Chapter 4, The Sparrow Perches on the Branch (1)

The Su Hong couple fled south to escape disaster and stumbled upon a gift from heaven. Even while enduring the hardships of the journey, they still enjoyed the joys of family life

Yes. She lowered her brows and averted her gaze, passing quickly by. From a distance, one could see the long neck beneath her braid, glistening white in the sunlight

Miss Su is going to fetch water again

Everyone laughed for a while, and Cui Lan threw down a bean pod, then bent down to pick up another one, speaking in a very indifferent tone: "After all, she is just a girl, not caring about it."

Regardless of the circumstances, the child is always a source of concern for them; upon seeing other people's children, both of them find it difficult to move forward

Upon leaving the house, Su Qing's pace slowed down again, and the wind felt very pleasant against her face

The village women, dressed in neat green or light blue trousers, sat in groups under the eaves, selecting beans. Upon seeing her come out, they would always greet her with smiles. The one she was most familiar with inside was her neighbor, Cuilan

Su Qing poured tea for Mrs. Su, the tea infused with cooling chrysanthemum. She fed the chickens and ducks, then picked up a basin of clothes and walked outside, where the yellow dog pounced at her feet, sniffing around and tugging at the hem of her pants with its paw

"Doesn't she have a son?" A woman shelling beans stretched out her small foot to wipe away a few drops of water that Su Qing had spilled on the ground

Therefore, in recent days, she felt an unusual discomfort regarding Su Qing's neglect and distraction, as if her accustomed left and right hands were no longer obedient to her commands

The old house was built during the early Qing Dynasty, and it is quite aged. The black paint on the door has peeled off, but fortunately, the structural components have not yet decayed. However, on rainy days, water seeps in, and the gray-white walls are adorned with blurred yellow-brown patterns.

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Su Qing took a deep breath and walked quickly yet steadily, with sweat trickling down along her earlobes, creating a ticklish sensation

However, the more idle and unrestrained a woman is in her gaze, the more she is able to delight in discovering the "figure" and potential hidden within the wide sleeves of a young girl

Su Qing hesitated for a moment before lifting the bucket

"Hurry, hurry and take care of it," Mrs. Su retreated into the room, pressing her hand with a handkerchief against her temple, her face turning pale, "It's giving me a headache"

Where did the young lady come from in this remote town? There is indeed the old residence of the prominent Ye family, but it is quite far from here

On clear days, the lakes reflect the azure sky, while wild ducks paddle away, leaving a bright trail on the water

Suddenly, Su Yu rushed out of the room like a gust of wind, calling out to him: "A Yu, can you help me carry the basin over..."

Thus, most of the time, she is the commanding general.

There was once a well in the front yard, but it has long been filled with yellow earth. The edges of the well are overgrown with swaying wild grass, and the stone-paved path on the ground has become obscured by dust, rendering its original appearance unrecognizable

As soon as Su Qing entered the door, she heard Su Yu stomping his feet in a fit of rage, his voice during the voice change period resembling a crowing rooster, hoarse and piercing.

"Madam Su?" someone laughed

She wiped her hands on her clothes and carefully picked up the pendant

Madam Su had a hairpin on her head that suddenly reflected light, standing delicately, faintly resembling a wealthy lady. Her face was small, and her frame was petite; giving birth to Su Yu nearly cost her half her life, and her body had always been frail, requiring her to catch her breath after just a few steps.

Pouring it into the tank until it is half full, the first round has come to an end

No one would expect that such a timid child outside would shout and scream like this at home

After Su Hong fell ill and passed away, Mrs. Su lost her pillar of support. She relied on the meager income from the tea shop that Pingjing had sent her, struggling to make ends meet. As time went on, life became increasingly impoverished, and as her two children gradually grew up, she began to understand that it was impossible to remain impartial.

"Do you really have to argue with me?" Mrs. Su slammed her palm against the door frame, interrupting, "Are you trying to drive your mother to her grave with your disobedience?"

