Chapter 1 The Cold-Eyed Young Lady
In late spring, it rained several times in the capital.
In the blues hour after sunset, the depths of the West City compound are quiet and refreshing, with a few independent courtyards scattered among the green trees. The public walking paths are surrounded by flowers and trees blooming in spring, creating a sense of secluded tranquility.
Xia Qingwan knew the way well and took a shortcut through the small path.
The wet road surface after the rain was shimmering with tiny sparkles. The charming weeping crabapple blossoms dropped pink and purple petals all over the ground, and some also fell into the small puddles on the roadside. At a glance, the scene looked like the mother-of-pearl on the makeup box of an ancient girl.
Xia Qingwan carefully lifted her skirt and walked over. The sleeves of her loose knitted cardigan brushed against the treetops, brushing off scattered petals that silently landed on her shoulders.
At the end of the path, light from the main road in the courtyard shines through the gaps in the dense clusters of roses.
On the main road, a black car drove by at a steady speed, its tires rolling over the wet pavement and kicking up a spray of water droplets.
Xia Qingwan emerged from a side path and arrived at the gate of a courtyard with a rose-covered wall. She knocked gently, and a gray-haired maid, wiping her hands on her apron, came out to greet her, smiling as she opened the door, "Miss, you've come at just the right time."
"What's wrong? Is Grandma throwing a tantrum again?"
Xia Qingwan said with a smile.
The sound was like the evening rain at this time of year, cool yet with a touch of gentle melodies.
“But not this time,” said the maid, Grandma Xi, with a smile. “The old lady will tell you herself.”
The two entered the room.
Grandma Xi went to the kitchen to prepare the meal, while Xia Qingwan changed her shoes in the entryway and slowly walked to the side hall.
The side hall didn't resemble a typical family's reception area; it was more like a study. Books and ancient texts were piled everywhere. A long boxwood table stood across the window, with a pen holder full of calligraphy brushes on it, and several sheets of Xuelang paper scattered about, one corner flattened by a paperweight.
Not far from the long table, an elderly woman sat in a round-backed chair in front of another window. She had gray hair, was dressed simply, and wore glasses. She was looking down at a report in her hand.
"grandmother."
The old lady looked up.
The girl in front of me stood gracefully, wearing a white dress with a light, moon-white cardigan over it.
The old lady, Xia Huiqing, frowned slightly. "Wearing such thin clothes?" As she spoke, she casually put the report away and into a file bag.
Xia Qingwan explained, "The temperature was high at noon, so I came here directly after class in the afternoon and didn't have time to go back to the dormitory to put on more clothes."
"Go upstairs and change into some trousers and a jacket before coming back down."
"good."
Xia Qingwan didn't argue much and obediently went upstairs.
After changing her clothes and going downstairs, she happened to see Grandma Xi setting the table to prepare for dinner. Seeing that she had changed her clothes, she smiled knowingly and said, "Did the old lady ask you to change?"
Xia Qingwan nodded and came over to help arrange the dishes.
Only Xia Huiqing, the widow of Xia Lao, lived in the old Xia family house. Xia Huiqing disliked noise, and the only servant in the house was Grandma Xi. As Grandma Xi got older, she was occasionally sick, so when Xia Qingwan was around, she often helped with some simple housework.
Grandma Xi knew that she was naturally obedient, so she scolded her repeatedly, telling her to put it down and not move.
It's quite a pity that when she was young, the old lady Xia Huiqing was aloof and cold, but as she got older, her eyes became kinder, yet she was still as strict with her granddaughter as ever.
From personal conduct, academic studies, and reading, to clothing, daily necessities, and leisure activities, he had to be involved in everything.
It's fortunate that Xia Qingwan, being such a small person, could put up with the old lady's strange temper.
Grandma Xi thought to herself, glancing at the girl. The girl had a pair of classical and reserved willow-leaf eyebrows, and long eyelashes that covered a pair of calm and serene autumn eyes, much like a pool of still ink on a spring evening when the weeping willows brush against it.
After the dishes were plated and served, Xia Qingwan held onto the back of her chair and waited for Xia Huiqing to sit down before pulling out her own chair and sitting down herself.
The Xia family has strict rules, and no one speaks at the dinner table.
