Chapter 39: Love, You’ve Come ah
Xiao Qi still went to the government office after all, bring Lu Liu with her.
Having just gone through a flood and an epidemic, not to mention with the previous stability as support, the citizens of the city were even more prominently stable than before. The government office was also pretty peaceful.
Xiao Qi and Lu Liu each carried a small basket as they got off the carriage holding hands. In Xiao Qi’s basket was the lunch that was prepared for Song Liang Zhuo, in Lu Liu’s was naturally some side dishes and small refreshments she had made for Lu Licheng.
Xiao Qi stood in front of the government office looking at the drum. After staring for a while, she smiled and said: “Lu Liu, where do I stand ah?”
In ancient imperial times, pet.i.tioners were called “people with grievances”. Pet.i.tioners who needed justice would come to the yamen of the Country magistrate or high official and beat a drum to voice their grievances. As such, every official court was supposed to be equipped with a drum for this sole purpose.
In other news, typically the bureaucrat and his immediate family would live in a residence attached to the government office. This was especially so during the Qing dynasty when imperial law forbade a person from taking government office in his native province.
Xiao Qi’s words were senseless without focus but Lu Liu pulled her hand and walked to the side of the drum, saying with a pout: “Miss stood here.”
Lu Liu glanced at the bailiff that was heading over and lowered her voice: “Actually, guye already had spoken to Miss the first time guye saw Miss.”
“What did he say?” Xiao Qi asked, surprised. Judging from Song Liang Zhuo’s appearance, he didn’t look like someone that would strike up a conversation with a lady.
“Guye stared at Miss for a while, but Miss was too shy to speak. So guye walked inside. But after a while, he came out again. Guye said ah……” Lu Liu laughed, looking at Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi pouted and angrily humphed: “If you don’t tell me then I’ll tell Big Brother Lu you like him.”
Lu Liu’s face slightly turned red, but still turned her head away and said: “If you’re going to tell then just tell. Lu Liu was still thinking when she should say it herself.”
Xiao Qi poked Lu Liu’s nose and giggled ‘heehee’: “You seriously are not shy and not bashful. I knew you wouldn’t dare.”
Lu Liu flattened her lips. Her eyes gave a turn, then she continued: “Guye said ah, ‘Lady, what grievance do you have?’ “
Xiao Qi was obviously shocked. Blinking her eyes, she knitted her brows and asked: “Did he say anything else?”
“No.” Lu Liu turned around and faced Xiao Qi again. Wrinkling her nose, she continued: “Guye just looked at Miss like this. Miss also stared at guye. You two stared at each other for a cup tea’s amount of time, yet Miss didn’t even say a single word.”
Xiao Qi went 囧.
Lu Liu shook her head and said again: “Later, Advisor Lu came by just in time, and asked Miss whether you had any matters. Miss, in a moment of excitement shoved the food box into Advisor Lu’s hands.”
“Huh?” Xiao Qi widened her eyes.
Lu Liu held back her laugh with difficulty. Casting a glance at the bailiff on the other side, she said: “Luckily Miss didn’t completely lose your head. After running away a bit you ran back. Pointing at the food box in Advisor Lu’s hand, you said, ‘Advisor Lu, this is mine.’ ”
Xiao Qi’s face turned red, after thinking
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about it, she suspiciously narrowed her eyes.
Lu Liu laughed before continuing: “So Advisor Lu handed it back, and Miss switched hands and shoved the food box into guye’s hands, and even, haha, you even stooped and gave a bow. Haha, a man’s bow.”
Xiao Qi’s face flushed red. Stamping her foot, she said: “You’re making it up, I’m not that stupid.”
“Miss isn’t stupid. Lu Liu was scared that Miss would gift it to the wrong person, fortunately Miss asked for it back.”
“You, you’re lying. How could you know everything so clearly, it’s not like you were there.”
“I was there ah.” Lu Liu pointed at a twisted ancient Chinese scholar tree not far away and said: “Lu Liu was hiding there, waiting for Miss ah. Hey, Miss is also mean, running off first by yourself, making Lu Liu have to chase.”
Xiao Qi pouted as she entered the large courtyard of the government office. The bailiff at the entrance actually didn’t stop her and only ran over to say: “Da ren is in the side hall discussing matters with Advisor Lu.”
Xiao Qi rather politely curtsied towards the bailiff, frightening the bailiff to the point that he clenched his ornamental sword and ran back to stand at the entrance.
Xiao Qi’s smile turned rigid on her face. Looking with puzzlement towards Lu Liu: “What’s he running for?”
“He’s familiar with Miss ah. You guys have already stood facing each other for two years. Perhaps he feels he shouldn’t receive such polite salutes from the Official’s Wife.”
