Chapter 10, Titanic

Zhou Xuan understood the meaning of fennel; Miss Qin looked down on him, so why would she care whether he gave her a gift

Xiao Huixiang bit her lip and fell silent

Zhou Xuan said: "This is for you, not for the young lady. Why wouldn't she let you have it? Haha, is the young lady upset with me for not giving her a gift?"

In the afternoon, Zhou Xuan, wearing wooden clogs, relaxed in the shade of the locust trees in the inner courtyard. Slightly tipsy from the wine, he enjoyed the gentle breeze, feeling quite content

Only Miss Qin did not receive a gift, and Zhou Xuan did it on purpose

My brother-in-law, Qin Xiaodi, received a large number of toys, including lotus leaf lamps, firecrackers, spinning tops, bamboo horses, slingshots, and cuju balls—Xiaodi was overjoyed, calling out "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law" sweeter than honey, his childish voice clear and bright. Miss Qin could certainly hear him, but there was nothing she could do to stop him

Zhou Xuan's stomach growled, saying: "This is it."

In a moment of helplessness, joy turns to sorrow as the large ship collides with an iceberg in the sea. At that moment, his fiancée is working in the lower deck of the ship. Zhou Xuan frantically searches, wading through water and diving, jumping up and down, vividly depicting the shocking and tense scenes from the movie.

"Xiao Huixiang, you all misunderstood me. This morning, I went to the well to look for my treasured zither. I saw that piece of clothing lying by the Xiao Qin silk and bamboo, so I picked it up. You know, I have always lived overseas, and our attire is different from that of your Tang country. I didn't recognize that clothing at all, so I casually tucked it into my waist. It was later that Xiaodi told me it was called 'bi xi.' Alas, I am truly wronged."

Xiao Huixiang said: "It is better to give than not to give, as courtesy is never excessive."

Zhou Xuan spoke with such emotion and eloquence that it was hard to believe it was merely a misunderstanding. The hint of sorrow immediately touched Xiao Huixiang, who frowned and said: "Xiao Huixiang believes what you say, Young Master, but our young lady is very angry and is unlikely to forgive you. Zhou Gongzi, why not buy a gift for my young lady? Then Xiao Huixiang can help explain it for you, wouldn't that be better?"

Xiao Huixiang turned around and said: "Not at all, Young Master Zhou underestimates my young lady. In fact, she is, she is—"

It was already noon, with the sun shining brightly, causing people to sweat. Zhou Xuan, holding the heavy thirty taels of silver at his waist, asked with great enthusiasm: "Lai Fu, are there any upscale restaurants nearby? This young master wants to treat you to a meal."

Laifu was so moved that he almost cried; what a wonderful son-in-law! It turns out that even a servant can be treated with respect and can be this happy.

"Stop!" Zhou Xuan said sternly

Xiao Huixiang let out a soft "oh," glancing at the fabric and floral decorations on the low stool beside the books. It was evident that the little girl was reluctant to part with this gift

In the Qin residence, a coachman, two house servants, four maidservants, and three young maids all received valuable gifts, and everyone praised the new son-in-law, filled with joy and festivity.

The two individuals ascended to the elegant seating area on the upper floor, where Zhou Xuan invited Lai Fu to sit down directly opposite him

Zhou Xuan's eloquence is remarkable, and she has a flair for emotional appeal, delivering her speech with dramatic flair that resonates deeply with Xiao Huixiang's heartstrings. The young girl is so nervous that she can hardly catch her breath, leaning forward with her hands clasped tightly together, her nails digging into her flesh. Her eyes are wide open, fixated on Zhou Xuan's mouth, displaying an expression of extreme anxiety.

Zhou Xuan said: "Oh, didn't you just say that I looked down on your young lady? How could she possibly care about my gift"

However, Fu does not know much about Miss Qin's hobbies, as he is merely a servant and cannot freely enter the inner courtyard. He only knows that Miss Qin enjoys treating others' ailments. Although she is usually reserved and does not like to engage in laughter, whenever someone with a difficult-to-treat illness seeks her help, she becomes very enthusiastic in her diagnosis and provides attentive care. The people of Jiangzhou all say that Miss Qin has a heart of a bodhisattva

The gift from my mother-in-law is a Siamese cat. Middle-aged and elderly women enjoy keeping pets, so this choice is certainly appropriate. This purebred Siamese cat from www.hetushu.com was purchased for eight taels of silver. Its fur is snow-white, and its tail is held high, both beautiful and spirited. Mrs. Qin indeed likes it very much, but the look in Xuan's eyes is somewhat complicated.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huixiang quickly hugged the gift and hurried back. She came again, sitting on a small stool, resting her elbows on her knees, cradling her face in her hands, and adopting a posture of attentive listening.

