You can tell a child's future at three and their character at seven.
When Ding Weiguo was seven years old, his grandfather Ding Rukui would always have one thought whenever he saw his grandson—what should he do when his grandson looked exactly like his sworn enemy?
Lu Ying and Ding Wu were busy with their duties at the frontier. Their son Ding Weiguo was sent to the capital just one month after his birth, handed over to the elderly Ding Rukui to raise, becoming a left-behind child.
The grandson was Ding Rukui's greatest comfort in his later years. He nurtured the boy with care. When the child turned one, Ding Rukui had pondered over a basketful of discarded drafts before finally settling on an elegant and meaningful name, which he planned to announce at the birthday banquet.
But his son Ding Wu sent a birthday gift along with a letter, stating that he had already named the boy Ding Weiguo.
"Defend the home, protect the nation"—simple and direct. It was clearly a name chosen by his daughter-in-law Lu Ying. His son, having been well-versed in literature since childhood, would never pick such a plain name.
Ding Rukui sighed inwardly, thinking his son would likely never assert his authority as head of the family, but he reluctantly accepted it.
Raising a grandchild naturally came with some indulgence. Ding Weiguo grew fair and plump, round like a glutinous rice ball. Ding Rukui personally taught the boy to read, and by the age of five, Ding Weiguo could already recognize over two thousand characters. Ding Rukui hoped his grandson would pursue the imperial examinations in the future, sparing him the hardship of enduring wind and sand in the northwest like his parents.
However, Ding Wu and Lu Ying sent someone to bring Ding Weiguo to the frontier. According to the boy's letters, his mother was teaching him martial arts herself. Training was exhausting, and he missed his grandfather.
After a period of complaining, Ding Weiguo eventually accepted the reality of following in his mother's footsteps. His letters to his grandfather began to change, describing how his mother had taken him to the grasslands, the deserts, and on annual inspections of various frontier trading posts. Only by going to the frontier did he realize how vast the world was—far too big to be contained in a single study.
Now, Ding Weiguo was so content he no longer missed his grandfather.
Two years later, when Ding Weiguo was seven, he returned to the capital with his parents to celebrate Ding Rukui's seventieth birthday.
At the sight of his beloved grandson, Ding Rukui was startled—the boy was the spitting image of his maternal grandfather, Lu Bing! His skin had a reddish tint, and he had a pair of long, slender legs, walking with the grace of a crane, a far cry from the plump, fair child he once was.
"Grandfather!" Ding Weiguo still remembered Ding Rukui. He dashed over like an arrow and threw himself into his grandfather's arms.
The impact nearly knocked the breath out of Ding Rukui's aging lungs!
Seeing that familiar face, Ding Rukui was instantly reminded of his ten years in prison, his legs trembling so much he almost couldn't help calling out "Lord Lu."
The couple had not returned to the capital for ten years. They entered the palace to meet Empress Dowager Li and the Wanli Emperor, providing a detailed account of the changes along the northwestern frontier over the past decade.
Ding Rukui stayed home with his grandson. The boy practiced with swords and spears, while the old man, with his brittle bones, could only watch. Seeing his grandson drenched in sweat, Ding Rukui's heart ached. "Stop practicing. Your mother isn't home. I'll take you out to play."
After all, Ding Weiguo was just a seven-year-old child, easily tempted by fun. He nodded and said, "Alright, but Grandfather, you must tell everyone not to let my mother know."
Look what the child had been reduced to. Even though his grandson bore Lu Bing's face, blood proved thicker than water. Ding Rukui took his grandson's hand and went for a stroll in the streets.
The two watched street performances in the market—fire-eaters, flame-breathers, tightrope walkers, monkey shows, and illusionists. Ding Weiguo stood on his tiptoes, eagerly taking in the excitement.Beside them was a little girl of similar age, dressed in red, pestering her father coquettishly, "Dad, I can't see past the crowd. I want to ride on your shoulders!"