Xiao Qi glared at Lu Liu, humphed and followed the paved path in.
The government office was also not very big, Xiao Qi soon found the side hall the bailiff at the entrance talked about.
This side hall courtyard was not big, there was only one row of buildings. It looks like it was a place for storing doc.u.ments and discussing official business. As usual, there was also a bailiff guarding the entrance.
Seeing Xiao Qi, the bailiff cupped his hand in salute. Xiao Qi was a bit surprised, yet that bailiff didn’t say anything and directly went to knock, then enter the room.
Xiao Qi was a bit distracted, yet Lu Liu was actually keeping calm in face of this unexpected treatment.
“Da ren invites Madam to enter,” that bailiff said when he came out.
Xiao Qi nodded and leading Lu Liu, entered the room.
When Xiao Qi entered, with the first glance she immediately spotted Song Liang Zhuo who was currently standing next to the table. Song Liang Zhuo had already put away the scroll and after saying some things to Lu Li Cheng in a low voice, strode over.
Xiao Qi’s gaze swept towards Lu Li Cheng. Xiao Qi knew that he got a lot thinner after he fell ill. But today, due to the fact he was wearing a cyan garment, he looked even more prominently thin.
Xiao Qi slightly knitted her brows, then opened her mouth and asked: “Big Brother Li, are you still not feeling well?”
Lu Li Cheng saw Xiao Qi’s expression and shook his head, immediately smiling: “I’m better. Xiao Qi, don’t worry.”
Xiao Qi looked at Song Liang Zhuo who had already walked to her and taken the food box, then smoothed her lips and took the hand he extended over. Lowering her head, she was silent for a while before she said: “Big Brother Li, I talked to my dad. We’ll find a good doctor for Big Brother Lu, Big Brother Lu, don’t be afraid.”
Lu Li Cheng smiled as he nodded, his gaze filled with warmth.
Xiao Qi’s eyes were a bit sour. She stood there with her head lowered a while, then nodded again: “Really, Big Brother Lu, don’t be afraid.” After saying that she finally followed Song Liang Zhuo out of the room.
Song Liang Zhuo walked very slowly, and also didn’t let go of Xiao Qi’s hand. Xiao Qi still couldn’t hold back and sniffled, asking in a low voice: “How did Big Brother Lu become even skinner?”
Song Liang Zhuo’s steps slightly paused: “He probably doesn’t have an appet.i.te, but he’ll get better. I’ve already sent a letter to Ruzhou(county level city) to help look for doctors.”
Song Liang Zhuo turned around to look at the downcast Xiao Qi, then tightly held her hand as he pulled her to his office.
Song Liang Zhuo took out the food, warmly asking: “Why did Xiao Qi come over?”
“Uncle w.a.n.g said I could come.” Xiao Qi cast a glance at Song Liang Zhuo, pouting.
Song Liang Zhuo nodded. Only after portioning out the food for Xiao Qi did he speak with a considering tone: “Xiao Qi, if we leave Tongxu, would Xiao Qi feel hurt?”
“Why do we have to leave?” Xiao Qi asked with alarm.
“After a while we’ll come back.” Song Liang Zhuo smoothed his lips: “Xiao Qi can find Ruo Shui to play.”
Xiao Qi was a bit angry now. Kicking the table leg, she said: “I’m not a kid anymore.”
Song Liang Zhuo gave a light cough and said in a low voice: “Xiao Qi, if I can’t avoid returning, would Xiao Qi come with me?”
Xiao Qi looked at Song Liang Zhuo with a hurt expression. Biting her lips, she was silent.
Song Liang Zhuo softly sighed, then pressed the chopsticks into Xiao Qi’s hand: “Xiao Qi, don’t be scared. I, I’ll push it back a while more.”
Xiao Qi’s mouth flattened and tears fell.
Song Liang Zhuo lifted his hand to help Xiao Qi wipe her tears, but Xiao Qi turned her head and dodged away.
Xiao Qi stabbed the chopsticks into the rice and angrily said: “You’re doing this on purpose. Why didn’t you tell me yesterday? You even, you even did that! Wuu, no way I’m going with you. You, if you guys bully me I still wouldn’t be able to go home anymore.”
Song Liang Zhuo sighed. Getting up, he took Xiao Qi into his arms and gently patted her back: “I promise, we’ll still come back. I still want to build the dam together with Xiao Qi. I only got the transfer order today, why would I trick Xiao Qi?”
“Wuu, why didn’t you leave earlier?” Xiao Qi sobbed.
“You, think about it some more. If you’re really not willing, then go back to Qian fu to live. I’ll ask for an imperial decree, after a while I’ll still come back.”
