Chapter 70: Spring Outing

Chapter 70: Spring Outing

Qiu Huanian blinked, for a moment thinking he had misheard.

The sound of rushing water filled the warm pavilion. Qiu Huanian floated in the water, his toes touching the bottom of the pool, which was paved with fine pebbles, as he gently moved closer to the central screen.

Su Xinbai seemed to have moved away a bit.

Qiu Huanian chuckled, "You didn't seem embarrassed when you spoke earlier, why the sudden shyness?"

His curiosity had been fully ignited, and besides, teasing someone as aloof and proud as Su Xinbai was quite entertaining.

Of course, the most important thing was to help his friend resolve his inner conflicts, hoping they could find happiness.

If Su Xinbai truly had no feelings for Zhu Jingcheng and only saw him as a marriage alliance, Qiu Huanian wouldn't interfere. But the reality was clearly not the case.

Qiu Huanian leaned against the screen, barely making out Su Xinbai's blurred figure on the other side, unmoving.

Seeing Qiu Huanian's determined stance, Su Xinbai sighed, "Don't you already have enough books to read? Why do you need to hear other people's stories?"

Qiu Huanian rested his elbows on a small wooden basin floating in the hot spring, propping up his chin, "Reading those made-up tales isn't as interesting as hearing it directly from the person involved."

"...You're really something else."

Su Xinbai's vision was filled with the rising steam, only able to see things within a limited range. The warm spring water enveloped him like the safest cocoon, gradually eroding his defenses, releasing his fatigue, and tempting him to confide.

"If I must speak, then I can only start from the beginning."

"From the beginning of the world?"

"..." Su Xinbai let out a soft laugh, his tension easing slightly.

"Since I was young, I never cared for the things that other girls liked. From the moment I could ever remember, I only loved reading. My father was a scholar who passed the imperial examination and was a member of the Hanlin Academy. He highly valued my interests and specially hired a scholar to tutor me. Our home library was also open to me."

"For the first ten years or so, all I heard was praise. I guess books were seen as noble in the eyes of the world, so those who loved reading also gained some of that prestige."

Su Xinbai let out a soft laugh, almost mocking himself.

"Back then, I didn't understand. I didn't consider myself a girl. Men studied for the imperial exams and wrote essays, and I followed suit. My teacher said my essays were even better than those of the scholars in the local academy. Gradually, I developed a great deal of pride."

"Later, my father was transferred to take up the position of the Left Administration Commissioner of Liaozhou. Being new to the position, he couldn't fully exert his influence and encountered the mess left by the previous official, as well as obstacles from the Right Administration Commissioner... I don't know much about official matters, nor can I explain them clearly. In any case, my father decided to form a marriage alliance with the Zhu family, who had deep roots in Liaozhou."

"The most suitable candidate in our family was me. My younger sister, Su Xinyue, was also of an appropriate age, but my father chose me over her."

Qiu Huanian, recalling the dramatic stories from novels and TV shows, tentatively asked, "Was it your stepmother?"

"It had nothing to do with my stepmother. At the time, my stepmother wanted Xinyue to go, but my father... had other considerations." Su Xinbai stared blankly at his hands, "My birth mother passed away early, and I was a bookworm. Don't laugh, but I actually didn't understand many things about household affairs."

Qiu Huanian listened attentively to Su Xinbai's confessions, not interrupting or offering any opinions. This silent listener was exactly what Su Xinbai needed.

"Before that, I had never seriously thought about what kind of person I would marry in the future, but at the very least, they had to understand and love books, and be able to converse with me on equal terms." Su Xinbai said softly, somewhat embarrassed, "When I was young, I always thought I would marry someone who placed third in the imperial exams."

"Why not the top scholar?" Qiu Huanian asked curiously.

"...Because the third-place scholar is always handsome."

Qiu Huanian laughed, while Su Xinbai buried himself in the water, only revealing a pair of eyes, reddened by the steam and glistening with moisture.

Qiu Huanian urged him to continue the story. Su Xinbai lifted his head from the water, and after the sound of rippling waves, his voice became muffled again.

