"Silly girl, what's your name?"

"Uh-huh...Chai, they call me Chai."

"Small dish? Whose is that dish?"

"No, there's not a single dish. There's only Xiao Chai, who lives in the woodshed and is responsible for firewood. But there's a big maid in the compound named Die'er, who sounds very nice. Um, you, do you still want to eat?"

"I'm not going to eat anymore. You eat what you want. Don't worry about me and Xiao Qingjun. I was really pissed off by you this afternoon. I talked to you the whole afternoon but you ignored me. You were so disrespectful. I thought you were sick because of me. I just went back and used the Dragon Sucking Water Technique to drink a lot."

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, don't kowtow. As Uncle Xiaobai said, we are not into this kind of stuff. Just treat it as making friends. Except for drinking on credit and whoring."

"As for Xiao Qingjun, she can't eat anymore. I just pushed her over the wall, and I never expected that her butt would grow fat again. It was so heavy that it almost crushed me to death. My waist was almost broken by her, and my reputation was almost ruined. Fortunately, I pushed her up in the end."

“…”

"Brother Rong'er, please don't talk about me like that, okay... Where am I fat?"

"Where? My butt. You thought you could hide it from me."

"Brother Rong'er, eat these bones. I won't pick them out for you anymore. I will only pick out fish bones for Xiao Chai from now on."

"Big brother, the little sister really doesn't look fat. She is tall, slim, and pretty. None of the maids in our courtyard are as pretty as her."

"Thank you, Xiao Chai. You look very pretty, too. Is your face injured? I'll apply some medicine on it later."

"Alright, alright, stop praising each other. Here, Xiaocai, no, Xiaochai, take this plate too. You've been staring at it for a long time."

"Eh, Xiao Chai? What a mess, is this a name that a human could come up with? And Die'er is the same, too old-fashioned."

"Well, okay. We were abandoned babies, and the old maid in the courtyard gave us nicknames by pointing at objects in the kitchen. When it was my turn, she happened to turn around and pointed at the wood next to the stove, so I got the name... Xiao Chai, the eldest of the Zhao family, Zhao Xiao Chai."

"Oh, so that's why you eat wood? Your name is Wood, so you eat wood?"

“…”

"My mother said that we have to be particular and meaningful when choosing a name. The more particular and meaningful it is, the better. This way people will think it's awesome. So do you know what it means to be particular and meaningful?"

"No, I don't know."

"It means that after you say it, you want others to not understand it at first. Or after you tell them the meaning, they need to digest it for a long time before they react slowly, or even nod their heads pretending to understand. I can't help but mutter in my heart, this person is really particular and amazing. Do you understand?"

"I understand... I understand a little. But... you don't speak human language to others?"

"Well, that's a good summary. But there's one more thing to add. While you're not speaking human language, you also have to make sure that others don't know that you're not speaking human language, so that they feel ashamed and doubt that they don't understand human language, and think that they're not a great and sophisticated person. Then they'll think that you are a great and sophisticated person."

"Oh, I see. Um, but it's so difficult."

"Let me give you an example and introduce us at the same time."

"My surname is Zhao, and the single character is Rong, which means to join the army. According to Shuowen Jiezi, the character Rong is divided into two halves, which is Gan Ge. Gan Ge, a shield and a spear, are weapons."

"So the word Rong also means weapons and the army. My mother said that my name was given by my father and it has a strong murderous aura. If I study in the future, I can ask the teacher to give me a gentler name."

"As for Xiao Qingjun, who is very good at picking fish bones and peeling grapes... there is a saying that goes, 'On a cold winter day, when all the grass and trees turn yellow and fall, you are the only one who knows.'"

"The bamboo is green and has joints, which is like a gentleman's demeanor. As the name suggests, Qingjun is her nickname. Doesn't it sound like a boy's name? Oh, it would be nice if it was true, so I could have another buddy. But it's a pity that she is just a stinky girl who likes to wear skirts."

“…”

"Stupid girl, is it amazing? Is it very particular that you can't understand it at all?"

"Well, firewood... bamboo... spears, well, aren't they all wooden sticks?"

"?"

"Big brother, little sister, do you eat wood?"