Someone muttered: "Why can't I find a Su Qing, who is efficient and easy to take care of, ten times better than that lazy one of mine"

Su Qing turned around and walked out of the inner room: "I will go and choose now"

The most important thing is the teeth; the child's teeth are very neat, unlike Mrs. Su's buck teeth

She rummaged for half a day, her fingers as pale as bamboo shoots hesitated in the air for a moment, then carefully took something out of her pocket and placed it on the ground, her thick long eyelashes lowered as she looked at it intently

Therefore, they pay close attention to her

Mrs. Su's tone is very soft when she speaks, and she is especially affectionate and gentle when pronouncing the words "qing'er"

On the road of fleeing, bandits and human traffickers run rampant, specifically plundering merchant caravans. Overloaded horses are often startled, causing chaos, and there are numerous families that have been displaced.

Su Yu stood at a distance, somewhat unwillingly: "Sister, I will be late."

For instance, the wrist that Su Qing inadvertently reveals, the outline of her waistline visible through her thin summer clothing, and the way she walks gracefully and elegantly with her unbound delicate feet all suggest her potential to stand out as she matures

There is no rice field at home, and she spends almost all her time on household chores and taking care of her mother. In the past, when her mother suffered from headaches and fever, she meticulously served tea and water, and it was common for her to kneel on the ground holding a sputum bowl.

She crouched down to look at it and discovered that the dog's nose was raw and dripping with a lot of mucus. She took out her handkerchief and gently wiped it. The yellow dog let out a whimpering sound, akin to a child sobbing. Su Qing hugged it and faintly felt the ribs beneath its warm fur

However, the dog merely sniffs, nudging the sugar cube on the ground with its nose, not knowing how to eat it

In fact, everything is like embroidery and writing; it requires skill and can be mastered through practice

Since she picked her up, it is destined that she will be her daughter for a lifetime, honoring her and alleviating the family's hardships

What harm can a dog do—just leave it alone, that filthy creature is disgusting

I have seen the folding screens of wealthy families

"Ah, has Miss Su gone to fetch water again?"

Yes, just look at that skin and figure

One can descend to the canyon along the carved steps. In the valley lies a broad river stream, with rocky cliffs and dense shrubs on both banks

This girl named Su Qing was her first host, appearing on stage at the tender age of three

The winding water lanes and small bridges, along with the white walls and dark tiles, and the dense deep green canopies behind them, seem to filter the sunlight into a faint, ethereal shade of blue-green

Mrs. Su's unease settled after smoothly crossing the eighth year: it seems unlikely that Su Qing's family will come looking for her again

Mrs. Su finally pulled up his pants and caught a glimpse of Su Qing standing to the side, as if she had seen a savior: "Qing'er, there is no water in the jar."

However, what use is it to stand out in this small town where fishing and woodcutting are the way of life

Have you seen the paintings of court ladies

Su Yu is currently in a growth phase, yet he is somewhat shorter than other boys and has a slight hunch, giving him a droopy-eyed appearance. Thanks to Mrs. Su's good genes, his skin is relatively fair, and he has large eyes; however, he wears a pair of thick-bottomed glasses on his nose, which accentuates the timid and dull expression on his face.

Mom, Ah Yu broke it.

"Who told you to feed the dog?" Mrs. Su coughed from the smoke, leaning out her head as she coughed, "Your mother is here working hard to cook, and what are you doing? Hurry back after you finish washing and help me start the fire"

Er Ya is the village's simple-minded girl, with no one to take care of her, living alone in a wooden cottage

Su Qing let out a sigh, shouldering the yoke as she walked away. As she crossed the threshold, the yellow dog stood up and chased after her, wagging its tail vigorously.

"Beast." He cursed, kicking the dog in the face. The dog lunged forward violently but was restrained by the chain, coming to a sudden halt in mid-air, the chain clattering loudly.

After a near-fatal encounter with bandits on the road, the couple Su Hong, traveling south, came across a young girl who had been separated from her group.