"I overheard the servants gossiping, saying, 'Young Master Bai knows nothing but reading books. Now that he's being married into a merchant family, his future will be difficult.' That's how I found out my father was going to marry me into the Zhu family, and the marriage agreements had already been exchanged."

"I had just come to Liaozhou back then and didn't know who the Zhu family was. My first instinct was to refuse. I went to talk to my father, but this time, he didn't give in to me like he usually would."

"He said..."

"'I have already decided on your marriage. You are of age, what else can you do if you don't marry? Do you really think someone like you can pass the imperial exams and become an official?'"

"..."

Qiu Huanian took a deep breath. He could understand how the words "what else can you do if you don't marry," spoken by Su's father, had shattered Su Xinbai's pride at that time, cutting deeply into his heart, a wound that had yet to heal.

"After that day, I realized that my reading was different from that of men. Men read to govern the country or to debate and establish theories, while my reading was merely adding a few decorative touches to a porcelain vase, making it more presentable when gifted in the future."

Su Xinbai recalled those vivid and painful memories, "I entered the Zhu family with a heavy heart. On the wedding night, the eldest young master presented me with a rare, priceless book and said he had prepared a study for me, so I could read as freely as I did at home. But I felt he was mocking me, for both he, the son of a merchant, and I, a young master with lofty aspirations, were not supposed to be readers."

"I threw the book and the veil in his face in one motion. He quietly picked them up, looked at me for a moment, and then walked away."

"..." Qiu Huanian cautiously asked, "Do you still think that way now?"

Su Xinbai shook his head, then realizing Qiu Huanian couldn't see, he muttered, "Later, I gradually realized that although the eldest young master came from a merchant family, he was not the least bit frivolous or impetuous. He was widely read, and I think he was sincere that night."

Qiu Huanian couldn't help but add, "And he's not bad-looking either."

There was a splash from where Su Xinbai was, his cool voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment and even annoyance, "...Why are you mentioning that!"

Qiu Huanian sighed in relief. Su Xinbai's emotional baggage was indeed heavy, but at least there were no irreconcilable conflicts between him and Zhu Jingcheng. From Su Xinbai's choice of words, it seemed his attitude had already softened.

"If you regret it and think the eldest young master is decent, why not apologize and talk it out with him? Living like this, don't you feel uncomfortable?"

Su Xinbai muttered, "You wouldn't get it."

"Now, he doesn't pay any attention to me. I think he's been deeply annoyed for a long time, but for the sake of the Su family's reputation, he has to keep up appearances."

Qiu Huanian blinked his beautiful eyes, recalling the scene he witnessed when he visited the Zhu family. He objectively commented, "I noticed you didn't really pay him much attention either."

Su Xinbai whispered, "If he ignores me, how can I pay attention to him?"

"What if he's thinking the same way? When will you two ever pay attention to each other?"

Su Xinbai was silent for a while, then resignedly replied, "...Don't kid, it's fine as it is."

He got up from the hot spring, as if trying to escape, "It's not good to soak in the hot spring for too long. I'm feeling a bit unwell, I'll go out first."

Having spoken freely just moments ago, once out of the comforting embrace of the hot spring water, he lost that false comfort and regretted having revealed so many embarrassing things.

Qiu Huanian sighed inwardly. Su Xinbai and Zhu Jingcheng were different from him; they were pure ancients. Many things that he thought could be resolved with a few words were not so simple for them.

Although Su Xinbai had revealed much of his heart today, it was because Qiu Huanian had gained his trust and had no deep connections with either side. The warm, enclosed environment of the hot spring was also conducive to relaxing the mind. It was a perfect alignment of time, place, and people.

If Zhu Jingcheng had been there, Qiu Huanian was certain that Su Xinbai would have remained tight-lipped, perhaps even deliberately saying things he didn't mean to protect himself.

Was Zhu Jingcheng really annoyed with Su Xinbai? Although there was no evidence, Qiu Huanian felt that wasn't the case.

He wondered when these two would finally come clean and make up.

...

After the Rain Water solar term passed, the weather started to warm up, and the plants in the yard quietly started to bud. Qiu Huanian packed away his winter clothes, and Su Xinbai sent over several rolls of new patterned silk for them to make new spring clothes.