The man beside her immediately crouched down and patted the back of his neck, "Good girl, come on up."
"Stand up right now!" A woman next to the man actually grabbed his ear and pulled him upright, "Qiwu is already eight years old! It's improper for her to still ride on your shoulders. Don't spoil the child."
"Oh." The man rubbed the tip of his ear, "Can I at least hold her then?"
"Mother." The little girl clung to the woman's arm, shaking it back and forth, "Please let Daddy do it."
The woman sighed, "Just this once." She said this with practiced ease, clearly having uttered "just this once" countless times before.
The little girl wrapped her arms around her father's bent neck and was swiftly lifted into his embrace.
Ding Weiguo felt a pang of envy, wishing someone would carry him too. Noticing his gaze, the girl in red turned to her father and said, "Dad, this little brother looks so pitiful. Why don't you carry one of us on each side?"
The couple followed their daughter's gaze. Embarrassed, Ding Weiguo hid behind his grandfather.
When the couple saw Ding Rukui, they exclaimed in unison, "Uncle Ding?"
It was Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei. Ten years ago, they had made a ten-year pact with Ding Wu and Lu Ying before leaving the capital to travel. A year later, when Wei Caiwei became pregnant, they settled in Nanjing for convenience.
Wang Daxia opened a rouge shop by the Qinhuai River. Eight months later, their daughter was born. Though Wang Daxia had initially wanted two children, raising just one daughter kept them so busy they abandoned the idea and continued diligently using fish swim bladders or sheep intestines for contraception.
Since their daughter was born in the rouge shop, they nicknamed her "Rouge." For her formal name, they deliberated long before deciding to combine their own names—Daxia and Banxia—using "Xia" as her surname. Both had enemies and political adversaries, so to protect their daughter, they didn't use either of their original surnames.
They named her Qiwu. This came from "Daxia" (big summer) plus half of "Banxia" (half summer), divided by two, equaling 0.75. "Qiwu" is a homophone for "seven-five" in Chinese, hence Xia Qiwu.
Time flew by while raising their child, and in the blink of an eye, the ten-year pact arrived. The couple had just returned to the capital with their daughter when they unexpectedly encountered Ding Rukui and Ding Weiguo at the market.
Ding Rukui invited the family of three to his residence. Wang Daxia seated his daughter on his left shoulder, then lifted the slender-waisted, long-legged Ding Weiguo onto his right shoulder, balancing one on each side.
The two children chattered gleefully, watching the bustling market—one speaking soft Nanjing Mandarin, the other authentic Beijing dialect, their nonstop giggles filling the air.
Wei Caiwei watched Ding Weiguo perched on Wang Daxia's shoulder and thought: My heavens, this child couldn't be Lord Lu reincarnated, could he? The resemblance is uncanny!
The family of three paid respects to Elder Ding at his residence for his birthday celebration. Since Empress Dowager Li had detained Ding Wu and Lu Ying at the palace for a banquet, they weren't home. In the afternoon, the family visited their relatives at the Wang residence in Sweetwater Lane.Wang Daxia earned the hereditary rank of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander through his own efforts, relinquishing the family's five-generation Thousand-Household Title to his younger brother Wang Daqiu. Wang Daqiu had already inherited the title and was serving at the Northern City Military Command. Two years prior, he had married, started a family, and now had children of his own.
Commander Mu had retired, and this year, he and Wang Daqiu's birth mother, Madam Wu, successfully kindled a twilight romance, joining hands in marriage.
After their wedding, the elderly couple moved to a rural estate to live out their years in peace, growing old together as companions. Wang Daqiu treated Commander Mu as his own father, showing him filial respect. Commander Mu remained robust in both spirit and body, appearing likely to live to a hundred.
