The sound of pouring rain echoed from all directions. When he turned his head, the girl's figure had already vanished into the downpour, leaving only the glaring car headlights illuminating the rain-soaked ground. Yu Changxuan turned back and noticed a small white hairpin submerged in the rainwater. He stepped forward to pick it up—it was a delicate Jade Hairpin clip.
Twirling the tiny jade hairpin between his fingers, he smiled at Gu Ruitong and asked, "What do you think?"
Gu Ruitong, carefully holding an umbrella over Yu Changxuan, chuckled and replied, "Not to mention Miss Jun Daiti, even the Tao family's two young ladies pale in comparison." Yu Changxuan walked to the car and glanced once more in the direction where the girl had disappeared. Turning back to Gu Ruitong with a smile, he remarked, "I'd say this one belongs in the heavens, while that pair remains on earth."
Gu Ruitong promptly agreed without further comment, following Yu Changxuan into the car and closing the door. He called out, "Drive," and the car sped off toward the Yu family residence. Throughout the journey, Yu Changxuan continued to play with the small jade hairpin between his fingers, his expression showing keen interest and not a trace of weariness.
It was around ten in the morning, just after the second class had ended at Mingde Girls' School. On the rough lawn between the red-roofed, russet-brick buildings, groups of female students gathered, all dressed in uniform pale blue blouses, knee-length black skirts, and long linen socks. This attire immediately identified them as students of Mingde Girls' School, evoking envy from many girls their age who had no opportunity to attend school.
No sooner had class ended than the lawn in front of the classrooms filled with the lively chatter and laughter of girls. Amid the noise, one girl could be heard calling out anxiously, "Pingjun, Pingjun—oh, Ye Pingjun!"
Ye Pingjun turned to see her classmate Bai Liyuan waving and running along the corridor toward her. Before even catching her breath, Liyuan blurted out in a rush, "Why are you dropping out all of a sudden? We agreed to go to university in Hong Kong together. What's the meaning of giving up halfway like this?"
Ye Pingjun merely lowered her head to adjust the strap of her blue cloth schoolbag over her shoulder, then looked up with a smile and said, "I just don't want to study anymore. I have no desire to become a female scholar—what's the use of reading so many books?"
Bai Liyuan was taken aback for a moment. "Is it because your mother is ill again?" she asked, stepping forward to take Pingjun's arm. But Pingjun winced slightly. "What's wrong?" Liyuan exclaimed, quickly pushing up Pingjun's sleeve to reveal a large area of abrasions that startled her. "Pingjun, how did you get hurt like this?"
Ye Pingjun hurriedly pulled her arm back and explained with a smile, "I fell on the street last night—it was an accident." Bai Liyuan looked puzzled. "Why were you out on the street in such heavy rain last night?" Her pressing questions left Pingjun with no choice but to confess quietly, "My mother's lung condition has flared up again."
Bai Liyuan understood immediately. She pulled some money from her pocket and pressed all the bills into Pingjun's hand. "Take this for now. I'll ask my father for more when I get home. No matter what, you mustn't drop out. I'll talk to my father and arrange a leave of absence for you, alright?"Bai Liyuan's father was the principal of Mingde Girls' High School, so her words carried weight. Ye Pingjun looked at the stack of bills in her hand—this was precisely when she urgently needed money. She simply said, "I'll pay you back this money." Knowing her friend's temperament, Bai Liyuan didn't press further and instead cheerfully added, "I have another way to earn some money. Would you like to hear it?"
Pingjun asked, "What way?"
"In a few days, the Tao sisters from the Finance Minister's family are hosting a small dance party. They've invited me, and I can put in a word for you to help out. I reckon you could earn quite a bit in tips. I was just worried... you might not be willing."
Pingjun quickly replied, "Don't overthink it. I'm willing to do it. If I can get some money now to buy my mother a few doses of good medicine, that would truly be..." Before she could finish, Bai Liyuan cut in briskly, "Then it's settled. Wait at home, and I'll come find you when it's time. You should go back and take care of your mother now."