Qiu Huanian insisted on paying, but Su Xinbai, teasing Cream Frost, slightly frowned and remained silent, pretending he hadn’t heard anything. Dian Mo and the other servants dared not accept the money either.

Reluctantly, Qiu Huanian accepted the generosity of his affluent friend.

Once the clothes were made and worn, Su Xinbai finally expressed satisfaction, looking at Qiu Huanian and saying, "I knew this color would look good on you the moment I saw it."

Qiu Huanian had grown a year older, his features more defined, the last traces of boyishness completely faded from his face. His lively and bright eyes blinked on his delicate face, like the early pink-white pear blossoms of spring, complementing the plum-green brocade robe embroidered with a hundred flowers.

Had Qiu Huanian not stopped him, Su Xinbai would probably have sent over every fabric he thought suitable. For Su Xinbai, money was just a number to him, and having it meant he could indulge freely.

Su Xinbai mentioned the purpose of his visit to Qiu Huanian, "Xian'er has reached the age where she needs a new tutor. Coincidentally, there are several young ladies and boys among the Zhu family relatives. My mother thought it would be a good idea to set up a school at home and asked me to see if Jiu Jiu would like to join."

"Change the tutor?"

"Previously, it was a female tutor who taught literacy and needlework. This time, we plan to hire a scholar and also a nanny from the palace to teach etiquette and manners."

Qiu Huanian called Jiu Jiu over to ask. Jiu Jiu, who had been bored out of her mind in the prefecture city for over half a month, was thrilled at the prospect of going to school with peers.

After agreeing to Jiu Jiu’s wish, Qiu Huanian thought of Chun Sheng, "Is there a school in the prefecture city suitable for someone Chun Sheng's age?"

"There are private schools run by scholars and family schools set up by wealthy families. If you're okay with it, I can check out the family schools of both the Su and Zhu families for you."

Qiu Huanian wasn't entirely comfortable. Unlike Jiu Jiu, Chun Sheng was young and mischievous, and letting him out was a bit of a gamble. "I'll discuss it with Yun Se later," he said.

Su Xinbai nodded, "In two days, there will be a spring outing at Xiuyan Mountain. Here's the invitation, and I've also written one for Brother Ling. Get ready early so you won't be scrambling later."

Su Xinbai mentioned that on the day of the spring outing, special guards would set up barriers near the paths of Xiuyan Mountain to strictly guard against unrelated people disturbing the noble families.

Qiu Huanian was amazed, thinking how typical it was of the ancient privileged class, and he was somewhat benefiting from Su Xinbai's influence.

"Is there anything to be careful about during the spring outing?"

"Just bring some fruits and snacks, take a walk, and enjoy the spring. Follow the mountain path to Qingfeng Academy, and with the invitation, you can enter. However, you can only play in the outer courtyard of Qingfeng Academy; the areas where students study and live are off-limits to visitors."

"Is there no other purpose for this spring outing?" Qiu Huanian was skeptical.

Su Xinbai explained, "Of course there is. During the spring outing, many noble families of Xiangping Prefecture gather together, providing an opportunity to meet unmarried young ladies and boys, to enhance their reputation and secure a desirable marriage. That's why my family asked me to bring along the younger sisters from both families. There are places where young people can play, which are not suitable for elders."

Qiu Huanian laughed, "You must not have attended such events before."

Su Xinbai smiled faintly, "One has to grow up sometime. After all, I'm already married, so there's no trouble."

On the day of the Flower Festival, February 12th, Qiu Huanian sent Chun Sheng to the Zhu family to play with Zhu Jingwei, while he went with Jiu Jiu and Meng Yuanling to Xiuyan Mountain for a spring outing. Su Xinbai lent them a coachman for easier travel and parking, as he had to pick up people from the Su family and couldn't accompany Qiu Huanian and the others.

After a quiet winter, Xiangping Prefecture came back to life. The streets were bustling with people dressed in bright and colorful clothes, and vendors selling early spring flowers could be seen along the roadside.

Qiu Huanian asked the coachman to stop and bought a large bouquet of apricot flowers. The carriage was filled with the light fragrance of apricot blossoms, and the dewy petals sparkled in the sunlight.