Xiao Huixiang approached, holding the fabric and floral powder jewelry that Zhou Xuan had given her earlier, gently placing them on the low stool by Zhou Xuan's feet, and then turned to leave

Zhou Xuan handed the gift back to Xiao Huixiang, saying: "Xiao Huixiang, if it's something you like, don't give it up easily—take the gift back to your little room, and then come to me. Didn't I say last night that I would tell you about the shipwreck involving my fiancée?"

Zhou Xuan presented a set of exquisite tea utensils produced by the Xing kiln to his father-in-law. By the Tang Dynasty, the Xing kiln's products had become exceedingly rare after a millennium, and they are all priceless treasures. However, during the Southern Tang period, one could purchase them for merely two taels of silver. Reflecting on how someone had just offered one thousand taels for his harmonica, Zhou Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of this world

Cumin lowered her head and remained silent, and after a while, she said: "The young lady asked Cumin to return."

Zhou Xuan忍着笑, said: "My father-in-law is giving my mother-in-law a full foot massage and foot therapy."

Zhou Xuan waved his hand and said: "It's nothing, please sit down. I, as your humble son-in-law, am very approachable and advocate for the equality of all beings"

Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Your young lady, I will send her a priceless treasure in the future." He thought to himself, "I will give myself to your young lady; this is the most precious gift I can offer."

A pot of amber-flavored liquor, accompanied by four dishes: lamb with hidden fish, crystal pig's trotter, salted duck from Jinling, and sunflower lion's head, plus a large bowl of hot and sour soup

Zhou Xuan slowed his tone and said: "Xiao Huixiang, why don't you want the gift I gave you?"

Zhou Xuan kept it in mind. After a hearty meal and drinks, the bill came to only three coins. In ancient times, one tael was equal to sixteen coins, which means this delicious meal cost less than one hundred yuan. The prices in Southern Tang were indeed quite low.

Zhou Xuan, with a hand-held folding fan, appeared once again on the streets of Jiangzhou, radiating joy. This time, he was on a shopping spree, purchasing a wide array of items, from silk fabrics to hairpins and flower powders, from exquisite snacks to seasonal fruits. He bought a large quantity of gifts and hired a horse-drawn carriage to transport them back to the Qin residence, spending nearly twenty-five taels of silver in the process

Sir, this is the 'Drunken Fragrance Pavilion'. The wine here is excellent, and the chef's skills are quite good. The specialty dish is 'Mutton with Hidden Fish'—what do you think of this place, Sir?

Zhou Xuan told a story related to the illustrated book "Titanic". He is Jack, and his fiancée is Rose, although their statuses have changed; he is a prince in exile, while his fiancée is a maid on the grand ship. They fall in love at first sight and run to the bow of the ship, spreading their arms to mimic flying. Zhou Xuan also draws for his fiancée, and the image of Lin Zhiling on the tote bag is a masterpiece inspired by his love.

Very well, young master, please follow me. Laifu trotted ahead, and after walking half a mile, they came upon a riverside tavern standing tall, with wine flags fluttering in the wind and the aroma of wine wafting through the air

Zhou Xuan, while drinking and eating, inquired about the preferences of everyone in the Qin residence from Lai Fu. Although Lai Fu was somewhat simple-minded, he had been in the Qin household for several years and knew quite a bit. To demonstrate his loyalty, he spoke candidly and at length, even mentioning that the doctor in the Qin family personally washed the lady's feet every night. The lady remarked that the master did a good job, and after the wash, she felt completely relaxed and slept soundly.

Lai Fu now looks at Zhou Xuan with completely different eyes; it is nothing but admiration, pure admiration. Thirty taels of silver! As a servant, he could never earn that amount no matter how hard he worked in a year.

Lai Fu exclaimed: "How dare I!"

With so many dishes, it is enough for two people. Although Zhou Xuan has made a small fortune, it is not public funds for dining and drinking; wasting it would be foolish.

Xiao Huixiang stopped, yet did not turn around