The Perfect Life in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 3

Chapter Six: Qixi Star Language

The morning light spilled across the water, and terns occasionally flew out from the green grass on the riverbank, playing in small groups. Sometimes they would dive into the water and emerge with small fish and shrimp in their beaks. Mu Qing stood on the deck outside the cabin, stretched, and took a deep breath of the morning air. The air was filled with a faint scent of moisture mixed with the smell of grass, naturally refreshing.

Not far away on the other side of the dock, shirtless dockworkers were carrying large sacks of goods onto the ship, their shouts rising and falling with energy. Mu Qing felt invigorated listening to them; the dejection of the past few days seemed to vanish with the sound of their chants.

"Young lady, be careful not to fall!" Biyan walked down the corridor from the front cabin and stood next to Muqing, her face still flushed.

What's wrong with you?

"Ah? It's nothing, it's nothing!" Biyan was flustered, like a frightened little mouse trying to find a hole to crawl into.

Seeing her flustered behavior, Mu Qing thought about it carefully and realized that she might have accidentally glanced at the shirtless men as she came over. Mu Qing couldn't help but chuckle, "Biyan, don't stand there making yourself uncomfortable, come inside."

Biyan blushed, but still protested, "The cabin windows are bright and you can see clearly from inside. Why do you have to stand outside? Just listen to me and go back now. I need to prepare your medicine."

"I've been feeling so stifled these past few days, I'm so frustrated. Today I finally got some fresh air outside the cabin. Sister, please be kind and let me stay a little longer."

“No… those men outside…” Biyan started to say but didn’t know how to continue, so she simply skipped it and warned Mu Qing directly, “If you don’t listen to me, I will tell Fourth Sister that you climbed out of the window.”

Mu Qing knew that Bi Yan was usually straightforward, but she would blush when she saw men outside. She was about to tease Bi Yan a bit, but when the threat came down, she naturally didn't dare to. She waved her hand and said, "Okay, okay, I'll go back, but don't go and complain to Mother. Otherwise, she'll nag about all those rules again... I heard Father say that we entered the main channel of the Yangtze River from Wanzhou, and the current is much calmer, so I guess I won't get seasick so badly. As for the medicine..." She thought of the seasickness medicine she took every day, which was extremely bitter, and added, "Let's wait and see."

"Um!"

The two turned and went back to their cabin.

Not long after entering the cabin, there were two clicking sounds, and Mu Qing felt a few light swaying beneath her; the ship had set sail.

The shouts from the riverbank faded into the distance, the river widened, and the boat glided smoothly. Mu Qing felt no dizziness, so she sat by the window and looked out, finally appreciating the joy of the boat trip.

Between the water and the sky, surrounded by green grass and mountains, accompanied by the chirping of gulls and egrets, one feels refreshed and relaxed.

The waterway was smooth afterward, and Mu Qing no longer needed to take those medicinal soups. She felt much better and was no longer as sickly as before. Although Madam Qian was relieved, she still dared not let her move around too much. So during the day, she stayed in the cabin, reading and practicing calligraphy when she had nothing to do. When she got tired, she would look out the window at the scenery in the distance. Bi Yan served her when she washed up and ate. Madam Qian accompanied Chen Yu and often came to check on her.

The passenger boat carrying Mu Qing and his companions passed through Kuizhou, Ezhou, and Jiangning, arriving at Guazhou on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Chen Yu suggested they rest for a day before changing boats and returning to Hangzhou via the Jiangnan Canal. The family found an inn not far from the canal dock and stayed there. The inn was on the second floor, with windows offering views of the canal.

After washing up, it was already dark. Mu Qing leaned out the window and looked at the cargo boats moored along the canal. The boats that had stopped at the docks had already lit their lamps. The noise from the daytime gradually subsided, and the firelight on the river was like a silver river on the ground.

Madam Qian walked over and stroked her head, saying, "Today is the Qixi Festival. I put a newly made lotus leaf half-sleeved shirt in the trunk. Go and change into it. It's been inconvenient on the road this year. Qianji just had Dahe go out to buy some things. It's also thanks to Biyan who thought of preparing 'planting' supplies while she was on the boat. Tonight, have the inn's kitchen cook a pot of red bean porridge and prepare some seasonal fruits to make do with in the room. I'll definitely make it up to you next year!"

Biyan helped Muqing change into a light summer dress. Muqing thought the peach pink and emerald green were very pretty, and said to Madam Qian with a smile, "Thank you, Mother!"

Madam Qian took a wooden box from her side and handed it to Mu Qing. "Silly child, why are you being so polite with your mother? Here, this is something I prepared a while ago, as a gift for the festival."

