TBTTSP - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Xu Wanqing Tells a Story (4)

News of Xu Wanqing being cast out spread through the village. Her father and brother couldn't hold their heads up. They hid her at home, forbidding her from going anywhere and ordering her to reflect on her actions.

Yes, Xu Wanqing had been cast out.

Talking back was a major offense. Enraging her mother-in-law was even worse. And failing to serve her husband was an offense beyond measure.

Leaving the magistrate's office, however, Xu Wanqing felt a secret sense of relief. She was no longer connected to Scholar Wang. From now on, she was just Xu Wanqing, not Concubine Wang Xu.

The little maid she had brought with her from home didn't understand the pain of being cast out and only felt happy for her. "Now you can sleep until the sun is high in the sky, Miss!"

"You—"

It was as if her being cast out was because of her love for sleep.

Her habit of oversleeping couldn't be hidden. At that time, her soul was wandering outside her body. Her father had called a physician, but he couldn't find anything wrong, only saying that her qi was weak and her constitution frail, and that she needed to take better care of herself.

No one knew what to do with her, so they simply locked her away deep in a separate courtyard, acting as if she didn't exist. The fact that she, who had disgraced her father and brother's reputation, was still allowed to live at home with food and clothing as before was something she was supposed to be grateful for.

She had to thank her father and brother's tolerance for allowing her a bowl of rice at home.

She had trouble adjusting during those days, her mind restless and chaotic. But as luck would have it, Shang Yi seemed intent on befriending her, sending her many books with genuine warmth.

Having just been cast out, adrift and facing criticism from all sides, entering Zhang Xu's body became a safe harbor.

Over time, she grew accustomed to receiving a package every day, opening it to find a book suited to her tastes and a short message.

For example: For Xiao Wanqing. This is a copy of 'On Evolution.' I hope you like it. Shang Yi.

She set aside a separate cardboard box in Zhang Xu's small room just for Shang Yi's messages. Although she didn't understand why Shang Yi insisted on mailing them when she could just come over in the afternoon, she eventually got used to it.

The stack of letters grew higher and higher, but she never saw Shang Yi again.

What is learned from paper is ultimately shallow… she thought. A few words on paper could also be seen by Zhang Xu, so she decided to save her thanks to be delivered in person.

Just as she was worrying about not having an opportunity, Zhang Xu and Li Zhaodi had a falling out.

Li Zhaodi had a stubborn personality. She was diligent and hardworking in her studies, upright, and strong-willed. Xu Wanqing had taken a liking to the girl early on and had even arranged for them to be desk mates.

She didn't know what the conflict between her desk mate and Zhang Xu was about, but she was keen to mend their relationship, constantly trying to please Li Zhaodi and apologize. But without knowing the root of the problem, her efforts were useless, and Li Zhaodi remained silent.

The so-called "thirty-eighth parallel" between them grew deeper. If her arm accidentally crossed it, she would get a sharp poke.

Helpless, she urged Zhang Xu, who knew the situation, to make up with Li Zhaodi and end this cold war. It made her so anxious in class every day that she felt like a nagging old woman.

Looking at the notebook, she saw that Shang Yi was also troubled by this matter, even using an exclamation mark "!".

Zhang Xu was poor at getting along with people, but she and Shang Yi were implicated, receiving the cold shoulder for reasons they didn't understand. Xu Wanqing figured there had to be a solution.

So, that day, she wrote a note and tucked it into a book.

It was a book Zhang Xu would never open. The only one who would was Shang Yi.

To Younger Sister Shang,

Recently…

Her brush tip paused. She remembered that Shang Yi wasn't fond of her manner of speaking.

After poring over a Xinhua dictionary for a long time, she finally wrote what she considered a very modern note:

Younger Sister Shang Yi,

You are already aware of the matter with Zhang Xu. I wish to discuss a solution with you. Since we are in Zhang Xu's body, we should fulfill some responsibility. I suspect there must be a reason for this, and it should be resolved as soon as possible.

