Chapter 20

At that moment, from the back, Zhang Xiaowu chimed in, “Master Guan is really extravagant. He’s getting married today and even hosting an opera troupe at Green Pond tonight.”

Zhu Xuan turned around and asked him, “Is it really so grand? Hosting an opera for a wedding—what kind of play will they perform?”

Chen Qiusheng’s interest was piqued as well, and she looked at Zhang Xiaowu. His family sold pork, but one shouldn’t underestimate a butcher’s family. The wealthy households always came to the butcher’s for their meat, so they were usually the first to know about any weddings or funerals in town.

Zhang Xiaowu replied, “They bought so much meat for this wedding, my family's shop couldn’t keep up—they even went to the Wang butcher for more. The bride is Zheng Guanyin from Reed Village, the woman who plays the Goddess of Mercy at the Lantern Festival every year. The Guan family was taken with her at first sight and insisted on the match, gifting the Zhengs twenty acres of paddy as a dowry.

“The Zhengs are overjoyed. Her brother likes to show off in town, and her mother now wears a gold bracelet. The Guans will feast today for the wedding and host a banquet all day tomorrow—everyone in Qingyang Town is invited. Tonight, they’ve even hired the famous Four Joys Troupe from Yangzhou, and anyone who wants to watch the opera can go.”

At the mention of Zheng Guanyin, Zhu Xuan recalled her—she was the famed beauty of Reed Village. Because of her unparalleled looks, she was invited every year during the temple fair to play the Goddess of Mercy. People didn’t know her real name, but her nickname became “Zheng Guanyin” because of her role.

Chen Qiusheng, filled with envy, said, “Zheng Guanyin is truly fortunate, becoming a young madam of the Guans just like that. If I could play the Goddess of Mercy when I grow up, I’d be happy too.” As she spoke, she touched her own face.

Zhang Xiaowu, blunt as ever, said, “When you grow up, you probably can’t play the Goddess of Mercy, but Zhu Xuan might have a chance.”

Hearing this, Chen Qiusheng glanced at Zhu Xuan’s face, sighed, and said, “If you do get to play the Goddess of Mercy one day, you’ll probably become a rich family’s young madam. When that happens, you must treat me to a feast.”

Zhu Xuan rolled her eyes. She had no desire to play the Goddess of Mercy, which meant sitting quietly on a lotus palanquin all day during the temple fair—something she knew she couldn’t manage.

Then she noticed Yuan Fengyi looking at her face, so she decided to tease him. She reached out and touched his cheek, saying, “Fengyi is the best-looking of all, and so quiet. When he grows up, he could play the Goddess of Mercy too.”

At once, Yuan Fengyi’s face flushed scarlet, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to say. Zhang Xiaowu and Chen Qiusheng, hearing Zhu Xuan’s words, glanced at Yuan Fengyi as well and realized his cool, jade-like features did indeed seem ethereal. They echoed Zhu Xuan’s teasing.

Yuan Fengyi grew even more flustered, shook off Zhu Xuan’s hand, and said, “Xuanniang, stop making fun of me.”

Seeing he was upset, Zhu Xuan felt a bit guilty and quickly tugged his sleeve. “Fengyi, I was wrong. Don’t be angry.”

Yuan Fengyi looked into Zhu Xuan’s sincere eyes and felt his anger was perhaps petty, but he was still a little disgruntled. Though not related by blood, he was nominally Zhu Xuan’s cousin, yet she treated him much like she did Zhu Ying, always acting as though she had to look out for him.

But thinking he was only a few months older than Zhu Xuan, he decided not to fuss. “I’m not angry,” he said.

“So tomorrow’s a holiday,” Zhu Xuan continued, “and since Master Guan is hosting an opera at Green Pond tonight—what was it you called them, Xiaowu, the Eight Joys Troupe?—let’s all go to see the show together.”

“What Eight Joys Troupe, Zhu Xuan, you country bumpkin! It’s the Four Joys Troupe—one of the best in Yangzhou!” Zhang Xiaowu boasted.

Zhu Xuan shot him a look. “So, are you coming or not?”

“I’m coming!” Zhang Xiaowu puffed out his chest.

Chen Qiusheng lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said, “I’ll go too! If I get there early, I can save you all seats!” Then she added, “If it’s too late and you’re afraid to go home after the opera, you can stay at my place. I’ll tell my dad.”

