Chapter 27: Warm Sun in the Courtyard, Brotherhood
The wooden door of the large courtyard creaked. Little Swallow was helping Grandma Zhang carry bags of rice into the kitchen, the scent of firewood lingering on her nose. Morning glories climbed the mottled earthen wall in the corner, a few shimmering purple blossoms in full bloom, their petals rustling against the blue shirts hanging out to dry in the breeze. Children gathered around Liu Hong, listening to her stories about her new stall. Their silvery laughter filled the small courtyard.
"Little Swallow, this rice is so fragrant." Grandma Zhang touched the bright white rice grains with her rough hands, a smile filling the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. "Girl, how can you be so warm-hearted?"
Xiaoyanzi was about to speak when footsteps suddenly sounded at the courtyard gate. She turned and saw Xiao Jian standing there. His grayish-blue gown had been gleaming in the sun, and he was clutching a wooden box. His gaze swept across the children playing in the yard, the old man mending the fence, and finally settled on Liu Qing, who was helping to chop wood. His frown gradually relaxed, and a faint sense of familiarity crept into his eyes, as if he had seen this scene before somewhere.
"Brother! Why are you here?" Xiaoyanzi ran over, the red string on her braid jumping with her movements. "Is it Mom who's looking for me?"
Xiao Jian shook his head and handed the wooden box to the servant behind him, but his eyes never left Liu Qing's swing of the axe - the neat gesture made him feel strangely familiar. He walked over to Liu Qing, looked at the neatly chopped firewood, and suddenly said, "Your chopping technique is quite neat."
Liu Qing was startled by the sudden conversation, and his axe stopped in mid-air, with a shy look on his dark face: "I chop often at home, I've practiced it." He looked at Xiao Jian and saw that he had a calm temperament and gentle eyes, unlike the average rich young man, and the restraint in his heart disappeared for the most part.
Xiao Jian said nothing, merely looking at the mottled earthen walls, the drafty window frames, and the dust kicked up by the children running past. His Adam's apple moved. For some reason, this humble compound actually made him feel warm, as if, long ago, he had once protected a group of people and guarded a small courtyard like this. He turned to look at Xiao Yanzi, his eyes serious. "Xiao Yanzi, I just heard you talking about sworn brotherhood at the door."
Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up: "Brother, did you hear that too? We were just planning to find a good day!"
"It's not just you." Xiao Jian's gaze swept over Liu Qing and Liu Hong, then fell on the elderly and children in the courtyard. His voice was steady but warm, "I want to become sworn brothers with you, too. The walls of this courtyard need repairing, and the roof is leaking, making it unsafe for the children to live here." He winked at the servants behind him, "Go hire some bricklayers and carpenters to repair the courtyard, replace the roof with new tiles, paper up the windows, and build a shed for the children to study in."
"Brother!" Xiaoyanzi was surprised and delighted. She pulled Xiaojian's sleeve and shook it, her eyes shining like falling stars. "You are so kind!"
Liu Qing and Liu Hong were both stunned. The broom in Liu Hong's hand fell to the ground with a "clack". She stammered, "Master Fang... Master Fang, this is too expensive. We..."
"It's not a big deal," Xiao Jian interrupted her, squatting down to pick up the broom and handing it back. His fingertips brushed the rough back of her hand, the movement as natural as if he had done it a thousand times. "Looking at you two siblings, I feel a sense of closeness, like... we've known each other for a long time." He himself found it strange; it was clearly their first meeting, yet there was a familiarity, a kind of life-and-death friendship. "Liu Qing, follow me from now on. I'll teach you some self-defense skills and help you run your pancake stall. Liu Hong, stay with Xiao Yanzi to keep her company and learn to read."
He paused, looked at the elderly people in the courtyard, and said in a softer voice, "I'll have rice and noodles delivered to you every month. I'll also take care of the children's clothes and the elderly's medicine. You two will receive wages every month, so you don't have to worry about making a living anymore."
The axe in Liu Qing's hand fell to the ground with a clang. He clenched his fists fiercely, his dark face flushed red, his lips trembling, and after a long while he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Master Fang, we... how could we have the honor to..."
"You're so kindhearted and caring towards children and the elderly." Xiao Jian patted his shoulder, his palm firm and steady. "My parents always said that we should have good intentions and make good connections. I think you are a good connection worth making close friends with."
Liu Hong couldn't hold back any longer, tears fell down, she hurriedly wiped them with her sleeves, but the more she wiped, the more tears came: "We...we lost our parents when we were young, and it was our grandparents in the compound who raised us. I was always afraid that I couldn't protect them, but now...now I have you..." She couldn't go on, she just held Xiaoyanzi's hand, her fingertips burning.
Xiaoyanzi's eyes also turned red, but she smiled and wiped Liu Hong's tears with her sleeve: "Why are you crying? We will be a family from now on! My eldest brother loves me the most. He will definitely protect the person he chooses!" She turned to Xiao Jian and made a face, "Brother, do you also think that Brother Liu Qing and Sister Liu Hong are so good? I told you I have good taste!"
Xiao Jian smiled helplessly, his fingertips brushing against the jade pendant at his waist. The warm touch made him feel more at ease. "Let's find a good day and swear brotherhood together. Heaven and earth are our witnesses. From now on, we will share weal and woe, honor and disgrace together."
"Okay!" Liu Qing nodded vigorously, a light shining brightly on his dark face. "I, Liu Qing, may not have any great abilities in this life, but as long as I'm here, I will definitely protect you and your sister!"
"And me!" Liu Hong wiped away her tears, puffed out her chest, and swung her braid straight. "From now on, I'll sew Xiaoyanzi's clothes and take care of the yard work. I promise to take good care of everyone!"
Sunlight streamed through the old locust tree in the compound, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The children had gathered around them, and Xiao Douzi timidly tugged at Xiao Jian's clothes, "Big Brother, can you build us a swing while you're repairing the house?"
Xiao Jian bent down and touched his head, the tenderness in his eyes almost overflowing: "Not only a swing, but also a wooden horse, okay?"
The children immediately cheered and jumped around him. Grandma Zhang came over with a cane, took Xiao Jian's hand, tears in her eyes: "Good boy, you Fang family are all good people... God is merciful, let us meet you..."
Xiao Jian gripped the old man's rough hand, feeling a sudden sense of peace. He glanced at Xiao Yanzi—she was holding hands with Liu Hong, chatting, her eyes curved with a smile. Then he looked at Liu Qing—he was helping to stack the firewood neatly, his back straight and reliable. This scene, lively and warm, felt like a scene that should have happened long ago, and it took root in his heart.
The servants had already gone to fetch the craftsmen; in the distance they could hear the sounds of them inquiring about the bricklayer's shop. Xiaoyanzi dragged Liuhong to see where they would set up the swing, while Liuqing followed Xiaojian to check for leaks on the roof. Elderly people sat on the doorstep, basking in the sun, and the children's laughter rang out like silver bells.
Smoke rose from the chimneys of the compound again, mingling with the aroma of food, and dissipated in the sunlight. Xiao Jian watched the fireworks of this world and suddenly understood where that inexplicable sense of familiarity came from—it was protection, it was concern, it was the warm-heartedness of always protecting those around him. It was exactly the same as the chivalrous spirit in his bones.
Life in the capital finally feels like home thanks to these lively people.
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