Song Jixue’s eyes shone like the stars at dawn as she asked Yuan Yunzhong, "Then, can my eldest sister do calculations too?"
Yuan Yunzhong gently coughed once, avoiding the topic, and returned to the main point, "You see, learning mathematics is also very important, isn’t it?"
Song Jixue was immediately led astray by Yuan Yunzhong and nodded her head.
Yuan Yunzhong continued, "But we don’t necessarily learn things because they are useful, right?"
Song Jixue did not understand.
Yuan Yunzhong straightened the beaded flowers at the tips of her hair and said warmly, "Besides mathematics, what else do you like?"
Song Jixue thought for a moment and replied, "I like my mother, my sisters, and my father. Does that count?"
"It counts!" Yuan Yunzhong laughed, "Anything else?"
Song Jixue thought harder, then shook her head, "No, that’s it."
"In summer, I like to lie on a bamboo bed and look at the stars," Yuan Yunzhong said. He lifted her down from the large desk, took her hand, and sat her down on the Arhat bed in the hall. He picked up an orange from the fruit plate on the small table and began to peel it for her, "People around me, when they hear I like to watch the stars, think I should learn astrology, not only to understand the change of seasons but also to glimpse into the divine secrets.
"But I like to watch stars simply because they are beautiful. They twinkle and shimmer, like fireflies flickering in the night sky.
"Some say I am wasting time.
"But why can’t I waste time?
"When I watch the stars, I am happy, and that is enough.
"There is no need to be useful while watching stars.
"Just like you should enjoy mathematics and want to learn it because it makes you happy, right? Things that make you happy are useful! They are the best!"
"Is it really okay just to be happy?" murmured Song Jixue.
Yuan Yunzhong did not interrupt her thoughts but handed her the peeled orange.
Song Jixue slowly ate the orange, digesting Yuan Yunzhong’s words.
After a while, her eyes sparkling, she turned to Yuan Yunzhong and said loudly, "Brother-in-law, I want to learn mathematics well. I want to beat Song Tianbao and Song Tiancong!"
What did this have to do with Song Tianbao and Song Tiancong?
Yuan Yunzhong could not understand and chuckled as he ruffled her hair, saying, "No, don’t worry about them, they are too foolish, not even a match for our Jixue by two or three tenths. You should compare yourself to those skilful boys in the future."
For families like theirs, with no worries about food or clothes, having a hobby to devote to can more easily temper the character. A stable character helps to endure hardships when faced with difficult situations.
This was what mattered most.
Yuan Yunzhong then made a promise with her, "From now on, you will come to me every afternoon during The Wei Hour and stay for a shichen. I’ll teach you mathematics. Once you’ve got the hang of it, I’ll take you to meet a master of mathematics, and you can learn from him."
Song Jixue smiled, pursing her lips.
Yuan Yunzhong then picked up a small basket of dried persimmons from Fujian that Magistrate Jiang had sent and escorted her back home.
On the way, they ran into Song Jiyu, who had come looking for Song Jixue.
She stood shyly by the roadside, hesitantly thanking Yuan Yunzhong in a soft voice.
Seeing her timidity, Yuan Yunzhong nodded, handing both the persimmons and Song Jixue over to her.
She took the persimmons and led Song Jixue away.
However, Song Jixue, after walking the distance of an arrow’s flight, still turned back and shouted loudly to Yuan Yunzhong, "Brother-in-law, don’t forget The Wei Hour this afternoon!"
Yuan Yunzhong smiled and waved to her.
*
In Madam Zeng’s main hall, the brazier burnt fiercely, casting a red glow on her gloomy face.
Madam Li sobbed while applying medicine to her son, "Damn it! They’re all shrews! Look at how they beat up my son. If we’d known that man named Yuan was like this, we should have just beaten up that little bitch, Song Jixue, before talking to Madam Qian about reason!"
Song Tiancong winced and turned his face away, pushing Madam Li irritably, "Mother, be gentle! You’re hurting me!"
