Chapter 188: Xiuxiu

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1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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Xiuxiu similarly didn’t know anything. She really thought her parents had sent her over to have fun. She was delighted. 

By now, Xiuxiu’s family situation had also improved significantly and because Xiuxiu was a girl, she was rather pampered by the family. What she wore and what she ate were no worse than Liu Xu’er. 

Xiuxiu was sitting on Liu Xu’er’s kang. Making herself right at home, Xiuxiu stretched her hand out for the apples on the table. When Liu Xu’er saw, she covered her mouth and laughed. Then she called for her servant girl to peel and slice the apples. In addition, she instructed her to go and get more fruits. 

“Xu’er jie, what do you think of my embroidery?” Xiuxiu brought out her embroidery work and showed it to Liu Xu’er. She complained, “No matter how much effort I put into it, my mother refuses to praise me. She keeps saying that my embroidery is too embarrassing to show others.”

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Nkw Dw’la vssj vbl sqqlale pnldv pynblv yde yd wdelatyaxldv. Fbl pxkzle yde pyke, “Rv zssjp alyzzu tsse. R vbkdj kv’p iwkvl elnldv. Rp fkwxw clkdt ps rknju clnywpl pbl’p nsxryakdt uswa osaj vs vbyv sq vbl plyxpvalpplp kd vbl osajpbsr?” Fbl rknjle wr vbl wdelatyaxldv yde zywtble, “Rp vbkp… psxlvbkdt vbyv usw nyd nypwyzzu pbso svblap?”

Dkwmkw’p qynl qzwpble pzktbvzu. Fbl pxkzle yde pyke, “R’hl dsv osad kv ulv. R fwpv vbswtbv vbyv vbl rlsdu plod sd kv kp sdl sq xu clpv osajp, ps oydvle vs pbso kv vs usw.” Mbld pbl qswde kv pvaydtl yde ypjle, “Rp vbl osaj esdl cu vbl plyxpvalpplp ps tsse? R blyae vbyv psxlsdl nyzzle Hbydt Jkdt kp pwrrsple vs cl vbl clpv?”

Nkw Dw’la vbswtbv qsa y xsxldv clqsal pbyjkdt bla blye, “Lsv alyzzu, kv’p fwpv vbyv vblu es ps xydu rklnlp vbyv vblu yal olzz raynvkple. Gde obld ol olal qkapv plzlnvkdt osajlap, ol xyel pwal vs plzlnv vbspl obspl lxcaskelau oyp elnldv. Jwv kd vlaxp sq vbl zlhlz sq elvykz, kv alyzzu nyddsv cl nsxryale vs vbl osaj ol es cu swaplzhlp. Gqvla yzz, ol esd’v byhl vs xyjl xydu rklnlp, ps ol nyd yqqsae vs lxcaskela xsal kdvaknyvl elpktdp.”

Dkwmkw tawxczle, “Ebu eslpd’v xu xsvbla lhla pyu y tsse osae ycswv xl? Fbl jllrp vlzzkdt xl vbyv R esd’v xlypwal wr vs vbkp rlapsd, sa vs vbyv rlapsd…. R oypd’v rzyddkdt sd nsxryakdt xuplzq vs vblx!”&dcpr;

Nkw Dw’la pxkzle yde pyke, “Zswa xsvbla bsrlp qsa bla eywtbvla vs clnsxl vbl clpv kd lhlauvbkdt.”

“Yu xsvbla jllrp raykpkdt vbl sdl nyzzle Hbydt Jkdt. Fbl pyke lhld eytwtw nbspl bla…”

Fbl bye fwpv pyke vbyv obld Nkw Dw’la’p zkvvzl xykeplahydv, Dkysuwl, nyxl kd vs yddswdnl, “Wkapv Zswdt Yyeyx kp blal.”

Kwpv yp pbl qkdkpble, Fbys Ssdt nyxl kd, bszekdt yd lxcaskelau qayxl. Fbl pxkzle, “Fkdnl Dkwmkw kp blal, R elnkele vs easr cu yde byhl y nbyv.”

Liu Xu’er and Xiuxiu stood up to greet her. Liu Xu’er looked at Shao Rong’s expression – it seemed very normal, but since she was at the door, she might have overheard their conversation. 