After a quiet meal, Xia Huiqing said to Xia Qingwan, "Come take a walk with me."
"OK."
After Grandma Xia Huiqing finished speaking, she got up and went to the side hall. Xia Qingwan helped Grandma Xi put away the leftovers and took them to the kitchen. At the kitchen sink, Grandma Xi couldn't help but laugh and grumbled in a low voice, "If I hadn't known that the old lady was in a good mood today, I would have thought she was going to teach you a lesson while taking a walk."
This made Xia Qingwan laugh too.
Xia Huiqing served as a professor for thirty years, and was known for her strictness during her tenure. Even after retirement, she maintained her former demeanor at home, remaining calm, serious, and rarely smiling. Only in front of her old best friend, Grandma Liang, would she reveal a bit of her childlike speech and behavior.
Xia Huiqing is in a good mood today, probably because Grandma Liang came.
Xia Qingwan washed her hands in the kitchen and stood at the entrance of the living room waiting for Xia Huiqing.
A moment later, Xia Huiqing came out of the side hall with a small sandalwood box in her hand. The grandfather and granddaughter walked out of the living room and came to the front yard.
On the pebbly path shaded by flowers and trees, two people strolled slowly, one in front of the other.
Xia Huiqing said, "Your grandmother Liang came here today."
Xia Qingwan had heard Grandma Liang's name many times from Xia Huiqing, knowing that the two elderly women's friendship had lasted since their childhood. As for the details, Xia Huiqing was reluctant to talk about them. In fact, only Xia Qingwan, the granddaughter who lost both her parents at a young age, and Grandma Xi, who lived with them, knew about the friendship between the two elderly women. As for the other members of the Xia family, Xia Qingwan's uncle and aunt were completely unaware of it.
"Your Grandma Liang said that a few days ago, her grandson had someone clean out the old bookcase and found an old book inside. It was the 1958 Fan Wenlan edition of 'Wen Xin Diao Long Annotated'. Your Grandma Liang thought you might need it for your academic work, so she sent it to you specially."
"Thank you, grandma."
Xia Qingwan is a freshman majoring in Chinese language and literature at Peking University and needs this kind of books.
"in addition……"
Xia Huiqing stopped in her tracks, opened the small sandalwood box in her hand, took out a jade bracelet, and held it up to her wrist. "This bracelet was given to me by your great-grandmother's best friend many years ago. Unfortunately, the situation was turbulent at the time, and my family was in chaos. I don't know where it was lost. It was just a coincidence that I found it in the old bookstore..."
Xia Huiqing patted Xia Qingwan's hand. "Wear it carefully."
That jadeite bangle was as smooth and lustrous as butter, translucent and delicate, clearly a rare and excellent glass-type jadeite.
Xia Qingwan grasped her grandmother's hand in return, a thousand words welling up in her throat, her heart heavy with emotion, unable to speak—Xia Huiqing had said that this bracelet was originally meant for Xia Qingwan's mother.
Xia Huiqing smiled, which was rare for her, and said, "It was originally meant to be given to your mother, but giving it to you now is the same thing."
Xia Qingwan lowered her head.
For a moment, neither the grandfather nor the grandson spoke; silence enveloped the small courtyard like a curtain.
Xia Huiqing said, "You go back to the house, I will walk around by myself."
"……Um."
Xia Qingwan didn't look up. She listened to her grandmother's footsteps gradually fading away. She held on for a few more moments before tears started falling.
Her parents' situation has always been a taboo topic in the Xia family.
Back then, the Xia family was also a family of poetry, etiquette and nobility. Old Xia and Xia Huiqing had three children: eldest son Xia Changping, eldest daughter Xia Changliu, and youngest son Xia Xili.
The youngest son, Xia Xili, was the most favored and cultivated, but unfortunately, he had no interest in academics or fame. He dropped out of university on his own to form a rock band, which infuriated his parents, Xia Lao and Xia Huiqing.
Later, Xia Xili's band met Song Nanqiao during their tour in the south. The two fell in love at first sight.
Song Nanqiao also comes from a scholarly family in the south. Xia Xili, despite his good background, is "not doing proper work," so it's no surprise that his parents-in-law don't approve of him. Unsurprisingly, their relationship is met with strong opposition from both the Xia and Song families.
