Chapter 160: Everyone Gathers Around Xingxing

Chapter 160: Everyone Gathers Around Xingxing

The carriage arrived at Fan Manor.

Fan Xingru had been talking to Xingxing the entire way, feeling so enamored that he wished he could roll around the carriage in excitement.

He said, full of anticipation, "My father's concubine was found to be with child. I should be getting a younger brother or sister soon. I really hope it's a sister... ah."

He secretly hoped that the child would have eyes, a nose, and a mouth like Xingxing's, and even a personality like hers... He even secretly thought that a nickname like Xingxing would be perfect too!

Yaocui, who was waiting at the entrance of the Fan Manor by Fan Pingfang's side, brightened when she saw Fan Xingru's carriage approaching and immediately went forward to greet them.

Yaocui reached out to take Xingxing from the carriage, but Fan Xingru, eager as he was, said, "Let me do it!"

Yaocui withdrew her hand and smiled as she watched Fan Xingru help Xingxing down from the carriage.

The little girl, wrapped in a red cloak, appeared even fairer against the backdrop of her clothing.

The little girl with black hair and snow-white skin had round cheeks, and in her sweet, milky voice, she called out, "Sister Yaocui," making Yaocui utterly charmed.

Yaocui's smile grew even wider as she looked at Xingxing with affection. "Young Mistress Xingxing, let me take you inside. Miss Fan has prepared several delicacies for you."

Xingxing nodded and took Yaocui's hand.

Yaocui used her sleeve to cover Xingxing's hand, making sure she wouldn't get cold.

She said with a smile, "Your hands, Young Mistress Xingxing, are quite warm."

Xingxing patted the hand warmer hanging from her chest. "I've been keeping my hands cozy with this hand warmer, so I'm not cold."

Fan Xingru, following behind, couldn't help grumbling, "I could have delivered her... yet my elder sister specially sent you over."

Yaocui smiled but offered no reply.

The Fan family had built their wealth through commerce, and their manor in Mapo County was quite large. Fan Pingfang had invited Xingxing over to play before, and with Xingxing's good memory, she walked with ease while holding Yaocui's hand.

They happened to meet another young miss who was visiting.

The young miss had seen Yaocui before but had never met Xingxing. She was holding a hand warmer and, upon seeing Yaocui leading Xingxing with Fan Xingru at her side, smiled and asked, "Who is this child? She's so adorable; I've never seen her before."

In her mind, she thought, this child must be very important for Fan Pingfang to send her brother and Yaocui to fetch her. Quite the grand display.

I wonder what family she's from?

Yaocui curtseyed to the young miss and said with a smile, "Miss Xiao, this is a close friend of our young miss, Miss Yu."

Xingxing also greeted her, "Miss Xiao."

Xiao Yueyi thought for a moment and then smiled, "I've heard before that Miss Fan has a close young friend. Is this the one?"

Although she wasn't particularly close to Fan Pingfang, she had heard that in the past half year, Fan Pingfang had been spending time around a three or four-year-old child from the countryside.

Is this the one?

Once she realized that this little girl wasn't from a noble family, Xiao Yueyi couldn't help but glance at her a few more times, sizing her up discreetly.

"It's cold outside. Our young miss is waiting for you in the warm pavilion. Please go inside," Yaocui said politely, deliberately positioning herself to block Xingxing.

Fortunately, Miss Xiao no longer paid attention to Xingxing, giving a slight nod before leaving with her maid, holding her warm hand warmers.

Yaocui breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Miss Xingxing was small and took small steps, causing them to walk slowly, Yaocui didn’t want to subject Miss Xingxing to such scrutiny for too long.

It felt quite tedious.

By the time Yaocui led Xingxing to join Fan Xingru at the warm pavilion, besides Fan Pingfang, there were two other young mistresses sitting inside.

One of them was the previously encountered Miss Xiao Yueyi on the road, and the other was an old acquaintance, Miss Bai, whom they had previously accompanied to Maple Gorge.

At that time in Maple Gorge, they encountered bandits. Miss Bai’s younger brother, Bai Zhongsheng, in order to save his sister, was tossed onto the reef. Thankfully, an old Taoist priest came to his rescue. He only had some minor wounds to his abdomen.

After resting in bed for half a month, Bai Zhongsheng was back to his old self.

After this incident, and because Xingxing had been rescued by a benefactor, Miss Bai naturally became very affectionate towards Xingxing.

As soon as Xingxing entered, Miss Bai smiled and stood up, saying, "My younger brother, Ah Sheng, was pestering me to come and find you to play. I thought he was being troublesome, so I didn’t bring him. But he asked me to give you a small token."

With that, Miss Bai took out a straw-woven grasshopper from her bosom and handed it to Xingxing.

Xingxing first thanked her, then examined the grasshopper closely and said, puzzled, "This grasshopper looks like it was made by my fourth uncle."

Miss Bai was stunned. "I think he bought it from some small shop. He bought a few and seemed to quite like them..."

But Xingxing was already certain, pointing to a hidden knot in the body of the grasshopper, "It’s definitely my fourth uncle’s craftsmanship." She was very excited, proud of her fourth uncle, "My fourth uncle is very skillful! He weaves many things to sell at his shop. Maybe Brother Bai bought this one!"

Miss Bai couldn’t help but laugh. "What a coincidence."

Miss Xiao Yueyi jokingly teased, "Then this gift wasn’t well chosen. You’re giving her something that is actually from her family."

Miss Bai was a little embarrassed.

Xingxing tightly gripped the straw-woven grasshopper and exclaimed, "Xingxing still likes it very much!"

She thought for a moment and emphasized, "It shows that Brother Bai has great taste!"

Miss Bai couldn’t help but laugh.

"Alright," Fan Pingfang stood up and led Xingxing to sit down. "Our Xingxing has walked a long way. Let her rest first."

Fan Pingfang then had the maid pour hot tea and serve the pastries specially prepared for Xingxing.

Xingxing sweetly said, "Thank you, Sister Fan."

Xingxing then remembered something and rummaged through her sleeve to pull out a delicate little wooden box. The little wooden box was given to her by Yu Tuozi when she, Yamei’er, and Ju Geer got lost in Beimanggou. Xingxing carefully opened the little wooden box and placed the delicate straw-woven grasshopper inside. It looked very precious.

Miss Bai was deeply moved.

"My fourth uncle can weave many things," Xingxing told Miss Bai. "What does Brother Bai like? Next time, I’ll ask my fourth uncle to weave something for him and give it to him!"

Xingxing spoke with great generosity.

Miss Bai couldn't help but laugh. "He is of the rabbit zodiac, so how about making a little rabbit for him?"

Xingxing nodded emphatically.

Fan Xingru chimed in. "I am of the sheep zodiac, Xingxing. Could your fourth uncle make a little sheep for me?"

Xingxing nodded emphatically again. "Of course! I'll ask Fourth Uncle to make it. Once it's done, I'll have the brothers deliver it to you."

Fan Xingru smiled broadly.

Fan Pingfang shot a glance at Fan Xingru. "Alright, you need to leave now. Once more people arrive, it'll look inappropriate for a man to be standing here."

Only then did Fan Xingru leave, albeit reluctantly.

Before leaving, he reminded Xingxing, "Don't forget, alright?"

Xiao Yueyi saw that everyone—Fan Pingfang, Miss Bai, Fan Xingru, and even Yaocui—gathered around Xingxing. Xiao Yueyi felt quite displeased.