Chapter Eight, The Sparrow Perches on the Branch (Five)

Is that so

"... ... Ye Qin." Su Qing's face flushed slightly as she stood up, looking at his pale face, and gently added, "The sun is quite nice now."

Looking back, it was the young man who had just been sitting on a rock telling stories to a few washerwomen, standing in front with his hands on his hips, his hair bristling with anger, "That is my young master"

The two of them stood up together, and Cui Lan patted her sister-in-law: "Quick, look over there by the lake, isn't that the girl from Mrs. Su's house?"

Su Qing closed her mouth and smiled apologetically at Miss San. She quickly walked out of Yang Ji Jewelry Store and vanished from the street in an instant

In an instant, a surge of hot blood rushed to her head, causing her hand to tremble, and the book slipped from her grasp, falling straight down

Ye Qin furrowed her brows, seemingly feeling quite impatient with her stubbornness. She removed the cap of the pen and unhesitatingly wrote "Su Qing" on the title page.

Ye Qin's slender hand casually played with a cobalt blue fountain pen, her gaze indifferent to the point of being cold: "That is the dog I raised"

The two of them were pulling and tugging as they walked upstream. Cui Lan, with a heavy heart, suddenly tossed the basket into her sister-in-law's arms and said, "No, I must pay a visit to Mrs. Su."

Miss San's pupils were filled with longing, and she smiled unconsciously: "She is very beautiful"

The pillar has grown, and it is now the age to marry a wife. We do not seek the expensive, only the good. I have had my eye on that girl for a long time

Turning one's head, the two-story building of Yang's Jewelry Store stands out among the crowd

Madam Su's birthday is approaching, and Su Qing took half of the money from her purse and went to the shops at the town entrance

You don't need to worry about it! Su Yu suddenly became angry

Ye Qin looked up at her, a lingering teasing smile in her eyes: "I do not like the sun"

The water rushes from afar, its source unseen, flowing westward, and one can always find the upstream.

His eyes are of a lighter hue, resembling precious glass beads, the tips of his eyebrows are like the swords that guard the jewels, and his nose bridge is akin to a sharply cut mountain peak

Cuilan said: "I saw that man lift her clothes and kiss her, and she did not shy away."

Su Qing walked quickly all the way, and finally broke into a run, as if someone were urging her on, or perhaps she was venting something. By the time she reached the lakeside after descending the steps, her forehead was already glistening with heat

... ...

Sister Cuilan stretched her neck to look for a long time, but could only see two figures occasionally overlapping and occasionally separating

He glanced at Su Qing's anxious expression, which seemed to be on the verge of speaking yet held back; her eyes appeared to contain both surging waves and vast spring light

Su Qing focused on reading for a while, when suddenly she felt as if a small insect had crawled over her clothing, a rustling sensation. She lowered her book and looked down, seeing the swirl of hair on the boy's head and his tousled locks.

Cuilan let out a scoff and said, "Last year, when she sent the pickled vegetables to our home, you praised her for being virtuous."

Su Qingrou looked at him gently and said, "Ayu."

Su Qing looked at his face with curiosity; his expression was as usual. She felt a bit nervous: "What happened?"

"Take the money and go to Yang's Jewelry Store to pick out a bracelet for me. Bring it here tomorrow." He lowered his head and jokingly patted his leg, "I'm not in a position to do it, hmm?"

She shifted half a step to the side, her backlit hair floating in the air, even the fine down on her neck glimmering with starlight. She held the book up and said, "Then I will help shield you."

*

Ye Qin was somewhat taken aback by the inexplicable emotions in her eyes, and did not pay much attention to the content of her words: "... no one has ever said that."

Cui Lan said: "The Ye family is a prominent household; how could they possibly be interested in a country girl like us? At most, they would just play with her. If something were to happen, it would be Su Qing's reputation at stake; who would dare to want her? Mrs. Su values her reputation highly, and if others do not marry her, they would not dare to pursue her either"

He found Su Qing strange, and then he was left with an indescribable feeling

He suddenly softened his strokes and patiently added a small character in the middle: "Gift"

Su Qing finally put down the book and said, "Fifth Young Master, can we change it up a bit?"

She and the shadow of the book were cast over here like this

He suddenly realized that her eyes were full and almond-shaped with an upward tilt, the pupils dark and bright, resembling exquisite pearls, soft and lustrous, yet not arrogant; they should be carefully kept in a treasure box to prevent the mundane world from catching a glimpse.

