Chapter 8 A long life lock, a heavy grip on longing; fleeting years, secretly hidden. ...
Su Jinxiu, carrying her bundle, turned into the alleyway. As she stumbled, she suddenly heard a concerned voice. Looking up, she saw Yi Ruxu standing in the courtyard. He was handsome and refined, gentle and jade-like. His blue robe was stained with pine soot ink, and his wolf-hair brush was still hanging in his hand. On the stone table, a painting was half-finished, the ink not yet dry.
Yi Ruxu was also a scholar from Xiuxiang, a year older than Su Jinxiu. He was not only well-versed in poetry and literature, but also had superb painting skills. Su Jinxiu felt a sense of sympathy for Yi Ruxu, who was also all alone and had no relatives or friends, and began to take care of him more often.
Seeing Su Jinxiu struggling, he put down his pen and stepped forward. Just as he touched the corner of the bundle, he heard her exclaim softly, "I almost forgot! Brother Ruxu, I've gotten back the money for that handkerchief you embroidered with the image of a lone fisherman on a cold river the other day!"
Today, Jingchao embroidery still mainly features traditional flower and bird patterns, while embroidered paintings and calligraphy remain niche and novel interests.
A few days ago, Su Jinxiu saw Yi Ruxu's painting of a lone fisherman on a cold river and suddenly had a clever idea. She used the technique of using both solid and void stitches to depict the mountain colors, rolling stitches to outline the water ripples, and then used the cutting stitch to embroider Yi Ruxu's calligraphy in the style of Liu Gongquan. She captured the essence of the painting in the silk thread. After the embroidery was completed and sent to the workshop, it was purchased by a retired civil official for three times the price. After that, gentry and officials came one after another to place orders, either embroidering the Classic of Filial Piety in small regular script or imitating landscape fan paintings, all because this novel embroidery method best showed the taste of literati.
Su Jinxiu reached into her sleeve pocket with one hand, her body swaying like a willow in the wind. The bundle was about to slip to the ground when Yi Ruxu reached out and steadyed it, saying in a low voice, "Don't rush, stand up straight first."
"Found it." Su Jinxiu finally pulled a heavy paper package from her sleeve and handed it over, still a little out of breath. "Count it, this is two hundred coins. The embroidery shop said your painting was elegant, so the customer gave you an extra forty coins. I'll add it to your account."
Yi Ruxu took the paper package but didn't open it. She just looked at her and said gently, "Qiaoniang, thank you for always taking such good care of me. I will repay you in the future."
"No way!" Su Jinxiu waved her hand. The bundle was still in Yi Ruxu's hands. She felt at ease and put her hands on her hips to praise, "It's because you painted it so well! The water ripples are in the style of Mi Fu's landscape paintings, and the calligraphy is in the elegant and vigorous style of Liu Gongquan. My embroidery is influenced by your refined taste, which is why I dare to price it higher!"
She spoke more and more fluently, praising even the distant mountains in Yi Ruxu's painting and the bamboo patterns on the fisherman's straw hat. Yi Ruxu's ears turned red, and even the back of his neck was tinged with a thin blush. He felt that she was a kindred spirit and said in a low voice, "Qiao Niang is too kind..." As she spoke, she picked up her bundle and said, "I'll see you to the door."
As Su Jinxiu stepped into the room, she took the bundle from Yi Ruxu and said with a smile, "Thank you, Brother Ruxu. Come in, rest a bit, and have a cup of tea?"
Yi Ruxu stood at the foot of the steps and waved his hand: "No, Qiaoniang, it's inconvenient for me to go into a young lady's house. I'll be going back now."
Su Jinxiu was packing her bags and was about to respond when she suddenly heard Wen Shiqin's voice coming from outside the courtyard, carrying a somewhat ambiguous meaning.
"Brother Yi, since you've already escorted me to the door, why don't you come in and have a cup of tea?"
Su Jinxiu, who was inside the house, did not see what was happening outside. She called out through the door, "Aqin is right. Ruxu, come in. Boss An sent some xiaolongtuan yesterday. We should try them together!"
“Indeed, since my elder sister has spoken, then please.” Wen Shiqin gestured with his hand, mimicking Su Jinxiu’s tone as he addressed him.
Seeing Wen Shiqin's inexplicably gloomy face and hearing the deliberately emphasized address, Yi Ruxu dared not move and waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, I haven't finished the daylily painting on my desk yet. If I delay any longer, the ink will dry. I'll go back first!"