Ye Pingjun nodded, tucked the money Bai Liyuan had given her into her blue cloth schoolbag, and turned to leave through the gates of Mingde Girls' High School. She couldn't help glancing back at the school entrance, thinking: A girl from a poor family like me, thanks to my mother's years of scrimping and saving, has been able to study at such a fine school for a few years. I should be content with that. But dreaming of university... that's truly wishful thinking.
She pushed these thoughts aside and headed northwest along the road. Rickshaw pullers trailed after her, asking if she needed a ride, but she ignored them, walking silently all the way to the Western Pharmacy. There, she bought medicine according to the prescription, then carried several packages of it home. Her family lived in a cramped, simple room within a large tenement courtyard. As soon as she entered the main gate, Mama Zhao, who lived in the same courtyard, hurried up to her and said, "You're finally back, girl! Go quickly and see—your mother has been coughing all morning."
Ye Pingjun rushed into her home in alarm, lifting the inner room curtain and calling out, "Mom." She saw her mother leaning against the bed, head slightly tilted, clutching a handkerchief over her mouth as she coughed. Ye Pingjun hurried over and said, "Mom, lie down quickly."
Madam Ye looked up at Pingjun, coughed a few more times, and whispered, "I'd rather sit for a while. Lying down makes my chest ache terribly." Ye Pingjun fetched her own pillow to prop behind her mother's back, then pulled over a quilt to cover her. Watching her daughter's swift, capable movements, Madam Ye suddenly teared up and said, "Ping'er, I've burdened you. It's pitiful—you've grown up like this without enjoying a single bit of good fortune."
Ye Pingjun took a handkerchief from nearby and wiped her mother's tears, smiling gently. "There are many kinds of fortune in this world. Being able to stay with you like this is my blessing—one that took several lifetimes to cultivate." Her words were sensible and mature, which only made Madam Ye feel worse. Ye Pingjun then retrieved her blue cloth schoolbag, pulled out the stack of money Bai Liyuan had given her, and said to her mother, "Look, Li Yuan gave this to me. The principal also said I should take good care of you and granted me a long leave."She carefully put away all the money, then picked up the medicine nearby and smiled, "Mom, lie down and rest for a while. I’ll go outside to brew the medicine and then make lunch." Mrs. Ye nodded, suddenly remembering something, and said, "Xue Ting... should be coming back soon, right?" At these words, Ye Pingjun’s face immediately flushed, and she responded softly, "Mm."
Mrs. Ye frowned and sighed, "I know about you two. Xue Ting is a good boy, but it’s a pity he lost his parents at such a young age—it’s truly sad. You’ve both grown up before my eyes, and I know there’s... affection between you. I have no objections. I’m just afraid that the Jiang family is a wealthy household, and Xue Ting has now returned from studying abroad in Japan. What if his older brother and sister-in-law aren’t willing to associate with our kind..." Hearing this, Pingjun merely smiled faintly and said, "What’s wrong with our family? We haven’t stolen or robbed—we’re a decent, respectable household."
Seeing Pingjun’s calm and composed demeanor, Mrs. Ye couldn’t help but laugh and had to say softly, "You, child... you really are still just a child." At this point, Ye Pingjun felt too embarrassed to continue the conversation. Holding the packet of medicine, she said, "Mom, I’ll go brew your medicine," and walked out.
Carrying the medicine to the outer room, she looked up and saw the cluster of green Jade Hairpin plants in the courtyard already showing hints of tender white buds. These flowers usually bloomed in July, yet this year they were blooming so early. Could it be that even the grass and trees knew that Xue Ting was about to return? As she thought this, her hand unconsciously reached up to touch the bun in her hair, only to find it empty. She then remembered that the jade hairpin clip Xue Ting had given her was missing. She had noticed it that morning while doing her hair—it must have been lost on her way to find a doctor during last night’s heavy rain. Slowly lowering her hand, she gazed at the soon-to-bloom Jade Hairpin flowers, feeling a sudden wave of melancholy.
