This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY at the translator’s and editor’s own free times.
TXX’s side story is using a first person narrative which I’m not used to and this is the first time that I’m translating a story with a first person narrative. I have never liked a story that is being told using a first person as it’s very confusing sometimes. I was actually going to change it into a third party narrative but decided to keep it as the original raw. So I apologize if the sentences are somewhat strange.
Side Story: Tang Xiao Xiao
Part 1
Jin Zhou City
At the beginning of the spring season, the spring wind was warm, there was always a fragrance from every kind of flowers that were drifting in the air, especially in Jin Zhou. This was Dong Yu’s tea countryside, the best long dan tea was naturally produced here. So the fragrance of flowers would carry the fragrance from the tea, and it made people to feel like smelling an unusual clear and crisp air. When one was walking on the road to the small town, there were falling petals by the side of the roads, so it made this small town look like it was draped by the beautiful red clouds clothing.
The scenery of the small town was completely different from the hustle and bustle, or (different than) the beautiful image of a pretty daughter from a humble family. I was extremely fond of this place, unfortunately, the money that I brought when I went down the mountain, was already used up, so I wanted to ‘cheat to earn’ some money.
Patting on my outfit, I squatted at the curb side of the small stone step, and was looking at whomever who was comparatively pleasing to the eyes. I would just ask him to borrow some money oh.
Got it! Looking that there was a servant girl and servants who were at the woman’s side, so she must have been a rich woman, so it would be you, actually being looked at by this Miss was really your good fortune. Intentionally making my hair to look messy, I rushed to that woman.
The woman was walking and taking a look (at things) all the way, suddenly she was bumped by me, and she had not had any guard against anything so she was startled, and cried out: “Ah….”
The red dress’ young servant girl who was always following behind her, hurriedly stepped forward, and supported her, she carefully asked: “Miss, are you alright?” Properly supporting that white dress woman, the young servant girl yelled at her: “How did you walk?”
I was captured by the two servants who were behind the woman, these family servants were extremely fierce. I pretended to be shivering on the side, while rushingly giving an explanation: “I am sorry, I am sorry, my mother is sick, this small person is trying to find a physician urgently, Miss, please spare my life ah….” With this Miss’ trying trick, they would probably curse a few words at the most, and I could just steal those banknotes that seemed to be so thick when I touched them a moment ago!
Murong Shu Qing scanned one glance at this thin man, it seemed that a burst of wind could blow him away. He had a scraggy hair, and his dark gray plain clothing looked like it had been washed for so many times until it looked so pale. But those pair of eyes were not muddy at all, instead they were in great spirits, this actually made Murong Shu Qing to feel somewhat strange. But looking at his anxious face and appearance, Murong Shu Qing did not make things difficult for him, and faintly said: “Let him go.”
Was it really that easy? I could not help but look at that woman who was wearing a simple white clothing again, this person was really interesting.
“Yes.” The servants obeyed the order and let go. But I did not care too much, after expressing an insincere thank you, I just ran away like a wisp of smoke. Once I turned at the corner of an alley, I took out the banknotes and examined them carefully, not bad, two hundred liang oh, this time I could play for a long time.
Murong Shu Qing was looking at that agile’s back, and was thinking about those pair of eyes again, and she felt that the man was somewhat fishy. Reaching out to stroke her waist lightly, she could feel a soft touch, the banknotes that she put in her waist were already disappeared without a trace.
Hong Xiu looked that Murong Shu Qing was frowning slightly and supporting her waist, but it should not be because she was bumped and gotten hurt by that person, so she anxiously asked: “Miss? Are you injured?”
Murong Shu Qing lightly smiled and shook her head, then she answered: “Nothing. I am hungry, let’s go to eat.” It could be said that she had first-hand knowledge about a thief in this ancient times, how quick movement, and how good acting. Looking at that man’s skill, she thought that these servants would not be able to chase after him, so she would just regard this as getting a lesson.
Jin Zhou city was really worthy to be called the tea’s country, not only that the small town was filled with the tea (fragrance), this year’s new spring tea could also be tasted the quickest. Sitting inside the teahouse at the roadside of the small town, and tasting this year’s new tea, it was indeed extremely and satisfyingly tasty.
Master said to observe many people, so the changing face skill could be learned better. I was watching attentively at the travelers who usually came to the teahouse, and a white dress figure unhurriedly walked in. That was a woman from yesterday. But one could only see that she was holding a new plucked bud in her hand. Her slightly raised mouth made her look very comfortable, and there was a type of attraction and charisma that made people want to approach her. The mellow bud that was in her hand looked like the fragrant long dan tea that was encircling her fingertips, the fresh new green (bud) was quietly blossoming within her hand.
I was solely preoccupied with the money yesterday, so did not examine anything carefully, as it turned out, this rich Miss would have this kind of personality. I did not have any shortage of money today, but this Miss really wanted to play with her again.
Murong Shu Qing gently squeezed the core of the tea, while she was thinking of how she should expand the area to plant the tea, (how to) plan a new variety, or (how to) pack the new tea. The Murong’s family had a large area to plant the tea and the resources were good now, but she just did not have a good person who would supervise this, and the quality of the tea leaves were not special either. While she was thinking and was somewhat entranced (by her thinking), she could sense a shadow in front of her, and she was already bumped by someone who just came in.
Following the drive, and after I deliberately took advantage (to bump into her), she actually took on my head-on bumping sharply, and waited for me to stand firm, while she was looking up and down to see if I was injured, then she anxiously asked: “Big aunt, are you alright?”