Around noon, Su Qing's neighbor's sisters-in-law, Cui Lan and her sister-in-law, carried baskets to the river to wash vegetables. They discovered that the women who had come in the morning to do laundry had not yet left, as they were listening to a boy who was speaking animatedly, thus washing at a slow pace

Ye Qin's pale fingers suddenly grasped the spine of the book, squeezing it tightly, causing the seams of the spine to become visible, as if drawing a pause on all sounds

Su Qing looked at Jia San's retreating figure, somewhat puzzled: "Why does he seem a bit afraid of you"

At this time, new ideas have become popular, but they have not yet spread to the rural capillaries. The old customs of the previous dynasty have not been completely eradicated, and the folk atmosphere remains quite feudal. Except during major celebrations of joy and mourning, even a glance between unfamiliar young men and women in old families is considered improper

Oh, that girl always likes to run off to those secluded places, quite solitary.

During her escape, she witnessed the White Lotus Society abducting brides. She encountered a girl washing clothes by the river, seized her by the waist, and took off on horseback, leaving no trace behind. No matter how the girl cried and shouted, she could not return.

Su Yu glanced at Su Qing and hesitantly spoke: "Oh, this is a distant relative of mine, staying at my home temporarily"

Jia San sat cross-legged on one side, laughing so hard that he could hardly catch his breath: "What Miss Su said is true; only immortals do not sweat."

Suddenly, there was a moment of silence all around, leaving only his voice: "Let's stop here for today"

The two individuals exchanged glances: "Let us move a bit further away, to wash above them."

Sister Cuilan was at a loss for words again, remaining silent for a while, and then asked: "Since that is the case, why do you still want to find Mrs. Su?"

Cuilan nudged her with her elbow twice and said with a smile, "We were just joking, let's go now"

He had always told Miss San that his family was also very modern, yet who would have known that Su Qing would suddenly appear before him in such a disheveled state

Su Qing turned her back, quickly lifted her collar to smell it, and her ears turned noticeably red

Hello. Miss San extended her hand

Su Qing wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, sat down, and turned her back to him to adjust her breathing

It is not apparent; she does not dare to lift her head in front of her mother, yet she shamelessly mingles with the little troublemakers.

Ye Qin's indifferent gaze swept over, and Jia San's laughter abruptly ceased, as he swallowed hard with a gulp: "Miss Su, are you not washing clothes today?"

Ye Qin's half face was buried in her palm, and after a while, she absentmindedly murmured "mm," unsure if she had actually heard it.

Ye Qin suddenly looked over, and Su Qing calmly met that gaze

The girl giggled: "Su Yu, you are truly polite"

Goodbye. Miss Three slowly lowered her waving hand, "How old is she?"

Little did anyone know, she suddenly darted far away, like a startled sparrow flapping its wings and flying: "I am sweating..."

"Impossible!" Cui Lan's voice was sharp, "She has been alternating between those two pieces of clothing for two years, and you can tell just by looking at them."

The jewelry store in Min Town is struggling due to the poverty of its residents. However, thanks to the affluent Miss Ye from the Ye family who frequently visits, it has managed to operate without worry. People outside often jokingly refer to Yang's Jewelry Store in Min Town as "Ye's Jewelry Store".

Su Qing smiled as she flipped through the pages and said softly, "I just went to Yang's jewelry store to pick a bracelet for my mother, but I couldn't find a suitable one. I was delayed for a while and was worried about being late to meet you, so I hurried over."

Ye Qin lowered her eyes and coldly instructed: "Choose carefully"

"Why would it matter? We are not related by blood." Cui Lan swiftly tore a reed leaf to wipe her hands, "Daughters must eventually marry, and in the future, there will be a dowry to prepare; an outsider as a daughter-in-law is unfamiliar and untrustworthy, unlike one who has been raised by your side since childhood, which is much more comfortable."

It is merely the lingering pallor and gloom about him that has dulled the pride of wielding a sharp sword. Like a snow demon dwelling in a cave, it occasionally appears amidst the thick fog, only to vanish when the mist dissipates, capricious in temperament, unpredictable in mood, striking the mountains in anger to shake the snow, burying and devouring people.

The two chili peppers in her sister-in-law's hand were thrown back into the basket: "It hasn't been finished washing for half a day, not sure what kind of foreign work is being done."

Ye Qin sat up straight, paused for a moment, then patted the stone beside her, her tone somewhat stern, "Sit properly"

"I must take my leave, please enjoy your time browsing," Su Qing smiled as she bid them farewell, then turned to remind, "Ayu, make sure to choose well and return to school as soon as possible"

Su Qing felt somewhat bewildered. She had never forced anyone, especially not him.

