“Sister A-Heng, good afternoon.” A young woman with a clear, refined face approached, her hair simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin. Her arrival interrupted their private talk. “Old Madam is in Spring Language Hall.”
She spoke only to Mu Shanyi, without much glance at Miao Zhu beside her—very proper.
“The guests have arrived?” Mu Shanyi asked her.
“Yes, Old Lady Zheng and Mrs. Zheng just got here.”
Mu Shanyi nodded slightly. “A-Qi, sorry to trouble you—have some desserts sent to my room.”
Mu Qiren was about the same age as Mu Shanyi. She’d started learning family business from her mother in her teens, taken over after finishing her finance PhD, and formally joined the family office.
She replied “Sure” and asked, “Need me to escort your friend over?”
Using the term “friend,” Mu Shanyi introduced Miao Zhu’s name to Mu Qiren, then told Miao Zhu, “My cousin.”
“Sister Qi.” Miao Zhu greeted her generously.
Mu Qiren smiled back.
Mu Shanyi told Mu Qiren, “Go ahead with your work. I’ll head to Spring Language Hall shortly.”
The walkway was cool and serene. They walked a few more minutes along it to Jade Magnificence Tower. The tower consisted of two two-story buildings enclosing a central corridor, square and spacious, with a wide courtyard below.
Several stalks of green bamboo were planted beneath pink walls and dark tiles, casting shadows on the walls like ink on paper. When the wind rustled the leaves, golden sunlight splashed across, the shimmering light too beautiful to take in.
Mu Shanyi led Miao Zhu up the wooden stairs to the second floor, passed two doors, and pushed open the third.
“These three rooms are my study, dressing room, and bedroom.” Mu Shanyi gave a simple introduction from the doorway.
The sunlight slanted, cicadas buzzing noisily in the thick shade. Incense smoke wafted from the burner, filling the air with the same woody scent as on Mu Shanyi’s body.
“Sister A-Heng, do you stay here often?”
“Yes, a lot. Old Madam’s getting on in years and likes the bustle.”
“Oh.” Miao Zhu understood.
“Make yourself at home in my room.” Mu Shanyi checked her watch. “I’ll come get you in half an hour, okay?”
“Okay.” Miao Zhu nodded.
With no one else around, Miao Zhu wanted to get close to Mu Shanyi again, but footsteps approached outside. Mu Qiren had personally brought the desserts, so she held back.
Mu Shanyi left with Mu Qiren. Miao Zhu pushed open the window. Outside stretched a vast sky, with rockery landscaping below, a hexagonal pavilion, and a pond of lotuses.
Leaning against the windowsill, she scooped a spoonful of rose ice tofu pudding from the porcelain bowl and popped it in her mouth.
The subtle bean fragrance blended with the fresh sweetness of rose, refreshing on the palate. Miao Zhu loved the taste and ate several bites in a row.
“Mu Zhiren, I’m counting to three. Get up here.”
Miao Zhu heard voices and looked down.
Mu Qiren stood by the lotus pond’s edge, while the girl called Mu Zhiren was like a fresh green shoot stuck firmly in the pond’s mud.
She was about fourteen or fifteen, with two fishbone braids, wearing a green one-piece waterproof suit. Her face, body, and hands were covered in mud. Miao Zhu leaned out and saw a lotus root tucked in her arm.
Huh? She was digging up lotus roots in the lotus pond?
“You could count to thirty and it wouldn’t matter. Come down and catch me if you can.” Mu Zhiren tossed the root into a nearby bamboo basket and huffed smugly. “Kitchen’s making osmanthus honey lotus root tonight. Let’s see if you eat it.”
Mu Qiren: “Are you coming up?”
Mu Zhiren: “Nyah nyah nyah!”
Mu Qiren didn’t waste more words and turned to leave.
Miao Zhu watched Mu Zhiren dig roots appreciatively. Mud caked her face, hiding her features, but her eyes sparkled with energy. Each root she pulled out had her dancing excitedly and whooping.
Miao Zhu cheered her on silently too. One dug below, one watched above, both getting into the groove—until four or five sturdy aunts in matching waterproof suits arrived. Without a word, they waded into the mud and grabbed Mu Zhiren like they were catching eels.
“Help! Help!” Mu Zhiren flailed as they lifted her out upside down. “My roots! My roots!” She struggled and begged. “Take my roots!”
Amid the giggles, she looked up and spotted someone at Jade Magnificence Tower’s window.
“Who are you?” Those bright eyes locked on Miao Zhu. “Why are you in Sister A-Heng’s room?”
The strange sister at the window propped her cheek and beamed at Mu Zhiren, while her own sister laid into her with a poker face of ice.
Mu Qiren ordered Mu Zhiren to clean herself up. Mu Zhiren ignored her; as soon as Mu Qiren left, she bolted to Spring Language Hall.
“Si Miao says the matter over there is tricky; might not make it back until Mid-Autumn. That’s still a month and a half away.”
“The kids are all stepping up on their own now.”
“Who says otherwise? A-Heng’s only two years older than Si Miao…”
Mu Zhiren eavesdropped at the door, catching snippets from inside. She poked out half her muddy face and winked at Mu Shanyi.
Mu Shanyi walked over and saw her state. “Jumped in the pond again? Who was it that soaked in there last time and cried from cramps?”
“That’s all in the past—why bring it up!” Mu Zhiren looked away guiltily. “I just came to ask: Sister A-Heng, who’d you hide in your room?”
