Chapter 8.1: Mid-Autumn Festival (1)

In a flash, Xie Zhen had run over, and fussed over Xie Zhen. Thankfully her little sister hadn’t actually gotten injured, otherwise she would have immediately burst into tears.

She turned her head, and her dark round eyes glared at Gao Tongtong angrily.

Gao Tongtong guiltily looked back at her, before her eyes turned to Xie Rong, and not knowing where to put her hands, she said, “I didn’t, I didn’t do it on purpose…”

Xie Rong expressionlessly asked, “What exactly did Xie Xun do wrong to provoke Second Miss Gao’s displeasure?”

If he hadn’t come at that exact moment, Xie Xun would have struck the fake mountain. She was only three years old, if something had happened to her, how would he explain it to his parents? Only such a poisonous and cruel person would actually harm such a small child.

Gao Tongtong had finally found him after so long, yet she’d never thought that they would meet like that.

As she was already eight years-old,  she already knew quite a bit.

She started to regret her earlier actions; if she’d known that he was coming earlier, she would’ve been nicer to Xie Xun…Afraid that her standing would drop in his eyes, she immediately started making excuses, saying, “She wanted to see my hairpin, but this was the birthday present that Gao Xun gave to me. I was afraid that she would break it, so I didn’t let her see…Later on she wanted to snatch it away, so I accidentally pushed her…”

Although Xie Xun was still crying, her ears were still sensitive, and hearing this she immediately raised her head, saying, “Big brother I didn’t snatch it, I didn’t…”

Xie Rong looked to her, and used his hand to gently wipe away her tears, asking, “You wanted her hairpin?”

Xie Xun’s face was full of tears and snot as she nodded, face full of grievances.

Xie Rong didn’t mean to blame her one bit, and gently patted her little bun, saying, “It’s nothing, tomorrow Big Brother will get a prettier one for you. Ah Xun already is pretty, so you should have an even prettier hairpin.”

The underlying meaning of his words was that Gao Tongtong’s hairpin didn’t look good enough.

Gao Tongtong flushed, his words were even more humiliating than a direct admonishment. She immediately felt embarrassed, before she’d dressed up so well, yet he hadn’t even taken a second glance at her.

After he’d comforted Xie Xun, Xie Rong looked at her again, his expression returning to his usual peaceful one. “This is Xie fu, and this is Ah Xun’s house, since Second Miss Gao came as a guest, you should follow proper etiquette. If you don’t know this, then you shouldn’t come next time.”

Despite his young age, Xie Rong was extremely protective of his younger sisters. They were his two baby sisters, if any short-sighted person bullied them, then he wouldn’t be polite.

Gao Tongtong was a prime example of this. She’d been excessively spoiled by her family, and there’d been numerous people who fell at her feet. After being scolded so harshly, her anger and humiliation lead to her spitting out one sentence. “What’s so good about coming, if I can’t come then I won’t come!”

Saying this she tossed her head back and ran out of the courtyard.

From afar the two children playing on the swings saw their sister running, and didn’t think much about it, continuing to play.

Having witnessed the entire scene play out, Gao Xun apologised on behalf of his sister, saying, “I’m really sorry, when I go back home I’ll report this to my family elders so that they can talk to her.”

Xie Rong didn’t reply, and carried Xie Xun outside. As he turned around he said to Xie Zhen, “I’ll bring Xie Xun home first, Little Lamb, you should also be careful not to hurt yourself.”

His words not only cautioned her but also warned Gao Xun.

Nodding her head, Xie Zhen sent her siblings out.

Having experienced that, Xie Zhen and Gao Xun both didn’t feel like playing anymore, and the two sat beside the pond melancholy.

Reaching her hand out, Xie Xun prodded Big Qiansui’s head, and it immediately retreated back into its shell.

Gao Xun asked her, “Why exactly did Ah Xun insist on looking at Big Sister’s hairpin?”

Xie Zhen stiffened, and looked around like a thief. Seeing that nobody was close by, she then quietly said, “You cannot tell anyone else about this.”