"What the hell are we the same? Even if mine is a spear, it's a hard stick made of copper and iron, and you're just bamboo and firewood. Since I'm so hard and thick, you're only suitable for making a wooden or bamboo sheath. So, humph, it's easy for me to deal with the two of you alone, isn't it? In Uncle Xiaobai's words, I can split this small Wangque Continent in half with just one sword. So from now on, I'm the oldest among the three of us, and you all have to listen to me!"

"Bah, bah, bah, you have no shame."

"By the way, Xiao Chai, you saw me on the windowsill today, why are you so afraid of me?"

"I'm afraid you'll beat me."

"Am I so scary?"

"No, it's because I don't know you, and you kept staring at me with a scary look in your eyes, and you kept nodding your head..."

"Oh. That's because I recognized you. You don't know me, but I know you. Let me ask you, were you the one who cleaned up all the squares and stones on the tiles outside our fourth room?"

"Ah, it seems so. How did you know?"

"That was a game Qingjun and I played. We used the squares for hopscotch and the stones for throwing. We couldn't bring them back to the room, so we had to ask the maids not to clean up. But you were the wrong kid. I don't know where he came from, but you swept him away every time!"

“…”

"I was ready to catch you several times, but you were smart enough to run away before I could get close to you. But your skinny and short figure... I was wondering why you looked so familiar this morning. Well, I actually met the real you."

"I'm sorry, I don't know."

"You've never played that game? Don't worry, Qingjun and I will play it with you later."

"Big brother, little sister, I..."

"Wait, don't call me that from now on, just call me Brother Rong'er."

"Well, you can also call me Sister Qingjun."

"Yeah. Brother Rong'er, Sister Qingjun, I...I probably can't play with you anymore."

"Why? You, Zhao Xiaochai, a little piece of wood, look down on me, Zhao Tiebang, and her, Zhao Xiaozhu?"

"No, no. Xiao Chai was not chosen by the master. I heard that the foundling home will no longer be run, and they don't want a little maid like me. It's a waste of food. In a few days, I may not be able to live in the firewood room and will be sent out of the mansion."

"I... I haven't been outside yet, and I don't know if I can see Brother Rong'er and Sister Qingjun again in the future... Well, if, if Xiao Chai gets some money outside, I may not be able to treat you guys to a meal."

"Xiao Chai, Xiao Chai, stop crying. You just put some medicine on your face, and it's going to be wasted. Brother Rong'er, please think of a solution."

"I know, I know, Qingjun, can you please stop teaching me how to do things? Wait, I see, that's why you've been crying all day."

"It's just... that's it? It doesn't matter if you live in this broken-down woodshed. It's not as comfortable as the little nest Qingjun and I have on the back hill. And what's so good about being a maid? And you're still vying to be one? That's stupid. Don't you think so, Qingjun?"

"Xiao Chai, it's not easy to be a maid. My mother often punishes maids who make mistakes. Being a maid is too difficult."

"Wow, then, what else can I do if I don't want to be a maid?"

"Well, let me think about it. How about being a lady of the Duke's Mansion like me? This is good, but it's inconvenient to go out and play. Brother Rong'er, please help Xiao Chai and let her be a lady too."

“…”

"???"

"Wuwuwuwuwuwu, I-I-I'd better go out and be a beggar. Brother Rong'er, Sister Qingjun, don't worry. I can take care of myself."

"Stupid, could you please stop making trouble and giving bad advice?"

"Xiao Chai, don't be sad. Wouldn't it be better if you weren't chosen by that shitty master? And you don't have parents to discipline you. No, I'm a little envious. If my mother didn't care about me and let me go out to explore the world, how great would that be?"

"Well, let's get down to business. Xiao Chai, you can be my second wife."

“…”

"Qingjun and I often play house. The little wooden house on the tree in the back mountain is our wedding room. Mother and the others don't know about it. It's quite comfortable there, but it's a pity that we can't stay there overnight."

"Xiao Chai, you will live there from now on. When we play house, you will be my second wife and Qingjun will be the first wife. We will have fun again."

