Chapter Thirty-Nine: Farewell, Bai Rong’er

Half an hour later, Changxing and Changsheng finally returned. Both of them were somewhat disheveled, their clothing in disarray, as if they had been tormented by a mob. Changsheng picked up the teapot from the outer room and poured a cup for himself and Changxing. After gulping it down in a few swift swallows, he collapsed onto a wooden chair by the door, offering a bitter smile. “Miss, young master, you have no idea how persistent those people are—they wouldn’t let us go, insisting I explain everything about the school: what lessons we take, which characters we’ve learned, whether the teacher is kind or not. Good heavens, they’re even nosier than the ladies in the kitchen.”

Changxing put down the books and writing tools in his hands, didn’t even bother with a sip of water, and walked straight to Liu Qin’s side. He looked at the girl who had pushed him into the fire pit with a touch of grievance and complained, “Miss, how could you make me teach them to read? How am I supposed to manage such a task?”

Little Miss Liu Qin, who had just enjoyed her meal with the help of Cui Liu and Cui Yu, was comfortably full and in high spirits. Her brows were gently arched with delight, and she didn’t bother to scold Changxing for not following orders. She laughed, “Why can’t you manage? The teacher praised you just this morning. Or do you want to be lazy and push your task onto your young master instead?”

As soon as the young master was mentioned, Changxing immediately grew earnest. “I wouldn’t dare, truly I wouldn’t. It’s just that my learning is limited—I’m afraid I’ll mislead others. And besides, there are so many people; I can’t possibly teach them all.”

Jiang Li interjected, “You only need to teach them the characters you learn each day. The books say, ‘Is it not a joy to study and practice what you have learned?’ In teaching them, you’re also reviewing for yourself—it’s a good thing for you. And if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always come and ask me.”

With such reassurance from his young master, Changxing finally let go of the anxiety that had been plaguing him. Only then did he realize how thirsty he was, and hurried to the table to pour himself a cup of tea. Unlike the unruly way Changsheng drank, Changxing’s manner was calm and elegant, even when parched—an elegance he had learned from Jiang Li. Combined with his grown-up, handsome features, it was a pleasing sight to behold.

“How many people signed up?” Liu Qin asked.

Having caught his breath, Changsheng smiled, “More than twenty have registered. Changxing is right—so many people will be hard to teach.”

“Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. Before long, there won’t be nearly as many,” Liu Qin replied.

The three were surprised by this remark, not understanding why she would say so. Did she possess some mystical foresight? But since even Jiang Li didn’t ask further, Changxing and Changsheng thought it best to hold their tongues.

After Changxing and Changsheng had eaten, Liu Qin assigned them a task: to escort Bai Rong’er’s family to the manor. Since her mother and elder sister-in-law had agreed, Liu Qin believed in striking while the iron was hot. So, after their meal, she hurried them to Fu Bo to collect their tokens, then sent them out of the residence to find Bai Rong’er on North Street and accompany her family to the manor.

Once outside the residence, Changxing and Changsheng headed straight to North Street. When they reached the spot where they had last seen Bai Rong’er, Changsheng scratched his head in confusion. This was a crossroads, crisscrossed in every direction—who knew which way Bai Rong’er had gone, or where she lived? Changsheng smacked his own head, regretting that he hadn’t thought to ask her where she had settled last time.

Seeing Changsheng’s helpless expression, Changxing realized his companion was at a loss. He thought for a moment and said, “She must still be living in the refugee shelter. Let’s try looking there first.”

“Right, why didn’t I think of that?” Changsheng snapped out of his frustration and pointed in a direction. The two set off to search.

“Hey, isn’t that Brother Changsheng?” a child’s voice called from behind. A cheerful little figure dashed up to stand before Changsheng. “Brother Changsheng, it really is you!”

“Xiao Dong, what are you doing here?”

“I came out with my sister to buy medicine.” The boy pointed behind him, where a little girl, not much older than he, stood with a packet of medicine in her hand, smiling shyly. “Hello, Brother Changsheng.”

“Is your mother ill again?” Changsheng frowned.

