After a meal at the Qian Manor, Qian Xiao Qi met Ha Da who Liu Lu depicted like a small round white bun.
A maid carried Ha Da in her arms. Ha Da barked twice, jumped out of the maid’s arms and leapt onto Qian Xiao Qi’s arms.
Song Liang Zhuo thought Ha Da wanted to attack Qian Xiao Qi. His arm instinctively obstructed Ha Da from coming near Qian Xiao Qi, but she pushed his arm aside and held Ha Da in her arms.
Qiao Xiao Qi thought Ha Da felt more like a small round dumpling than a small round white bun. She rubbed Ha Da’s soft head, and thought Ha Da was more likeable than Song Liang Zhuo.
Qian Xiao Qi’s father noticed how Song Liang Zhuo wanted to protect Qian Xiao Qi, and he was happy with his son-in-law. Since Song Liang Zhuo cared about Qian Xiao Qi, Qian Xiao Qi’s father didn’t need to bribe Song Liang Zhuo to take good care of Qian Xiao Qi. Qian Xiao Qi’s father was happy his wife was right that Qian Xiao Qi’s heart would move Song Liang Zhuo’s heart.
Qian Xiao Qi carried Ha Da to the gardens to play while the men discussed business.
There were flowers everywhere in the s.p.a.cious gardens, and a waterfall falling onto a pond.
Qian Xiao Qi stood in front of the pond and a gentle breeze pa.s.sed through her body. She looked at the fishes swimming in the pond, and felt happy to be home.
Qian Xiao Qi’s mother was sad the Song Manor had a small garden and no pond like the Qian Manor, because she knew Qian Xiao Qi loved flowers and ponds and disliked hot days.
‘Xiao Qi, tell me the truth,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘Are you suffering at the Song Manor?’
‘No,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘What about Lady Shang?’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother asked. ‘Is Lady Shang interfering in your relationship with Song Liang Zhuo? What’s their relationship like?’
‘They grew up together,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Childhood sweethearts?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘Half,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I don’t know if the bamboo loves the flower, but the flower loves the bamboo.’
‘Xiao Qi, you have to be careful,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘Don’t give the flower a chance to be with the bamboo.’
Qian Xiao Qi stretched her arms and winked at her mother.
‘Mother, I don’t need to be careful while I’m here,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
Qian Xiao Qi was envious of the happy fishes swimming together in the pond. ‘Mother, can I stay here for a few days? I really love the gardens here.’
Qian Xiao Qi’s mother gripped her handkerchief. Her heart wanted to keep Qian Xiao Qi home, but her head knew Qian Xiao Qi belonged with Song Liang Zhuo.
‘Xiao Qi, it’s better if you stay at the Song Manor,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘Don’t give Lady Shang an opportunity to steal Song Liang Zhuo. Whenever you miss your family, you can come home for a short visit.’
Qian Xiao Qi’s heart broke. She didn’t want to only visit home occasionally. She understood why she heard people say a married woman was like running water, it was hard for running water to flow back home.
‘Mother, can I take two fishes home to raise?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked.
‘I know Xiao Qi love fishes and ponds,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘In two days, I’ll ask servants to bring fishes to the Song Manor for you to raise.’
‘Mother, I don’t want Official Song… I mean my husband and Lady Shang Ruo Pai to see the fishes,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I only want two fishes to raise by myself.’
‘Alright, Xiao Qi can take two fishes home,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother agreed.
‘Mother, I want to bring Ha Da home with me too,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I want to sleep with Ha Da at night.’
‘Will Song Liang Zhuo agree?’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother asked.
‘He… isn’t scared of little dogs,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I’ll negotiate with him at home.’
‘Alright, I’ll let Xiao Qi take everything you want bring to the Song Manor,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said.
‘Mother is always generous,’ Qian Xiao Qi praised.
Qian Xiao Qi’s mother saw Song Liang Zhuo crossing the bridge and walking toward Qian Xiao Qi.
‘Xiao Qi, your husband is looking for you,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘I can see that he doesn’t like being apart from you.’
‘Mother, he won’t care if I stay here longer,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘No!’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘Xiao Qi, think about why your father hasn’t strayed all these years. There’s only one reason. Because I always keep a close eye on your father.’
Qian Xiao Qi fed the fishes and pouted her lips. She was sad she couldn’t stay home for longer.
