Yuan Yunzhong did not decline and named the newly born Fourth Young Miss of the Song Family "Jisu."
Song Jixue held the name Yuan Yunzhong had written for her on a piece of bright red gold-sprinkled paper. She chattered to Madam Qian, Song Jiyu, and Nanny Zheng, "This is Ouyang Xun’s style! Do you know about it? It’s the writing of a man named Ouyang Xun."
Then she took out a few more pieces of bright red gold-sprinkled paper, each inscribed with the name "Jixue" in different fonts, and introduced them one by one, "This is Yan Style! This is Liu Style! This is Zhao Style! And this is written by our brother-in-law."
Guange Style.
However, Song Jixue felt this style wasn’t as imposing as Yan Style or Zhao Style and since it wasn’t an invention of her brother-in-law, she was reluctant to mention it.
Madam Qian and the others all laughed.
Song Jiyu even teased her, "So it seems you never listened at all during classes!"
Being enlightened at the ages of five or six and still practicing large characters by the age of ten, they were at least able to distinguish among some basic fonts.
Usually quick-witted, Song Jixue this time didn’t immediately retort to her sister but instead sighed, "I had not realized that our brother-in-law’s learning was so profound that he could write in any font! This was written by our brother-in-law, understand?"
Given Yuan Yunzhong’s age and his background from a distinguished family, it was not rare for him to be able to mimic several types of script styles. But in Madam Qian’s eyes, considering Yuan Yunzhong was a performer, this ability was indeed very remarkable.
She nodded repeatedly, strongly agreeing with Song Jixue’s words, "It is quite impressive!"
She also advised Song Jixue, "Since you’re learning arithmetic from your brother-in-law, have him teach you how to write a few characters as well."
Impatient by nature, Song Jixue found it hard to calm down and practice calligraphy, which truly resembled dog paddling compared to her sisters.
Song Jixue chuckled slyly, pointing to the bright red paper bearing her name, "This is what brother-in-law wrote for me. He asked me what style I liked, and he taught me that style."
She also proudly held up a piece of paper inscribed with the name "Jisu," "Doesn’t my sister’s name sound nice! We are even planning to choose a milk name for Xiao Si, but, brother-in-law said, let’s wait for my sister to come back to choose. It’s better if the family chooses together, since the family should call the milk name."
It was probably because of the difference between genders that it wasn’t quite appropriate for him to choose a milk name for Xiao Si, right?
Madam Qian silently nodded, her impression of Yuan Yunzhong improving yet another layer.
Thereafter, Yuan Yunzhong gained a little tag-along named Song Jixue.
On New Year’s Eve, she even wanted to accompany Yuan Yunzhong for the reunion dinner and fervently said, "We have a whole table of people here, and brother-in-law is alone for the New Year. How lonely!"
Song Jiyu promptly tugged at her ear, "Aren’t you going to your father’s grave?"
Traditionally, on New Year’s Eve, they went to light lamps on Song Youliang’s grave.
Saying this, she was concerned that Song Jixue would want to be vegetarian, prompting Yuan Yunzhong, to accommodate her, to also turn vegetarian.
Song Jixue immediately responded, "Brother-in-law said he would go too! I will ride in his carriage."
Madam Qian was not even a month old, so she couldn’t accompany them to pay respects to Song Youliang.
Watching her daughters become lively again, a gentle smile spread across Madam Qian’s eyes.
She softly said, "Your brother-in-law already told me; you all will ride in his carriage, and he will ride on horseback."
"Ah!" Even Song Jiyu couldn’t help but exclaim, looking out the window at the snow she couldn’t see because it was covered with Goryeo paper, saying, "It’s so cold today, let’s take a mule cart instead!"
After Madam Qian gave birth to Song Jisu, her energy was greatly reduced. When Yuan Yunzhong sent someone to discuss this matter with her, she initially felt the same. However, before she knew it, she had been persuaded by the person sent by Yuan Yunzhong.
Now, she found Yuan Yunzhong to be thorough and considerate. Leaving matters in his hands gave her peace of mind, "You all just listen to your brother-in-law’s arrangements! He certainly has a plan."
After all, Song Jiyu was still a young girl about to reach maturity, and the possibility of traveling in a carriage at night delighted her.
The sisters exchanged words back and forth, and amid such laughter and teasing, Madam Qian quietly fell asleep.
*
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Yuan Yunzhong took the two Song sisters to pay respects at Song Youliang’s grave.
On the first day of the new year, he again represented Song Jiyun in hosting the relatives and friends who came to pay New Year’s visits to the Song Family.
After the third day, he began on behalf of Song Jiyun to visit some elders of the Song family clan, holding banquets to entertain people like Luo Zixing and other master craftsmen and the Store Manager from the Kiln Factory.
He stayed busy, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the ninth day of the lunar month, a day for temple fairs. He had to represent Song Jiyun at various large temple ceremonies, donating money and goods to each. Especially at The Eight Immortals Nunnery, which had grown more prominent last year, surpassing the former leading Nameless Temple. That day, Nameless Temple specially sent a monk, who was an excellent speaker, to try persuasively for a donation of a large porcelain Buddha for their temple as well, promising a grand welcome ceremony that would surpass The Eight Immortals Nunnery. As for The Eight Immortals Nunnery that year, the incense burned stronger than usual, and people continued to throng to see their porcelain Buddha just as before, bringing forth a table of vegetarian dishes on the ninth day as a special token of thanks to the Song Family.
Not to mention others who were inquiring about Song Jiyun’s news, both openly and secretly.
In private, Yuan Yunzhong said to Zheng Quan, "I hadn’t expected such a small place as Jingde Town to have so many social obligations."
Zheng Quan grinned, saying, "With the eldest miss not at home, you could choose not to go."
Yuan Yunzhong gave him a sidelong glance and said nothing.
Back at Yinyu Hall, he saw Song Jixue sitting upright on her custom-made bench, her feet on a stool made just for her, her small frame straight as she earnestly practiced her calligraphy at the large desk. He couldn’t help but walk over and gently tousled Song Jixue’s hair.
Song Jixue turned around with a beaming smile and called out loudly, "Brother-in-law! You’re back!"
Yuan Yunzhong nodded, went to change his clothes, and by the time he returned, Song Jixue had already finished her calligraphy for the day.
He reviewed her work and found great improvement. According to the promise they had made, he used red cinnabar to paint another petal on the ’Ninety-Nine Cold Dispelling Chart’ and said gratifyingly, "One more petal, and it’ll be a complete plum blossom, then I can grant you a wish."
Yuan Yunzhong had successfully got Song Jixue to sit down and practice her calligraphy with this method, and once Song Jixue committed to something, even though she might not enjoy it, she would complete it with utmost seriousness.
This made him mentally give Song Jixue another check mark.
However, Song Jixue was eager to start learning mathematics, loudly saying, "Brother-in-law, let’s talk about that later; I figured out the problem you set for me last time."
"Really?" Yuan Yunzhong praised her, "You’re very impressive! I’ve tested many people with that problem, and almost none of them could solve it. Come on, tell me how you figured it out."
Song Jixue loved hearing phrases like "almost none of them could solve it."
Waiting for Yuan Yunzhong to sit next to her, she took out the math problem that had kept her awake nearly all night, and started to explain with vigor, "You said all four city gates open from the middle, so just like you taught me, I drew a square and then opened the city gates in the middle. There’s a tree twenty steps out of the north gate and fourteen steps from the south gate, so I drew a tree..."
Yuan Yunzhong listened intently.
Suddenly, a voice tinged with tiredness yet filled with rich laughter came from the doorway, "Jixue!"
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