Chapter 571

Chapter 577: Dispute (Part 2)

Jin Geer shook his head and stared discontentedly at Xin Jieer, who was wriggling in elder madam’s arms. "It's mine!"

Xu Siyu froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. Realizing his outburst might seem improper, he quickly stifled his amusement, taking a moment before he could speak again.

“Then let’s steal it back, okay?” he whispered, eyes gleaming mischievously.

Jin Geer perked up instantly. “Yes, yes!” His little face glowed with glee.

Xu Siyu thought for a moment, then leaned in to instruct Jin Geer quietly, “When Xin Jieer runs over to me, you run to her spot. Understand?”

Jin Geer nodded eagerly.

Xu Siyu lowered him to the ground and stepped toward the lattice-patterned 'wanzi' plum blossom windows, peering outside. “Oh?” he remarked, then turned to Xu Sijian, who sat beside elder madam, with a smile. “This late in the season, there are still lotuses out there… and likely lotus seed pods too. Why don’t we take the boat and have a look?”

Xu Sijian had been holding back earlier, mindful of his brother and Jin Shi, mechanically rowing the boat while secretly grumbling about wasting the chance to enjoy himself fully. Hearing Xu Siyu’s suggestion, he bolted up and dashed over. “Where? Show me!”

During the boat ride, Jin Shi had been death-gripping Xu Sijian’s sleeve. Xu Siyu, since Eleven Miss’s boat had only women and kids, had voluntarily switched places with her. But he stayed on high alert, scanning for trouble. While the others raced and splashed water, he kept a close watch on both the passengers and the surroundings, memorizing the layout of the lakeside plants.

Xu Siyu pointed to a small lotus pond east of the pavilion. “See? Over there!”

By July, the lotuses were past their prime, but the lotus seed pods were just right.

“There really are lotuses!” Xu Sijian exclaimed excitedly, making Jin Shi, seated beside elder madam, fidget with curiosity. She sat bolt upright and strained to see.

Xin Jieer couldn’t resist either. She squirmed out of elder madam’s lap and ran over. “Er-ge! Er-ge, where are the lotus seed pods?”

Xu Siyu turned, his gaze locking onto Jin Geer with intensity.

Jin Geer was faster than he’d anticipated. He darted straight to elder madam—not to throw himself into her arms, but to grab the duckweed Xin Jieer had proudly presented to her earlier.

Xu Siyu was stunned.

Jin Geer flashed him a radiant, sunbeam grin.

While rowing, Eleven Miss had spotted duckweed floating on the lake and plucked a strand to show Jin Geer. Xin Jieer had taken a liking to it, so Eleven Miss gave it to her.

Turns out he’d had his eye on it the whole time!

Xu Siyu laughed too.

His smile deepened, reaching his eyes and warming his heart.

He stood tall and straight, the rising sun casting a golden glow behind him, leaving his face in silhouette.

Xin Jieer tugged at his hand. “Er-ge! Er-ge…”

Xu Siyu snapped out of his thoughts.

He stepped forward and scooped her up.

As the sunlight faded from his figure, his handsome face and relaxed expression became clearly visible, a delightful sight to behold.

“Look,” he pointed out the window. “Over there! Do you see the lotuses?”

Xin Jieer squirmed out of his arms and dashed to Five Madam. “Mother! Mother, I want to pick lotus seed pods!”

Before Five Madam could respond, elder madam interjected, “Pick what lotus seed pods? The sun’s already up, and the lake is sweltering.” She beckoned Xin Jieer over. “Come, play cards with Grandmother!” Turning to Madam Du, she instructed, “Bring out that jade plaque set—I love the chime-like clatter!”

"Just trying to entertain the kids, huh?"

Madam Du cheerfully went to get the cards.

But Xin Jieer wouldn’t have it, pulling at her mother’s sleeve and whining, "I don’t want to play cards! I want to pick lotus seeds! I want to pick lotus seeds!"

"Behave!" the fifth madam coaxed Xin Jieer. "It’s scorching by the lake!"

Xin Jieer pouted. "I want to pick lotus seeds! I want to pick lotus seeds!"

The fifth madam’s brow furrowed.

This child, throwing a tantrum at the worst time!

The whole family was here—if she kept acting up, what would they think?

The easygoing ones might chalk it up to her being little, but if someone stricter were present, they might blame her for failing to discipline her child properly.

At this thought, she couldn’t help but glance at the second madam.

The second madam was speaking with the elder madam and didn’t seem to notice the commotion.

Relieved, she turned her gaze toward Eleven Miss.

Jin Geer sat in Eleven Miss’s lap, his chubby little hands spread out before her as he babbled something. Eleven Miss watched him with a radiant smile, nodding at each of his words—a picture of perfect harmony.

The fifth madam’s temper flared.

"Why can’t you behave!" she scolded Xin Jieer in a low voice. "Look at Jin Geer—he’s younger than you and not making a peep!" Her eyes swept over her daughter with stern disapproval.

That set Xin Jieer off crying.

Jin Shi, who’d been sitting quietly nearby, witnessed the entire scene. Seeing the fifth madam’s anger, she quickly stood and gathered Xin Jieer into her arms. "Fifth Aunt, how about I take Second Sister out to pick flowers?"