Did she want to share a secret with him? Having received this unexpected favour, Gao Xun was stunned as he replied, “Of course!”

As such Xie Zhen leaned close to his ear, and quietly told him the whole truth, before guiltily looking down. “That’s why I wanted to buy another one for Ah Niang.”

Gao Xun showed an expression of realisation, no wonder the two were so focused on Gao Tongtong’s hairpin…

Patting his chest like a man, he assured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely find the exact same one for you!”

Xie Zhen laughed at this, making Gao Xun so delighted he felt as though he was floating.

*

After giving the Gao family her farewells, Leng shi returned to the room, and with just a glimpse she could tell that someone had touched her dressing table.

Calling Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan over, she then realised that it was some strange plan concocted by the two troublemakers Xie Zhen and Xie Xun. Originally she wanted to call them over and ask what had happened, but the pair of them were extremely secretive, as though they were afraid of others finding out what they’d done, and it seemed as though the words “I’ve done something wrong” were written all over their faces.

Looking at the two reluctant troublemakers in front of her, Leng shi already had a premonition in her heart, and she changed her attitude. “I heard today Ah Xun was treated unfairly?”

Xie Xun used that opportunity to complain. “Ah Niang, Big Sister Gao Tong pushed me…”

Leng shi patted her head gently and asked, “Why did she push you?”

Xie Xun shyly replied, “Because I wanted to take a closer look at her hairpin…”

Leng shi lifted her up onto her thighs, and earnestly admonished her, “Next time if you want something, Ah Niang will get it for you. You don’t need to envy other people, alright? You also can’t recklessly take other peoples’ things, let today’s events be a lesson for you, so that next time you’ll remember not to do this again.’

The two troublemakers obediently nodded their heads.

Leng shi was not poor, in terms of clothing and good food, she had never scrimped with regards to her two daughters. Even then the household was also quite well-off, and coupled with Leng shi’s habit of spoiling her two daughters, it wasn’t hard to imagine that her two daughters had been brought up to look pretty and put together.

Although she was admonishing them, internally Leng shi was thinking of something else. Since the second young miss of the Gao family was difficult to get along with, she should let her two daughters interact with her less in the future.

Seeing that their mother wasn’t angry, and didn’t look as though she’d found out about her missing hairpin, Xie Zhen hesitated a little before saying, “Ah Niang, tomorrow I want to go out with Gao Xun, is that alright?”

Leng shi didn’t even have to think about it before she replied, “No.”

Xie Zhen let out a disappointed noise, and clinging to her mother’s thigh she raised her round face to look at her. “Why not? Why, why?”

She looked very adorable, and Leng shi gently pinched her nose before saying, “Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so of course you have to stay at home and celebrate.”

The Mid-Autumn Festival was a day to celebrate together, so they should eat mooncakes as a family. Why should she go out to the streets and celebrate? Leng shi disapproved.

Xie Zhen had already made plans to meet up with Gao Xun, and she couldn’t fail at this point, so she tried and tried until tears finally appeared in her eyes, and she used everything she had to convince her mother. “I’ll only go out for a while; I’ll definitely be able to return before dinner…Ah Niang, please just let me go this once, why don’t you let me out for a while? I swear I’ll be good from now on!”

Leng shi almost relented, but she caught herself and harshly rejected her.

Just as Xie Zhen was close to giving up, Xie Liqing returned and said he would bring XIe Rong out the next day. As the weather was getting colder, it was a good time to give the children some more winter clothes. Xie Zhen immediately saw the thin strand of opportunity and clung onto it, pestering Xie Liqing to let her go along.

Xie Liqing was soft-hearted, and she only needed to try for a while before he agreed.

Xie Zhen happily hugged his thigh, saying, “Daddy’s so nice, Daddy’s nicer than Ah Niang!”

Leng shi could only watch on helplessly.

*

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xie Zhen woke up especially early.

