Su Xiaoqi was surrounded by over ten young beggars led by Xiao Yi, who peppered her with questions about the details of treating the little magpie.
They harbored no ill will, only pure curiosity.
Su Xiaoqi paused for a moment, then smiled and told them, "Because my medical skills are better than that old doctor's. If any of you fall ill in the future, don't be afraid, come find me. I guarantee a swift recovery."
Only Xiao Yi didn't believe her; the others did. The current Su Xiaoqi provided them with full meals and a big house to live in. In their eyes, she was no different from a savior. Whatever she said, they accepted.
Xiao Yi, being the eldest and more thoughtful, knew it wasn't that simple. She simply didn't want to tell the truth. However, there was nothing to scrutinize, as the little magpie was now well. He just couldn't understand why the once cold and heartless Su Xiaoqi was suddenly so kind to them. He voiced his confusion.
This was a question Su Xiaoqi had been waiting for, and she had a ready answer. "If I said I started planning for you all from the moment we first met, would you believe me?"
Xiao Yi shook his head decisively. He didn't understand the question. What did she mean by their first meeting?
Su Xiaoqi faltered for a moment. Alas, she'd forgotten that the original owner had known them long before. She explained that she had been contemplating this matter since the time she invited them to eat. "It's just that back then, I didn't have enough money to buy a house for you."
Now, with the little magpie's illness, she had saved enough money to purchase a house. She reasoned that the Shen family wouldn't be living there anyway, so it was good for these homeless children to occupy it. Moreover, she couldn't support them indefinitely for free. She wished to provide appropriate help when they needed it, enabling them to develop their own survival skills in the future. After all, giving a man a fish feeds him for a day, but teaching him to fish feeds him for a lifetime.
"For now, you can all stay here. Aunt Wen will get you some clean clothes to wear. The older ones can try their luck outside and see if they can find suitable work. The younger ones will study and write here, or perhaps help me with some tasks." Su Xiaoqi clearly laid out the path ahead for them.
Her words were also very clear. She didn't support idlers, let alone lazy people. The courtyard was large, and everyone needed to pitch in, clean, tidy up, and assist Aunt Wen in managing the household. They also needed to be obedient. Furthermore, Su Xiaoqi designated Xiao Yi as their leader. Since he was the eldest, if any of his younger siblings were disobedient or unruly, he would be held accountable. Su Xiaoqi also informed them that she would compile what she had just said into a booklet, which would serve as the rules for this courtyard.
Having finished her explanations and instructions, Su Xiaoqi, mindful that the little magpie hadn't eaten much, worried she might get hungry later. She specifically asked Granny Wen to prepare a pot of chicken soup porridge for her so she could have a bowl in the afternoon if she felt hungry.
"You're so good to your sister," Granny Wen said, full of emotion as she looked at Su Xiaoqi. They had spent half the afternoon together. Granny Wen didn't know much about Su Xiaoqi, perhaps only her name. But that didn't stop her from liking her. The young woman was dignified and polite, never treating her with neglect simply because she was a servant. Seeing her chat and laugh with the group of little beggars, and willing to spend money to provide for their food, drink, and lodging, calling her a living Bodhisattva wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Su Xiaoqi replied sweetly, "I don't live here usually, so I have to trouble you, Auntie." She spoke a great deal of polite words and also told Granny Wen to come to her if she needed money for expenses. She promised that if she had no other matters to attend to, she would visit them every few days.
"I understand," Granny Wen replied readily. The young lady before her seemed to have many secrets. But she inexplicably trusted her. It was an indescribable feeling, one that originated from the depths of her heart.
With all the miscellaneous matters handled, and seeing the time, Su Xiaoqi bid farewell to Granny Wen and the beggars. She took Zhao Xiaozhu and left the courtyard. The two walked to the East City gate, where they immediately spotted Old Zhao's mule cart. Su Xiaoqi had calculated the timing, knowing he usually returned to the village around this hour.
Getting into the mule cart, Su Xiaoqi said, "Uncle Zhao, could you make a detour to the county school and bring Shen Yun along?"
"Certainly," Old Zhao said, flicking his whip as the mule cart set off with a "clop clop." Having collaborated for so long, he basically understood Su Xiaoqi's habits. When she went out, she always traveled by mule cart and returned by mule cart, as befitted a young lady of status. However, Mr. Shen and Mr. Zhao were different. They only rode his mule cart when they went out with Su Xiaoqi. Usually, the two of them walked back; half an hour was not a significant duration for them. But for some reason these past couple of days, only Mr. Shen had been going to the county school to study.
As they arrived on the road in front of the county school, classes were just ending. Students, all dressed in identical scholar robes and wearing scholar caps, were emerging from within. Su Xiaoqi recognized Shen Yun in the crowd at a glance. He was wearing the moon-white scholar robe she had bought him and a grey scholar cap. He was tall and slender, with a sturdy and powerful gait. Compared to the scholars around him, who were either plump, thin, or short, he stood out from the crowd.
Just as Su Xiaoqi was about to wave and greet him, a pink figure suddenly appeared before her eyes. She narrowed her eyes and looked closely; it was none other than Su Yurou. Accompanied by her maid, Xiao Qi, carrying a food box, she gracefully walked forward and precisely blocked Shen Yun's path.
"Young Master Shen."
Shen Yun's phoenix-like eyes flickered slightly. "You should call me brother-in-law." Regardless of Su Xiaoqi's true identity, she was, in name, still the daughter of the Su family.
Su Yurou choked, taken aback. She hadn't expected Shen Yun, having seen Su Xiaoqi interacting with those beggars last time, to have no suspicion about her identity at all. She didn't know if he was testing her or accepting it. She preferred the former, as it implied he was unwilling. Only in this way, when Su Xiaoqi's true identity was revealed, would he have a chance to abandon her. But if it were the latter...
Su Yurou didn't want to think further. Regardless of Su Xiaoqi's identity, her face truly possessed a potent charm for men. Even her second brother, a notorious rake who frequented courtesans, couldn't help but be smitten and desire to possess her. How much more so for someone like Shen Yun. After a moment's thought, Su Yurou gently and softly called out, "Brother-in-law Shen, is the painting ready?"
Shen Yun nodded, pulling out a scroll from under his arm and handing it to her. Su Yurou's delicate face broke into a refined smile, her teeth not showing, exuding elegance. She extended her snow-white, tender hand and gently grasped one corner of the scroll. As Shen Yun let go, her fingers slipped, and the painting slid from between her fingers.
"Oh dear..." she exclaimed softly, looking down. Shen Yun, with quick reflexes, extended his index and middle fingers of his left hand, immediately clamping onto the falling scroll. At the same time, Su Yurou's slender hands also swiftly reached for the scroll, unexpectedly landing on Shen Yun's hand.
Their hands overlapped on the scroll. The man's hands were slender and strong, with well-defined joints; the woman's hands were fair and soft, as if boneless. Time seemed to stand still at that moment...