The fifth madam, desperate for an excuse to step back, immediately forced a smile. "That’d be a big help!"

"No trouble at all!" Jin Shi said sweetly.

But Xin Jieer squirmed and kicked in her arms. "I don’t want to pick flowers! I want to pick lotus seeds!"

Jin Shi nearly dropped her, struggling to keep hold.

The fifth madam’s face fell, and she sprang to her feet, ready to reprimand her daughter—when the elder madam’s calm, unhurried voice reached her ears.

"Xu Sijian’s wife, bring Xin Jieer over here."

Jin Shi, caught off guard by Xin Jieer’s stubbornness and struggling to hold her, felt as if the elder madam’s words were divine intervention. Relieved, she cheerfully replied, "Yes," and carried Xin Jieer to the elder madam’s side.

"Now, now, no need to cry over this!" the elder madam soothed Xin Jieer. "It’s too sunny now—we’ll go when it cools down. Those lotus seeds aren’t going anywhere—they’ll still be there!" She took out a handkerchief and wiped Xin Jieer’s face.

Xin Jieer hiccuped between sobs. "Someone else might pick them first..."

"Oh, no," the elder madam chuckled, then looked up and instructed Madam Du, "Tell everyone—no one picks lotus seeds until we do." She then smiled down at Xin Jieer. "Sound good?"

Xin Jieer’s tears turned to laughter.

The elder madam hugged her. "That’s more like it! Our family doesn’t fuss over little things." She then raised her head and directed Yu Ban, "Set up the card table—we’re playing!"

The maids and older women bustled about cheerfully. The room buzzed with energy.

The sound of the jade pendant was crisp and pleasant, like a mountain spring, bringing a sense of tranquility to the scorching summer afternoon.

While shuffling the tiles, Fang Shi glanced at Xu Siqin, who was leaning by the window chatting with Xu Siyu, her eyes softening with relief.

Though her husband was no scholar, he made up for it with kindness and honesty. The Xu family had everything set up for Xu Siyu, who was now walking that path. If Xu Siqin could maintain a good relationship with Xu Siyu and pick up some scholarly habits, it would only benefit him.

She absentmindedly touched her swollen belly.

Her elder brother was right—she might not be able to guide her husband, but she could raise her child well.

With this thought, she smiled hopefully as she gently played a "Nine of Wan."

Zhiyu, sitting beside the elder madam, quickly shouted, "Pung!"

Now, the elder madam had three melds of Wan tiles in front of her.

The fifth madam couldn't help but groan, "Do you even know what you're doing?" She tossed out a "One of Bing" and turned to Eleven Miss, who was playing leaf cards with the children nearby, saying with a laugh, "One sucker leaves, and another cash cow arrives."

Fang Shi's face flushed instantly.

Eleven Miss just shrugged, casually playing a leaf card as she remarked, "As long as you're getting money, why care whose it is?"

No sooner had she spoken than the second madam overturned her tiles. "Mahjong! All one suit!"

The fifth madam jumped up. "How can it be all one suit when you haven't even declared any melds?"

The second madam replied leisurely, "Who says you can't play all one suit without melding?"

"No, no, I want to switch players!" the fifth madam whined teasingly, trying to amuse the elder madam.

The elder madam chuckled. "First you ditch Eleven Miss, and now you're unhappy with Siqin's wife too. Who else do you want to switch to?"

The fifth madam's eyes darted about before landing on Jin Shi, who was playing leaf cards with Eleven Miss and the children. "Let’s switch to Xu Sijian's wife!"

"Me?" Jin Shi gaped, waving her hands frantically in refusal. "No, no, I can't!" She then looked pleadingly at Fang Shi. "Da sao, you know I don’t know how to play..."

The elder madam nodded slightly and turned to the fifth madam. "So, do you still want to switch?"

With a dramatic sigh, the fifth madam earnestly instructed Fang Shi, "There are nine tiles in each suit—Characters, Bamboos, and Dots. Keep track in your head... If someone has declared two melds, think about whether they might be going for all one suit or an all pairs win..."

Fang Shi nodded eagerly.

Eleven Miss watched with amusement before turning her attention back to the children.

"Three of Bamboos!"

Jin Geer scanned his tiles, then the tile Eleven Miss had just discarded, looking nervous. After a long pause, he hesitantly played a "Four of Dots."

Eleven Miss planted a loud kiss on her son's cheek. "Our Jin Geer is so smart—he knows four is bigger than three!"

Jin Geer beamed, his eyes curving like crescent moons.

He then drew a "Four of Circles" from his hand and stared at his mother with wide, almond-shaped eyes.

Eleven Miss kissed him again. "This is also a four—it beats three!"

Jin Geer immediately broke into a radiant smile.

Xin Jieer also drew a "four of circles" and threw it on the table: "Fourth Aunt, mine, mine!"

Eleven Niang also kissed Xin Jieer: "Our Xin Jieer is clever too!"

Hearing this, Xin Jieer shot Jin Geer a smug look.

Jin Shi couldn’t help giggling at the scene.

Xu Sijian, who was fishing by the waterside pavilion with Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie, heard the familiar laughter and craned his neck to look over. Seeing Jin Shi sitting safely with Eleven Niang, he went back to watching his bobber.

Qiuyu tiptoed to Eleven Niang's side: "Madam, the marquis requests your presence."