The night before it had rained, and it was colder than normal, so she found an embroidered jacket to put on, and paired it with a green skirt. Once Shuang Yu helped her wash up and comb her hair, she happily bounced towards the main hall. Before going in, she suddenly heard Gao Xun’s voice coming from inside.

Gao Xun had actually woken up even earlier than her, and had constantly been thinking of their meeting today, so even before dawn he’d already run over to Xie fu.

“I brought seven to eight servants, they’ll definitely be able to protect Xie Zhen,” He said to Xie Liqing and Xie Rong.

Xie Rong was silent for a moment, before unhesitatingly rejecting him, “No way.”

No matter the number of people he brought over, he was so small and skinny, if something happened how would he be able to protect his little sister?

Unable to convince Xie Rong, Gao Xun turned over to Xie Liqing, pleading, “Uncle Xie, please believe me…”

Xie Liqing snorted a little, he had similar thoughts to his son, and likewise wasn’t too agreeable. “It so happens that both of us are also going out, if you don’t mind, we can go with both of you?”

Gao Xun was quite disappointed; he’d assumed that he would be able to go alone with Xie Zhen that day. He already had to bring Li Yu along, but now her father and brother wanted to accompany them? He deliberated over it for a while before saying, “Where does Uncle Xie want to go? I’ll set a time to meet all of you there. I promised Xie Zhen to buy some hairpins for her.”

Xie Liqing then informed him of their plans for the day, and only after that did he leave.

Seeing Gao Xun leaving, Xie Zhen entered the main hall, asking, “Daddy, why did Gao Xun leave?”

Xie Liqing laughed as he carried her, saying, “Young Master Gao wanted to bring you out, but Daddy rejected him. He said that he wanted to bring you to buy some hairpins, Little Lamb, you want some more hairpins?”

That rascal Gao Xun, how could he just blurt everything out?

Xie Zhen was angry, but at the same time, afraid that she would be found out, she lied a little, “Ah Xun liked Gao Tongtong’s hairpin, so I wanted to buy it and give it to her.”

Her lie was quite good, and Xie Liqing didn’t ask any further questions as he led Xie Rong and her out of the house.

The Gao family’s carriage had stopped right outside Li fu, and Gao Xun stared unblinkingly as she went out with her father and brother. She’d even waved at him!

Gao Xun kicked a little at the ground, wondering why Li Yu hadn’t come out yet…If he still didn’t come, then he would follow Xie Zhen!

*

The Mid-Autumn Festival was a popular one, and the streets were incredibly busy. People were coming and going, and many were yelling loudly. The wide variety of dazzling shops made one unable to look away.

Xie Zhen followed her father to the tailor, and also helped pick four nice fabrics that he mother liked. For her sister and herself, she picked out two pieces. Despite her young age, her choices were very unique and good, and the colours she’d picked out were endlessly praised by the shopkeepers.

Xie Liqing then brought the two siblings to a nearby bookstore to buy some books, and in the blink of an eye, two hours had passed.

The three were at a teashop drinking and chatting when a servant from the Gao family came over and said, “This Lord, my family’s Young Master is already waiting for you downstairs. Could the Second Miss come down for a while?”

Xie Liqing was still quite worried, but he couldn’t outright reject him as he was afraid he would accidentally upset the children, so he carried Xie Zhen and said, “I’ll go down as well.”

Downstairs, Gao Xun had the driver stop the carriage by the road.

Inside the carriage, Li Yu was confused as he asked, “Why are we stopping here?”

Gao Xun laughed mysteriously and said, “We’re waiting for someone.”

He didn’t mind it too much, and instead raised the curtains to look outside, and coincidentally saw Xie Liqing carrying Xie Zhen to walk down.

The warm and gentle sunlight shone on Xie Zhen’s tender face, and she was smiling happily, looking both adorable and evil at the same time.

Translator’s Comments:

One uber-long chapter! This chapter wasn’t split into two parts as I had a little more time today. We greatly appreciate all your support! I’m honestly dreading all the start-of-year briefings and club day.