Chapter 20
Following Zhao Mother out of the courtyard and turning onto the street, we walked a few steps to the front of a shop. Just as I stepped inside, I nearly bumped into a young woman.
“Be careful.” I stepped back and lightly steadied her.
“Thank you.” The young woman still had tear stains on her face. She looked up, about to speak, but when she saw my appearance, she froze.
“Yun Girl!” Zhao Mother hurried over, grabbed her arm, and looked at her head. “Where is your hairpin?”
When Yun Xi heard this, she couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. “I can’t find it. I searched the shop everywhere, but I don’t know where I lost it. I was just about to go out and look for it.”
“Could it be this one?” I took out the Gold Hairpin. “Is this what you were looking for, Miss?”
Yun Xi took the Gold Hairpin, put it in her hair, and looked at me with a complicated expression. “May I ask where you found it, sir?”
I pressed two fingers together and tapped the table twice. “Wang’s Old Inn… at the entrance…”
Zhao Mother didn’t understand our cryptic exchange. She held Yun Xi’s hand, her tone a bit emotional. “Yun Girl, you and Dongzi, are you two… are you…”
“Yes, Dong Ge and I have already pledged ourselves to each other. He… he’s not here now, so I will serve you and Uncle in his stead.” Yun Xi’s voice grew softer, her eyes shimmering with tears. “I lost my parents when I was young, and in my heart, I already see you both as my own parents.”
“Good child, good child.” Zhao Mother choked up, patting Yun Xi’s hand. “That rascal Dongzi, when he comes back, I’ll make sure he marries you. If he runs again, I’ll break his legs!”
Hearing this, Yun Xi held back her sorrow and said to Zhao Mother, “This gentleman is a good friend of Dong Ge. Before he left, Dong Ge entrusted something to me for safekeeping. If I ever met this gentleman, I was to give it to him. Aunt, I’d like to have a few words with this gentleman.”
“Oh, of course, of course. You two talk.” Zhao Mother wiped her tears. “I’ll go back and prepare lunch for you.”