It was still early for lunch, so Lu Zheng handed the food box with the family bucket to Xiaocui, asking her to warm it up for the meal.
Turning back, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying were already seated under the peach tree, sorting chess pieces to start a new game.
The front courtyard of Peach Blossom Manor, with its large peach tree, was shaded and cool, with dappled sunlight filtering through, blending refreshing coolness with a gentle warmth, utterly pleasant.
Under the peach tree, the stone table’s surface was carved directly into a Go board, with thirty-eight intersecting lines, perfectly aligned.
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan sat opposite each other, sorting black and white stones.
“Sister, you go first!”
“Then I won’t hold back.”
They placed two black and two white stones on the star points, then Liu Qingyan, holding white, moved first, playing a corner approach.
Shen Ying smiled slightly, placing a black stone.
Lu Zheng stood calmly to the side, watching with an impassive, enigmatic expression.
Liu Qingquan glanced at the game but found it dull. By then, Xiaocui had returned from storing the food box and came back to the courtyard.
Seeing Liu Qingquan idle, she fetched two carving knives and a basket of peach wood blocks, eagerly teaching her how to carve.
“On normal days, Uncle An and Uncle Qian carve wood when they’ve nothing to do, selling them at Peach Blossom Vale to earn some pocket money for the manor,” Xiaocui explained while carving, her knife moving deftly, quickly shaping an outline.
Impressive!
Liu Qingquan, new to wood carving, was thrilled, holding a knife in one hand and a wood block in the other, learning from Xiaocui.
Lu Zheng glanced over, then returned his attention to the chessboard.
As they say, practice is the best teacher. If people can become mahjong experts just by watching, surely he could learn Go rules by observing a game?
Under the peach tree, a refined woman in a crimson silk skirt and a graceful girl in a moon-white embroidered robe sat elegantly, holding stones, their poised figures captivating and refined.
After watching for a bit, Lu Zheng grasped the basic rules, though the finer details and strategies remained a mystery.
Judging by their expressions and the pace of their moves, Shen Ying seemed to have the upper hand.
Sure enough, after about an hour, before Lu Zheng could discern the outcome, Liu Qingyan conceded by tossing her stones.
“Sister, you’re amazing,” Liu Qingyan said.
“You’re not bad yourself, holding your own through the mid-game, using sealing and cutting techniques well, and taking several of my stones,” Shen Ying praised. “Much better than Xiaocui. You should come play with me more often.”
Liu Qingyan smiled, “Then I’ll come learn from you more.”
“It’s nearly noon. Let’s eat.”
Xiaocui stood and headed to the side kitchen.
“Everything’s prepared; it just needs warming. Let’s head to the front hall.”
“Great, great!”
…
Today’s lunch included Lu Zheng’s family bucket, with everyone getting a piece.
Junk food, eaten for the first time or occasionally, was indeed a rare treat.
Not only was Liu Qingquan drooling as she ate, but even Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying couldn’t resist licking their fingers after finishing.
Delicate hands to mouths, tongues lightly gliding.
The grease on their fingers slid into their mouths, followed by a lick of their lips.
Delicious!
Tasty!
“I never imagined chicken could be prepared like this,” Shen Ying said. “It’s already meat, yet fried in oil—truly extravagant.”
Liu Qingquan chimed in, “Big Brother Lu always has delicious things.”
“And so many spices I can’t name,” Shen Ying mused thoughtfully.
Her tongue was remarkably perceptive!
“Last time, we enjoyed Lady Shen’s peach blossom brew. Today, try my plum wine, please!”
Shen Ying’s peach-blossom eyes narrowed as she raised her cup with the others, sipping lightly behind her sleeve.
“Sweet and crisp, fine wine.”
The fruit wine made the women’s eyes glisten, their gazes brighter, as they chatted and laughed, the atmosphere growing warmer.
…
Soon, lunch was over. Xiaocui and the two elderly servants cleared up, while Shen Ying led the group out of the manor into Peach Blossom Vale, strolling and chatting.
Liu Qingyan shared recent anecdotes from the clinic, while Shen Ying recounted new happenings in Peach Blossom Vale.
Liu Qingquan even brought the wooden rat carving she’d bought last time, scampering around them, playing happily.
*Thud!*
“Ow!” Liu Qingquan exclaimed. “Sister, my little rat fell into a tree hole again!”
That “again” was telling.
They turned past a few peach trees and saw Liu Qingquan squatting by a tree, staring at a dark, three-inch-wide hole flush with the trunk.
“Let me see,” Lu Zheng stepped forward, looking around curiously. “So many peach trees have these holes. Are they rat burrows?”
“Probably, but rats don’t come out during the day,” Shen Ying replied.
Lu Zheng peered into the hole. It was dark, but he could faintly make out a shape, likely the wooden carving.
“Good thing it’s not deep, or maybe the rat burrow turns at some point.”
Lu Zheng squatted by the hole, reached in, and… got stuck.
“I’ll do it,” Shen Ying said, smiling as she stepped forward.
“Thank you, Lady Shen.”
“It’s just a little rat, no trouble.” Shen Ying lifted her skirt, squatted gracefully, and reached in.
Just past her elbow, she retrieved the wooden rat and handed it to Liu Qingquan.
“Thank you, Sister Shen!”
Liu Qingquan looked up and noticed a few people emerging from the trees, about ten feet away.
“Hey, it’s you?”
Lu Zheng and the others turned to see three young men and a ragged fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy—the same trio who had tried to harass Shen Ying and the Liu sisters last time at Peach Blossom Vale.
“It’s you?”
Clearly, the three youths recognised them too.
Quite a coincidence.
Or maybe not—they might just hang around Peach Blossom Vale all the time.
Lu Zheng shook his head, ignoring them.
After their last lesson, they likely wouldn’t dare cause trouble again.
Shen Ying and the Liu sisters felt the same, and the group prepared to stroll away.
But…
Lu Zheng’s peripheral vision caught the three youths crowding around the boy, pointing and gesturing toward them.
The next moment, the boy dashed up to Lu Zheng.
“So it’s you who hurt my brothers last time?”
This again?
Lu Zheng shook his head with a smile. “Your brothers? They were harassing women. Can’t they be taught a lesson?”
“Nonsense! We helped save you and just wanted to make friends, but you, to show off in front of them, beat us up. What a vicious heart!” one of the youths shouted.
“Hm?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, thoughtful. “You’re sure they’re really your… brothers?”
“Hmph!” The boy snorted, glancing at Shen Ying and the Liu sisters, his eyes showing no interest.
“Enough talk. You rely on your skills to bully others? Let’s see me teach you a lesson!”