Ye Qin gifts to Su Qing

The sunlight falling on the paper dazzled her eyes, as if it had lined the words with a soft golden edge. She tried to shield her eyes with her hand, but it was of no use, so she had no choice but to slightly turn her body inward.

Su Yu was already bent over looking at the glass cabinet: "You must be sixteen now, right? What's wrong?"

Ye Qin seemed to have eyes on the top of her head, as she swiftly caught the falling book with a "pa" sound, turning her face away

*

People certainly like affection, and the second child is also a boy

Miss San curiously examined the girl with braids and asked brightly, "Su Yu, could you introduce her?"

The boss looked up and saw a girl, and inwardly laughed at her youthful ignorance: "It's several hundred dollars, you can't afford it, nor can you manage it. This is all a business for making a living; who would risk their livelihood?"

He let out a whistle, and Jia San came running over like a little dog, bending down to pick him up. He passed by Su Qing, who was standing there holding a book.

Sister-in-law nodded: "I can testify, I saw it with my own eyes, you can go and take a look for yourself."

Unconsciously, I asked aloud: "Giving you money is like killing you, yet not giving you money makes you this happy."

"My family? My family is the Ye family." Jia San raised his chin deliberately, stretching the pronunciation of the word 'Ye'.

The moment he looked up, he noticed that Su Qing's eyes immediately brightened with joy

He suddenly remembered his mother's birthday and closed his mouth

He asked again: "Su Qing, why did you run just now?"

Sister Cuilan stared wide-eyed in silence for a long time before finally whispering, "No way."

Ye Qin took a dollar from her sleeve, placed it like a bookmark between the open pages of the book, then closed the book and handed it to her, saying: "Take the book back"

Cuilan raised her head and said with a slight smile, "We should."

Su Qing leaned sideways to walk out, only to bump into Su Yu who turned around, his smile suddenly freezing: "You ... ... "

Su Yu pondered in confusion, wondering how in his heart, his sister could possibly be associated with beauty

Ye Qin propped herself up on the stone with both hands, lazily squinting her eyes and asked, "Who are you calling?"

Su Qing seemed not to have heard the teasing tone, expressed her gratitude, took two steps back to examine the shop's old facade, and appeared to be pondering something.

Ye Qin's gaze seemed to penetrate through the pages of the book: "Is your brother bullying you?"

Ah?

You invited me to the party, and I have nothing to repay you with. Choose something here, and I will buy it for you

I see. The light in Sister Cuilan's eyes was one of disdain, yet also carried a hint of indescribable excitement. "So it turns out that when one reaches a certain age, even fairies experience the stirrings of spring."

Su Qing ... ... "Ye Qin turned around to face her, leaning in to examine her face, 'What’s wrong with you?'"

The two individuals stood still, watching as the overlapping silhouettes separated. At that moment, the person sitting seemed to sense something and suddenly turned their head.

She had seen that kind of proud cat before, walking nimbly on the roof ridge, tail held high, never paying attention to anyone

Sister Cuilan was thoroughly convinced by the words, no longer washing the vegetables. The two of them, with a basket in hand, hurriedly made their way from the stone steps onto the shore, crossed the bridge, and rushed towards Su Qing's home.

The sun in late spring is more vibrant, its rays are partially cut off by the stone wall, just falling outside this open space. Su Qing sits a little farther away, and the eastward-moving sun first shines upon her, casting a golden glow around her hair

Su Qing silently selected a silver bracelet from the neatly arranged collection, when suddenly she heard a familiar voice approaching from behind.

Sister Cuilan felt a bit awkward: "Is that so"

She simply cannot associate Su Qing with words such as frivolous, licentious, and disrespectful, yet she cannot help but think that she has been absent-mindedly wanting to escape lately. Despite having dressed so drably, that youthful face still yearns to bloom like a flower emerging from the soil

When Mrs. Su heard the news, her hand trembled, and she nearly dropped her beloved white porcelain teacup.

Cuilan and her sister-in-law exchanged a glance and said in unison: "Whose family is yours?"

He vaguely discovered that Su Qing seemed to place an unusual emphasis on the matter of "cleanliness"

Is Mrs. Su willing?

Ye Qin stared at her for a long time: "Were you chased by a ghost?"

Su Qing looked at him for a moment and suddenly asked, "Are you and Jia San considered friends?"

Miss San has short hair that grazes her ears, a pair of black eyes, and is dressed in a fashionable modified qipao that reveals her slender arms and calves. She smiles broadly, completely unconcerned that her laughter draws attention.

She recalled Su Yu, remembering him as a tiny, wrinkled bundle when he was just born. The unmanageable Su Qing seemed to have been erased from this image, as if everyone in the world was bullying the two of them.