"Brother Rong'er, this is a good idea. You can live in the wooden house in the back mountain. We will bring you food and clothes. Brother Rong'er often goes there and can take care of you. We can still play together in the future and don't have to be a tiring maid. But...Brother Rong'er, why is it the second wife and not the youngest wife? Could it be that you want to have another one?"

"...I'm too lazy to argue with you. Haha, it's decided. From now on, this young man will have two wives. Look at Uncle Xiaobai. He's so old, but he's still a bachelor. He just knows how to brag to me about his past and trick me into buying wine. Is this what a master is? Too lame."

"Xiao Chai... No, this name is too awkward. I have to change it. The name of my second wife must also be elegant."

"What, what's the name? Xiao Chai is pretty good."

"No, we have to change it. Let me think about it... Well, let's call her Qian'er."

"Qian...er?"

"You are as thin as a bamboo pole. My mother said that the word 'girly' sounds very beautiful."

"Brother Rong'er, what does this word mean?"

"I don't know either."

"have no idea?"

"Yes, have you forgotten what I just told you? Even I don't know. It must be a very, very exquisite name. I guess not many people know it, and it sounds nice. As for how to explain it when someone asks you, just think about it slowly and make up one that's about right."

"Like me and Qingjun, don't let others easily understand or think of it. Well, it's best if you don't know it yourself and let others guess. Hey, our Zhao family is very particular about names."

“…”

“…”

A little girl whose lips were stained with oil for the first time nodded blankly, tilted her head and murmured:

"Qian'er Qian'er, little Qian'er... Zhao Qian'er... Brother Rong'er's second... wife..."

…

Not long after, the foundling home was quietly closed down, and no one knew where the remaining few unwanted little maids went.

This incident did not cause any ripples in the huge Duke's Palace.

Xiao Qian'er, who was given a name whose meaning no one knew, became a small black householder in the Duke's mansion and lived in a small wooden house in the back mountain.

Well, this is also the home of her, Zhao Rong and Zhao Lingfei.

A shared little secret.

Xiao Qian'er also foolishly and seriously became Brother Rong'er's second wife.

During the day, Brother Rong Er often came to the back mountain and took her to run all over the mountain.

Because he was familiar with the terrain and she was small in stature, she was not discovered by anyone in the Duke's Mansion.

And every one or two days, the young lady would find an opportunity to come out and go to the back mountain with Brother Rong'er to play with her.

Xiao Qian'er has no shortage of food, clothing and housing.

The young lady often brings exquisite and delicious cakes and beautiful clothes. Brother Ronger likes to tinker with things and cook on picnics.

The three of them lived a very enjoyable life in the back mountain.

She also became Rong'er's little follower, doing things that she had never dared to think about when she lived in the orphanage.

In addition to the high walls, gates and cold floors of the Duke's Mansion, it turned out that there were green mountains and clear waters, blue sky and white clouds, and a person who was very kind to her.

Whenever night falls, when Brother Rong'er and Miss Rong leave the mountain, Xiao Qian'er will stand on tiptoe, wave and watch them go, with curved eyes and a bright smile.

But when their figures disappeared in the woods, she would feel briefly confused and lost, looking around at the night in the wilderness and the row of black mountains in the distance.

However, Xiao Qian'er was not afraid at this time, because she had a warm little wooden house that she rebuilt with Brother Rong'er and Miss Rong'er, and two peers who were not relatives but were like relatives to her.

Looking back on this period now, Zhao Qianer still regards it as one of the happiest times.

And a big boy who gave her a name and a status but still liked to call her a stupid girl became her only support during that time.

The whole world revolves around him.

Every time Zhao Qian'er recalled it, she couldn't help but twitch the corners of her lips.

As for later.

She, a little black householder in the Duke's Mansion, was finally discovered.

Zhao Qian'er didn't know the specific reason, she only remembered that it was noon on a sunny day. She and Brother Rong'er and Miss Rong'er had been playing for the whole morning. When they were sitting on a tree in front of the wooden house to eat, the nobleman from the fourth room fell from the sky.

They appeared with Kunbo, Aunt Liu, Uncle Xiaobai, and a large group of maids and servants.

That day, Zhao Qian'er remembered that the three of them cried very hard.

In order to protect her, Rong Erge, who was hiding a beautiful girl in a golden house, contradicted the first lady.

