Chapter 200: Are You from the Liu Family?

Chapter 200: Are You from the Liu Family?

On the day of the banquet, the weather was beautiful, with the sun shining brightly.

Xingxing arrived in the county town a day earlier. Early in the morning, Shuang He excitedly helped Xingxing put on new clothes, combed her hair into two buns, and adorned them with small pearl hairpins. She looked like a little fairy, her face framed by the delicate pearl hairpins, making her even more adorable.

Shuang He’s eyes sparkled with admiration, and she couldn’t help but want to hold onto their young miss and not let go.

Xingxing couldn’t stop giggling.

The Yujia brothers also dressed very formally. As the saying goes, 'A man is known by his clothes, just as a horse is known by its saddle.' The Yujia brothers were all good-looking to begin with, and now, dressed in brand-new clothes, standing tall and straight, they looked like young masters from a wealthy family.

Huai Geer helped Xingxing onto the carriage.

Yu Siyang knew that Xingxing was going to the Liu family to meet Ah Wu. He called out to her as if he had something to say.

But after a moment’s thought, he decided not to say anything. He simply managed a strained smile for Xingxing and said, “The wind has picked up. You should get in the carriage before you catch a chill.”

Yu Sanbao watched from the side and let out a quiet sigh.

His once carefree Fourth Brother now had his own concerns.

Being young, Xingxing truly believed that, as Yu Siyang said, it was "nothing." She nodded and softly said to Yu Siyang, “Fourth Brother, wait for me to come back so we can play together.”

Lately, Fourth Brother hadn’t been himself, and Xingxing had noticed, storing it away in her heart.

Yu Siyang smiled and nodded.

Xingxing happily climbed into the carriage.

Bai Ge'er, Liu Ge'er, and Gui Ge'er also climbed into the carriage.

Huai Ge'er, who rode to the mountain's Taoist observatory every day to practice martial arts with the old Taoist priest, was an expert horseman. He sat astride his horse with a heroic demeanor, riding alongside the carriage and making the boys inside, including Bai Ge'er, envious.

Yu Sanbao drove the carriage, taking the kids to the Liu family villa.

The Liu family villa was located in the suburbs. The villa featured white walls and blue-tiled roofs, and willow branches peeked over the wall, their tender leaves gently swaying.

Yu Sanbao pulled the reins and sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the sign "Liu Manor" above the gate. "I never thought our kids would visit here as guests."

Huai Ge'er exclaimed, "Is this the place where Grandfather brought my father and uncles to work before?"

Yu Sanbao laughed heartily. "Yes, who would have thought?"

The Liu family's old residence had been destroyed in a previous disaster, leaving only broken walls and ruins. After Grandfather Liu decided to retire, he had this new villa built.

It was here that Yu Laotou and Yu Daniu found work last year.

Everyone felt a mix of emotions about this.

However, Yu Sanbao's sentiment sounded different to those who overheard.

—A well-dressed young master stepped down from the carriage next to them. His face twitched in anger after overhearing Yu Sanbao and Huai Ge'er.

He looked at the Yu family's carriage with both disdain and confusion. "...How can such a vulgar person be at such an elegant place?"

Yu Sanbao paid no mind to the sarcastic remark. He ignored it completely and turned to call his nephews to get off the carriage.

Huai Geer dismounted and first helped Xingxing out of the carriage.

The young master in the brocade robe was even more infuriated. "They even brought a child! Do they think this estate of Grand Scholar Liu is just any ordinary place? Truly uncouth!"

The young masters of the Yu family were a bit displeased.

They could overlook other insults, but why did he have to take a jab at Xingxing?

Before they could respond, Xingxing piped up—

Still hanging onto Huai Geer, Xingxing looked at the young master in the brocade robe with curiosity.

The young master in the brocade robe was full of disdain, but his eyes locked with Xingxing's pure and innocent gaze.

"Are you from the Liu family?" Xingxing asked curiously.

The young master in the brocade robe was somewhat startled. He wasn’t accustomed to children her age speaking to him so directly. Typically, they were either crying in their parents' arms or behaving like tireless little mischief-makers.

But this child was actually starting a conversation with him?

The young master in the brocade robe’s expression tightened. "No," he replied.

Feeling a bit flustered, he quickly shot back, "And what about it?"

Xingxing replied with a simple 'Oh,' not really meaning anything by it. Resting on Huai Geer’s shoulder, she said in a soft, childlike voice, "Not much. I thought from your tone that you might be from Sister Liu's family too."

The young master in the brocade robe’s face turned red!

Was this kid calling him out for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong?!

But he couldn’t afford to argue with a little girl right there at the Liu family’s gate!

Winning would be embarrassing, and losing would be even more humiliating!

The Yu family boys paid no mind to the young master in the brocade robe’s discomfort. Huai Geer set Xingxing down and instructed Shuang He, "Take care of Xingxing in the inner quarters today, alright?"

Shuang He almost patted her chest in assurance right there in public. "Young master, don't worry! I'll keep a tight hold on the young mistress!"

Shuang He took Xingxing's hand and retrieved a letter of invitation from her sleeve.

The doorkeeper at the Liu family verified the invitation and respectfully ushered Shuang He and Xingxing inside.

The young master in the brocade robe’s eyes nearly popped out!

He had assumed that Huai Geer and the others were just bringing the little girl along, but it turned out she had her own invitation!

The Yu family youths paid no attention to the young master in the brocade robe and entered the Liu family's gate after presenting their invitations.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, the young master in the brocade robe quickly had his attendant submit his invitation as well.

Who was that little girl?!

He knew that invitations to the inner quarters were much harder to come by than those for the peers. His own sister had been upset for days because she hadn't received one.

That post was just handed over to that little girl so easily?!

……

Shuang He led Xingxing into the Liu family.

The Liu family didn’t have many maids, and some had to be assigned to the banquet for male guests in the front.

In the rear courtyard, there were even fewer.

The two maids guiding them were so busy they barely had time to catch their breath.

Still, when they saw Xingxing, their faces lit up, and they greeted her warmly: "Miss Xingxing, right? ... Our young mistress has been waiting for you for a while."

One of the maids eagerly guided Xingxing and Shuang He inside.

Xingxing couldn’t wait, her little legs moving fast.

The maid struggled to keep up.

As they approached the courtyard where Ah Wu’s banquet was being held, before Xingxing even stepped into the courtyard, she heard laughter that sounded forced from inside.

It didn’t sound like Ah Wu’s voice... Xingxing was puzzled and moved her short legs even faster.

The maid guiding them hurried ahead to announce Xingxing’s arrival to Ah Wu.

"Ah? It's Xingxing!"

Outside, Xingxing heard Ah Wu's voice of surprise and joy, and then she saw her Ah Wu sister happily running out of the room.

"Xingxing!"

"Ah Wu sister!"

They hugged, laughing and giggling like old friends.