The family of three visited Commander Mu in the countryside. He presented a prepared golden qilin to Xia Qiwu as a meeting gift, saying:
"They say daughters take after their fathers, Daxia. Your girl looks almost exactly like you did as a child. Back then on West Drum Tower Street, you were the prettiest—so fair and delicate people couldn't tell if you were a boy or girl—and of course, the most mischievous. You'd go out clean and fair, only to return covered in mud like a little monkey. I'd always drag you to wash up before your father saw you, or you'd have gotten a sound beating."
Though Wang Daxia had matured into fatherhood, Commander Mu still saw him as the child he once was. Embarrassed by the childhood mischief, Wang Daxia changed the subject: "We missed celebrating your union with Aunt Wu, Commander Mu, but tonight we'll drink until we drop."
By openly mentioning Madam Wu, Wang Daxia signaled reconciliation with his former stepmother, letting go of past conflicts and wishing Commander Mu and Madam Wu happiness in their twilight years.
Time had imperceptibly changed many things. Over the years, Commander Mu and Madam Wu had cared for the traumatized Wang Daqiu, developing a bond—not necessarily romantic, but built on trust and companionship.
Touched by Wang Daxia's forgiveness and blessings, Commander Mu patted his hand and said, "I always knew you were a good kid."
At the evening feast, Wang Daxia clinked glasses with Madam Wu, letting wine dissolve past grievances.
The family stayed overnight at the estate. The next morning, they visited a gravesite—the He family cemetery. Wei Caiwei arranged offerings and lit incense for the memorial.
Wei Caiwei instructed Xia Qiwu to kneel and kowtow: "They are your maternal grandfather, your aunt, and... your cousin. They were unlucky, meeting bad people who cut their lives short. I was more fortunate—I met good souls who helped me study medicine, meet your father, and give birth to you. You must grow into a kind person, offering goodwill to the world wherever you can."
Still naive, Xia Qiwu remarked, "So it's a family tradition not to share parents' surnames! Grandfather's family name was 'He,' Mother's is 'Wei,' and mine is 'Xia.'"
Hmm... this "I-say-east-you-say-west" comprehension—truly a carbon copy of your father!
After the memorial, the family returned to the city and visited the Ding residence. Ding Wu and Lu Ying had canceled all engagements, waiting early at home for their return.
A decade after their parting as four, they reunited as six.
Seeing the jade-snow loveliness of Xia Qiwu, Lu Ying's eyes sparkled as she cradled her affectionately. "Daxia, Qiwu looks so much like you. She'll grow into a rare talent—you must nurture her well—"Wang Daxia feared that Lu Ying might lead his precious daughter astray into the "wrong path." The Embroidered Uniform Guard was an endless abyss with perpetual tasks. Having barely climbed out of seclusion himself, he had no intention of being dragged back in. He quickly changed the subject, "Your son Weiguo is the spitting image of the Loyal Earl—he’s bound to achieve great things in the future."
Lu Ying was brimming with confidence in her son and didn’t bother with modest refusals. "Of course," she replied.
The two exchanged exaggerated praise for each other’s children, each with their own hidden motives. Meanwhile, Ding Wu and Wei Caiwei whispered intimately to one another. Ding Weiguo, playing the host, invited Xia Qiwu to play in the Ding family garden.
Xia Qiwu stood on the swing as Ding Weiguo pushed her from behind. Fearless, she soared high into the air like a crimson bird in flight.
Ten years ago had been fraught with peril; now, a decade later, all was peaceful and serene. Every sacrifice had been made for this very tranquility.
The peace lasted three days. Just as the two families were about to part ways, having agreed to meet again in ten years, a Pigeon Post arrived from the border. It was an urgent plea for help from San Niangzi: Anda Khan was critically ill, his stepsons were eyeing the throne, and internal strife was imminent. She needed the Ming Dynasty’s assistance to maintain control.
Wang Daxia immediately stood up to take his leave. "You have matters to attend to; we won’t intrude. We’ll meet again in ten years."
"Wait," Lu Ying blocked his path. "This concerns border stability—we can’t afford any mistakes. Ding Wu and I need your help. The children can stay in the capital; my father-in-law will look after them."
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