Jiu Jiu, smelling the flowers, skillfully adorned her hair with a few blossoms. Meng Yuanling was also eager, and Qiu Huanian, unable to resist their joint persuasion, placed a few petals on his forehead, instantly bringing color to his face.

Jiu Jiu praised, "Like a little deity from a painting."

Qiu Huanian felt a bit embarrassed, while Meng Yuanling teased, "When Brother Yun Se sees you later, he won't be able to take his eyes off you."

After three days apart, one should look at someone with new eyes. Since marrying Yun Cheng, Meng Yuanling could even tease Qiu Huanian.

Qiu Huanian narrowed his eyes and pinched Meng Yuanling's cute little face, "I will definitely tell Yun Cheng about how you stayed up late secretly embroidering a pouch."

Jiu Jiu widened her eyes, "Brother Ling, you said the pouch was already embroidered, but it turns out you just finished it these past few days?"

Meng Yuanling didn’t want to face Yun Cheng’s stern scolding, so he quickly apologized, "I was wrong, Brother Hua, please don’t tell Yun Cheng. Last time he returned during his break, he found me underdressed at night and coughing a bit. He lectured me for half an hour, and, and..."

As Meng Yuanling spoke, his face suddenly flushed.

Qiu Huanian was curious, "And what else?"

Meng Yuanling exclaimed, "Nothing at all, so you mustn’t say anything!"

Qiu Huanian chuckled, "Look at you, you’re the older cousin. How did you end up so controlled by Yun Cheng? Even before you got married, you were completely focused on Yun Cheng, and after marriage, you’re even more tightly controlled. Can’t you show a bit more independence?"

Meng Yuanling turned bright red, wishing he could vanish into thin air. After a while, he whispered in defense, "Yun Cheng treats me very well too."

Qiu Huanian, having heard some sweet words, teased a bit more, then looked out the window at the receding early spring scenery, his heart already yearning for Du Yunse.

Du Yunse had been directly admitted to Class A at Qingfeng Academy, creating quite a stir. However, being new, fitting into such a prestigious institution as Qingfeng Academy was no easy task.

Du Yunse rarely spoke about it, and Qiu Huanian could only guess from the slight weariness in his eyes when he returned on his days off that he must have faced many challenges at the academy.

When Qiu Huanian asked him, Du Yunse didn’t go into details, simply holding him quietly for a long while.

"Brother Hua, if even these things cause you concern, I must be quite inadequate."

"You devote yourself entirely to our home, and I won’t disappoint you either."

Qiu Huanian rested against Du Yunse’s increasingly firm and broad shoulders, reaching out to touch his Adam’s apple, feeling the vibrations as he spoke.

Not only had he grown a year older, but Du Yunse had also matured and changed. The experiences of the past year had been digested and transformed into an inner sedimentation, polishing him like jade, with a luster that was not easily discernible, yet firm and exquisite, brewing an inner depth that was hard to see through.

Sometimes Qiu Huanian even forgot that Du Yunse was just a young man in his early twenties.

When the carriage arrived at the foot of Xiuyan Mountain, an area had already been cordoned off with colorful tents for the noble families to park their carriages. Qiu Huanian and his companions got off with their food boxes, letting the coachman find a place to park at his convenience.

With their invitations, they easily entered the cordoned area, where some richly dressed ladies and young misses and gentlemen had already arrived. The mountain was full of spring colors, with laughter and chatter filling the air.

Not knowing anyone, Qiu Huanian and his group strolled along the path enjoying the spring. Having been in the city for over half a month without much contact with nature, they were all excited by the rare spring scenery after the harsh winter, stopping now and then to pick a flower or admire a view.

If this era had cameras and the internet, Qiu Huanian’s WeChat moments would probably be flooded with pictures of the beautiful scenery.

After walking along the mountain path for half an hour, the gate of Qingfeng Academy came into view.

Qingfeng Academy was founded at the end of the previous dynasty and has a history of over a hundred years. Located in the mountains, it avoided the ravages of war and has been expanded several times to its current scale.

Climbing the high steps and entering the gate, they first came to the front courtyard, surrounded by corridors and side rooms, with a large square in the middle, statues of sages and scholars, and two rows of large water vats where lotus flowers bloom in summer.