I held back my laughter, showed a panic and doubtful face, and was still gasping for air for a good moment. Then I smilingly patted her hand, and conveniently walked to feel the banknotes that were in her waist. Lightly coughing, I put on a kindly appearance with great effort, and smilingly said: “I am alright, I am alright, I am already old.”
As I was speaking, I was also walking towards the side alley.
Where had she seen those pair of eyes before?
The collision? Murong Shu Qing understood in a flash, it was him! Stroking her waist again, the banknotes were gone….
Looking up again, where was that old woman figure again.
Murong Shu Qing did not know whether to laugh or cry, it seemed that her appearance (MSQ) looked very inviting to a thief. In a short two days, she met with a thief twice, moreover, the person was actually the same person. But she actually admired this young thief, this person could be a man and a woman, old and young, his disguise was remarkable, even his voice was copied almost perfectly. Was this exactly the legendary face changing skills? She really gained her knowledge.
Hong Xiu did not understand, after Miss supported the old lady, why was she was smiling strangely, so she puzzlingly asked: “Miss, what is wrong?”
Murong Shu Qing did not explain at all, only smilingly shook her head, and said: “Nothing, let’s go.”
She and that young thief appeared to be brought together by faith, she did not know whether or not she could still be able to see him again?
Passing the dark alley, I pulled out the banknotes in my hand, 300 liang? She was really rich. Lightly patting the banknotes, I leaned on the side of the wall to wait for the woman and her servants to come over. But after waiting for a long time, there was no small movement at all. This person was robbed a total of 500 liang, that was equivalent to three years of ordinary family’s meals, but she actually did not chase after me? What kind of person was she ah? I could not help but to turn around to that direction again, and quietly walked back to the roadside. Extending her head to look around, the woman’s trace was already long disappeared.
This person was really interesting, so I would wait for her here again tomorrow!
Really boring, I had already waited for three days, but had not seen that white dress woman again. Sitting cross-legged by the side of the road, I lowered the brim of my hat to obstruct (my face) from the bright and beautiful spring sunshine. She was playing around with the angle of a broken cup, and when I was about to prepare to leave out of boringness, that trace of white (figure) finally appeared.
I thought that I would still have to wait for her more! I stood up excitingly, and pulled the broken straw hat, while I held the cup with my hand to follow behind her, as I wanted to play a different game with her.
She had already seen enough about the situation around the tea garden, so Murong Shu Qing planned to return to Hua Du city tomorrow, so she could think properly how to plan to used the tea garden once more. Murong Shu Qing was a little reluctant to leave Jin Zhou city, as this kind of natural scenery was satisfyingly relaxing and it made people to feel relaxed, and she really liked it. She could gently step on the green road to wander around the tranquil ancient road, and this was actually her yearning.
Looking at her satisfying appearance, I ran several steps, and approached her, but was lifted up by two servants. I took advantage to raise the cup, and pathetically begged: “Miss, have a pity, have a pity.”
Kuang dang (sound something fell in the cup)!
I originally still wanted to continue to be pitiful, and I conveniently dropped several tears, I looked that there was 50 liang of the big gold ingot inside the broken cup. For a moment, I was stunned, was she an idiot, that she would give a beggar 50 liang? I was still absent-minded when the woman’s clear voice came through by the side of my ear: “Did you not plan to steal again this time?”
“As it turns out, you know.” I simply stood up in front of the woman, her understanding eyes had a faint smiling expression. Master said that my face changing skill could be considered perfect, but it could actually be seen through by this young woman, so Master’s face changing skill was just like this! Forget it, my one hand was on my waist, while my other hand was holding the broken cup, I looked askance at her and said: “What do you want to do now?” I did not take seriously the martial arts of these servants, but I did not know if this white dress woman could still have any other trick to do.
Murong Shu Qing broke into laughter, as she could not see clearly the appearance as the face was filled with mud. But listening to the voice, and looking at the movement, this thief who could change the appearances constantly, was actually a girl. Continued with her provocation, she disapprovingly said: “What do you think I should do to you?”
What kind of expression was that from her?! She clearly knew that I stole her money, but she could still recklessly chat with me. It was her who captured me, but… I could not help to ask: “Do you have any illness in your brain?”
Even though Hong Xiu did not understand what Miss and this young beggar were talking about, but she would not allow this young person to bully Miss like this either. So she stepped one step, Hong Xiu put her hands on her waists, and roared: “What kind of words did you say!”
This was right! This red dress woman’s reaction was just normal ah, I was just about wanting to shout back, but the white dress woman smilingly shook her head, and raised a trace like spring wind soft smile. And she said to the red dress woman: “Hong Xiu, let’s go.”
I did not feel like paying attention at that red dress woman’s fierce glare so I glared at her back, but I did not anticipate that a person could smile gently and freely like this. No matter how long that I have spent up the mountain or down the mountain, I had never seen this kind of person. She was robbed 500 liang, but she did not arrest me and send me to the government official, and she actually let me go?! She was extremely interesting, that confident bearing, simple and elegant smiling expression, made me have a determination that I liked her!
“Hey, wait a minute, hey….” After making up my mind, I, Tang Xiao Xiao would not let you leave so easily like this, so I must become her friend. Looking at the white dress figure that was gradually walking away, I immediately followed her up.
Sian’s notes:
Hahahaha… this side story actually shows that MSQ maybe smart but she’s not ‘smart’ enough to deal with a pickpocket like TXX. How could she get pickpocket twice in two days?!!! Our smart female lady is actually hopeless when dealing with a pickpocket. But as usual, her approach in handling any issues makes people to helplessly want to be her friend.