Xiuxiu thought so as well. Face red, she kept stealing glances at Liu Xu’er. 

Shao Rong’s expression was calm as she sat down. She saw the undergarment on the kang and laughed. She picked it up, “What is… this? Is this something that can be casually shown to others?” 

Xiuxiu’s entire face was tomato red. Her relationship with Liu Xu’er had always been good, so she was quite open with her. But Shao Rong was not someone she knew well. She was extremely embarrassed. 

Liu Xu’er smiled and said, “Xiuxiu brought it to show me her embroidery.”

Shao Rong looked at it. She smiled, then let out a gusty sight, “It’s much better than mine.” Then she let Xiuxiu have a look at the embroidery hoop she was holding. “Look at my work – compared to the ones you make, it’s as if a pig gnawed on it.”

Xiuxiu giggled at that. She looked over Shao Rong’s handiwork, and did indeed feel that it wasn’t as good as hers. She finally felt somewhat soothed. Then she glanced over at Shao Rong. When she saw that Shao Rong didn’t seem to be upset about what she had just said, she heaved a sigh of relief. 

All of them chatted for a while. Then He shi’s servant, Xiaomeng came over and invited them over to sit down with the Madam. So the three of them tidied up and went over. 

He shi had obviously called Xiuxiu over to build rapport with Liu Xu’er. After all, Xiuxiu had always had a good relationship with Liu Xu’er, and if her daughter agreed, then she would have won half the battle. 

It was just that although Liu Xu’er liked Xiuxiu, she would never agree to this matter. Furthermore, she thought differently from He shi. In her opinion, although the family did have a say in marriage matches, the one with the most say should be her erge. After all, it was his marriage. His opinion took priority over everyone else’s. 

Xiuxiu obviously was clueless about everything. She hurried to keep away her embroidery and went over to the main courtyard, to chat with her aunt. 

She had just sat down when Liu Tao came in. He was holding a silver ingot in his hand. The little maid servants were new and hadn’t yet been properly trained. Sometimes they would remember to announce visitors, but at other times, they would forget. Sometimes, they might have even run off to who knows where. Because the Liu family were villagers by birth, they didn’t have as many rules as other big households, and were quite lenient with their servants. 

So when Liu Tao came in, he hadn’t expected to be greeted with so many people. He had just said, “Ershen, I can’t accept this silver….” When he saw a roomful of women. Immediately, he stopped and scratched his head. Then he smiled and said, “Dasao, Xu’er, you’re here! Xiuxiu too!”

The three of them quickly greeted Liu Tao. The instant Liu Xu’er saw the silver in Liu Tao’s hand, she understood. This should be the monthly allowance given out. No wonder dage had searched everywhere for sange early this morning. Yesterday was the day that the allowances were given out. Thinking he hadn’t a share, Liu Tao hadn’t gone forward. He never expected that dage would look all over for him today to pass him the silver. 

Liu Xu’er covered her mouth and smiled. She looked at Liu Tao scratching his head. He probably felt that it wasn’t suitable to be saying anything right now, so he had turned to leave. Liu Xu’er called out to stop him, “Sange, that’s this month’s monthly allowance. Everyone in the family has received it, so why don’t you want it?”

Liu Tao saw that she had broached the subject, so he could only stand still. He stammered at He shi, “Ershen, I can’t accept this money. I am receiving my pay from the store….”

“This is separate from your pay. This is the allowance that your family is giving you. They’re completely different matters.” Liu Xu’er said smoothly. 

Liu Tao didn’t want to get into a debate with her – he couldn’t win against her. But it was clear from He shi’s silence that she would only listen to Liu Xu’er, so he didn’t have any other option. He turned and smiled, “Mei, I am not the same….”

“How are you different? Unless you don’t think of us as your family.” Liu Xu’er said. 

He shi agreed, “That’s right, Tao. You’ve been staying with us for so many years. You are like one of my sons! Why are you being so distant with us? Just take it.”

Shao Rong quickly smiled and said, “Sandi, take it.”

Xiuxiu joined in as well, “That’s right. Take it sange! I always thought you were dagugu’s own son!”

Everyone laughed at that. Liu Tao knew that he couldn’t win against these women, so he accepted it. Still embarrassed, he scratched his head and smiled, “Then I’m off to the store.”

