With Nanny Zhong smoothing things over, Zhou Biyao quickly chimed in, "That’s right, that’s right." She agreed repeatedly and called over to Qi Jia, "Brother Jia, come sit on the kang with us. Let’s talk together."
Ye Xinyan saw Zhou Biyao trying to lure her younger brother again and hurriedly asked Qi Jia, "Weren’t you supposed to greet Lord Jiang and Sixth Master Rong? How come you’re out here?"
Qi Jia pouted and said, "I did go to greet them, but I didn’t understand what they were saying, so I slipped away."
Ye Xinyan looked at Zi Ning, who knelt and said, "When Brother Jia came out, the old master saw him and didn’t stop him."
Nanny Liu glanced at Ye Xinyan, thinking it was better not to stay in front of Sixth Master and Lord Jiang. If Brother Jia said a few words like he had before in front of all those men, it would be even more embarrassing, and she herself would be ashamed to face Steward Wan.
She lifted Qi Jia onto the edge of the kang, trying to take his shoes off for him. While doing so, she said, "Brother Jia is just a child; it’s too much to sit with the adults. It’s better to sit on the kang and chat and laugh with your sisters, take a rest for a while. We’ll have lunch soon."
Qi Jia wriggled his legs to avoid Nanny Liu, not letting her touch his shoes and said anxiously, "No need, Nanny, I can take my shoes off by myself. Sister said, I must do things for myself so that when I grow up, I can do many things like Third Uncle Wong." As he spoke, his little hands began prying at the heels of his shoes to take them off.
Nanny Liu gave Ye Xinyan another look. Which family’s young master has to do chores himself, especially one so young? Besides, being like Wong Qiao — not that there’s anything wrong with Wong Qiao — but studying is the right path people look forward to. Becoming a craftsman is a last resort.
"Brother Jia is still small and can’t do any work yet. Wait until you grow up, then we can think about what to do, okay?" Nanny Liu still helped Qi Jia take off one shoe.
Qi Jia pouted and said, "I’m five years old; I’m already grown up. After the new year, I’ll go to school and be a big kid."
Zhou Biyao leaned over and asked with a smile, "Brother Jia is already grown up, huh? Then, do pretty girls like you?"
Qi Jia looked at Zhou Biyao, then at Ye Xinyan, and shook his head, "Sister also said that girls who are too forward in approaching aren’t good girls, even if they are pretty, and shouldn’t be entertained."
"..." Nanny Liu was once again at a loss for words, shooting a glance at Anshun’s Household before sternly looking at Ye Xinyan. How on earth did the Second Miss of the Ye Family grow up? What in the world was she thinking?
Ye Xinyan touched her eyebrows, innocently meeting Nanny Liu’s gaze. She hadn’t said anything wrong, had she? So why was Nanny Liu looking at her like that? She hoped she wouldn’t have to have another meeting with Nanny Jin tonight.
The people from Anshun’s Household felt even more innocent; their Young Lady, when at Duke’s Mansion, was just domineering and unreasonable. She never had such inappropriate thoughts; this was definitely not something learned at Duke An’s Mansion.
Qi Jia, already familiar with Zhou Biyao, said, "Nanny Liu made some yogurt pastries today. When I came in earlier, Sister Bi Ning was plating them. They will be served shortly. Sister, do you like yogurt pastries?"
"Let’s not talk about snacks for now," Zhou Biyao had already settled onto the kang and was chatting seriously with the little boy, "let’s talk about your wooden house. When was it built? It looks like it hasn’t been painted yet, Sister Biyao observes. Doesn’t your family plan to paint it?"
Ye Xinyan cast them a sidelong glance, listlessly holding up a cup of tea.
It’s not that it hasn’t been painted yet; rather, it wasn’t disregarded. Even if there was time, it wouldn’t have been painted because the wood will be reused. Why would her family keep that shed for no reason?
"It was only just built," Qi Jia said with wide eyes, stating as if it were obvious, "Brother Sanshun and I saw it ourselves, Grandpa and Great Uncle just carried the wood over and put it up with everyone’s help. It was only just finished, and before there was a chance to paint, Sixth Master Rong, Lord Jiang, and a whole bunch of people came in. We have paint at home."
Zhou Biyao quickly looked at Ye Xinyan and asked, "Was that lattice wooden hut of yours made just today? You started this morning, and it’s already finished now?"
"Yes," Ye Xinyan lifted her eyes from the tea cup.
Zhou Biyao adjusted her posture and asked further, "That arched door, and those two character-shaped windows, were they also made today?"
You were paying close attention, weren’t you? Ye Xinyan said with a smile, "Yes, the arched door was made today on the spot, and the character-shaped windows were from leftover materials for the uncompleted rear room’s windows in my house. Wong Qiao led some people to make some modifications."
"No, I must take another look," Zhou Biyao moved slightly, intending to get up, then suddenly remembered there were guests in the hut and sat back down. "Sister Qi, could you teach me how to do things, like you and Wong Qiao did, and also how you manage your property and all that?"
Ye Xinyan was stunned. What was Zhou Biyao doing? Was sitting uncomfortably?
Nanny Zhong held her forehead, almost wanting to lament. Her own Second Miss, born into an official’s family, always looked down on the petty comparisons and squabbles over dress among ladies from other households, yet took an interest in the crafts of artisans’ families. What was this all about?
Qi Jia interjected, saying, "Sister Zhou, my grandpa said that my sister has natural grace that ordinary people cannot learn. Grandpa said if I had even one-tenth of my sister’s spiritual energy, my life would be carefree. A carefree life means that my future days would be very smooth, that’s what grandpa said."
Ye Xinyan patted Qi Jia’s head with her hand, "Don’t talk nonsense. Grandpa is just seeing his own child in the best light, that’s not something you can rely on. Sister Zhou’s great grandfather would say the same about Sister Zhou."
"Oh." Qi Jia touched his head. That seemed right, Great Uncle often praised Brother Sanshun for his sensibleness, but the village grandmothers often jumped up and down, not allowing Brother Sanshun to climb over walls and steal fruits from other people’s trees.
"Second Miss shouldn’t take my Young Lady and Brother Jia seriously. We live in the rural areas and out of necessity, we do many kinds of work. Second Miss, born into an official family, doesn’t need to rush around for a living; this is good fortune," Nanny Liu said as she took the freshly made snacks and tea served by Bi Ning. While arranging them on the table, she smiled and continued, "Come, Second Miss, try the snacks. They were just made today, very fresh."
Ye Xinyan also pushed a plate full of goodies towards Zhou Biyao as she said, "That’s right; we common folks always have to work to make a living. Second Miss is different from us, born into a life of wealth. To enjoy prosperity is already a blessing, fortune that others can’t even envy."
Nanny Zhong stepped forward, echoing the same sentiments.
Zhou Biyao looked at the few people around her and listlessly picked up a piece of the fragrant sweet, which suddenly did not seem as delicious as she had imagined.
Zhou Shuyu had never tasted yogurt snacks, let alone the many varieties of fresh pastries from the Qi family.
While Jinrong, Jiang Yifan, Qi Younian, and Cheung Wusi discussed matters of construction, Hu Jing smiled and recommended some snacks to Zhou Shuyu, "Young Master Zhou, try the Qi family’s snacks. They have a unique flavor, very fragrant and sweet."