Mu Qing took the box and opened it. A faint fragrance of sandalwood wafted out. Inside lay a clay monkey about three or four inches tall. On the sandalwood carved pedestal, a clay figure wore a vermilion crown inlaid with emeralds, dressed in red and green clothes, holding a lotus leaf, with a devout expression and lifelike appearance.

"nice!"

"Qing'er said she likes the scent of sandalwood. It just so happens that there was some sandalwood left over from the birthday gifts last time. I had someone inlay a base for this Mohele. Do you like it?"

"I like it, of course I like it! Who is Mohele?"

"Moghal, also known as Mohura, is one of the eight classes of gods."

"Oh, so it's a deity." Mu Qing muttered softly, playing with the clay monkey in her hand. She realized that this was Mahoraga, one of the Eight Legions of Deities. The name was a transliteration from Sanskrit, so it differed from what she knew.

Mu Qing recalled reading Jin Yong's *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, where Mahoraga represented Xu Zhu, initially foolish and naive, but later becoming a master martial artist while maintaining his pure nature; all his actions were the result of good deeds. Looking closer, she noticed the little figure's clothes were somewhat similar to her own. She recalled that during the Song Dynasty, people wore lotus-leaf-patterned short-sleeved shirts for the Qixi Festival, and adults giving children these clay monkey toys were likely old customs. She thought that becoming a strong person with a childlike heart was the wish of all parents.

Seeing that she was looking closely, Madam Qian thought that she had long forgotten her past and sighed softly, "This Mohelu is the Cloud Python God, originally a creature that crawls on its belly. Because he was deaf and ignorant, he transcended his nature, cultivated compassion and wisdom, and finally redeemed himself from his past, freeing himself from his belly-like nature and undergoing a complete transformation. I gave it to my son to fulfill my wishes. I do not ask that my son be exceptionally intelligent, incomparably beautiful, or extremely wealthy and noble. I only hope that this Mohelu will bless my son so that he may live a comfortable and peaceful life in the future, free from disasters and difficulties."

Madam Qian gently stroked Mu Qing's hair, and Mu Qing felt that Madam Qian's hands were very soft, which warmed her heart. Yes, compared to becoming a dragon or a phoenix, peace and happiness are the most important things.

Chen Yu hired a boat to return, and the family gathered together for a meal.

After the meal, Biyan placed a small basin on the table that had been prepared in advance. The basin was full of mung beans, red beans, wheat and other grains that had been soaked in water and had sprouted. Red and blue ribbons were tied to the top of the basin.

"Planting life to worship the ox, come, Muqing, come quickly and pray, Seventh Sister, grant my son a soul!" Madam Qian pulled Muqing to the altar to worship, and only then did Muqing understand the meaning of "planting life," that is, the five grains are "planted" and "grow" seedlings. Without thinking too much, she kowtowed three times as instructed.

Madam Qian then said, "I wish my son would be skillful in his needlework, like colorful thread!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Qing got up and walked to Madam Qian. He took the slender, seven-holed flat needle and a colorful silk thread from Madam Qian's hand and, following Madam Qian's instructions, threaded the colorful thread through one hole and out the other, passing it through all seven holes.

After finishing, Madam Qian hugged Mu Qing and kissed her, saying, "Good, my Mu Qing is so fast. She will definitely be skillful when she grows up."

Chen Yu smiled and picked Mu Qing up, saying, "You must be tired today. Let me hold you for a while. I haven't been close to my daughter for a few days."

The family chatted and laughed for a while. Chen Yu and Madam Qian chatted about everyday things, and Mu Qing, feeling sleepy, nestled in Chen Yu's arms and dozed off. In her hazy state, she seemed to hear Madam Qian say something like, "We'll be in Hangzhou in four or five days. The Grandmother's birthday celebration shouldn't be too late. I wonder what the situation is like at home now?"

"Yes, I'll know when I see him, but before I do, I'm filled with worries. Perhaps it's the fear of returning home..."

The river stretched to the horizon, a pitch-black expanse where the color was indistinguishable. Only the sounds of boats paddling across the water could be heard, and even the heart was unsettled by them.

Madam Qian glanced out the window. "It's getting late, my lord should retire for the night. Let Mu Qing go back to her room to rest as well!"

Chen Yu nodded, and Madam Qian went out to call Biyan to come and carry Muqing back to her room.

A gentle night breeze had dissipated most of the daytime heat, and everyone was asleep. Mu Qing, having just dozed off, was no longer in the mood to sleep. Feeling stuffy in the room, she secretly got up and went to the window for some fresh air.

Looking out at the horizon, the vast night sky is filled with twinkling stars, and the Milky Way connects the heavens and the earth, creating a mesmerizing scene.

The quiet of the night, when she was alone, always stirred up a myriad of thoughts. It had been a long time since she had gazed at the stars so peacefully. She couldn't remember when she had last looked at the stars, and now, looking at them again, it was in a different time and place.