“Sure! Oh, sange, when you come back this evening, bring back some fruits. We don’t have much left at home.” Liu Xu’er requested. 

Liu Tao also knew that Xiuxiu loved to eat fruits, so he smiled and agreed. 

That evening, everyone in the family came home. Liu Lin’s mood was still depressed. There was a sense that he was distracted. Although He shi was hinting – she was thinking of all ways and means to encourage Liu Lin to interact with Xiuxiu – Liu Lin clearly wasn’t in the mood. And Xiuxiu, kept in the dark as she was, didn’t take any initiative. He shi was left to struggle by herself. 

Liu Xu’er didn’t take any action – she was still waiting for Shi Cheng’s investigative results. 

That evening, when all of them turned in for the night, Liu Changgeng spoke to He shi. He asked if Xiuxiu herself was willing? It was still the same old issue – no matter what the parents say, if the child is unwilling, what could they do? Especially since it was clear that Liu Lin was definitely not willing. You ignored Liu Lin’s feelings and brought Xiuxiu over, but if Xiuxiu herself is unwilling, what would you do?

Also, Liu Changgeng reminded He shi, Liu Lin himself was unaware of He shi’s plans. If he were to know, would he still treat Xiuxiu the same way? No matter how obedient and sensible their children were, it was likely that he would treat her more coolly and avoid her if he knew. And if Xiuxiu were to find out the reason for the change in his behaviour, would Xiuxiu still be willing? She was only 12, and easily embarrassed. How could she take Liu Lin’s change well? In a way, wasn’t asking her over to stay with them, just opening her up to embarrassment?

He shi immediately felt like cold water had been doused over her! After being reminded, she quickly understood that she hadn’t thought this matter through clearly! If Liu Lin really were to find out and change his attitude toward Xiuxiu….. Wouldn’t it become so awkward between their families!

He shi, who had harbored plans to try and force Liu Lin, immediately regretted her actions. She now didn’t even dare to let Liu Lin know of her plans to match him with Xiuxiu, let alone try to force him together! She would first need to get Liu Lin’s agreement before the matter could be discussed further. He shi really regretted everything. She shouldn’t have invited Xiuxiu over in a fit of pique. Now, since she had invited her over – and had already made plans to have her over for at least half a month – she definitely couldn’t send her away so soon. He shi didn’t know what to do. 

The next day, after thinking about it, He shi went to look for Liu Xu’er, to think of a plan. 

But when she sent Xiaomeng to invite her over, she found out that Liu Xu’er wasn’t at home. She had left early in the morning. He shi could only anxiously wait. 

At the same time, Xiuxiu was just about to leave the house with Liu Tao. In the morning, Liu Xu’er had said that she needed to handle a matter, and asked her if she wanted to go shopping. If she did, she would ask Liu Sen to accompany her. 

Xiuxiu, of course, wanted to go out! Liu Xu’er had then gone to look for Liu Sen, but Liu Sen had already snuck out early. Who knew where he had headed off to play. Liu Xu’er was stuck. She needed to go out, so she needed to find some way of accommodating Xiuxiu. Otherwise, wouldn’t Xiuxiu be bored all by herself at home? She went to look for her dasao, but both her and her dage were busy. 

The family’s monthly allowance had just been given out, and there were still a lot of other matters requiring the family’s ledgers to handle. Shao Rong was being given daily lessons with Liu Shu to learn how to read and manage accounts. She was extremely busy!

After looking all over, Liu Xu’er couldn’t find anyone suitable to help, so she could only get Xiuxiu to head out with Liu Tao. Xiuxiu’s younger brother, He Zhongzhou worked in Liu Tao’s store. It would be best to get her brother to bring Xiuxiu shopping. 

Liu Tao naturally agreed. He brought Xiuxiu to his store. 

He Zhongzhou was there early. He had opened the store, and was busy cleaning up. When he heard his sister say she wanted to go out shopping, He Zhongzhou felt rather awkward. He was very aware that he was just a shop assistant, with no special identity. He couldn’t treat himself differently just because he was their relative, and take off whenever he felt like it, right?

Thankfully, Liu Tao himself had given the green light. He told him to bring Xiuxiu around and to be careful not to get lost. If there are too many people, they should head back. He Zhongzhou finally agreed and thanked him. Then he brought Xiuxiu out.