As I hurriedly left, the hem of my shirt brushed against the grass outside the yard, leaving a soft rustling sound.
Su Jinxiu peeked out from behind the curtain and saw Yi Ruxu hurriedly leave. She muttered in bewilderment, "Huh? Why did she leave so suddenly? We haven't even tasted the tea yet..."
Looking at Wen Shiqin again, he saw a somewhat innocent and bewildered expression on his face, as if he didn't know why Yi Ruxu had left in such a hurry. He wondered, "Perhaps he was preoccupied with the paintings on his desk and couldn't afford to delay any longer?"
Su Jinxiu took a rough porcelain teacup from the cabinet, threw in a pinch of small dragon-shaped tea balls, and poured in hot water from the kettle. As the steam rose, she looked at the tea leaves unfurling in the cup and suddenly smiled: "The girls from wealthy families in Bianjing are all particular about tea preparation and tea competitions. They grind tea leaves and mix tea pastes, and even the tea flakes are turned into various shapes. It's so elegant."
She ran her fingertips along the rim of the rough porcelain cup: "But all I know how to do is brew a simple cup like this. I don't even have a proper tea set. It's such a waste of such good tea." As she spoke, she handed the teacup to Wen Shiqin, a little embarrassed: "Don't look down on my clumsy tea."
Wen Shiqin took the teacup with his right hand, rubbed the warm cup, and said with a smile, "Where is the disdain? This way of brewing tea with boiling water is the best way to preserve the original flavor of the tea leaves, which is more interesting than those fancy methods. Besides, the tea brewed by my elder sister, even if it is served in coarse porcelain, is more to my liking than the golden cups and jade cups elsewhere."
Su Jinxiu smiled at his praise, turned around and walked to the table, unfolded the embroidered clothes she had retrieved from Zuichunfang, and gently stretched the edge of the fabric with her fingertips. Instantly, the shimmering silk spread out on the table, a gorgeous and luxurious style that she would never normally wear.
Wen Shiqin's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, and the smile in his eyes gradually faded.
He recalled seeing her carrying a bundle as she emerged from the Drunken Spring Brothel outside the teahouse earlier that day. He had just been mocking himself for not being as elegant as a young lady from a wealthy family, but now he was smiling broadly at these gorgeous clothes...
Could it be that she envied the prosperity of Zuichunfang and wanted to go to such a place?
The moment this thought popped into his head, his mind went blank. He unconsciously gripped the teacup tighter, spilling a few drops of warm tea onto the back of his hand without even noticing.
Completely unaware of Wen Shiqin's unusual behavior, Su Jinxiu turned around, clutching her silk skirt, and gestured in front of the bronze mirror, muttering softly, "Yusheng's waist is so slender, it needs to be an inch smaller than mine." Her fingertips were still measuring the stitches on the skirt when her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. The skirt fell to the ground, and she turned around in shock, meeting the urgent, frightening look in Wen Shiqin's eyes. She asked blankly, "What's wrong?"
Wen Shiqin's hand, which was gripping her wrist, trembled slightly. Just now, when he saw her gesturing in front of the bright dress, the image of her standing in the center of the stage wearing this dress and being scrutinized by everyone's eyes flashed uncontrollably in his mind, burning him to the core.
He opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back. He simply lowered his head and took out a blue cloth pouch from his bosom, from which he poured out a small silver longevity lock. The lock was engraved with two intertwined daylilies, their leaves curled as if holding dew. It was the very same lock that she had stared at for a long time when she and Lan Shexiang were strolling through the market a few days ago. The jewelry shop owner had asked for five taels of silver, and she had pulled Lan Shexiang aside and said, "Are you robbing me?" before leaving.
"This is..." Su Jinxiu's eyes suddenly lit up, forgetting the pain in her wrist, "You bought this? For me? Where did you get the money to buy this?"
Wen Shiqin didn't speak, but released her wrist, carefully held the chain, and gently fastened it behind her neck. The silver lock pressed against her skin at the collar, still warm from his palm. He lowered his eyes, his voice so low it was as if afraid of shattering something: "Wear it, for safety."
Su Jinxiu's fingertips traced the daylily pattern, her dimples smiling gently. But then she suddenly remembered the record in the book: "Su Qiaoniang died young in her prime" and "I heard that Shi Qin committed suicide in his old residence in Xiuxiang." She froze instantly.