Zhu Xuan looked at Yuan Fengyi, who met her gaze and said, “Xuanniang, have you considered what we’ll do if the adults won’t let us go?”

Zhu Xuan scratched her head. Green Pond was on the far side of the lake, and the quickest way was by water. But her family might not allow her to go; only Chen Qiusheng, who lived nearby, could go easily. She thought for a moment. “I can borrow Grandpa Zhang’s boat. He doesn’t use it at night. Then I’ll convince my big brother Zhu Tang to row us over. You could ask my cousin Wang An to take you, though he’s been forced to study a lot lately. If that doesn’t work, just come with my family—I’ll take you with us!”

“Zhu Xuan, you have a boat at home? Then I’ll go with you too! I want to go by boat!” Zhang Xiaowu’s eyes lit up.

“Alright, it’s settled!” Zhu Xuan declared.

Chen Qiusheng also wanted to go by boat, but since she lived right in Green Pond, detouring to Zhu Xuan’s was pointless. Seeing her envious look, Zhu Xuan said, “Qiusheng, since you’re close, you can go early and save our seats, then we’ll come find you!”

Chen Qiusheng immediately agreed. Yuan Fengyi wanted to say something, then gave up. Oh well, let Xuanniang have her way.

After school, the four children waved to each other at the crossroads. “It’s settled then—see you at the Guan family’s later!”

Zhu Xuan first took Yuan Fengyi to her aunt’s house and explained her plans to Uncle Wang Dachun, asking to take Yuan Fengyi with her. Wang Dachun agreed.

Then they went to the butcher’s on the west side of the bridge to find Zhang Xiaowu’s father, Zhang Qiaoxi. Zhang Xiaowu announced, “I’m going to watch the opera with Zhu Xuan tonight, so I’ll go play at her house first.”

Zhang Qiaoxi looked at the children, then nodded and said to Xiaowu, “Remember to be polite as a guest.” He handed him a piece of pork belly to take to the Zhu family.

“All set! Both of you, follow me home!” Zhu Xuan said happily, and Zhang Xiaowu and Yuan Fengyi followed her.

The three children chattered all the way home, with Zhang Xiaowu and Zhu Xuan laughing and talking while Yuan Fengyi mostly listened quietly.

On the way, they ran into Huang Caiwei returning from her errands. The three children stopped to greet her. Huang Caiwei, seeing them together, found it amusing. When they had gone, she couldn’t help but murmur, “Living together on Changgan Lane, an innocent pair with no doubts—childhood sweethearts are a beautiful thing.”

Aunt Qiao, who was beside her, snorted, “What childhood sweethearts? Just a pack of unruly kids up to no good—little rascals, all of them!”

Huang Caiwei shook her head and said to Qiao Dingyuan, “General Qiao, you have no sense of romance.”

“Romance doesn’t put food on the table. Teacher, are you going to the opera tonight?”

“I am not! Those kids will all be there—if I show up, how could they enjoy the show?”

“That’s true. Who’d want to see their schoolteacher at a time like this?”

…

When they arrived at the Zhu family home, the adults noticed Zhu Xuan had gone out alone but returned with two companions. Yuan Fengyi greeted them politely.

Zhang Xiaowu grinned, showing his gap-toothed smile, and handed the pork to Old Lady Sun in a familiar way. “Grandma Sun, why don’t you use this pork belly tonight for some cumin stir-fry? Make sure it’s nice and tender.”

Old Lady Sun took the meat, glanced down at the sturdy, boisterous boy, and sighed with resignation.

Once she heard about Zhu Xuan’s plan, she thought Zhu Xuan really could be wild sometimes. But the family would be busy that night gathering the dried rice from the field, so there was no time to accompany her to the opera.

Zhu Tang volunteered, “I’ll take them! All our kids can go too! I could row Old Zhang’s boat with my eyes closed!”

At these words, the children burst into delighted cheers, clamoring to go to the opera. Even quiet and well-behaved Zhu Lian grew restless, tugging at Shen Yun’s hand and pleading.

The adults were helpless and could only agree, making careful arrangements. In the end, they decided to leave the youngest, Zhu Di, at home—he was too little and needed an adult to watch him. They couldn’t rest easy letting him go with the others.

Though Zhu Di was small, he understood what was going on. He immediately burst into loud, pitiful sobs, wailing his protest, “Again! You’re not taking me again!”

“You never take me with you!” he cried, his voice full of grievance.