chapter 5
I set down my puffed-rice candy.
I looked up at my brother’s young son and daughter in the courtyard.
After a moment’s thought, I smiled as lightly as I could.
“What harm can there be in meeting them? It is not as though I will lose a piece of myself!”
My sister-in-law’s eyes reddened.
She went without sleep day and night while choosing a family for me. In the end, she settled on a merchant household.
“These are the Nan family’s sons. The family is immensely wealthy but has no political influence. Your brother can use his authority to make one of them marry into our family.”
To our surprise, when the Nans heard the proposal, no coercion was needed. They promptly bundled up their youngest and handsomest son and tossed him our way.
The family had traded along Longxi’s routes for a century and always suffered for lack of an official patron.
When I met the young man, his thin lips, red as caltrop petals, were pressed together. His peach-blossom eyes shimmered, and innocent clarity showed on his face.
“The sunlight is fair today, and beneath this proud sun…”
Nan Jingche stopped halfway, coughed softly, and glanced at the cheat sheet in his hand.
The ink had blurred beneath his sweaty palm, so he made up the rest.
“The sun today is truly… very big and very round.”
I blinked and met the fool’s eyes.
In that instant, inspiration struck.
What a wonderfully entertaining man!
He loved polo, stinky mandarin fish, and swinging from tree to tree like a monkey. We were truly kindred spirits from the same low hills and foul waters.
As the summer heat faded, I sat with him in a tree eating peaches.
Gazing out over the yellow sands of the border city, I did not have a single worry.
Concerned that his family had forced him, I made a point of asking, “Young Master Nan, do you sincerely wish to spend the rest of your life with me?”
Nan Jingche blinked, apparently puzzled in complete earnest.
“What does the rest of a life look like?”
I explained with great authority.
“It means we will eat stinky mandarin fish together for a lifetime and watch the big, round sun for a lifetime too.”
Nan Jingche nodded hard.
Then he copied my older brother, who was bashfully leaning against my sister-in-law’s shoulder in the distance.
Gently and politely, he leaned toward me.
“Then I want to spend a lifetime with Second Miss.”
I ruffled the top of his head.
His brain seemed very small. Just the right size to hold only me.
As for Nan Jingche, I was satisfied and so was my sister-in-law.
My brother examined him for ages with a sour expression.
He failed to dig up even a hint of scheming in the young man’s eyes.
“The Nan family’s rank is modest, but their wealth is an advantage.”
“And he will be right under my eye. If he treats you poorly, your brother will bring you home at once.”
I agreed with a smile.
Hearts changed easily. Only the present moment lasted forever.
I was willing to enjoy what we had now, but I could not offer anything more.
Our marriage was settled.
Unable to contain myself, I wanted to go find Nan Jingche and play.
My sister-in-law tapped my nose and instructed me earnestly.
“Xiaoshu, an engaged couple must not meet before the wedding.”
Knowing that I did not understand the rules governing men and women, she gently added, “We girls must always make ourselves look a little precious.”
We could not meet, and I had to look precious?
After thinking hard, I tore off a piece of expensive cloth and tied it over my face.
There. Problem solved.
I ran joyfully toward the Nan residence.
Beneath the scattered stars, I brushed shoulders with a young man in purple.
We both stopped at once.
Nan Jingche had tied a scrap of cloth over his face too.
The servant behind him burst out laughing.
“Oh, what a coincidence! Miss Zhou and my young master truly share one heart!”
Nan Jingche bobbed his head like a pecking chicken.
“Yes, what an amazing coincidence!”
We wandered the streets with our faces covered.
An enthusiastic shopkeeper asked, “Would you two like to steal–I mean, buy something?”
Nan Jingche pointed to a little firefly lantern.
“I want to buy Second Miss a whole room full of stars.”
I froze.
I had once complained that Longxi was always foggy and I could never see the stars at night.
I never imagined that Nan Jingche’s foolish mind would make the right connection for once.
Carrying several firefly lanterns, he walked me home.
The hand hanging inside his sleeve quietly brushed my fingertips. His ears flushed as red as pomegranate blossoms.
Fireflies flickered everywhere, unable to conceal a young man’s heart.
Under the silent moonlight, someone stood beneath the swaying shadows of the trees, watching for who knew how long.
I had just relaxed when a cold laugh sounded behind me.
“Ningshu, you have grown bold.”
“You ran all the way to this godforsaken place just to hide from me.”