Song Liang Zhuo spoke this a bit hesitantly, with a bit of hardship. He couldn’t be certain that he would really be able to get an imperial decree to come back to Tongxu to be this little 7th rank official. He didn’t even know why there would suddenly be a transfer order telling him to go back to Ruzhou. He knew that to make this child tempered Xiao Qi leave Tongxu with him would seriously be forcing her. But on second thought, to marry him, shouldn’t she have had the plans to go to Ruzhou to be a daughter-in-law? That place is his real home, with the father and mother that he misses. He couldn’t very well stay away from home year round, he should return home to fulfill his filial duty.
Song Liang Zhuo lowered his head and looked at the top of Xiao Qi’s hair. He recalled that she was also the pampered daughter of her house, raised up as the moon that all the stars cup themselves around, how could she have ever left her family before? Pity gradually grew in Song Liang Zhuo’s heart. Finally, he sighed: “Mother treats everyone very warm and kindly. Though Father seems cold on the outside, he is also a very good-natured person. They will definitely like Xiao Qi.”
Xiao Qi’s tears dropped with drips, her stomach also joined in and bustled with noise. The sound of ‘gurglegurglerumble’ in a room which only her sobbing could be heard exceptionally lightened the atmosphere.
Song Liang Zhuo hooked his lips and spoke with a deadpan expression: “You haven’t eat your fill? Xiao Qi, say, how come you never eat your fill?”
These words sounded extremely familiar to Xiao Qi. She couldn’t help but lift her head and look towards Song Liang Zhuo. Seeing the corners of his lips pulled back with a teasing smile, Xiao Qi kicked his leg and humphed: “Song Liang Zhuo is making mischief!”
Song Liang Zhuo let go of Xiao Qi and sat at the opposite end, saying warmly: “Xiao Qi had never thought about returning with me to the Song household one day?”
Xiao Qi pouted: “My Brother-in-Law lives at Qian fu.”
“I’m the Song family’s only son, I can’t always stay with the Qian family.”
“You also don’t live at Qian fu ah, you live in Song fu.” Xiao Qi muttered.
Song Liang Zhuo switched the topic: “Ruzhou is also very beautiful, Xiao Qi could try going there to try and get used to it.”
Xiao Qi lowered her head and flattened her lips, not replying.
Song Liang Zhuo also didn’t know how he should persuade her. Taking the chopsticks, he picked up some fragrant Chinese celery for Xiao Qi: “Why don’t you eat first and fill up that stomach of yours that’s. .h.i.tting a little drum for a famine grievance?”
Xiao Qi twitched her lips. After thinking about it for a bit, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Qi lifted her hand and wiped her eyes. Raking in a mouthful of rice, she blinked her eyes: “If I go with you, what do I do if someone bullies me?”
“No one will bully you?”
“If someone did?”
“I won’t allow it.”
Xiao Qi grinned with satisfaction. Twirling her eyes, she asked again: “Will your mom not like me?”
“Xiao Qi should also call her Mother.”
“Oh.” Xiao Qi nodded: “Then, will my mom not like me?”
Song Liang Zhuo choked for a moment, then gave a cough. Knitting his brows, he said: “She won’t.”
Xiao Qi stuck her lower lip out towards the meal tray, Song Liang Zhuo picked up some vegetables and put it in her bowl.
“Then, will you still treat me well?”
Song Liang Zhuo opened his mouth, but meeting Xiao Qi’s shining eyes turned away again. Song Liang Zhuo picked up a mouthful of vegetables and carefully chewed, only after swallowing did he reply: “What does Xiao Qi think?”
Xiao Qi wrinkled her nose: “Stingy!”
Song Liang Zhuo’s face was a little heated. Feigning normalcy he said: “Xiao Qi can go back home and stay there for a couple days. I’ll go with you so we can properly say goodbye.”
Xiao Qi pouted. After half the day, she asked again: “Can we bring Lu Liu?”
“Yes.” Song Liang Zhuo had just replied when he thought of something and slightly knitted his brows: “It’s better to ask her. Perhaps, you understand.”
Xiao Qi blinked her eyes, then curved her eyes as she smiled: “Heehee, you also think so, don’t you? Let her talk with Big Brother Lu herself. Official Song, did you think we’ll be able to eat festival sweets* before we leave?”
Special sweets given on happy occasions like weddings.
Song Liang Zhuo’s brows lifted: “I’ll have him buy it in advance.”
Xiao Qi grinned and laughed loudly: “Song Liang Zhuo is so bad! Haha, stuffy and bad!”
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira, Proofread by Ocelot