Mrs. Su's front teeth are somewhat protruding. On the first day of moving to Min Town, she was laughed at by a straightforward neighbor for not being able to close her mouth, which made her so angry that she cried in the house

Her clothes do not fit well, and she is still wearing last year's. I see her mother always dressed in styles from the past, very particular, which makes her daughter look like a country girl

A burst of laughter

Thus, on a dry and cold morning, unbeknownst to Su Qing, that silk garment was reduced to ashes in the brazier

At this time, retaining the old titles is nothing but a form of mockery, ridiculing those whose status has long since changed yet still cannot let go of their pretensions

Mrs. Su spent some of her private savings to tailor a brand new pair of trousers; how could she not try them on

Su Yu's health is poor, and she needs to grow up safely while also attending school to take the imperial examinations. All her expenses for food, clothing, and daily necessities require money... She begins to feel fortunate that she did not bind Su Qing's feet, as it was the custom for young ladies of old to bind their feet, which would prevent them from doing heavy work.

A vibrant shade of blue is凝固 at the bottom, resembling water, yet it cannot flow. The transparent glass tube is etched with several long and short horizontal lines in a regular pattern

It is not dirty, I wash it every day

There is no one by the lake. It is cold and gloomy here, and the sound of the waterfall is loud, making it unsuitable for conversation. However, Su Qing usually comes here to wash her clothes; firstly, she is not good at socializing, and secondly, she does not want the dirty water to flow downstream

Only by giving birth to the second daughter can one let go; someone like Su Qing can only be the one left behind by a wealthy family, allowing Mrs. Su to take advantage of the situation

Su Qingmo lowered her head, gently tossing her thick and shiny braid behind her, and deftly slung the shoulder pole onto her shoulder

On the way back, she passed by those few households again. They had finished selecting the green beans and were now shelling them. Upon seeing her return, they cheerfully exclaimed, "Miss Su has come back with water?"

Having supported her for over ten years, she had spent more time with Su Qing than with Su Yu. She knew that Su Qing had a gentle temperament, lacked strong opinions, and would always go east if told to, especially relying on her mother.

Thus, they look down upon it, yet they have no choice but to rely on it

When that esteemed deity tossed it over, a blue shimmering piece floated in the air, casting a cold light across the entire sky, and she thought it was a star

An irregular piece of rock candy

To roughly predict whether a remarkable young lady will stand out among her peers is somewhat akin to betting on a horse race, as life is indeed quite stable and mundane

The water flows rapidly, splashing white mist; due to the elevation difference, it cascades down at the fault line, and then gathers downstream to form a lake

Cui Lan suddenly asked: "How do you know?"

This suggests that the young child comes from a wealthy family

Mrs. Su's hands were wrapped around his waist, persistently helping her son pull up his pants: "Little ancestor, almost there, almost there"

The ancient towns of Jiangnan are characterized by dense buildings and low walls that create a maze of brick alleys, a paradise far removed from the turmoil of warfare and the changes of the times

Su Hong then lifted her onto the carriage and handed her over to his wife

Next to the large vat were two wooden barrels. As Su Qing bent down to pick one up, she noticed that the barrels were closely pressed against the basin. The basin was piled high with dirty clothes, and on top were the old pants that Su Yu had changed out of this morning, with mud and sand stuck to the cuffs.

Just as Su Qing passed by for the third time carrying a water bucket, unbeknownst to him, in the eyes of others observing, those loose-fitting long pants had transformed into an elaborate floor-length skirt.

The women burst into laughter. One of them mocked her, saying: "Save your breath, you can only pick up the second girl."

She placed the bucket down and drew water from upstream, skillfully balancing the water bucket. She knew which part of her shoulder would bear the weight more effortlessly, as that area had already developed a thin layer of callus.

Mom, I am going to be late

Bowing down to wash his hands, a sky-blue object hidden in his collar arced down, swaying back and forth in front of his chest

Su was dressed in a narrow-sleeved green blouse and long pants, with a thick braid styled at the back, embodying the most ordinary and rustic attire of a countryside girl. The cuffs of her pants were even a bit short, revealing her ankles tightly wrapped in socks.

Oh, you just need to run a couple of times, why call him?" Mrs. Su hurriedly chased after him, occasionally revealing her two golden lotus feet beneath her old, faded skirt. Standing under the eaves, she frowned and waved her hand at her as if swatting a fly, her tone becoming particularly stern, "Your brother is going to school, and you have nothing to do.

