushion, mumbling as he wrapped it for her: "The design is the most elegant and sophisticated, suitable for gifting to elders, and wearing it oneself is even more unique. I guarantee you won't find another one like it in the entire town"

Mrs. Su immediately cast a glaring look over, responding even louder than him: "Ayu, you also went to the jewelry store?"

She stirred the porridge with the tips of her chopsticks and said, "You should avoid meeting that young master of the Ye family in the future, to prevent others from gossiping."

Su Qing also followed her gaze downwards: "The Fifth Young Master asked me to buy something for him. He has broken both of his legs and can only sit. I can only bend down to speak with him. Perhaps some people are too far away and did not see clearly"

Just as Su Qing had chosen the bracelet, her delicate fingers tapped lightly on the counter. Old Yang looked down and was taken aback.

They hurriedly arrived at the lakeside, but not a single bird frolicking in the water was seen. Cuilan stopped the last woman who had finished washing her clothes upstream and asked her: "Have you seen Su Qing? She is by the lakeside."

She was momentarily taken aback

Mrs. Su absolutely cannot bring herself to apologize. She simply placed a large piece of chicken into Su Qing's bowl and said quietly, "Qing'er, you should eat too."

She suddenly became a bit distracted

When he looked at his mother again, he noticed something was amiss. Mrs. Su's glare at Su Qing was as if she wanted to devour her, and the unnameable anger seemed not to be directed at him

Su Qing showed her a box containing a valuable bracelet: "I picked it out at Yang's Jewelry Store."

Cuilan stopped her and said: "The kid who was chatting happily with you just now, is he from the Ye family?"

Su Qing walked along the road holding the bracelet, with fine strands of rain mixed in the wind, dampening her face

It seems so

The young child has a keen eye, and the one they have chosen is precisely the one he is most satisfied with among this batch of works

Su Qing pressed her lips together, her eyes glistening like grapes, gazing at him with an apologetic look, fearing that he might be angry. The young man raised his head, his expression very calm, and suddenly threw something at her.

She glanced at the two children sitting across from her, feeling hesitant in her heart; if she could no longer raise them as daughters, she should hasten to take them as daughters-in-law.

Su Qing watched the dog swimming in the water and after a while, she said with some confusion, "Why does it seem like it is afraid of you too"

Su Qing gently wrapped her soft palms around her fingers and removed them: "What do others say to you?"

Mrs. Su realized that she was merely the general in that small room; once she stepped out of it, it was uncertain who the truly trapped one was.

Su Qing had a bit of a headache: "Mom, I have guests, and I'm bringing the dog..."

Ye Qin stared at her for a while before speaking: "To be my maid, serving me in dressing and dining, you will not need to write or do arithmetic, you will not have to worry about food and drink, and during festivals, there will be bonuses."

The yellow dog did not bark; instead, it bared its teeth and glared at Ye Qin, continuously emitting a low growl from its throat, with the fur on its tail standing on end

Transcending time and space, in this different world, appeared the form that she would never forget from her previous life, only this time it held not a wax seal in its mouth, but a pure white pearl

Old Yang puffed on his pipe, his eyes behind the sunglasses constantly scrutinizing Su Qing, then shifting to the shiny silver coins laid out on the table

Thus, she could not help but cry, feeling a surge of jealousy towards the uncontrollable young life. She recalled her youth in Pingjing, when she and her husband climbed Xiangshan hand in hand, and people pointed at them. She held her head high, unafraid in the slightest.

Old Yang looked at her twice, the smooth light in his eyes hidden behind sunglasses: "Miss Su has good taste, and you catch my eye. If you do not mind, we could establish a friendship across generations. The business at the shop is rather slow, so I kindly ask for your assistance in promoting it."

Mrs. Su stared at her fiercely, unable to speak, her gaze slicing through the air like a knife across her face and neck, and her youthful yet firm bosom, as if she were examining which button had been unfastened.

He immediately spoke quickly and sharply: "Mom, happy birthday. I have saved up my pocket money for a long time and finally bought a bracelet to give to you. I couldn't even bear to buy the latest picture book..."

Su Qing was momentarily taken aback

Mrs. Su let out a sigh of relief, feeling a chill of weakness at the top of her head. She thought that even a disabled person should not engage in inappropriate flirtation.

Cui Lan and her sister-in-law rushed home to report the situation, feeling both anxious and angry. She dropped her work and ran, leaving those behind astonished at how quickly her small feet could carry her.

The young girl scrutinized the glass cabinet in front of her, rolled up her sleeves, took a deep breath, and seemed to muster her courage: "Thank you for your hospitality, sir. Let me help you clean the cabinet."

I knew she was a treacherous informant

Su Qing had no choice but to slowly take out the candy. The weather was hot, and the candy had melted quite a bit on her fingers. She usually never ate from her hands, but this time she felt it was a pity, so she carefully licked her fingertips, savoring a burst of fruity sweetness

Mom, I am back

Ye Qin looked at it coldly for a moment, then suddenly propped herself up on her knees and leaned down, bringing her face close to the dog's face

With this sum of money, the members of the Ye family take the jewelry they like directly and record it. The ladies are also pleased with this convenience, and it has been this way for many years. The fifth young master of the Ye family cannot possibly be unaware of the rules

What she sees every day is the sky framed by the corners of the courtyard, while Su Qing sees the ceaselessly rushing waterfall, the densely overgrown canyon, and the vast, mirror-like lake. She weaves through these landscapes, nurtured by the enchanting beauty of the mountains and waters, growing up as freely as the wild ducks and egrets in this tranquil town.