Youthful and charming, like a lotus in bloom
With his father busy at the government office all day these past few days and no one to restrain him, Yu Changxuan had boldly gone dancing with the Tao sisters. For several nights in a row, he had partied from evening until the early hours of the next morning, only going to bed around three or four a.m. By the time he woke up, it was already two or three in the afternoon. Just as he had gotten up, washed, and changed clothes, he heard someone outside say, "Is the Fifth Master awake? Quickly brew some tea for the young master to rinse his mouth." Recognizing the voice as Zhu Ma, the housekeeper in charge of this area, he heard the door open as a young maid entered to bring him tea.
After rinsing his mouth, Yu Changxuan turned and noticed the small jade hairpin clip still sitting in the corner of the cabinet by his bed. He had left it there a few days ago when he returned. Picking it up, he glanced at it indifferently, finding it rather dull, and casually tossed it aside before heading to the living room.
As soon as Yu Changxuan descended the stairs, he heard some noise from the living room. It was the Yu family’s youngest daughter, Qixuan, using a small hammer to crack walnuts. His second sister, Jin Xuan, and his eldest sister-in-law, Minru, were both helping her. Sitting nearby was Minru’s cousin, Jun Daiti.
Eldest sister-in-law Minru, always sharp-eyed and quick-tongued, was the first to notice Yu Changxuan entering. She smiled and said, "So Fifth Brother is awake. Why aren’t you busy at the military headquarters today?"Yu Changxuan sat on a standalone Western-style chair beside the tea table and said with a laugh, "Sister-in-law is teasing me. Father originally intended for me to gain experience in the Ninth Army for a few years, but there’s nothing significant happening there at the moment. Even if I went, it would be pointless." After replying to Minru, he noticed Jun Daiti lowering her head to sip tea from her cup and asked with a smile, "When did Sister Feng arrive?"
Jun Daiti smiled lightly. "Just a short while ago."
Seeing them converse, Sister-in-law Minru untied a handkerchief from the button under the arm of her cheongsam to wipe walnut crumbs from her hands, chuckling, "You’re both grown-ups now, yet you still call our Daiti by her childhood name, Feng. As if you’re the only one who knows it! We all know you two are close, but must you flaunt it?"
Yu Changxuan laughed. "I didn’t mean to. I won’t call her that anymore, so as not to upset you, Sister-in-law." Minru replied playfully, "Call her whatever you like. Even if I minded, I’m sure someone else wouldn’t—isn’t that right, Feng?"
Jun Daiti, who was helping gather shelled walnuts, retorted at her cousin’s remark, "Cousin, you’re teasing again. If you keep this up, I’ll stop helping and go home." The Yu family’s second daughter, Jin Xuan, smiled and said to Daiti, "Such a young lady’s temper! Tell us, what exactly did your cousin say that was so bad you’d threaten to leave?"
Daiti froze in embarrassment, fidgeting and unable to respond. Yu Changxuan, accustomed to moving in circles of women, couldn’t help stealing glances at her. Though Jun Daiti’s beauty paled in comparison to the younger Tao sister’s allure, she still carried a certain charm. Noticing his gaze, she pretended to watch Qixuan crack walnuts, subtly turning her lovely profile toward him. The ginkgo pendant on her earlobe swayed gently by her cheek. Changxuan smiled faintly as a servant brought over pastries and milk for him.
Nearby, Madam Yu sat upright, still wearing her tortoiseshell-framed glasses with gold wire as she read the newspaper. Suddenly, she remarked, "No wonder your father has been so busy these days, not even coming home. It turns out the government is in turmoil again." Second Daughter Jin Xuan added, "I’ve heard about it too. There were rumors a few days ago that Administrative Chairman Mu Linsen is stepping down?"
Madam Yu said, "Mu Linsen is no match for Chu Wenfu. He brought it on himself—his strategic plans ended up benefiting the Jiangbei faction, and they lost Tiger Sun Pass to the Xiao Family Army. I heard the Xiao forces were led by a young marshal. What face does Mu Linsen have left to carry on? It’s just as well your father was on sick leave recently and didn’t share in that disgrace."
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