Seventeenth birthday
Over there, Gu Heng was drinking his medicine, and he was grimacing from the bitterness.
After Pei Qingwu finished chatting with Wu Niang and the others, he went to see him.
Seeing him holding a bowl of medicine, taking a couple of sips and then sighing, his features scrunched up, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Gu Heng was drawn to her movements and turned around to see Pei Qingwu with her arms crossed, leaning against the door frame, looking at him with a smile. Gu Heng immediately blushed.
"Master, Master..."
"Oh, so you're awake now, and you're not calling me 'sister' anymore?" Pei Qingwu said with a smile, deliberately teasing him.
Reminded by her words, Gu Heng also remembered what he had said in a daze last night. His face turned even redder, and he stammered and lowered his head.
"Quick, call me again. I love hearing you call me 'sister'."
The more innocent-looking he was, the more Pei Qingwu wanted to tease him.
"Master, please, please don't..." Gu Heng looked like he was about to cry, stammering for a long time.
Pei Qingwu decided to stop while she was ahead and was about to walk towards him when she saw the boy looking like he was about to bravely face his execution. He stammered, "Sister..."
"Huh? What?"
“I said, sister…” Gu Heng finished speaking and turned his face away.
Pei Qingwu chuckled: "What, I'm older than you, and calling you 'sister' is such a hassle for you, huh?"
As she spoke, she walked toward Gu Heng.
"No, I..."
Gu Heng couldn't explain his own psychology. Actually, back in Zuiyue Tower, he used to call his sister very naturally.
But his feelings for Pei Qingwu were mixed up with something he himself couldn't quite explain.
"Good boy/girl, open your mouth and eat candy."
Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Pei Qingwu's slender, white palm was already outstretched and brought to his lips.
There's a piece of osmanthus candy on top.
Gu Heng looked up.
"Eat it, didn't you say it was too bitter?"
In that instant, countless words welled up on Gu Heng's lips—his thoughts on the term "good boy."
In the end, he just muttered, "I'm not a child..."
"Okay, okay, not a child, but a big kid."
Seeing him eat the candy, Pei Qingwu smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair: "Big kids are not as good as little kids. You don't even need to coax a little kid to take medicine."
His hair felt great to the touch, soft yet firm, fluffy, almost like that of a large dog.
Pei Qingwu liked the feel of it, and before he knew it, he had been kneading it for a little too long.
Gu Heng obediently let her rub him.
Pei Qingwu stopped pinching his cheek when his hair was almost completely messed up.
Gu Heng was startled and was about to react when Pei Qingwu grabbed his cheek and pinched it with a mischievous grin.
"That's right, our Ah Heng has been eating well and has gained quite a bit of weight."
"My employer is making fun of me again."
Gu Heng muttered to himself, rubbing his face.
After teasing him enough, Pei Qingwu made Gu Heng lie down and covered him up tightly with a blanket: "Alright, have a good rest for a day, and get up when you're completely better."
Just as Gu Heng was about to say something, Tuanzi came running in, wagging its tail and circling around Pei Qingwu.
It was spinning around while breathing on the ground, looking like it wanted to be petted.
Pei Qingwu bent down, picked it up, and ruffled its fur.
"So cute..."
When a human encounters a puppy, they automatically turn into a trap.
As Pei Qingwu spoke, he lowered his head and rubbed Tuanzi's little head.
The little dumpling barked once and obediently rubbed against its owner.
Having fun playing with it, Pei Qingwu unconsciously smiled, and Gu Heng, seeing her smile, also smiled foolishly.
On this very day, the incessant rain finally stopped.
For the first time, the heavens smiled down, showering down warm sunshine that lifted everyone's spirits.
Zhao Jue had realized that the court in Chang'an could no longer be relied upon, so he simply wrote a few letters to the surrounding prefectures seeking food aid. Then, he began to conscript a large number of displaced people to work on the river and repair the river embankments that had been damaged by the floods.
They also promised to provide meals.
With this condition in place, the conscripted refugees had few complaints.
As long as we're alive and have food, that's good enough.
With the refugees having something to do and food to eat, the security in Qin Prefecture began to improve. Pei Qingwu went out for a couple of walks and then reopened his shop.
When the opening announcement was posted, several regular customers from the neighborhood immediately came to buy snacks.
"Oh dear, Master Pei, you don't know, but I've been craving this for days while the Su Shan market was closed."
"Really? Then I'll give you some more so you can eat your fill."
Pei Qingwu replied with a smile, and then stuffed two more pastries into the box.
"Oh, you're too kind, sir." The guest beamed and took the box. Upon closer inspection, he saw a picture of a magpie perched on a plum blossom, a symbol of good fortune. The magpie was so lifelike that it stood on a plum petal, and the guest's smile widened.
"After this ordeal, every day in Qin Prefecture will be a good day."
"That's right."
Seeing that the income was decent and that Wu Niang and Yu Yi's skills were ready to be fully developed, Pei Qingwu took over the shop in the West Market that he had long ago set his sights on.
That day was also Pei Qingwu's seventeenth birthday.
Coincidentally, Pei San Niang of this era and Pei Qing Wu of modern times share the same lunar birthday.
Everyone at Sushan Market knew about it, and they got up early to get busy—some kneading dough, some picking vegetables, and some embroidering…
Even Zheng Youning, who was still staying there, personally went into the kitchen and started tinkering with something.
Pei Qingwu returned from buying a shop outside. As soon as he entered, he was mysteriously pulled aside by Qiantao and Wu Niang.
"What is this for?"
Pei Qingwu looked at the rouge and powder in Qian Tao's hand and asked in confusion.