The reply came when she was heading out to the barbershop early in the morning. That male assistant was waiting at the door. He intercepted her midway, and she was taken by car to that bustling place to see Shang Yi.

Shang Yi was holding that thing called a mobile phone to her ear, talking nonstop. "Right, right, the experts are in place. Try to get it open for me within two months. If the rumors get any louder, the media will start sniffing around, and that'll be trouble."

Facing the glass, Xu Wanqing saw Shang Yi's reflection.

Frowning, grave, but her gestures were decisive. Her makeup was exquisite, and her shoes were still so peculiar.

The other woman clearly saw her in the reflection as well. She raised an eyebrow and continued her call. "Take care of the locals around there. Don't let anything go wrong. It's been so long already, be careful what people might say."

Xu Wanqing waited quietly behind her as Shang Yi handled a matter that seemed to have been going on for a long time.

Ugly Boy told her to sit, but she didn't, standing demurely with her hands clasped in front of her, her posture graceful.

She lifted her eyes slightly, and a timid, gentle aura once again graced her features. Shang Yi hung up the phone and studied her for a moment. "You're here."

"Mm."

She wanted to curtsy, but her knees, just beginning to bend, froze in place. Shang Yi moved closer, towering over her. "Who's your younger sister?"

"I am five hundred years your senior…" Xu Wanqing's words trailed off.

Shang Yi had deliberately worn such high heels to loom over her, exuding an overbearing aura. She looked down, as if to prove that she, Shang Yi, was the older one.

"You're sixteen now, so act like a sixteen-year-old. Acting all old and stuffy… it's not proper." Shang Yi seemed to be lecturing her like an elder. She leaned back on the sofa and invited her to sit.

Once seated, Xu Wanqing didn't know why she suddenly felt so talkative. She smiled. "What do you mean, 'old and stuffy'? What's sixteen? In your time, sixteen is still a child. Where I'm from, women are already mothers by that age. If you want to talk about acting old and stuffy, that would be you. Look at you, all in black. What are you trying to be so profound for?"

Shang Yi held her breath for a second but didn't argue. She waved a hand dismissively. "So what's your plan? Hmm? Worrying like you're Zhang Xu's mother. What do you know? Tell me."

"Who's her mother? Hmm?" Xu Wanqing deliberately reminded her of who had adopted a goddaughter.

Shang Yi was cornered. "Do all you ancient people love to talk back? I thought ancient women all followed the three obediences and four virtues, not even daring to breathe too loudly…"

"If you followed the three obediences and four virtues, then I would follow them too. If you don't abide by them, why should I?"

Since being cast out, Xu Wanqing had been quite cheerful. Convinced that Shang Yi couldn't do anything to her, her words became a bit more brazen.

Shang Yi conceded. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that. Let's talk about Li Zhaodi. She's driving me crazy. She even tells the teacher when I zone out in class. She ignores me when I buy her snacks. She just stands there like a block of ice every day, freezing me…"

"I don't know why she's angry."

"Who knows."

The two reached a consensus on this matter and fell silent at its mention.

After a moment of silence, seeing no breakthrough, Xu Wanqing once again appointed herself the elder and decided to break the ice. She gently placed her hand on the back of Shang Yi's. "It must be hard on you, worrying so much about Zhang Xu. Since she refuses to talk to us, we can use her body. That way, we can use her own body to pressure her into yielding. There might be a chance for a turnaround."

She spoke softly, intending to comfort her. But the moment her hand touched Shang Yi's, Shang Yi snatched it back, tucking both hands into her sleeves in front of her, not letting her touch them.

"Younger Sister Shang—"

Shang Yi shot up as if startled.

"Ugly Boy, throw her out for me—"

Ugly Boy moved to obey, but Xu Wanqing looked exceptionally pitiful, on the verge of tears, making it difficult for a big man like him to lay a hand on her. He could only look helplessly at Shang Yi.