The midday sun is warm, casting shimmering golden light on the surface of the lake. By the stream, there are already a few women washing clothes. A series of bubbles, large and small, float downstream with the current, some bursting against the rocks.

Is Mrs. Bi richer than before?

Things changed shortly after Su Yu was born

That is certainly ... ...

Rely on him? Haven't you seen Mrs. Su's precious son? When he comes back from school, he has to stand at the door to greet him. Ah Yu is always being coddled, and he won't let him do a single bit of work.

The Su family was a wealthy merchant family in Pingjing. Su Hong was born of a concubine, and Mrs. Su had been childless for many years, which led to her being looked down upon by her mother-in-law. In a fit of anger, the two decided to separate their household and relied on the meager profits from the tea shop they acquired to sustain their expenses. At this time, upon hearing that war was approaching, they planned to escape back to their old residence in Min Town

This is a ring the size of a small apricot, shaped like a bent glass tube, with a notch in the upper right corner

Su Yu had already run out, leaving only the fierce barking of the dog echoing in the yard. As soon as the dog barked, the poultry in the pen also began to squawk in chaos, with chickens flying and dogs jumping around.

As the person walked away, one of them spoke up: "If I had such a child, how could I bear to let the burden rest on her shoulders"

Su Qing slowly walked to the door with the bucket, the yellow dog stopped barking, wagged its tail, and rubbed its long snout against her pant leg, then obediently lay down, whimpering as it rested its head on the ground

Mother, please drink some water

Only when it fell into her hand did she realize it was a small, cold, hard ring, with a blue dot inside no larger than a speck of ink, signifying that her journey had only just begun

A woman's maternal instinct is innate, while a mother's heart is forged through ten months of pregnancy. Su Yu caused Mrs. Su excruciating pain, enduring life and death, yet from the moment he was born, he became this woman's lifelong treasure.

Su Qingfei quickly picked up the candy on the ground and stuffed it into the dog's mouth, holding the dog's mouth with both hands. After a while, she gently pressed the dog's head and left

Su Yu ran all the way, and the large yellow dog tied at the door suddenly barked wildly at him

Usually, Su Yu finds it ugly, and Mrs. Su finds it dirty, both unwilling to take much care of it, but this household, lacking strong labor, must have a dog to guard the home and protect the premises

However, in the second year, Mrs. Su, who had been pierced by the words "infertility" for over a decade, unexpectedly became pregnant

Su Qing was very young when she entered the Su family, leaving little memory behind. Her temperament was extremely gentle, living solely for her mother and younger brother, and she was even more diligent and compliant than the children of farming families

Min Town is blessed with beautiful mountains and clear waters, a canyon divides the homes on both sides, and the stone bridges resemble slender seams, stitching together the split banks. Passersby can easily pass each other, walking twenty to thirty steps to reach the other side

After a moment of silence, only the crisp sound of beans hitting the sieve could be heard

In that year, foreign powers repeatedly invaded, the court was weak, and the popular uprising organization known as the White Lotus Society occupied Pingjing. The once peaceful capital was plunged into chaos, and countless wealthy merchants and nobles fled south with their families

Su Qing walked to the lakeside, noticing that there was no one there, and then turned back. A faint sense of loss seemed to permeate her chest

That person is full of pride: "With an oval face and cherry-like lips, her brows and eyes are well-proportioned, resembling the ladies depicted in traditional paintings; that is the face of a refined young woman"

... ... Hmm. She knew that this was not actually a greeting, but rather a tease, so she simply did not look up.

The girl is adorned in exquisite silk and satin, dressed with great care. Around her neck, she wears a beautiful string of beads, with the pendant shaped like a small rabbit carved from white jade. When held up for a closer look, she appears to be exceptionally well-nurtured, with pure, deep black eyes and a face as delicate as jade and as fair as snow. Her face is adorned with glistening tears, evoking an irresistible sense of affection.

Su Qingxiang remarked that dogs are truly strange animals. It seems that whoever feeds them, they will like that person.