303, Cross-Dressing as a Woman (4 more updates)
Xie Rong knew Xie Zhinuan was fooling him, but he was unable to say it aloud; he could only look on with eager eyes as Xie Zhinuan packed up all the fabrics and placed a pair of silver bracelets inside the brocade box, then went on to pack clothes for both herself and Xie Yi.
Xie Yi, ten months old, could utter “mom.” but couldn’t say anything else; after being taken care of for a few days, he had grown fairer and cuter to the eye.
Xie Zhinuan picked up a trunk and packed everything needed for the agreement. On this trip to the town, she had borrowed a carriage from Li Hengyi. The carriage was stable, spacious, and not only would it be comfortable for Xie Yi to sleep, but it would also spare them many unnecessary troubles.
“Then, when will you return?” Xie Rong couldn’t resist asking.
“…” Xie Zhinuan thought for a moment, “I will leave on the fourth day of the month, attend the feast on the fifth, and come back early on the sixth. I should be able to reach the county by evening!”
Xie Rong hmm’ed in reply, “Then, I will wait for you at the city gate!”
“…”
Xie Zhinuan frowned.
Could this young man harbor ulterior motives toward her?
But from his demeanor, it seemed not quite likely.
“You, don’t misunderstand. I just see you as a sister, with no other crooked intentions!” Xie Rong quickly clarified.
Xie Zhinuan was half-convinced.
But she didn’t delve deeper into the matter.
She had a feeling that Xie Rong wouldn’t harm her. He was just a well-nurtured young master, naive to the ways of the world.
After a bit of pondering, she said, “If you get things done properly tomorrow, I can offer you the opportunity to join me at the wedding feast. However, as an unmarried girl, bringing a man along isn’t proper. You will need to disguise yourself thoroughly!”
“How should I disguise myself?”
Xie Zhinuan smiled and said nothing.
Xie Rong, however, was thrilled and hardly slept that night.
The next day, he went happily to deliver the goods. Xie Zhinuan’s map was distorted and hard for him to understand, but he still managed to deliver the items to the manor by noon.
When Lao Zhu opened the trunk, he found it filled with books for the children, rice paper, and writing utensils and smiled until his eyes squinted up.
“Young Master Xie, is the business at the restaurant doing well?”
“Yes, it���s full every day. Oh, by the way, Zhinuan told me to bring back the eels and loaches you’ve caught in the past few days. Did you get any game from the mountains? If so, I’ll take it as well. Just tell me how much silver and I’ll pay for it – I’ve brought silver with me. You distribute it among everyone!”
“No, no, no need for silver. The young lady has already spent much silver on the children’s education. These eels and loaches aren’t worth much. Just bring them back to the young lady; and please tell her that the fields have been tilled over, the seeds brought last time have been sown, and in a few days, they will be ready to harvest. Also, take a few baskets of radishes with you!”
Lao Zhu spoke with sincere gratitude evident in his expression.
He did not want the farmers to become ungrateful, nor did he want the children to take for granted the things the young lady provided, expecting it as their due.
In these times, to come across such good fortune was the blessing of several lifetimes.
For those poorer farmers, filling their bellies and keeping warm was a constant struggle. One must be content.
Xie Rong looked at Lao Zhu, thought for a moment, then nodded, “Alright, I’ll have a quick bite and be on my way!”
Pulling the goods back to the county, Xie Rong even hummed a little tune to himself.
His mother would surely be overjoyed to receive his letter, her health might improve, and he had found his sister. Though he couldn’t bring her home right away, he believed that, being a girl of the Xie Family, she would eventually remember and willingly and joyously return home with him.
But when Xie Rong returned to the county, Xie Zhinuan handed him a set of clothes to change into.
Holding the clothes and seeing Yuanbao’s mischievous grin, Li Hengyi’s extreme effort to suppress a smile, and the expectant look on Xie Zhinuan’s face, he bit his lip, “It’s just dressing up as a woman, what’s the big deal!”
Being with his sister, protecting her when she leaves home – dressing up as a woman didn’t seem like much in comparison.
He could do it!
Chapter 304