Chapter 56 Summer Solstice

Chapter 56 Summer Solstice

Although Li Qinglan had not yet returned, Jin Feng had finally regained his spirits, bringing considerable relief to the family and lightening the atmosphere at home.

On the day of the Summer Solstice, a heavy rain fell just after dawn. By the time everyone woke up, the rain had stopped, and the sun peeked through the clouds, quickly drying the ground halfway.

After breakfast, Jian Ru carried his dressing case to the elder sister’s house next door. In the courtyard, his brother-in-law Zhao Pin had built a makeshift stove with bricks, atop which sat a small iron pot. The firewood beneath burned fiercely, boiling water in which peeled mung beans tumbled and rolled.

Qiao Zhi and Xian Yu were busy carrying firewood from the storeroom, taking turns enthusiastically feeding the flames under the pot. Zhao Pin tried to stop them, saying, "Enough, enough! Too strong a fire will boil the pot dry." Ignoring him, the two children giggled and continued stuffing in more wood. The flames were already scorching, and Zhao Pin was soon drenched in sweat.

Jian Ru’s arrival in the courtyard finally rescued him. Xian Yu was the first to spot his uncle, toddling over eagerly with chubby arms outstretched before tightly wrapping them around his legs. Jian Ru felt as if he were being clamped by a plump crab.

"Uncle, we’re making sweet mung bean soup. You’ll get the first bowl when it’s done," Xian Yu said in a sweet, childish voice, trying to please him.

Jian Ru patted his head and smiled. "Xian Yu is such a good boy."

Hearing her brother, Qiao Zhi pursed her lips. She walked over, eyeing the dressing case in Jian Ru’s arms enviously, and said, "Uncle, your case is even prettier than Mother’s."

Jian Ru looked at Qiao Zhi and realized the child had grown taller without him noticing. Her once round, chubby face had slimmed down, her chin now delicate and pointed, giving her a budding young lady’s grace.

Qiao Zhi had turned twelve after her birthday in spring—indeed, she was no longer a little child.

Jian Ru gently touched her cheek and said, "Next year for your birthday, Uncle will buy you an even prettier one."

Qiao Zhi’s face lit up with joy, and she hugged Jian Ru as well. The two children competed for his attention, neither willing to let go. Jian Ru felt as if he were wrapped in two warm quilts—comforting, but rather hot.

Zhao Pin chuckled and said, "Alright, let go of your uncle now. If your mother comes out and finds you pestering him, she’ll scold you."

Hearing this, the children quickly released him.

Zhao Pin smiled at Jian Ru. "Jin Hui and Second Sister are inside, waiting for you."

Jian Ru acknowledged him and went into the house.

As he entered, he saw Second Sister Jin Rong being pressed down in front of a bronze mirror by Elder Sister, looking quite impatient.

Jin Hui, adorned with hairpins and floral ornaments, was trying them one by one on Jin Rong’s hair. Spotting Jian Ru, she waved him over. "Perfect timing! Help me decide which hairpin looks best on Jin Rong."

Jian Ru set down his case and quickly helped choose a hairpin before Jin Rong’s patience ran out.

After Jin Hui finished adorning her younger sister, Jin Rong immediately picked up a medical book to read without even glancing in the mirror, leaving Jin Hui feeling rather unappreciated.

She pressed Jian Ru into a chair and said, "You’re much more obedient, Xiao Ru." She gently touched Jian Ru’s cheek. "When you first married into the family last year, you looked thin and pale. Now your face is fair and tender, as if it could be pinched to draw water."

Jian Ru blushed at the praise. "Not at all..."

He had stopped applying ointment for several days now. The fine raised scars on his face had smoothed out completely, leaving only faint white marks. The nail-sized scar had also lightened, becoming less noticeable.

Jin Hui opened the case Jian Ru had brought, her eyes lighting up at the contents. "Wow, my little brother bought quite the collection!"

Jian Ru sat there, beaming.

Jin Hui tapped his forehead playfully. "Look how pleased you are!"

Jian Ru’s makeup was simple: mainly applying face powder to even out his skin tone, with bright peach shades accentuating his eyes and lips.

When she was done, Jin Hui held Jian Ru’s chin, tilting it this way and that. Her thumb brushed over the nail-sized scar, and after a moment of thought, she brightened. "I’ll paint a design over it."

Jian Ru looked at her expectantly and nodded.

Jin Hui, having learned martial arts from her mother, had remarkably steady hands.

When everything was finished, Jian Ru looked in the mirror and saw a youthful, radiant face, as beautiful as a freshly bloomed flower, without a single flaw.

The design Elder Sister had painted on his cheek cleverly used the small scar as the center of a flower, making it completely unnoticeable.

Jian Ru had never seen himself look so beautiful and blushed with happiness.

Jin Hui patted his lower back affectionately. "Alright, go show my little brother now."

Jian Ru was eager to return and show Second Young Master, but he hesitated, feeling it improper to leave before Jin Hui had done her own makeup. He thought he should stay and help.

Jin Hui teased him, "Go on, you’re all thumbs—I don’t need your help."

Only then did Jian Ru pick up his case, bid farewell to his sisters, and head out.

Arriving at his own door, he glanced down at his new clothes, adjusted the case under his arm, tidied his hair, and prepared to enter. But suddenly, he felt a wave of insecurity.

He wondered if his clothes matched his makeup, whether his makeup was too heavy, or if it looked strange.

While lost in these thoughts, the door slid open abruptly. Jian Ru looked up to see Second Young Master standing inside, gazing at him.

His eyes swept over his face, lingering on his lips. Jian Ru pursed his lips, lowered his head, and shuffled his feet nervously. Softly, he asked, "Does it look strange?"