"Big Bear, Little Bear... Where are the twins?"

Mu Qing searched for her familiar constellations, as if she had returned to the time when her father would take her to the balcony to count stars when she was a child. Thinking of her parents who had passed away in her previous life, the stars in front of her became blurry without her realizing it, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Mu Qing silently prayed in her heart, "Mom and Dad, can you see me from heaven? Your daughter is doing very well now, so don't worry!"

The next day, he set off early in the morning. Chen Yu hired a light boat and traveled along the canal, passing through Danyang, Changzhou, Pingjiang, and Xiuzhou, before returning to Hangzhou.

Chapter Seven: Entering the Mansion

The wheels crunched on the stone pavement, the sound growing clearer as they moved further away from the bustling city.

In a corner of the carriage, Mu Qing listened quietly to the sound of the wheels, her eyes occasionally glancing outside through the bamboo curtain. Although she knew the Chen family was well-off in Danling, seeing this seemingly endless white wall after walking for so long, she figured the Chen family, even if not the wealthiest in Hangzhou, were certainly a very wealthy family with substantial assets. But life within these high walls was probably not as good as in her small courtyard in Danling…

Mu Qing was lost in thought when the car swayed a few times as it entered the courtyard gate, passed through a long alley, and finally stopped at the ceremonial gate. They had arrived at their destination.

When they came out to greet them, it was Xing Ma, who served Chen Yu's mother, Zhang Shi. Seeing that Chen Yu and his party's carriage had arrived, she hurriedly came forward to greet them, praised Mu Qing a few times, and led Chen Yu's family into the courtyard. Along the way, she kept talking about how much the master and mistress thought of Chen Yu's family.

As soon as Mu Qing entered, she noticed heads peeking out from the corners every now and then, casting seemingly casual glances of gossip. Mu Qing immediately stopped looking around the courtyard, lowered her eyes, and followed Qian Shi without looking around anymore. Even after entering the main hall, she didn't look up once, obediently standing behind Qian Shi.

"Your daughter-in-law greets her mother!"

After Chen Yu and Madam Qian finished paying their respects to Madam Zhang, who was sitting in the hall, Madam Qian pulled Mu Qing closer and said, "Mu Qing, kowtow to your grandmother!"

As soon as Qian finished speaking, a flash of stone brown appeared before Mu Qing's eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Xing Ma, who had just led the way, was now standing beside her, with a satin embroidered futon at her feet.

Mu Qing knelt on the prayer mat, bowed her head and kowtowed, "Mu Qing greets Grandmother!"

"Get up!"

Mu Qing stood up and looked up at her grandmother, Zhang Shi. Sitting on the pear wood chair was a woman in her forties or fifties, wearing a lotus-colored dress and shirt. She had a slightly plump face, her hair was styled in a banana leaf bun, and she wore a small silk peony hairpin. A jade cloud hairpin was tucked diagonally to the side. She was dressed simply, and her narrow phoenix eyes were smiling at her. Her expression was exactly the same as Chen Yu's when he smiled. They were clearly mother and son.

Zhang waved to Mu Qing, who didn't react for a moment and stood still. Qian gently pushed Mu Qing from behind, signaling her to come closer to Zhang. Mu Qing then lowered her head and walked over, shyly calling out "Grandmother".

"Oh! Qing'er was still an infant when she left, and now she's grown so tall."

"Mother, where is Father?" Chen Yu didn't see his father, Chen Qizheng, and thinking about why he had been summoned back, he continued, "I have some things I want to say to Father..."

Before Chen Yu could finish speaking, Zhang interrupted him, "Now that you're back, what's the rush to say? Your father and uncle went to Yangzhou to pick someone up; they won't be back for another two days."

"To pick someone up?" Chen Yu asked, puzzled. "Who is it? Do Father and Uncle have to go in person?"

"Your father didn't go into details, only saying that business associates from the capital would be staying in Hangzhou for a few days to conduct business."

Chen Yu was somewhat curious about this person from Tokyo, but since Zhang's knowledge was limited, he didn't ask any more questions.

Madam Zhang pulled Mu Qing aside and examined her closely. "Mu Qing doesn't look too well. Should Grandmother call a doctor to take a look?"

"It's alright, Grandmother. Qing'er thanks you for your concern. I was just a little seasick on the way, but I'm fine now." Mu Qing clasped her hands in front of her, gave Zhang Shi a slight curtsy, and answered Zhang Shi's question gently and politely. Suddenly, she felt a sense of Lin Daiyu entering the Jia Mansion. Her frail body due to seasickness, coupled with her cautious mind, really did resemble Lin Daiyu somewhat.

