After playing around for half a day, when he saw the sunset hanging in the West, and the smell of the cooking fires floating on the street, Xiao YuAn wandered back and forth. The hemp rope used to tie up the prescription medicines was held tightly in his hand as he turned his head and asked Yan HeQing: “Do you feel any pain? Can you still walk?”
Yan HeQing said: “I’m fine.”
“Then, will you accompany me to the Jade store on the East Street? In a few days, Zhang Baizhu and Shenling will be getting married, and I was thinking of giving them a pair of Jade Ruyi1 to congratulate them.”
“Yes.”
The Jade store at a corner of the East street was the only place in this village that sells Jade ornaments. Even though it’s a small shop, it’s well-stocked with all kinds of artifacts. The owners were a couple of husband and wife, over 50 years old, who still love each other the same as ever.
When Xiao YuAn and Yan HeQing arrived at the Jade store, only the husband was present. When he saw them entering the shop, he greeted them with a gentle smile.
After Xiao YuAn explained his intentions, the owner of the Jade store held out several pairs of Jade Ruyi for Xiao YuAn to choose from. Xiao YuAn then pointed at a pair of Ruyi made out of translucent green jade and red agate, and asked Yan HeQing: “What do you think about this pair?”
Yan HeQing nodded: “They’re quite good.”
“Then I choose this pair. Boss, I’ll trouble you to wrap them up for me.” Xiao YuAn made a final decision.
“Alright.” The owner of the Jade store looked as if he was a man that’s always happy.
Suddenly, someone lifted the curtain of the inner room, and when she saw Xiao YuAn, she covered her lips with her sleeve hiding a smile, and greeted him. “Oh, it’s YuAn. I haven’t seen you for such a long time.”
Xiao YuAn replied with a smile: “Madam Boss, greetings.”
“Long time no see. Eh, is this Gongzi your friend? What’s his name?” The boss’s wife set her eyes on Yan HeQing and sighed in her heart at his extraordinary appearance.
“His last name is Yan.” Xiao YuAn replied with a smile.
After she heard that, the boss’s wife suddenly hid her lips behind her sleeve in surprise, and exchanged a quick glance with the boss.
“What’s wrong?” Xiao YuAn asked, feeling that something was off.
“Is this Yan-gongzi called Yan HeQing?” The boss’s wife asked tentatively.
Xiao YuAn and Yan HeQing were both stunned. Xiao YuAn didn’t understand what was happening, after all, how could she know Yan HeQing’s name? So, he quickly asked: “Eh, Madam, how do you know his name?”
The boss’s wife and the boss looked at each other again, this time, they couldn’t hide their smiles. Then, the boss’s wife said: “Of course I know, isn’t he your sweetheart?”
Yan HeQing: “….”
Xiao YuAn: “…..”
‘Again?! Even the term she chose to address us with is the same one Aunt Ma used!! It’s fine if Aunt Ma misunderstood, but Ma’am, we’ve only talked with you with less than five sentences, so how did you come to that conclusion?!!!’
As if she could see the doubt in their minds, the boss’s wife smilingly said: “YuAn, do you still remember that a year ago, you would come to repeatedly ask us if the broken Jade hairpin could be glued back together?”
Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and was about to stop the boss’s wife from continuing to talk, when Yan HeQing squinted and abruptly said first: “Jade hairpin?”
“Yes, the hairpin was broken in such a way that we thought that we might not be able to glue it back together, and even if we did, it wouldn’t look as beautiful as it once was. So we didn’t intend to help YuAn, but YuAn was very persistent and came to ask about the hairpin every day. In the end, we didn’t have any other choice than to try and fix the hairpin. Your name was engraved on that white Jade hairpin Yan-gongzi.” The boss’s wife quickly spoke without taking a break, not giving Xiao YuAn the chance to interrupt her.
Xiao YuAn instantly covered his face with one hand, while he collapsed internally.
The boss wrapped up the pair of Jade Ruyi, handed them to Xiao YuAn, and with a smiling face, he said: “It’s done, take care and see yourself out2!”
The boss’s wife, with a kind smile on her face, waved them goodbye.
The two of them walked up the green slate street side by side. Xiao YuAn thought about it, and decided to be the first to break the silence: “The white Jade hairpin, I picked it up after you smashed it.”
“En3.”
“It’s just… just… I just think that it’s so pitiful for such a beautiful hairpin to be smashed to the ground like that. Besides, I also think that it’s a shame it ended up breaking apart. ”
“En. Xiao YuAn.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been taking good care of the Jade flute you gave me. I’ll play it for you next time.”
“Alright!”
The setting sun stretched the silhouettes of the two of them walking side by side. They weren’t that far away from the residence because they could smell the faint scent of the smoke coming from the kitchen, and the mouth-watering aroma of Third Aunt’s food.
At this point, I think the whole village knows XYA and YHQ are a “thing” 😂😂😂😂😂
Footnotes
玉如意 yù rú yì; A tool used by Chinese folk to scratch itches in ancient times. Appeared around the Warring States period, and the currently seen Jade Ruyi were mostly made at the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was named as ‘Ruyi’, which means good luck and happiness; it’s an auspicious artifact for entertainment and appreciation. At present time, the Ruyi doesn’t have any practical function, and it’s just a symbol of good fortune, often given as a friendly gift. It looks like THIS.
不送 bù sòng; Said as a humble or sarcastic way to not send someone out (accompany a guest when he/she leaves) when they are leaving.
嗯 en; Interjection indicating approval, appreciation or agreement.