Shang Yi took a deep breath, as if suppressing a thousand murderous thoughts. She came over, grabbed Xu Wanqing's wrist, and pulled her along. "Don't call me younger sister! You have no respect for your elders!"

"It's a habit."

Xu Wanqing realized this form of address could easily hit Shang Yi's weak spot.

Shang Yi was fierce, her grip making Xu Wanqing's wrist ache, but her eyes were clear. It didn't seem like she would truly harm her. Besides, Xu Wanqing was fearless, taking advantage of being in Zhang Xu's body to do as she pleased.

It was exceptionally freeing.

It was as if she had endured enough grievances in the past and was now bouncing back, determined to be twice as mischievous, twice as happy, otherwise it would feel like a loss.

Shang Yi was helpless against her. She could only swallow her frustration and discuss with her properly how to pressure Zhang Xu into apologizing.

The two deliberated for a long time, but since neither of them really understood the situation, they tentatively decided to ask about it in person the next day before devising a strategy.

But after all this time, they had met only to reach this conclusion. Coming all this way felt like a bit of a waste.

So, at Shang Yi's request, Xu Wanqing wrote a phrase for her office area:

The highest good is like water.

"There, that should be good enough to ward off evil." Shang Yi was critical of Xu Wanqing's calligraphy, but considering it was the genuine brushwork of an ancient, she had it hung up anyway.

Xu Wanqing disliked such ostentatious displays of one's own character, but since Shang Yi had asked, she wrote it. Afterward, she looked at Shang Yi, one half of whose face was written with disdain, the other with admiration. A contradictory woman.

At this moment, she finally remembered to express her gratitude. "Younger Sister Shang, I have something to tell you."

Shang Yi pretended not to hear, continuing to critique the four characters.

"Younger Sister Shang," she said, liking the intimate address.

She especially liked how Shang Yi would turn red in the face and look ready to draw a sword on her whenever she heard those two words.

Shang Yi could no longer pretend not to hear, but she couldn't stop her either. Xu Wanqing knew this.

She could only see Shang Yi's eyes narrow slightly, giving her a cool, indifferent glance in response.

"If you don't like it, I won't say it to your face again. When you see it in a letter, you'll know it's me…"

Shang Yi's eyes narrowed until she looked farsighted.

"But I think you must like it."

"Bullshit," Shang Yi finally responded.

"I have something to tell you." She walked gracefully over. Shang Yi shrank her shoulders. "Spit it out."

Xu Wanqing could now roughly understand why Zhang Xu didn't dare to apologize in person.

Even for her, expressing heartfelt thanks face-to-face was difficult; the gratitude was stuck in her throat.

So she silently changed the subject. "I was cast out by my husband a few days ago. There were many trivial matters to attend to, so I couldn't reply promptly. I hope you don't mind."

Shang Yi: "…"

Shang Yi seemed to think she was complaining. After racking her brain, she managed to squeeze out a sentence. "So, what? You want me to be a matchmaker for you?"

Across ancient and modern times?

Xu Wanqing was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly. "You wanted to know my story, and when I share it with you, this is how you react. I won't tell you next time."

"Oh, go on, go on, I'm listening," Shang Yi said, crossing one leg and putting on an air of rapt attention.

"I'm not telling you anymore."

She averted her eyes, feeling truly wicked, leaving Shang Yi waiting there fiercely. "I'll tell you next time. When Zhang Xu comes, you must tell me what happened."

"You little brat!"

"Who's a little brat? I'm just a bag of old bones…"

Just as she finished speaking, her vision blurred. She fell amidst a pile of books in the room, searching through the loose pages for her transcribed copy of The Golden Lotus. It was only two or three pages long; she couldn't remember much, so her transcription was slow, and she hadn't even finished memorizing it yet.

After searching for a moment in her own study, her little maid rushed in. "Miss! It's a beautiful day today! Everyone is going to the south of the city to fly kites!"

Kites.

She seemed to think of something and chuckled, patting the little maid. "Thank you."

"Eh? Why are you thanking me all of a sudden…"

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