Madam Li hurriedly said, "My dear son, mother is sorry!"
Song Sanliang, who had been sitting quietly to one side, suddenly stood up in irritation and scolded unhappily, "Enough! If you don’t want the medicine, then don’t apply it! You’re a boy and you actually couldn’t beat a girl—do you have any shame crying out in pain here?"
Song Tiancong, not at all intimidated, retorted to his father, "It’s your own lack of ability that you blame on us for not being able to defeat Song Jixue! Even if we did win against Song Jixue, what would it amount to? Would you dare to openly confront Jixue’s brother-in-law?"
He had seen everything very clearly.
When Jixue’s brother-in-law was displeased, his dad didn’t dare to utter a single word.
"I’ll beat you to death, you little brat!" Song Sanliang raised his hand to slap his son.
Madam Li hurriedly stopped Song Sanliang.
Madam Zeng also said in a stern voice, "Stop it right now!"
Song Sanliang sheepishly lowered his arm.
Madam Zeng glanced at Madam Li and then said to Song Sanliang, "Follow me!"
She led the way into the inner chamber.
Following his mother into the inner chamber, Song Sanliang and Madam Li exchanged glances.
In the inner chamber, Madam Zeng took out a red lacquered, gold-embellished box from a secret compartment in the carved bedpost of her black lacquered, four-poster bed.
She opened the box.
The brilliance of pearls and jewels and the glint of gold and silver nearly blinded Song Sanliang.
"Mother! Is this..." He had a guess but feared he might be wrong; he tried to suppress the excitement in his heart as he spoke.
Madam Zeng sighed and said, "This is the money I’ve saved for my coffin. Take it and use it to deal with the Song Family’s clan elders. Madam Qian has given birth to a daughter, and Song Jiyun isn’t at home. This is our only chance."
Song Sanliang took the box from her with trembling hands and assured her, "Mother, rest assured. I will not let you down."
Madam Zeng nodded gravely.
*
Seeing the injuries on Song Jixue’s face, Madam Qian felt extremely guilty.
In the past, Song Jixue was the youngest in the family and was doted on by everyone. But now, she and Song Jiyu were only focused on taking care of Xiao Si, neglecting not only Jixue’s feelings but also being unaware that she was being bullied.
Holding Song Jixue, she said to Nanny Zheng with some fright, "It’s a good thing Young Master Yuan was there, otherwise..."
She could hardly absolve herself from blame.
Song Jixue felt not the least bit upset about having her brother-in-law stand up for her. On the contrary, she was somewhat grateful. If it weren’t for the stupidity of Song Tiancong and Song Tianhui, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn arithmetic with her brother-in-law.
"Mom, I’m fine!" She reassured Madam Qian cheerfully, telling her about the promise she had made with Yuan Yunzhong, and she added happily, "Brother-in-law said, as long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters. Being happy is the best thing, being happy is the useful thing."
Her radiant joy was akin to that of Song Youliang when he was still alive.
Tears filled Madam Qian’s eyes.
She stroked her daughter’s hairline gently and said softly, "So, how about we Jixue name your sister?"
"Really?" Song Jixue looked at her mother, surprised and delighted, "I get to choose the name?"
Madam Qian nodded her head.
Song Jixue quickly said, "Then let’s call her Xiao Xue. She was born when it was snowing. Or how about Xiao Fei? Because it was snowing heavily."
Everyone laughed.
Song Jiyu reminded her, "Your nickname is Xiao Xue; should your sister be called Xiao Xue too?"
Song Jixue laughed embarrassedly and loudly suggested, "Then, then let brother-in-law name her! Brother-in-law is amazing, he will definitely give her a nice name."
Madam Qian and Nanny Zheng exchanged a glance, and Madam Qian smiled, "That sounds good! It’s what our Jixue wants, and your brother-in-law is very caring towards all of you. Letting him name your sister is also a precious connection!"
Unable to wait for tomorrow, Song Jixue ran off again towards Yinyu Hall.
From a distance, her voice could be heard, "Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! I’m here!"
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