Further back were the classrooms and dormitories for the students, with a few small courtyards on the side where the headmaster and teachers of Qingfeng Academy lived.

After entering the front courtyard, Qiu Huanian and his two companions asked a servant to fetch Du Yunse and Yun Cheng from the back. Not knowing the exact time of arrival, they hadn’t made an appointment in advance to avoid disturbing their classes.

While waiting, Qiu Huanian and his group looked at the couplets hanging on the pillars of the front courtyard’s corridors. Under Yun Cheng’s supervision and encouragement, Meng Yuanling had improved quickly and could almost recognize all the characters.

Walking along the corridor, they gradually reached the other side of the courtyard, where they faintly heard voices. Qiu Huanian thought one of the voices sounded familiar, and after listening for a while, Meng Yuanling whispered, "Brother Hua, it sounds like that cat-selling Brother Yi."

Having helped sell tofu at his family’s tofu shop since childhood, Meng Yuanling had developed an exceptional ability to recognize people and remember things, and he quickly remembered where he had heard this voice before.

As they spoke, they moved closer, and Min Leyi’s voice became clearly audible, coming from beyond the courtyard wall.

"You say this kite is yours. What proof do you have?"

"The kite has a poem I personally inscribed on it. Please, Mr. Min, stop fooling around and return it to me."

"Okay, so I gotta ask you, your kite crashed down at noon yesterday and scared me. What are you gonna do about it?"

"...A kite? How could that possibly scare anyone!"

"You're shouting! You scared me again."

"You're totally unreasonable! You clearly, you're not—"

"What about me?"

"Aren't you the guy who can take on ten men single-handedly?"

"Who said that?! Who's spreading these rumors about me?"

"...I think they might be right."

"..."

Qiu Huanian and Meng Yuanling exchanged glances with Jiu Jiu, and the three of them slipped away quietly to avoid trouble. After thinking for a while, Qiu Huanian remembered who the owner of the voice arguing with Min Leyi was.

It was also an old acquaintance, a young genius from the Yu family of Liaozhou, Yu Min, who had taken second place in the academy exam last year, competing in the same session as Du Yunse.

Just as the three of them stepped away, Yu Min came out of a small gate in the wall, looking sullen, apparently failing to retrieve his kite from Min Leyi.

Yu Min walked a few steps ahead, saw Qiu Huanian and the others, walked a few more steps, and suddenly stopped.

"Brother Hua, do you know him?" Meng Yuanling whispered.

"A complicated history," Qiu Huanian truthfully informed.

Recalling their several meetings last year, he felt a mix of disbelief and amusement. Despite Yu Min's reputation as a genius, his inexperience made him act like a child, like a petulant kid.

Yu Min confirmed several times, almost wanting to rub his eyes, before finally confirming that the guy standing in the front yard of Qingfeng Academy was indeed the one he had met twice around the Dragon Boat Festival last year.

Compared to last year, his attire had improved significantly, finally looking decent, though it was unclear why he was at the academy.

Yu Min thought for a moment, then went over to ask him, "Do you know how last year's academy exam in Xiangping Prefecture turned out?"

Qiu Huanian answered his sudden question with a sigh, "Yes."

Yu Min cleared his throat, "Then do you know who I am?"

"Mr. Yu, you're famous. Of course, I remember."

Seeing Qiu Huanian's calm demeanor, Yu Min tried to keep a straight face and pressed on, "You, do you know what rank I was in?"

"Mr. Yu was second."

"Why aren't you impressed?" Yu Min asked unhappily.

Qiu Huanian had to sigh, "...Because my husband aced it."

"...What?" Yu Min's eyes widened.

"Wait, you're Du Yunse's husband?"

"The amazing red fermented tofu maker Du Yunse always brags about?"

His mind was spinning, and he instinctively pointed at Qiu Huanian. Before Qiu Huanian could avoid it, a firm and strong hand grabbed his arm from the side, firmly pressing it down without any resistance.

"Mr. Yu, control yourself."

Qiu Huanian's face lit up, "Yun Se, you made it!"

Du Yunse walked up to Qiu Huanian, gazed at the apricot blossom on his forehead, and with a light smile, lightly brushed it with his knuckle, capturing a touch of spring.