It is truly poignant to see a person with a short life gift a lock that symbolizes longevity.
Su Jinxiu shook off her turbulent thoughts and followed up on the previous topic, asking, "Quickly, where did you get the money to buy this?"
Wen Shiqin brushed his fingertips against her neck and said calmly, "You get a reward for winning a sparring match in the martial arts arena."
"A martial arts contest? Are you injured?" Su Jinxiu was startled and quickly looked him over.
"No injuries, just some minor bumps and scrapes."
Su Jinxiu refused to believe it. Her gaze swept over his neck and she saw a faint blue bruise hidden under his collar. Her throat tightened instantly.
He risked his life to earn all the money he could to buy her this silver lock, even though it seemed worthless to others. But she only believed a few words in a book and insisted that he abandon his studies to join the martial arts world, thus ruining his future.
A warm tear fell onto the back of my hand, but it wasn't hers.
Su Jinxiu looked up in surprise and saw that Wen Shiqin's eyes were red and he was sobbing uncontrollably. He was holding her hand and pressing it against his face, like a wronged child, wiping away his tears with her palm.
"Sister, if you're really short of money, I can work at the docks carrying heavy loads. I can do any job, no matter how hard or tiring. Please don't go to the brothel... don't become a courtesan, I beg you..."
Su Jinxiu was stunned for a while before she came to her senses.
"Don't cry, don't cry." She hurriedly wiped away Wen Shiqin's tears, explaining in a flustered manner, "Aqin, those dresses were embroidery ordered from Zuichunfang. Don't think too much, please stop crying..."
"...Really?" Wen Shiqin stiffened slightly, his eyes were red from crying, tears hung on his eyelashes, and his thin lips were tightly pursed, making him look even more handsome.
Su Jinxiu's tone was soft yet firm: "Of course it's true. When has your elder sister ever lied to you?"
Wen Shiqin was stunned, then stretched out his long arm and hugged her tightly, so tightly that he seemed to want to embed her into his embrace. Su Jinxiu gently raised her jade hand and patted his back to comfort him, but he was still not satisfied. He buried his head in her neck, like a person on the verge of freezing to death, longing to find a trace of warmth. He gently rubbed against her collar and smelled the fragrance on her body.
Words fail me, but our hearts are already in sync; I embrace your tender embrace and my feelings begin to drift.
"Wen Shiqin!" Xie Hongying's loud voice suddenly rang out at the alley entrance.
Su Jinxiu felt a pang of panic and instinctively pushed him away.
Wen Shiqin was pushed so hard that he felt like his bones had been pulled out. He staggered and bumped into the embroidery table, his lower back hitting the table so hard that he gasped for breath. He looked at her with a wronged expression.
Xie Hongying rushed in like a whirlwind, slammed the gold-embossed invitation card on the stone table in the courtyard, and shouted into the house: "I begged my father to pull several strings! I can go to Bailudong with a companion, and the room and board will be free, plus a monthly stipend!"
After being taught a lesson by Su Jinxiu last time, Xie Hongying seemed to have a change of heart and became friends with Wen Shiqin, often coming over to freeload meals.
As the scent of ink mingled with the aroma of gold dust wafted over, Su Jinxiu and Wen Shiqin had already tidied their clothes and walked side by side to the center of the courtyard.
Wen Shiqin gritted his teeth inwardly, ignoring Xie Hongying, and only turned his head to look at Su Jinxiu, seeing her lowered eyelids and her long eyelashes trembling like frightened butterfly wings.
His frightened appearance reminded him of past events, and his heart felt as if it were being gripped by an icy hand, the pain almost suffocating him.
Before the two could react, he suddenly stepped forward, grabbed the invitation from the stone table, and tore it in half right in front of Xie Hongying. His movements were so fast that no one had time to stop him.
"I'm not going."
Xie Hongying exclaimed in surprise, "Are you crazy? So many people are desperate to get into Bailudong Academy, and everyone in the school is hoping for this opportunity!"
"I said I'm not going." Wen Shiqin's eyes were churning with turmoil.
The next second, his knees slammed onto the bluestone slab, and he knelt down in front of Su Jinxiu.
Su Jinxiu was quite frightened by his outburst: "Aqin? What are you doing? Get up!"
Xie Hongying was dumbfounded.