The shops in the ancient town inherit the old customs, with small rooms arranged in a staggered manner. The most sought-after items are still daily necessities such as bamboo baskets and mats, ceramic jars and bowls, and silk fabrics.

It is uncertain whether to praise Cui Lan's remarkable foresight, as Mrs. Su has truly rushed over in great haste

Su was still wearing the loose-fitting long pants made last year, in a garish color, faded from too many washes. Her socks, like those of all rural girls, were wrapped tightly like a mummy

His gaze froze for a moment, and he immediately pressed his forehead with the back of his hand: "... hurry up and recite it."

"You look..." Su Qing thought carefully for a moment, and a subtle smile suddenly appeared in her eyes, "like a cat."

The oil slick floating on the water surface shimmered with chaotic colors under the sunlight, and Cuilan complained, "Look at this dirty water that has drifted down, how are we supposed to clean it"

Su Qing stared blankly at his actions, still unaware of what was happening, her face slightly pale: "I am not..."

Su Qing turned around, and her younger brother revealed a mature and flattering expression that she had never seen before; it turned out that he could also smile so brilliantly

Cuilan exclaimed simultaneously: "Sister-in-law, look, it's a man, right"

Ye Qin watched her move about cautiously, deliberately remaining silent

If she is unwilling, then let us make her willing. Let her come and see for herself; if Su Qing does not hurry to marry, her reputation will be ruined. Her son is still so young, not even fully grown, how can he compare to our Zhu Er

After sniffing for a long time, she did not detect any unusual odor. She hesitantly turned her head and noticed that Ye Qin was staring at her with a malicious smile.

Sister Cuilan grabbed her and said: "Her daughter is undisciplined; what does that have to do with us? Don't meddle in other people's affairs."

If it is jade, it must be warm jade, with a soul residing within its core, to be worn close to the heart every day

After a while, the golden sunlight once again encroached upon her territory

She said, lowering her eyes and humming softly, "I am a child bride, I know."

Su Qing refused to accept it

Su Qing paused for a moment, picked up the book from his lap, and the pages just happened to cover his face: "Are you still reading?"

Ye Qin cast a glance at her, then lowered her head as if to vent her anger and wrote two characters, which were written in an extremely large size, almost occupying one-third of the binding paper. The final fold tore the paper with a sharp sound.

Sister Cuilan is confused: "Well..."

Ye Qin looked at her face, seemingly finding her words absurd: "Am I terrifying?"

The Ye family is not that arrogant, but they are not much better either. She suddenly recalled her long-absent, strictly disciplined in-laws, with her mother-in-law always looking at her askance, seated in the ornate pear wood chair carved with dragons and phoenixes, as if she were a Buddha that she had to worship. She thought that wealthy families are always both domineering and wicked.

Some say he resembles a wolf, and just his gaze can make one feel uneasy

Ye Qin's gaze remained on his face, and Jia San met his eyes for no more than two seconds before quickly standing up: "I will go help the other sisters wash their clothes now."

You must be mistaken

What nonsense are you talking about! A voice shouted from the side, "You are the little egg, your whole family is little eggs."

Su Qingchao smiled at him: "So, are you going to pay him for the work?"

Cuilan interrupted: "What do you know! She is just teaching her daughter-in-law."

Even from such a distance, the features are indistinct, yet it feels as if a malevolent gaze is piercing through, as if someone has loosed a cold arrow.

The shopkeeper of the silk store stood at the door, calculating on an abacus, when he heard a soft voice asking, "How much does it cost to rent a shop?"

Su Qing slowly lifted her face from the book, revealing a pair of dark eyes: "How did you know I have a younger brother?"

What is the rush? Running another 10 laps is still more enjoyable than others

Oh. Sister Cuilan murmured Amitabha, "You've climbed up to a high branch."

He propped himself up with both hands on the stone, leaning his face closer, almost touching her lower abdomen, as if he were sniffing something, the tip of his nose inadvertently brushing against her clothing

The jewelry store features a layer of repaired glass display cases, with no staff present and no customers entering. The bracelets and necklaces are displayed alone, resembling snow lotus flowers on a high mountain

This aspect of the foreign appearance is, in fact, a gift from heaven

I am not doing this for money

Ye Qin

Hello. Su Qing was aware of this form of greeting and lightly grasped the fingertips of the third young lady.

A look of surprise flashed in Miss San's eyes, but Su Yu signaled to Su Qing with a glance.

Cuilan said, "Look at Mrs. Su; she is not disciplining her daughter at all."