"Fourth Sister, how do you take care of the child? Look at that face!" Zhang Shi had been treating Mu Qing gently, but the moment she turned around, her expression changed drastically, scolding Qian Shi. The speed of her change of expression truly surprised Mu Qing. Qian Shi was shrewd and capable, not the type to offend anyone, but now, seeing Zhang Shi's serious profile, Mu Qing couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Shi's mistake of immediately seeking out her mother over a trivial matter was because of the reason her own parents had left five years ago.

Madam Qian, sitting below, was also taken aback for a moment, then bowed her head and apologized, saying, "It's my fault. I didn't take good care of Muqing along the way. Once we're settled, I'll give Muqing a proper rest and recuperation."

“Mother—Qing’er is weak, and Yue Niang has done her best all the way. The fault does not lie with her.”

Upon hearing Chen Yu's words, Zhang glared at Qian but didn't make things difficult for her. She turned to Mu Qing and told her to take care of her health before letting the family leave to rest.

"I've already had the courtyard where Silang used to live tidied up. You're all tired, so go and rest first. It's almost Shenshi (3-5 PM), and the Old Madam should be getting up from her afternoon nap soon. Go and pay your respects to her as soon as possible. As for what we need to say to each other, we can talk about it later."

The Chen family agreed, bowed, and took their leave, returning to their own courtyard. As soon as they stepped out of the house, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief in unison. They were all surprised, then exchanged a smile and silently walked back to their own courtyard.

Chen Yu's courtyard was located to the west of Zhang's main courtyard, connected by a side gate on the side of the corridor. After passing through the side gate, a small courtyard came into view for Mu Qing.

The courtyard, enclosed by gray-tiled roofs, white walls, a corridor, a main hall, and a gate, is divided into four sections by a cross-shaped path paved with bluestone. Each section is planted with plum trees that are about half a person tall. In the summer sun, small green plums can be vaguely seen under the green leaves on the branches, their yellowish-green fuzzy little faces half-revealed. It's hard to tell whether they are waiting for you to pick them or shyly afraid to be seen.

Seeing the adorable yellow-green little creatures, Mu Qing's tense expression relaxed, and a smile appeared on her lips. She realized she had indeed been a bit nervous. It felt like going for a job interview. Qian Shi had previously mentioned that her grandmother, a concubine's daughter from a prominent family, had received strict upbringing, so she had feigned shyness and propriety when dealing with the first interviewer, Zhang Shi, the matriarch of the second branch of the family. Now that the first round was over, the second round would begin, with the chairman of Chen's Company—the core figure of the Chen family compound, the matriarch of the Chen family—conducting the interview. Thinking back to the paparazzi peeking around earlier, there might even be a group of interviewers from various departments of the Chen family accompanying her for the second round.

Biyan and the others walked along the corridor, busy tidying up their things. When they discovered that Chen Yu's family had returned, Biyan quickly stopped what she was doing and told the maids to help their masters wash up.

Inside the main room, Chen Yu washed his hands and face, changed into casual clothes, and sat on the couch with his eyes half-closed, seemingly lost in thought.

Madam Qian restyled her hair into a bun, changed into a bright lake-blue light shirt with white floral embroidery on the collar and cuffs, and a dark blue silk skirt. She sat in front of the carved bronze mirror, removed the glass earrings she had worn on the way, picked out a pair of crystal earrings from the jewelry box and put them on, and then took two simple and elegant butterfly hairpins to insert them.

"Change Qing'er into a light red shirt."

Biyan, who was helping Mu Qing with her washing and dressing, immediately replied to Qian Shi's instructions, "Yes!"

After changing her clothes and combing her hair, Mu Qing looked in the mirror and couldn't help but purse her lips at the two small red bags still dangling from them. Since transmigrating, she had never worn such vibrant colors—a light red top and a pale green skirt—she looked like a little child on a Spring Festival Gala, carrying a red lantern, wearing a red jacket and green pants, bouncing and swaying. She had never liked bright reds and purples, preferring simple and clean outfits, and today she really wasn't used to Bi Yan dressing her up so "dazzlingly."

"Mother, isn't this dress a bit too eye-catching? Can we change into something else?" Mu Qing asked Qian Shi, feeling uncomfortable.

"What do children know? The old lady likes the children to be dressed festively, and I think these clothes are quite nice! What do you think, my lord?"

Chen Yu opened his eyes, glanced at the screen, hummed in response, and then turned back to think.

Mu Qing's protests were ineffective. She tugged at her sleeves, wiggled her chubby little body back and forth a few times, and sighed inwardly. With this outfit, plus a big gold ingot to carry and a "Bringing in Wealth and Treasure" sign on her head, she looked exactly like a New Year's painting of a lucky boy. Her mother dressed herself up like this; it seemed the old lady had a special fondness for this!

(Hehe, tomorrow "Lucky Boy" is going to meet the big boss~ Please recommend, add to your favorites, and comment~)

Chapter Eight: Flowers in Full Bloom and Willows in Green