He looked her up and down a couple of times, a faint smile in his eyes, and with a sense of disinterest, he brushed the corners of his clothes: "Forget it, I cannot afford to invite such a deity as you."

Mrs. Su did not miss a single change in her expression; she felt she had captured evidence of Su Qingxin's hidden fear: "Is Su Yu not going to school? How dare you frame your brother!"

He rested his hand on his knee, slowly stroking it, and spoke in a gentle tone, "At the end of the month, my elder brother is hosting a ball at home. I am like this, without a partner. Will you come?"

The next day, by the large rock, a gigantic yellow dog locked eyes with Ye Qin

Cuilan said: "That is their guilty conscience."

When a person takes the initiative to show goodwill, how can he not reciprocate? If he cannot reach Ye Qin, it is the same for those around him

Su Yu was so frightened by this roar that his legs went weak, nearly collapsing to his knees, thinking that his mother had found out about his skipping school with the third young lady to visit the jewelry store, and he immediately glared at Su Qing.

Like, truly like

He glanced at Su Qing and made a decisive statement: "... she went, but it was only because my sister insisted that I went."

Cui Lan jumped up, and her sister-in-law caught her, carefully advising, "It seems that they saw us at that moment; perhaps they will leave as soon as they see us."

After speaking, she quietly lowered her eyes, as if she had said nothing at all

The yellow dog was startled by the sudden approach, retreating two steps; its low growl gradually turned into a whimper, its tail tucked between its legs, and with a splash, it turned and plunged into the water

Su Yu looked at Mrs. Su, whose expression was frozen on her face like that of a fierce tigress, her two eyes red and frightening. At this moment, looking at that bracelet, it truly resembled a shield against calamity

"Do you admit it?" Mrs. Su sneered, pointing at her nose, "What have you been doing with him? Don't you have any self-awareness?"

He is seventy-three this year. In his early years, he was a wealthy scion, but after squandering his family fortune, he turned to business. Fortunately, he understands jade and jewelry, and his discerning eye for quality has earned him the favor of the ladies of the Ye family.

Ye Qin stared at her: "Eat, while I am eating."

He put down the cigarette holder, and his heart lifted again

Ye Qin was carefully examining the bracelet, which she found to be elegantly designed and pleasing to his eye

She still questioned: "What is it that you need to buy?"

The upstairs is very bright, and Old Yang, wearing small round sunglasses and sporting a bushy white beard, sits in front of a wide jewelry cabinet with a pipe in his mouth. Sunlight falls in several slants onto the surface of the cabinet.

Old Yang was amused. He originally thought she was just a messenger, but unexpectedly, although she was dressed in a rustic manner, she was neither timid nor overly assertive. Her speech was gentle and to the point, which was quite interesting

Originally, I had planned to spend half of my savings on a bracelet, but unexpectedly, I saved this amount, still benefiting from Ye Qin's influence

Su Qing was eating candy when she spoke to him: "Ye Qin."

As one lives long in this world, having experienced both glory and decline, one becomes shrewd and indifferent. When others refer to the shop as "Ye Family Jewelry Store," he accepts it with pleasure, for he indeed relies on the Ye family for his livelihood

If she does not wish to disrupt his future fortunes, this is the best moment for her to withdraw.

Su Qing's eyes showed a hint of surprise: "How could I possibly accept this?"

As soon as she pushed the door open, Su Qing sensed that something was amiss. The house was cold and quiet, with the stove and pot untouched. Mrs. Su was sitting by the bed, wiping her tears. Upon hearing the noise, she cast a cold glance over and, in a hoarse voice, asked: "Do you still see me as your mother?"

Ye Qin said, "By the way, I do have something important to tell you"

At this thought, she smiled faintly

The woman walked forward holding the basin: "I didn't notice."

He has another matter of great pride, which is persuading the matriarch of the Ye family to deposit a substantial annual fee here every year, ensuring a guaranteed profit without loss

Su Qing's hand, which was placed on the dog's neck, suddenly tightened, and her heart raced to her throat: "Get away from me!"

Finally, he helped her wrap an old-style silver bracelet that was placed on the first floor

She must see with her own eyes what it is like for her daughter, who grew up right under her nose, to flirt with men

Mrs. Su knew that the beast was very fierce; it would bark wildly at the scent of a human. With it around, the two could not converse for long.

Is he here with the young master of the Ye family, sitting by the lake, playfully tugging at Su Qing?

Su Qing just opened her mouth: "I ... ... "

*

Ye Qin felt as if she were a small ball of white cat, quiet and delicate, the whiter she was, the more one wanted to touch her. Is it not the case with all things? Even the wolfdog knew to behave sweetly in front of her

Su Qing held the zipper with one hand and gripped the dog's neck with the other, not daring to loosen her hold for a moment

Su Yu felt that his mother was possessed today, as she actually favored Su Qing. He slammed his chopsticks down on the table and said, "I am full"

She recalled the words that Cuilan had said while linking arms with her on the way back, talking for quite a while, and it turned out that she had come to propose a match for her son, Zhu'er

Do you know of any work that I can do?" she asked earnestly, "I only know a few characters and cannot do arithmetic, but I can be very diligent. As long as the pay is enough for meals, that will suffice.

Upon seeing a creature with light-colored pupils pounce in front of him, he thought it was a beast; it was not foolishness. He would never admit that there was any invisible aura of hostility or murderous intent about him