Second Young Master shook his head thoughtfully, a faint smile appearing as if he’d recalled something. He stepped aside to let him in.

Jian Ru entered, and the door closed behind him. Then, he was embraced from behind.

A finger lifted his chin, turning his face slightly. Warm breath drew near, as if to kiss him, but Jian Ru quickly raised a hand to stop him. "You’ll smudge my lip color," he protested.

The finger under his chin gently tilted his head up instead. Soft kisses trailed down his neck, sending tingling shivers through him. Jian Ru let out a faint murmur, and the kisses grew more urgent, trailing downward until his collar loosened.

After a while, Second Young Master wrapped an arm around Jian Ru’s waist, turning him to face him. He held him close, calming his breathing before speaking. "My Xiao Ru is truly beautiful."

Jian Ru blushed. "But you said appearances are superficial, that you didn’t care about them."

Second Young Master smiled again. "When I opened the door and saw you just now, I thought to myself—I really am just an ordinary man. What I called indifference was simply because I hadn’t yet met someone I wanted to care about."

Jian Ru’s eyes widened, his heart beating faster. Second Young Master gazed down at him for a moment before whispering, "If the lip color smudges, I’ll help you reapply it later. Is that alright?"

Jian Ru felt shy. "Do you know how?"

"I’ll try," he said.

But his lips were already descending. Jian Ru wrapped his arms around his neck, melting into his embrace. It was a long while before the two parted, breathless.

When Jian Ru saw his face up close, he laughed and quickly wiped the smudged lip color from his lips. Second Young Master chuckled as well.

They went to the bronze mirror. Jian Ru sat while Second Young Master took the lip color, dabbing it on with his fingertip, carefully reapplying it for him. When he finished, Jian Ru checked his reflection—it looked quite skillfully done.

"Let’s go. Elder Sister should be about ready. We’ll go to the riverside together," Second Young Master said, taking his hand.

...

Every year on the Summer Solstice, a harvest prayer ceremony was held by the river. On this day, anyone with free time would come to the riverside to stroll, watch, and partake in the blessings.

Vendors from nearby also gathered, doing brisk business in the lively atmosphere.

Since it had rained that morning, everyone said the Summer Solstice rain promised a year of good harvest—an auspicious sign. The faces of passersby were filled with joy and cheer.

Jian Ru tugged on Er-gongzi's sleeve, following behind the eldest sister's family and the second sister, jostling through the crowd.

Jin Rong quickly lost interest in browsing and, after letting them know, headed off on her own into a bookstore by the roadside.

The rest continued to stroll. They all ate hot, freshly fried cakes from a stall, filling their bellies. Xian Yu, full and energetic, clamored for fun activities. Jin Hui took the lead, guiding the group toward the cheering crowds.

Over there were all sorts of entertaining activities—archery, pitch-pot, pin-the-nose, ring toss—with stalls lined up in a long row.

Jin Hui craned her neck to peer through the crowd ahead, then turned back to look for Jian Ru, calling out, "Xiao Ru, dare to compete with Big Sister in pitch-pot?"

Jian Ru puffed out his chest. "Bring it on!"

With that, he pulled Er-gongzi along as they squeezed through. When the two approached, Jin Hui hooked her arm through his, and they went to pay the stall owner.

Xian Yu wasn’t interested in pitch-pot; he was eager to try archery. Qiao Zhi, however, had her eyes on the tie-dye shop across the way. Zhao Pin, unable to decide which to do first, grew anxious and began to sweat.

Er-gongzi stepped in to mediate. "Brother-in-law, I’ll take Qiao Zhi to see the tie-dye."

Zhao Pin had no choice but to agree. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

After informing Jin Hui and Jian Ru, they split up to take the children to their chosen activities.

Jin Hui and Jian Ru waited in line, watching others play.

After a while, it was their turn.

The stall owner, learning they were competing and encouraged by the lively crowd, announced cheerfully, "Whoever wins gets a paper fan as a prize!"

They both felt confident and began to play.

Jin Hui moved deftly, scoring on her first throw. The crowd cheered. Jian Ru, feeling everyone’s eyes on him, grew nervous and missed his first attempt, his arrow landing off to the side. His second throw was better.

The weather was warm, the sun bright. Though initially tense, Jian Ru soon got into the spirit and forgot about the onlookers. His sleeves fluttered as he threw, growing more accurate with each attempt. Soon, a light sweat formed on his skin—his face flushed with a fair, rosy glow, his eyes bright, his smiling lips full and red. Radiating youth and energy, he looked as delicate and beautiful as a flower.

Each had ten arrows. Jin Hui hit all ten, triumphantly clenching her fist. Jian Ru hit eight and was quite pleased with his performance.

When the stall owner handed out the prizes, he gave Jin Hui a paper fan as promised but also gave Jian Ru an additional round fan.

Jin Hui raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t you say only the winner gets a prize?"

The stall owner looked at Jian Ru, half-teasing, half-admiring, and laughed. "Well, I can’t let such a handsome lad go empty-handed, can I?"

Jin Hui clicked her tongue in amusement, and the crowd egged them on. Jian Ru had never been in such a situation—he wasn’t used to having his looks praised, much less being the center of attention. At a loss, he could only shyly clutch the round fan, thank the stall owner, and turn to slip back into the crowd.

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice called out hesitantly, "Xiao Ru?"

Jian Ru turned to look and saw, standing in the crowd, a young man in a traditional long gown staring at him in surprise.

This man was none other than Jiang Maocai—the one who had nearly caused Jian Ru’s death, who had run off to a distant region with Zhang Jiao, and whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.