Qian Tao smiled and said, "The master will find out soon. Now, let me dress you up properly."
As she spoke, she pressed Pei Qingwu down to sit in front of the dressing table.
First, she took a peach wood comb, dipped it in some osmanthus hair oil, and carefully combed Pei Qingwu's long black hair.
The hair was already black and lustrous, and with the nourishment of the scalp oil, it appeared even shinier and smoother.
With skillful hands, Qian Tao coiled her long hair on top of her head into a towering bun, securing it with several gilded hairpins.
The woman in the mirror suddenly appeared more upright and capable.
Before Pei Qingwu could examine it closely, Qiantao had already brought the dressing case.
She first applied fine lead powder to Pei Qingwu's face, making her skin appear fair and radiant; then, she used a small brush to apply light pink rouge lightly under her eyelids, creating a natural blush like the morning glow—this was the currently popular slanted red makeup.
"Master, close your eyes," Qian Tao whispered, using ink to draw Pei Qingwu's eyebrows.
The eyebrows were drawn long and graceful, with the ends slightly upturned, like distant mountains shrouded in green. Then, a plum blossom-shaped ornament cut from gold foil was carefully pasted on the forehead, shining brightly in the light, making the eyebrows and eyes even clearer and more beautiful.
The lip makeup was even more elaborate. Qian Tao chose the most vibrant color among the lip rouges and used a small brush to apply it to Pei Qingwu's full, cherry-red lips.
The finished makeup is both radiant and charming, yet retains a youthful and delicate appeal.
"Master, please put on this new outfit again."
Qian Tao laughed and unfolded the newly made clothes.
The innermost layer was a light blue, narrow-sleeved short blouse with a neckline embroidered with delicate intertwined floral patterns. Over this was a pomegranate-red, high-waisted silk skirt, with large lotus flower patterns embroidered in gold and silver threads on the skirt body, and a dense circle of intertwined scrolling grass patterns embroidered around the hem.
Finally, Qian Tao took a thin, silver-colored shawl and gently draped it over Pei Qingwu's arm.
The shawl fluttered gently in the wind, adding to its ethereal beauty.
"It's not over yet." Qian Tao smiled and opened a brocade box, taking out matching ornaments—a pair of red gold pearl flowers inlaid with rubies, and a gold comb also inlaid with rubies.
She carefully placed the comb in Pei Qingwu's hair bun, while the pearl tassels swayed gently beside it, complementing her red dress.
Once she was dressed and made up, Qian Tao took two steps back, her eyes filled with amazement: "Master, please take a look and see if you are satisfied?"
The girl in the mirror was stunningly beautiful. Her high-piled hair accentuated her long neck, and her perfectly applied makeup highlighted her delicate features. Her brightly colored dress made her skin look as white as snow. She was like a peony in its first bloom, both elegant and youthful.
Just then, Gu Heng brought over a bowl of freshly made longevity noodles.
Upon seeing Pei Qingwu in her finest attire, he froze on the spot, nearly dropping the bowl in his hand.
The boy's ears turned slightly red, but he couldn't bear to look away for even a moment, only murmuring, "Master looks exceptionally handsome today."
Pei Qingwu felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and chuckled softly, "It's just a change of clothes."
“It’s not just the clothes,” Gu Heng said seriously, “it’s the whole person who’s radiating light.”
Jinniang and Yuyi also came upon hearing the commotion, and upon seeing the scene, they both praised it repeatedly.
Yin Lan also came over carrying two dishes and said with a smile, "This is how our boss should be... You always dress so plainly on weekdays, but dressed like this today is a true reflection of your youth."
Pei Qingwu smiled sheepishly: "What's going on today? Why are we making such a big fuss?"
Qian Tao covered her mouth and chuckled: "Master is so busy every day, how could you forget that today is Master's seventeenth birthday?"
Pei Qingwu then suddenly realized what was going on.
"It's just a birthday, why all this formality..."
“Oh dear, we must be solemn.” Qian Tao pulled Pei Qingwu to sit down, her voice filled with gratitude: “Speaking of which, the master is a savior to everyone in this room.”
Looking at the smiling faces of approval filling the room, Pei Qingwu felt a little embarrassed and lowered his head.
This birthday celebration was exceptionally lively.
Yin Lan cooked a table full of delicious dishes and warmed some wine. She especially prepared longevity noodles for Pei Qingwu, with a soup made from lamb bones that tasted particularly refreshing.
Everyone also prepared gifts.
Qian Tao received a string of necklaces, Wu Niang received a box of golden milk pastries, Yu Yi received a shrimp-whisker bracelet, Shi Dayong received a bolt of silk, and Jin Niang received a pair of new shoes.
Zheng Youning made a plate of red silk pastries, which were bright red and very festive.
"That's like showing off your limited skills before an expert," she laughed. "There's another painting that's already hanging in the master's bedroom."
Even Nianci wrote a calligraphy piece, and Mingyi, under his mother's guidance, said a few auspicious words to Pei Qingwu.
Gu Heng blushed and covered the gift, refusing to take it out.
But the more he acted this way, the more others egged him on, wanting everyone to see what it was all about.
In the end, he couldn't resist and took it out.
It was originally a small portrait he had cut out himself. The woman in the painting had beautiful hair and a lovely face, and was smiling. It was none other than Pei Qingwu.
The small statue was carefully framed, protected by a circle of plain silver, and decorated with carved peonies, with a string of tassels hanging from the bottom.
"When I was little, I learned to cut out small portraits from my mother. Please don't be disgusted by the shop owner..."
Pei Qingwu smiled and accepted it: "What's there to complain about? It's so beautiful, I love it more than anything."
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