Chapter 27: The Unexpected Guest at Willow Lane

The Wei residence stood quietly in Willow Lane.

Wei Xiuqin opened the door, her gaze falling upon the richly dressed young master before her. She paused for a moment, a faint surprise in her eyes. “Young master, may I ask who you are looking for?”

“I am looking for Ziyan,” Ji Xiao replied, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

Wei Xiuyuan, whose courtesy name was Ziyan.

Noting that he sought her brother, Wei Xiuqin’s initial wariness subsided slightly. “My brother was invited to a literary gathering by a friend. I fear he won’t return until much later.”

Ji Xiao nodded, indicating his understanding. “Might I come in and wait for him?”

“This…” Wei Xiuqin hesitated, a hint of awkwardness in her voice.

It was only her mother and herself, two women, at home. She worried it might be inconvenient to host a male guest.

Even if he was, as he claimed, a good friend of her brother’s.

Ji Xiao extended his hand, revealing a jade pendant nestled in his palm. “Last night, Ziyan and I enjoyed a delightful conversation late into the night. He must have forgotten this when he departed.”

It was indeed Wei Xiuyuan’s jade pendant.

He had likely been preoccupied while dressing that morning, causing it to slip to the ground.

Wei Xiuqin felt a wave of complete reassurance wash over her.

Her brother had seemed rather out of sorts when he returned that morning. She now surmised it was due to staying up too late, conversing with his friend, and thus not resting well.

The pendant was not a valuable one; rather, it was a common and inexpensive piece.

Yet, it was a gift her father had bestowed upon her brother when he came of age, and he had cherished it ever since.

She stepped aside, gesturing an invitation. “Please, young master.”

“My name is Chen Xiao, and I am quite close with Ziyan. You may simply call me Brother Xiao,” Ji Xiao said as he stepped through the threshold.

Wei Xiuqin did not demur. “Brother Xiao.”

Within her, a quiet astonishment bloomed. Ancheng was the capital city, and the name of Chen Xiao, the richest young master in Ancheng, was widely known. Even though they had only resided here for a year, she had heard of him.

She had never imagined her brother would become friends with such an influential figure. It was said that nearly all the properties on Ancheng’s bustling Lin’an Street belonged to the Chen family!

The Wei family’s courtyard was small, and their house, nestled amidst the prosperity of Ancheng, appeared cramped and antiquated, hinting at a state of disrepair.

Outside the house, in the yard, Wei Mother had one foot propped on a long bench, a saw in her hand as she worked diligently on a piece of wood.

Catching sight of Wei Xiuqin bringing someone in from the corner of her eye, she swiftly lowered her foot, put down the saw, and stood up.

Wei Xiuqin explained, “Mother, this is Brother Chen Xiao, a good friend of my brother’s. Brother stayed at his place last night and left behind the jade pendant Father gave him. He’s here to return it.”

Wei Mother, feeling a touch self-conscious, wiped her hands on her clothes. “Is he the young master of the richest family?”

Wei Xiuqin whispered, “He should be.”

Given his opulent attire and his claim to be Chen Xiao, there seemed no room for doubt.

Ji Xiao stepped forward, picking up the saw from the ground. A note of curiosity tinged his voice. “Auntie, are you doing carpentry?”

Wei Mother grew flustered at his question.

Wei Xiuyuan was a scholar. After Wei Father passed away, Wei Mother had taken over his carpentry work, progressing from novice to skilled craftswoman.

She was well aware that some of Wei Xiuyuan’s friends had looked down on them upon learning that she, a woman, was engaged in such manual labor.

While Wei Xiuyuan could sell some calligraphy and paintings, and copy books to supplement their income—and had now even passed the imperial examination to become a *juren*—she had grown accustomed to manual work and the act of doing.

To do nothing at all made her feel uneasy.

This distinguished young master, moreover, was the son of the richest man in the city. Wei Mother feared that he, too, might form a poor impression of Wei Xiuyuan because of her work.

Her heart was heavy with complex emotions, and for a moment, she did not resume her task.

Ji Xiao, however, did not seem to mind. He glanced at the pile of wood on the ground and smiled. “Auntie, what are you making? May I help you?”

Wei Mother uttered a surprised, “Ah?”

Wei Xiuqin couldn’t help but step forward. “Mother just accepted an order to make a carved bed. She’s currently sawing the bedposts.”

As she spoke, she watched Ji Xiao intently. His eyes held only curiosity, not a trace of disdain.

“Auntie, could you tell me more about it? I’d like to try, if I may. I’ve never done any manual work before.”

Wei Mother quickly nodded. “Ah, yes, of course.”

“What if I mess it up and waste the wood? These pieces look quite good, though my eyes aren’t keen enough to tell what kind of wood it is.”

“Don’t worry, it’s fine if you mess up, there’s plenty. This is…”

Watching her mother gradually relax as she explained, and seeing Ji Xiao actively engaging under her guidance, Wei Xiuqin breathed a sigh of relief. She then retreated into the house to prepare tea for them.

Because her brother occasionally had friends visit, the family kept some tea on hand. They didn’t drink it themselves, only brewing a pot when her brother’s friends came over.

****

Wei Xiuyuan endured the discomfort of the literary gathering, returning home early, only to hear the sounds of joyful laughter emanating from within.

‘?’

Drawing closer, he saw Ji Xiao sitting with his mother and sister. Ji Xiao had evidently said something amusing, as they were covering their mouths, giggling incessantly.

Wei Xiuyuan remained speechless.

Upon seeing him, Wei Xiuqin stood up, her face beaming with delight. “Brother, you’re back! Your friend, Brother Xiao, came to find you!”

Wei Xiuyuan could only think, ‘To hell with his friend! He’s more like an enemy!’

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