“Ever since the New Year, she hasn’t recovered. She was just getting better the day before yesterday, but for some reason, she worsened again yesterday.” The little girl’s brows drooped with worry, her face shadowed by sorrow. She was at an age when children should be carefree, yet the weight of poverty seemed to have crushed her spirit—her brows and her thin shoulders slumped with exhaustion, a sight that tugged at the heart.

“Don’t worry. Your mother will get better,” Changsheng said, though he didn’t know what else to offer but comfort. Beside him, Xiao Dong seemed untouched by his sister’s anxiety. He continued to tug at Changsheng’s sleeve, beaming, “Brother Changsheng, my brother brought the clothes back. They’re so pretty—thank you so much!”

Only then did Changsheng remember that he had told Miss Liu Qin yesterday how Datong’s family had so many children but no new clothes for the New Year. Unexpectedly, that afternoon, Miss Liu Qin had sent Cui Yu over with a large bundle of clothes for him to give to Datong. There were clothes for both girls and boys—pre-worn but clean and beautiful, made of fine fabrics and still in good condition. For children from poor families, these were treasures beyond compare. Cui Yu had joked at the time, “I’m afraid Auntie won’t let the children wear them, lest they spoil such nice clothes.”

Thinking of this, Changsheng glanced at Xiao Dong and his sister. Sure enough, they weren’t wearing the new clothes. He couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t thank me—Miss Liu Qin is the one who remembered your brother’s kindness. But since the clothes have been given to you, why aren’t you wearing them?”

Xiao Dong pouted, a bit disgruntled. “Mother won’t let us. She says it would be a waste for us to wear such fine clothes.”

His sister, worried that his words might offend Changsheng, hurried to explain, “Brother Changsheng, my mother didn’t mean it that way. You know our situation—if we wore such fine clothes, I’m afraid the creditors would come knocking. My mother is grateful for your kindness and said that when she’s feeling better, she’ll come to the residence to pay her respects to the Lady Dowager and Miss herself.”

Changsheng nodded, sighing inwardly—truly, children from poor families learn to shoulder burdens early. So young, yet already thinking of the family and sharing their parents’ worries.

When Xiao Dong heard they were looking for someone, he eagerly volunteered to lead the way, patting his small chest in assurance. He told Changsheng he was quite familiar with the area and had many friends living in the refugee shelter. Waving to his sister, he said, “You go on home and tell Mother I’m helping Brother Changsheng. I’ll be back a bit later.”

His sister agreed, said goodbye to Changsheng, and turned into a nearby alley. Xiao Dong led the way, frequently glancing back to tell Changxing and Changsheng where they were and who lived there. It was clear he really did know the area well—he was used to running wild in these streets.

“Are they Datong’s younger siblings?” Changxing whispered quietly.

Changsheng nodded. Everyone knew of Datong’s family situation. Changsheng wished he could do more to help, but he barely had enough for his own mother and siblings. He could only bring them some food from time to time, a small gesture of brotherly affection.

Luckily, with Xiao Dong as their guide, and with help from his friends, Changxing and Changsheng finally found Bai Rong’er and Bai Lingfeng in the farthest corner of the refugee shelter when they were nearly ready to give up. The two were outside, tending a fire. It was already late afternoon and the sun no longer reached them; most people had retreated indoors. The house itself was as cold as an ice cellar—without the fire, they would have been frozen stiff.

“Bai Rong’er, we finally found you!” Changsheng called out excitedly, startling the siblings. They both turned to look in his direction.

This was Changxing’s second time seeing Bai Rong’er. Her hair was neatly combed and tied up in a maiden’s flowing bun, wrapped simply in a piece of cloth with no ornaments. Her hands and face were scrupulously clean, pale and delicate, without a trace of ash from the fire. Her eyebrows were long and curved, her eyes not particularly large but moist and luminous like pools of autumn water. Her nose was delicate, her lips small and, perhaps from the cold, a little pale.

At that moment, she gazed at them, momentarily stunned, then suddenly regained her senses and ran over in delight. “How did you find us?”