Little Girl

The Fang Family's ox cart took him straight to his door, and Su Ziji watched Fang Xi drive away.

But when he turned around, he saw the petite Ye Buhui standing behind him at some unknown time, arms folded as she stared at him, her expression rather gloomy.

Su Ziji's heart skipped a beat. "Why was this little ancestress here?"

"You made me wait here for nearly an hour for nothing!" Seeing that he said nothing, Ye Buhui snorted, growing even more displeased.

After the banquet yesterday, she had not come by. Today, thinking that he had not eaten yet, she had specially come over, only to find the place empty and him nowhere in sight.

When men had money, they turned bad. It truly was an eternal truth!

Had this little tyrant come to return the chess manual?

Seeing the neat square bundle in her hand, Su Ziji understood. She was in the middle of a temper, and no amount of sweet talk would likely help. So he simply briskly opened the gate and made a gesture of invitation.

"At least you have a conscience!" Ye Buhui snorted at the sight. Then she stuffed an oil-paper parcel into Su Ziji's hands before heading straight inside, her clear voice drifting back. "I bought this on my way over. If you don't want to eat it, then don't!"

He did not even need to look. Just from the smell, he could tell it was a meat pie. Ye Buhui had always been hard-mouthed but soft-hearted. Their time together had long since let Su Ziji see through her temperament, and he found it both amusing and somewhat bitter.

Just then, Ye Buhui happened to turn back and immediately widened her eyes. "What, you really don't want to eat it? I saw someone bring you back in an ox cart just now. Did you go as a guest to someone else's house? Did you already eat something good, so now you don't care for my meat pie?"

"How could that be?" Su Ziji casually shut the gate and followed after her, soothing the young girl. "How could I not cherish Bu Hui's thoughtfulness?"

For some reason, something in those words seemed to strike Ye Buhui, and her expression eased slightly.

"Oh, right, here's your chess manual." By then, the two had entered the house. Ye Buhui softened her voice and placed the carefully wrapped chess manual on the table. After lingering awkwardly for a moment, she continued, "And my father said that passing the Examination Student exam was a good thing. You said you already attended a banquet, but that was a banquet with your classmates, not a family banquet."

"No one in your household is celebrating for you, so come to my house. My father, you, and I can have a meal together. We'll count that as a celebration. Will you come?"

Su Ziji would not, as he had in the past, let pride hurt Ye Buhui's feelings. Hearing this, he smiled. "Naturally, I would be honored to accept. I just got back, so I'll rest for a while. Don't worry, I'll come over this afternoon."

"Fine, but don't you dare not come. I'll go buy some wine and meat as soon as I get back. If you don't come, I'll make you regret it!" She waved her little fist, seemingly still holding a grudge over having waited an hour for him today, and gave him another warning before leaving.

Su Ziji smiled wryly. With that little chili pepper's temper, how would he dare stand her up?

After seeing her off, Su Ziji went to the study in the main house. By the south window stood a small row of bookshelves, the books upon them all dog-eared. He placed the chess manuals back one by one. Though he had little interest in chess himself, they were Father Su's belongings, and keeping them was a remembrance.

"Bu Hui does have a talent for chess. I wonder whether she'll enter the chess tournament?" Su Ziji thought of Ye Buhui's obsession with chess.

Great Zheng had inherited the customs of Former Wei. Women were certainly constrained, but they were not barred from taking part in social activities. Chess tournaments had always allowed both men and women to participate. Unmarried women, especially, faced far fewer restrictions than married women.

If a young girl from an ordinary household like Ye Buhui entered a chess tournament and won some rewards, it would also benefit her future marriage prospects.

"Ah, but with Bu Hui's personality, she has none of a gentleman's bearing. Even if she wins and gains a fine reputation, that temperament of hers would probably scare off half the men." Thinking of that little chili pepper's personality, Su Ziji could not help smiling and shaking his head. He changed his shoes and socks, then headed for Ye Bookshop.

Linhua County could be considered densely populated, its streets and alleys lined with shops, while peddlers and hawkers cried their wares without pause.

A sense of melancholy rose in Su Ziji's heart. It truly felt as though he had stumbled into another world. Everywhere he looked were strangers; perhaps only Ye Buhui's parents gave him a little warmth and familiarity.

At that moment, a butcher's shop stood ahead. Freshly cooked braised meat lay on the counter, and a man sat behind it. Though he sold meat, he had a kind and benevolent face. The moment he looked up and spotted Su Ziji, he called out, "Hey, Little Brother Su, you're too frail. Don't work yourself so hard studying."

A woman was also picking through the meat. Hearing this, she giggled. "This little brother is quite handsome, just a bit weak. I remember he even fainted a few days ago."

Before she could finish, a young woman passed by. She was tall and slender, her clothes not expensive but washed spotlessly clean. With an oval face, she pursed her lips in a smile at those words, revealing two shallow dimples. She clearly agreed very much.

Su Ziji could only respond with a wry smile and exchange a few pleasantries. Boss Zhang, the butcher, cut off a fatty piece of pig head meat, shook open some mulberry-bark paper, and said cheerfully, "Here, take this home and nourish yourself. Your father used to come buy from me often!"

Unable to refuse, Su Ziji accepted it and arrived at Ye Bookshop. Ye Buhui was standing at the entrance talking to someone. The man was not very old, dressed in a constable's uniform and carrying an iron ruler, looking rather imposing.

As Su Ziji approached, he heard Ye Buhui standing with her hands on her hips and snapping back, "...Tan An, you're utterly unreasonable. Who I associate with and how old I am—what does any of that have to do with you?"

"My father hasn't said a word about it. Since when was it your place, an outsider's, to wag your tongue? If you keep being so unreasonable, I'll let you see what a person truly lacking in manners looks like!"

As she spoke, she was about to turn around and fetch a broom to drive him away, only to see Su Ziji watching her with a complicated expression.

Though she had always acted this way before Su Ziji, having just said those words and now being watched by him, Ye Buhui suddenly felt embarrassed, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

"Hey! Why are you still standing there?" Seeing that the constable Tan An was still staring blankly at her, Ye Buhui put her hands on her hips and spoke angrily.

Only then did Tan An come back to himself and look at Su Ziji, who had approached. His face was full of disappointment, but before Su Ziji could drive him away for Ye Buhui, he turned and left directly.

"What's wrong with Tan An? He was perfectly normal a while ago. Could inheriting his father's post as a constable have damaged his brain?" Looking at Tan An's retreating back, Ye Buhui was still irritated. "You have no idea—he actually came to tell me that I'm not that young anymore and shouldn't be too close to you. He said that if I kept going to your house, people would see and it would make it hard to talk about marriage!"

"Haha, do I need him to lecture me?"

People in ancient times matured so early. Tan An looked only sixteen or seventeen, didn't he? Su Ziji was silent for a moment before saying, "It is indeed too early to say such things. You don't look like someone who can get married yet."

His gaze swept over the young girl's body. Then he pinched his chin and nodded with certainty. "Mm, you're still just a little girl!"