Huo Yuping was both delighted and flabbergasted. The girl was skilled in anything and everything.
Both the young and the old were busy plowing, planting, and watering the land till the afternoon.
Huo Yuping smiled at the girl. “Are you tired?”
Shen Xi nodded. “Yes.”
“You should be, and here I thought, you don’t feel a thing!” Huo Yuping’s heart went out to her. “Great work. Let’s have lunch.”
Shen Xi was a well-behaved girl, especially towards an elder who deserved her respect. Since her arrival in the morning, Shen Xi had a vague idea where he was coming from.
The Huo family’s chef cooked well, preparing four dishes and a soup with a mix of meat and greens. The well-balanced meal may taste a little bland but it was understandable since food for the elderly should not be overseasoned.
While they were enjoying lunch, the butler for the Huo family drew close and reported to the old man. “Old Master, the young man is here and is waiting outside. He said he refuses to leave unless you see him today.”
“Tell him that I will never sell it to him regardless of how much he offers.” Huo Yuping turned solemn. “Please ask them to stop pestering me. I won’t meet them.”
Seeing that the old man appeared unhappy, Shen Xi served him a piece of fish.
Huo Yuping was in a better mood just looking at the girl sitting in front of him.
Shen Xi accompanied the old man to read and fish in the afternoon.
Leaving aside all business talk, the whole day went by.
Her teacher told her that the old man was a peculiar and stern man as well as someone difficult to get along with. Sure, Mr. Huo was stern and peculiar, but he was not at all uncongenial. In fact, the old man was friendly and caring.
Huo Yuping kept her for dinner and after that, he requested her to stay for another round of chess.
Shen Xi was not as accomplished as the old man in chess. Hence, she lost by one move.
Pleased with her, Huo Yuping enquired before she was about to leave. “Why did you come to learn Bian Embroidery from me?”
Shen Xi respectfully looked at the old man. “I recently designed a gown and after much consideration, I believe the technique of Bian Embroidery would bring out the best visual effects.”
Huo Yuping chuckled. “You’re quite honest.”
Throughout the years, those who came to learn from him coughed up all kinds of stories but generally, it was all about sucking up to him, flattering him, complimenting Bian Embroidery, something about inheriting a traditional art and a bunch of inspirational words. They only gave him textbook scripted answers.
However, Huo Yuping had never come across a blunt person like her.
Shen Xi retorted, “I wouldn’t dare lie to you.”
He picked up the chess pieces one by one and placed them in a basket before taking a minute to say, “Come run with me tomorrow morning.”
She replied, “Thank you, Mr. Huo.”
He answered, “Don’t go telling the world I taught you if you can’t get the knack of it.”
With him giving his word, Shen Xi knew it was a done deal. She respectfully gave the old man a bow. “Don’t worry, Mr. Huo. I will never put your name to shame.”
“You sure are meticulous.” Huo Yuping pointed at her and smiled.
He realized that the girl took everything seriously. Despite her young age, she acted rather maturely.
Girls her age acted cutely. She had no clue that elders at his age were softies. Had she acted cutely with him, there was a possibility he would pass down not just the Bian Embroidery, but also his family’s Kesi technique[1] to her.
The people who were waiting outside wanted to learn the Huo family’s traditional Kesi technique. Being the smart girl that she was, Shen Xi must have known about it.
Yes, Shen Xi knew about it. The Kesi technique of the Su City’s Huo family was a global intangible cultural heritage that represented the finest caliber of silk products. There was a saying that went, “an inch of Kesi was worth an inch of gold”. Back then, Kesi was exclusive to the imperial family.
Nevertheless, the technique was inherited within the family. Shen Xi would not be so delusional to learn someone’s family legacy. She felt blessed enough to learn from Mr. Huo.
The sky was dark by nine o’clock at night.
The gate to the Huo residence.
Standing there was Su Muxuan and his sour face quickly lit up at the incoming presence. With a smile, he drew near, but he turned blue in the face at a closer look. He irritably questioned the person. “Why are you here?”
Why was Shen Xi, that brat at the Huo residence?
The evil thing must be here to stir trouble after finding out that the Su family wished to buy the Huo family’s Kesi.
It never occurred to Shen Xi that she would still bump into a member of the Su family abroad. Without taking a glance at him, she went on her way.
Refusing to be ignored, Su Muxuan immediately blocked her way. Sparks were flying in his eyes. “I’m warning you. I don’t care what your intentions are, but if you mess things up for me, I won’t stand by and let you come home even if Mom and Dad want you to.”
Ever since it was exposed that she was Cai Ni, Mom and Dad had been planning to bring her home. They went to look for her countless times.
However, the brat acted all high and mighty, refusing to return.
She must be trying to cash in more. Taking Wanwan’s words into account, Mom and Dad were debating whether to give her a cut of the Su family’s shares.
What did she do to deserve it? What contribution did she make for the Su family to give her a cut? There was no way Su Muxuan was going to agree to that!
Shen Xi scoffed. Her tone was icy. “Go back and tell your parents to stop bothering me. I couldn’t care less.”
“Uncultured brat.” Teed off by her attitude, Su Muxuan gave her a dirty look. “Let me teach you how to speak properly.”
With that, he reached out to pull her.
Shen Xi was ready to give him a taste of his own medicine.
There was no one around anyway. She could drag him into the forest and beat him up. She bet he would run away with his tail between his legs once she was done with him.
Who knew she had yet to make a move when someone grabbed her by the arm and restrained her.
Shen Xi was left in pain by the young man’s uncontrolled strength. Furrowing her brows, she lifted her chin to see Fu Qingxuan protecting her like a hen. As tension rose, he coldly threatened the person before him. “Don’t touch her.”
At that moment, a thought hit her – The young master was so charming and attractive at this very moment.
Su Muxuan scoffed before giving Shen Xi a weird look. “Shen Xi, I have underestimated you. You sure are able to get men anywhere to stand up for you.”
He heard from Wanwan that Shen Xi hit on random dudes just because she had a pretty face. Yu Qiubai and Pei Xu were among her admirers, along with Situ Zhangyou and Fu Qingye.
She seemed to have forgotten that her face was given to her by her parents. Shen Xi would probably be hideous if she got her looks from her adoptive parents. Where would she have the assets to hit on people?
Fu Qingxuan frowned as the words spoken by the man were upsetting.
[1] Kesi, also called K’o-ssu, is the most traditional decorative silk works in China which is made by the tapestry method in fine silks and gold thread