“Brother Xu, it really is you!”
Before the other man could speak, the young woman had already hurried over, her expression full of excitement.
“When did you arrive in the capital? Why didn’t you come find me?” she asked in rapid succession.
Manager Wu gave a soft cough and, with a teasing look, took a few steps back. The maid also glanced playfully between Xu Maoxiu and the woman, smiling all the while.
“Just got here,” Xu Maoxiu replied, taking a step back as he looked toward the man still standing by the door. “What a coincidence, running into you like this. I was just thinking of asking around about you.”
“It really is you, Brother Xu!” The young man broke into a joyful smile, quickly stepping forward and grabbing Xu Maoxiu’s arm. “Why are you here? Honestly, now that you are, how could you not stop by the house?”
He spoke with a hint of reproach.
“Yes, exactly!” the young woman chimed in, nodding vigorously. She gave Xu Maoxiu a once-over, her expression growing even more emotional and slightly wistful. “Brother Xu, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight since before. Life in the northwest must have been hard, hasn’t it? Then don’t go back—stay here in the capital.”
The maid could barely hold back her laughter, and Ban Qin gave her two nudges from behind with her hand.
Xu Maoxiu felt even more awkward and constrained.
“Ah, yes,” he replied vaguely, quickly trying to change the subject. “You… you’re here to eat?”
The young man chuckled.
“If we’re not here to eat, what else would we be doing?” he said with a laugh, though it sounded a little forced. “Well, of course… not necessarily.”
As he spoke, he looked Xu Maoxiu up and down. Since Xu Maoxiu had just been practicing archery with Cheng Jiao-niang, he’d changed into plain indigo robes and cloth shoes. At Immortal’s Abode, even the reception attendants wore fine clothing—at first glance, he looked no better than a lowly hired hand.
“You’ve found work here?” the man asked.
Xu Maoxiu nodded.
“Yes, yes,” he replied.
“You’re here alone? What about Brother Jianglin and the others?” the young man asked again, his voice tinged with excitement.
“Ah, they’re in the capital too, just… not here,” Xu Maoxiu replied.
“Forget about all that,” the young woman said, pulling the young man aside and beaming at Xu Maoxiu. “Let’s talk at home. My father still thinks of you often—he’ll be so happy to see you.”
Xu Maoxiu grew even more embarrassed and murmured a response.
“Alright, once I’m done with work, I’ll definitely come by,” he said.
“What work? Who cares about that? Coming to our house is more important,” the young man said with a half-smile. “With my father there, we can help you find something better.”
Manager Wu really couldn’t bear to watch any longer and gave a soft cough.
Only then did the young couple notice the others nearby. Seeing Manager Wu was nothing special—just another wealthy gentleman commonly seen in the capital—but when their eyes fell on Cheng Jiao-niang, they couldn’t help but pause in surprise.
The girl, around fourteen or fifteen, wore a plain gauze skirt that flowed gracefully to the ground. Aside from that, there was not a single ornament on her. Yet just one glance made her seem radiant and dazzling.
She stood there, unmoving, expressionless, and silent, yet the couple immediately understood: this young lady must come from a distinguished family. Perhaps it was the seemingly simple but subtly luxurious robes, or perhaps the natural, effortless air of nobility that radiated from her.
She must be a guest at Immortal’s Abode.
The two unconsciously took a step back—and when they looked again at Xu Maoxiu, things became even clearer in their minds.
Couldn’t even make it to be a receptionist. With that build of his, at best, he might serve as a human footstool to help noble guests mount their horses.
“You’d better go see the guests off to their carriage—we’ll wait and talk afterward,” the young man said, with a mix of apology and a faint trace of pride in his voice.
Just as Xu Maoxiu was about to agree and turn away with a sigh of relief, the young woman suddenly called out to stop him.
“Brother Xu,” she said, her expression a mix of emotion and sorrow, “you’re a good man—how can you…”
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Manager Wu.
“This kind of work—this isn’t for us,” she said firmly, pulling a handful of coins from her money pouch and handing them over. “Sir, please find someone else.”
Manager Wu let out a hearty laugh.
“I’m afraid that little bit won’t be enough,” he said.
Xu Maoxiu felt even more awkward.
“Lady Dong, that’s not necessary, really,” he said, pushing lightly at Manager Wu as he stepped forward.
“Stop making a scene,” he muttered under his breath.
Suppressing his laughter, Manager Wu turned and walked away, while Cheng Jiao-niang and her maid followed behind.
It wasn’t until they stepped outside that Xu Maoxiu finally let out a breath of relief.
“Come on, boy, help the young lady into the carriage. I’ll give you a little extra for your trouble,” Manager Wu said with a straight face.
Xu Maoxiu let out a snort and laughed.
Behind him, the maid was already giggling uncontrollably.
“They’re just some old friends from back home,” Xu Maoxiu explained, glancing at Cheng Jiao-niang and Manager Wu.
Cheng Jiao-niang gave a slight nod and silently got into the carriage.
“I think it was an old flame rather than just old friends…”
The maid’s teasing voice floated in from inside the carriage.
Xu Maoxiu’s face flushed red, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Manager Wu also grinning.
“I think it was an old flame too…” Manager Wu said with a nod and a chuckle when he caught Xu Maoxiu’s glance.
“Back to work,” Xu Maoxiu said sternly. “Or are you planning to forfeit this month’s wages?”
Manager Wu laughed heartily.
“Boss, I don’t get paid by the month,” he said, reaching out to pat Xu Maoxiu on the shoulder and lowering his voice. “Ran into someone from your past and lost your head, did you?”
Before he could finish the sentence, footsteps sounded behind them.
“Your old flame—ah no, your old brother—is coming,” Manager Wu said with a low chuckle, not even bothering to turn his head. Before Xu Maoxiu could reply, he had already stepped aside and walked off.