Left with no other option, Song Nanqiao resigned from her job in the classical dance troupe, and she and Xia Xili both severed ties with their respective families.
After that, the young couple and the band toured all over the world, staying wherever they went, which was quite carefree and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, one day they happened to be in the same city as Elder Xia, who was on an inspection tour southward. Upon learning the news, Elder Xia sent people to chase after them, and the young couple got into a car accident while frantically trying to escape.
Xia Qingwan was only five years old at the time and became the sole survivor of that car accident.
Not long after, Old Master Xia passed away amidst extreme guilt and self-reproach, and from then on, the Xia family fell into ruin.
Due to the turbulent times, Xia Qingwan was fostered in the south. When she was 18 and in her senior year of high school, Xia Huiqing took her back to her hometown in Beijing. After taking the college entrance examination, she studied at Peking University.
It's been almost two years now.
In her daily life, Xia Huiqing avoided talking about this matter, the only thing she mentioned was this lost jade bracelet.
Now, after many twists and turns, the bracelet was finally found.
...
-
On the main road, which was wet and fresh after the rain, an Audi drove by, its tires splashing lightly with water, like lotus leaves bursting open.
In the passenger seat, Old Lady Liang narrowed her eyes as she recalled, "I made a bet with her at the time. I've forgotten what the bet was about, but I only remember that if your Grandma Xia lost, I'd get to wear the jade bracelet for a few days."
This wearing of it delayed it for decades.
"You're always so forgetful."
In the driver's seat, a handsome man in a white shirt and black pants turned the steering wheel with his slender hands, quipping casually. He spoke perfunctorily, but a subtle sense of laziness lingered between his brows.
"That was decades ago." Liang Xinwu couldn't help but sigh repeatedly when he spoke of the past. "As I get older, things in the world become more and more complicated. Even just meeting someone in daily life requires careful planning."
Not only did Xia Huiqing's family and her husband's family experience ups and downs, Liang Xinwu's family also experienced the same. Thirty years ago, she divorced Mr. Ye, and at that time, Ye Peixiu's father had just graduated from college.
Less than a year after the divorce, Mr. Ye remarried. His new wife was only five years older than Ye Peixiu's father. Later, his new wife and Mr. Ye had two more children.
Currently, only Ye Peixiu in the Ye family still maintains contact with his grandmother, Liang Xinwu.
"If you find it inconvenient, I can send someone to come every now and then," Ye Peixiu said, "With me here, Grandma Xia won't be short of anything."
"You are the only one who has such filial piety."
Liang Xinwu said with a smile.
In the past, Liang Xinwu always took a taxi to and from Xia Huiqing. Outside vehicles were not allowed into the compound, and the journey from the compound gate to the Xia family's old house was a real ordeal for Liang Xinwu, who had difficulty walking.
This month, Ye Peixiu finished his term in the local government and was transferred back to the capital, so he naturally took on this job. His car had no trouble getting through the various compounds.
"But, I'm sure you can see that your Grandma Xia is very proud and arrogant. She will definitely not accept anything you send her every now and then."
Liang Xinwu sighed, "Even her little granddaughter has been taught by her to be like a fairy who is untainted by the mundane world."
"Grandma Xia has a granddaughter?"
"Oh, right, you haven't seen it yet," Liang Xinwu calculated silently in his mind, "No wonder, two years ago, when the little girl was taken back to the capital, you happened to be in the countryside."
"She must be a cold-faced young lady."
Ye Peixiu smiled absentmindedly.
"You'll know once you meet her. That little girl looks pure and quiet, doesn't talk much, and has a bit of an air of arrogance, but she's incredibly well-behaved and sensible. She's completely obedient to your Grandma Xia and extremely filial. Plus, with her background, I feel so bad just seeing her."
Ye Peixiu had little interest in gossip about other people's families, so he didn't ask about the specific pitiful life story. After a moment, he said, "Next time you want to come, please call me in advance and I'll make time."
"Are you really going to take full responsibility for this mess of mine?" Liang Xinwu opened his eyes wide in feigned surprise. "You're such a busy man, calling the shots outside, are you really going to be at my beck and call?"
Ye Peixiu smiled lazily, "You've already detained the people and ordered them around, and you're saying this now?"
"It's a deal then, next Friday."
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