Wen Shiqin's eyes shone brightly: "Sister, I've made up my mind. I won't go to Bailudong, nor will I take the imperial examinations. I won't become a general or prime minister. I'll stay in Embroidery Lane and watch over you, chopping wood and fetching water for you. When you're tired from embroidery, I'll massage your shoulders. If you're cold at night, I'll warm your feet... If you complain that the bed is cold, I'll..."
His words became increasingly outrageous. Su Jinxiu, mindful of the presence of outsiders, quickly reached out and covered his mouth as he continued to ramble on, her voice urgent: "Aqin!"
Wen Shiqin froze. Her warm palm pressed against her lips, still carrying the faint scent of pine needles from the embroidery thread.
Xie Hongying's gasp was right next to his ear. He didn't even need to look to know that the other person must be shocked.
A boy who always had an arrogant look in his eyes was kneeling on the ground, clutching the hem of his sister's skirt, crying and saying that he would stay by her side for the rest of his life to warm her feet and bed. How absurd.
"Such a good opportunity, you should go," Su Jinxiu said softly.
Wen Shiqin shook his head violently, his knuckles gripping her skirt even tighter: "Sister, are you trying to drive me away?"
Su Jinxiu grabbed his collar and said urgently, "That's not what I meant. Get up first. Young Master Xie is still here. What kind of behavior is this?"
Wen Shiqin refused to get up as if nailed to the ground. Su Jinxiu tried to pull him up with more force, but he took the opportunity to move forward, hugged her tightly with both arms, and pressed his face against her waist. His hot, moist breath seeped through the thin summer skirt, making Su Jinxiu's lower abdomen tingle.
Xie Hongying pointed at him, speechless for a long time: "Wen... Wen Shiqin, you... men and women shouldn't touch each other!"
Wen Shiqin suddenly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes staring at Xie Hongying, his tone full of hostility: "What business is it of yours if I'm talking to my sister?"
She turned her head and pressed her face back against the hem of her skirt, her fingers pinching the sash at the side of her waist, her voice pitiful: "Sister, do you despise me? Do you think it's shameful for you to stay in Embroidery Alley?"
Seeing the panic in his eyes, Su Jinxiu's heart softened, and she hurriedly explained, "That's not true. When have I ever disliked you?"
When they first met, Wen Shiqin always kept his temper in check. Even when there was a surge of anger in his eyes, his face remained cold and distant, like a block of ice that could never be warmed. But after spending time together day and night, the ice in his eyes gradually melted, his dependence on him grew stronger, and he even learned to show his vulnerability in this way.
She had only said something casually, yet his eyes reddened and he looked so pitiful. If this had happened before, he would have pursed his lips, turned around, and left. He would never have so openly displayed his unease on his face.
Did we teach him well or badly?
He didn't know when he figured out that his older sister couldn't stand seeing him cry. As long as his eyes reddened, she would soften no matter how angry she was and would do whatever he wanted.
"Don't cry, you first..." Su Jinxiu was at a loss, not knowing whether to push or pull.
“I know I’m useless. I can’t let my sister live in a luxurious house and wear fine clothes. But I can chop wood and carry water, and I can warm your bed…” He became more and more aggrieved as he spoke, his sobs, which were hard to tell if they were real or not, were mixed with breathy sounds. Finally, he simply hugged her slender waist, buried his face in her clothes, and began to sob intermittently.
Xie Hongying, watching from the side, turned pale and then flushed. Finally, she couldn't help but cough twice and hurriedly tried to cover it up: "Um, Qiaoniang, I suddenly remembered that the hen at home is about to lay an egg, I have to go now!"
Before the words were even finished, the person had already fled in panic.
The footsteps at the courtyard gate faded into the distance, but Wen Shiqin remained kneeling on the ground, ignoring the dust on his knees. His arms were wrapped around her waist like iron hoops, and his face was buried in her waist and abdomen. His sobs were low and hoarse.
Su Jinxiu had struggled to no avail, so she sighed helplessly and gently pinched his earlobe, which was a spot he was always ticklish about.
Wen Shiqin's crying indeed paused slightly, and his grip loosened a bit. Su Jinxiu then gently wiped away his tears with her fingertips and softly coaxed, "Why are you doing this?"
“If we tear up Young Master Xie’s good intentions, it will be too late to regret it later. It’s better to go now. Even if the consequences are not satisfactory, we will avoid regrets. Ah Qin, what do you say?”
His restraints loosened, and Su Jinxiu slowly squatted down, softening her voice and patiently coaxing him gently.
But all she received in response was endless silence.
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