‘Ask someone to catch two fishes for me,’ Qian Xiao Qi instructed a maid. ‘I want those two small red fishes. I don’t want any of the big fishes.’
Song Liang Zhuo reached the pond and smiled at Qian Xiao Qi.
‘Xiao Qi, do you want to take fishes home to raise?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked. ‘It’s getting late. Xiao Qi, we should go home now.’
‘Um, let’s go back to the Song Manor,’ Qian Xiao Qi said indifferently.
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t want to know why Song Liang Zhuo looked happy.
‘These fishes are gifts for the future generation,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother teased.
‘Mother, the fishes are for me,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I’ll carry Ha Da back to the Song Manor. Father, what about the money?’
‘Xiao Qi, do you want money?’ Qian Xiao Qi’s father asked.
‘Father, giving me money will help lighten your burden,’ Qian Xiao Qi reasoned.
‘Xiao Qi, did you come home for money?’ Qian Xiao Qi’s father asked.
‘Father, it was hard for me to come home today,’ Qian Xiao Qi said. ‘I didn’t come home for money. Father, you have a lot of money. Don’t be stingy with your daughter.’
‘Enough,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s mother said. ‘Husband, don’t upset Xiao Qi. And Xiao Qi, you shouldn’t cry when you come visit your family. Remember, coming home happy means you’ll leave home happy.’
Qian Xiao Qi hugged her mother’s arm and followed her father and Song Liang Zhuo to the horse carriage.
‘Xiao Qi, don’t be sad,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s father said. ‘If Xiao Qi wants money, I’ll give you a jade rabbit.’
‘What?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. Her face lit up and she nodded her head. ‘Yes!’
‘My Xiao Qi is a greedy money lover,’ Qian Xiao Qi’s father said lovingly.
Later in the horse carriage, Song Liang Zhuo sat in the corner and avoided Ha Da who was sitting on Qian Xiao Qi’s lap.
Qian Xiao Qi stuck her head out of the horse carriage window. She waved to her family until she couldn’t see them in the distance.
Qian Xiao Qi hugged Ha Da and felt depressed.
‘Xiao Qi, you need to get used to being away from home,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘How are you going to cope when we’re travelling to remote villages?’
‘Who said I want to go to remote villages with you?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked. ‘You can go with your little sister Pai. I asked my father for money for you. In the future I’m sleeping with Ha Da. You can find a different bedchamber to sleep in.’
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t state his opinion.
When Song Liang Zhuo and Qian Xiao Qi returned to the Song Manor, Shang Ruo Pai ran to the horse carriage and grabbed Song Liang Zhuo’s hand.
‘Big brother Zhuo, you’re home!’ Shang Ruo Pai said.
Qian Xiao Qi frowned and carried Ha Da to the bedchamber. But Ha Da climbed onto her shoulder and barked twice at Shang Ruo Pai.
Shang Ruo Pai was surprised to see a small round white dog on Qian Xiao Qi’s shoulder. Shang Ruo Pai wanted to play with Qian Xiao Qi’s dog too.
Song Liang Zhuo retrieved his hand from Shang Ruo Pai’s hand.
‘Little sister Pai, you should go for a walk,’ Song Liang Zhuo said. ‘I have something I need to discuss with Xiao Qi.’
Shang Ruo Pai pouted her lips. ‘Big brother Zhuo, you can talk to Xiao Qi later. I waited for you the whole day.’
Song Liang Zhuo heard Qian Xiao Qi closed the bedchamber door and he sighed. ‘Little sister Pai, what do you want to discuss with me?’
‘Nothing important,’ Shang Ruo Pai said. ‘I only want to spend time with big brother Zhuo.’
Song Liang Zhuo walked toward the calligraphy room instead of the bedchamber. ‘I… have work to do. If little sister Pai want someone to talk to, go find Xiao Qi.’
Shang Ruo Pai walked faster to catch up to Song Liang Zhuo. ‘Big brother Zhuo, I’ll prepare ink for you.’
Song Liang Zhuo coughed. ‘I’m reviewing closed cases. I won’t need ink for writing.’
‘Big brother Zhuo, it’s no trouble for me to help you with your work,’ Shang Ruo Pai said.
Song Liang Zhuo smiled helplessly and walked into the calligraphy room.
***
End of Chapter Seven