Xu Maoxiu let out a faint sigh and was just about to follow when—
“Brother Xu.”
A woman’s voice called out.
Xu Maoxiu stopped in his tracks and turned to see the young couple approaching, one slightly ahead of the other.
“Come on, let’s go home now,” the young woman said.
“I… I still have something to take care of. I’ll visit another day,” Xu Maoxiu replied.
“What could be so important?” the young man said as he slowly walked over. “Don’t treat us like strangers.”
Just as he finished speaking, a loud voice suddenly shouted from behind:
“Xiang Qi!”
The three of them jumped in surprise and instinctively turned around.
Xu Bangchui stood just inside, eyes wide as he stared at them.
“You little rascal…” he shouted, eyes bulging, pointing a finger as he stormed over.
Xu Maoxiu stepped forward quickly, reached out to block him, and tightened his grip around him with strength from his waist, holding him firmly in place.
“I told you, bringing up the past will cause trouble,” he whispered in a low voice as he restrained him.
The word trouble clearly struck a nerve. Xu Bangchui’s face turned bright red, and after two harsh coughs, he forcefully swallowed back the rest of his words.
“Bangchui!” the young woman greeted happily. “You’re here too?”
Xu Bangchui nodded while coughing, waving at her dismissively.
“That’s wonderful! Didn’t you say Brother Jianglin and the others are here too?” the young woman said. “Let’s gather everyone and come to the house!”
As she spoke, she shot a glare at the young man beside her. “What are you standing around for? Go get a carriage!”
“No need, we’re all busy right now. We’ll come by another time when we’re free,” Xu Bangchui said in a hoarse voice.
The young woman looked at them, then turned to glance at the young man beside her.
“Brother Xu, you’re still treating us like outsiders, aren’t you?” she said, her expression dimming as she lowered her head and turned away. “I was just so happy to see you all again. Please forgive me… I’ll be going now.”
“No, that’s not it, Lady Dong,” Xu Maoxiu said quickly. “We were just worried it might be inconvenient.”
The young woman suddenly turned back around, her face once again lighting up with a bright smile.
“It’s not inconvenient at all,” she said, stepping forward and looking at Xu Maoxiu. “I knew Brother Xu wouldn’t treat us like strangers.”
Xu Maoxiu gave an awkward smile, his gaze shifting slightly to the side.
Standing quietly behind the woman, the young man—who had seemed almost invisible this whole time—remained expressionless.
“Are you crazy?” Fan Jianglin shouted, eyes wide. “Why on earth would we go to their house?”
At Tai Ping Residence, it was just past noon, when the guests had left and everyone was sitting down to eat.
Inside the room, seven brothers gathered around in a circle, surrounded by dishes and wine, all because of Xu Maoxiu’s arrival.
Xu Maoxiu held his bowl and ate quietly without saying a word.
“He’s not crazy,” Xu Bangchui said, poking a vegetable with his chopsticks, speaking bitterly. “He’s just being chivalrous and protective.”
Xu Maoxiu slammed his bowl down.
“Wow, you can actually string a sentence together,” he said, glaring at Xu Bangchui. “Why can’t you remember the other things I teach you?”
The brothers all burst out laughing.
“Alright, alright,” Fan Jianglin waved his hand to stop them.
Everyone stifled their laughter and continued eating.
“Master and Lady Dong are good people,” Fan Jianglin said. “But, but the problem is Xiang Qi…”
“Yeah, didn’t you see? Xiang Qi’s glare at Third Brother was like he wanted to eat him alive,” Xu Bangchui added.
“One of the brothers laughed, holding up his chopsticks: “Lady Dong’s glare could probably eat Third Brother alive too.”
The room burst into laughter again.
“Alright, enough,” Xu Maoxiu shouted.
Everyone quickly lowered their heads to stifle their laughter.
“I know all this,” Xu Maoxiu said with a deep breath.
“You knew and still agreed?” Fan Jianglin frowned. “You’re fine in every way—well-educated and polite—but being too well-mannered isn’t always good. You care too much about saving face.”
“After all, Master Dong treated us well back then,” Xu Maoxiu said. “If he didn’t know, that would be one thing. But now that he does, it wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t go and see him.”
Fan Jianglin sighed as well.
“If it weren’t for all that, we would’ve gone long ago without you saying a word,” he said. “But now, Xiang Qi is the most petty of them all. If we go, and those two end up quarrelling and drifting apart, that would be a real shame to Master Dong.”
Xu Maoxiu was silent for a moment.
“Let’s just go see them. I’ll explain everything clearly to Master Dong—I think he’ll understand us,” he said. “Otherwise, what do you suggest? Avoid them? The capital is big, but also small. Where would we hide? Dodging back and forth only leads to all kinds of misunderstandings. It’s better to just lay everything out openly.”
The brothers all nodded in agreement.
“If we clear the air, then there’s nothing to worry about,” Xu Maoxiu said, lifting his bowl again. “Come on, eat up. It’s not such a big deal; no need to dwell on it.”
“That’s right, that’s right,” several brothers chimed in. “It’s no big deal. We’ve known Master Dong for a long time—longer than Xiang Qi has. Why should we avoid seeing Master Dong just because of him?”
The mood in the room brightened.
“Let’s prepare some gifts.”
“The best ones!”
“Exactly! They should definitely be more than the money Xiang Qi gave us back then.”
Fan Jianglin shook his head, paused for a moment, then began eating again.
If we clear the air, then everything will be fine, right?
Translator’s Words:
Since I have more time to work on the translation recently, I’ll be updating two chapters a day from now on, as this is a long and slow-developing novel, and I do hope I can finish translating this within a year. I can’t guarantee how long I’ll be able to maintain this pace, but I’ll do my best!