After being severely punished, even the gentle Aunt Liu did not plead for mercy.

The lady was also confined to her room.

As for her, she was the first to be slapped in the face by the eldest lady herself.

Being scolded as a mere lowly servant with no respect for one's parents.

Miss Gain was picking out fish bones for her to eat when she was caught by the eldest lady who came silently.

It was this slap that caused Brother Rong'er to contradict the First Lady.

At the same time, it was also from this slap that Xiao Qian'er, after becoming the young lady's maid, always strictly observed the distinction between superiors and subordinates in front of others.

Even after entering Taiqing Mansion, she had become the Zhao family's pride that the old ladies in the Duke's Mansion had to carefully please. Her cultivation talent was second only to the young lady, and many men in Taiqing Mansion actively pursued her. She could easily get rid of her maid status and her face was no less than that of the young lady, so the latter would happily agree. But Zhao Qian'er was still the young lady's personal maid.

Then, she starved outside the door for three whole days before Room 4 opened the door in the middle of the night and admitted her.

Later I learned that this was a favor that the young lady had begged the eldest lady for.

So, Zhao Qian'er became the young lady's personal maid and part-time playmate.

From then on, she became a loyal member of the fourth room, and grew up with Brother Rong'er and Miss Rong'er.

Time passes slowly.

Later, the eldest lady passed away.

There were some things on the day she left that Zhao Qian'er still remembers vividly.

At that time, the young lady who had been guarding the bed for several days was going out for a short time with Aunt Liu to pray at the Taoist temple. The eldest lady was still in a coma.

At some point in the morning, she woke up as if she had a last burst of energy, and shouted the lady's name loudly, asking to see her.

Zhao Qian'er hurriedly sent someone out of the house to look for the young lady, and then went to guard the bedside.

She gently fed the eldest lady the medicine.

The eldest lady's eyes were blurred with tears and she was dying. She recognized the wrong person.

This nobleman whom Zhao Qian'er respected from the bottom of her heart, tightly grasped her hands, mistaking her for a young lady, and stammered, "Ling Fei, Ling Fei, my little Ling Fei, please don't leave..."

Zhao Qian'er was at a loss, not knowing how to respond, so she could only nod vigorously and hold her hand. She didn't dare to speak and responded silently.

But until the very end, the lady still didn't have time to come back.

There were only the two of them in the lonely room.

It was another spring morning, and the sun was still shining on the windowsill, but unlike the time in the lobby of the foundling home, this time, Zhao Qian'er and the nobleman who saved her life were both inside the house.

At a certain moment, the haggard woman on the bed finally closed her eyes and passed away, but Zhao Qian'er still didn't say thank you that she had always wanted to say to her.

Later on, what she still remembers vividly is the swing that Brother Ronger made for the stubborn girl.

The first swing that belonged to her that summer is still swinging under the tree with a small wooden house built on the back hill.

The last time I went back to accompany my young lady to her wedding, on their wedding night, she was still sitting there alone, flying and flying, flying all night, biting her lip and staring at the candlelight in Rong'er's wedding room at the foot of the mountain, with the corners of her lips slightly raised...

These fleeting past events, however, also left indelible memories, remaining in Zhao Qianer's clear heart and engraved on the lake bottom without a trace of silt.

Brother Rong'er said that the words on the stone will never be lost.

So does she.

Maybe it's a casual evening, or when you look up and see the moon rising over the branches, or maybe it's when you're alone with your eyes open in the dead of night.

She would always recall it.

At this moment, Zhao Qian'er, who was abandoned by her parents, finally made her childhood sweetheart Rong Er stop and look back, and he took the initiative to hold her hand.

Instead of running hard behind him like the little follower she used to be, she could only look at his back, calling "Brother Rong'er" and so on, but still couldn't keep up, and she was afraid that he would lose her like her careless parents.

I can finally become his second wife as he had promised since childhood.

'Zhao Xiaochai' feels that this life is enough.

As for the meaning of the name of the Old Zhao Family that Rong'er had always asked him to think about...

She smiled brightly.

My name is Qian'er. I was born in the Zhao Mansion with a weak body.