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.
Side Story: Tang Xiao Xiao
Part 2
I was always following behind that white clothing woman, even though she appeared to be gentle and fragile, and was also modest and had courtesy to people, but I still felt that she only had an estranged manner towards me. How could I make her to be willing to be friends with me? Master had not thought me about this, it was really annoying!!
After walking for a while, I saw that she entered a family’s tavern, the tavern appeared to be decorated magnificently. One could see that the shopkeeper was a self-seeking and low status person. Looking at her snow white brocade, he said with a charming face: “Miss, please come inside.”
Looking that a group of people were going into the tavern, I did not care too much, and also hurriedly followed them up. But once I arrived at the gate, I was blocked by two shop assistants outside the door. The shopkeeper’s appearance immediately changed, and ignorantly said while he pinched his nose: “Beggar, leave, do not block this older man’s business.”
Looking at my own clothing, even though it was a beggar’s clothing, but I was not smell at all. I originally wanted to slap the shopkeeper’s face with the money, but I had a second thought and wanted to use a better method. I held the old hat on my head, and pointed at the white dress woman’s figure who was going upstairs, I raised my head, and said: “The person who just came in, was my elder sister.”
“Elder sister? Your elder sister?” The shopkeeper did not believe me and looked me up and down, he did not have any belief on his face, did this young beggar think that he could be cheated so easily like this? What kind of person was the (woman) who just went in a moment ago! That was indeed the eldest daughter of the Murong’s family. And would she have this kind of younger brother?! Humph! “Get out!”
Looking that fists would be dropped soon, I did not take it seriously, they only had a little bit of strengths, how could they be able to injure me! I blocked one shop assistant's fist, and said to the shopkeeper: “Wait a minute! Ask her if you do not believe me.”
This young beggar was indeed reckless, but he looked like he had self-confidence, his words appeared to be somewhat imposing also, could it be that he really had some relations with the Murong’s family?! Taking care of this business for a long time was his goal, so it would still be better if he asked. So the shopkeeper went to the second floor, and walked to the side room that was by the window facing the street. The shopkeeper respectfully asked with a smile: “Miss, there is a young beg… (from beggar word) young elder brother outside, he said that he is your younger brother?”
“Younger brother?” Murong Shu Qing stared blankly, and looked outside the window, she could only see that woman whom she met this morning, and was standing outside, she was jostling with two of the shop assistants.
I lifted my head up to see that the white dress woman was smiling and looking at me, so I immediately waved to her, the sunshine was glittering conveniently on her smiling expression. Who would have imagined that when I was not defended myself, those shop assistants ferociously pushed me. My martial arts was originally not very good to begin with, so I retreated for several steps back, and almost fell flat on my face. They unexpectedly dared to push this young lady, so I rolled my sleeves up, so I could give them a good look!!
Murong Shu Qing was looking at their appearances that looked like they would be fighting soon, so she gently smiled and shook her head. This woman was really rude and impetuous, she knew that those shop assistants were not her opponent, but if the whole hired thugs that the tavern hired and those shops assistants attacked her at the same time, she was afraid that she would be inconvenient. Her heart did not want to see her getting injured, so Murong Shu Qing smilingly said to the shopkeeper: “She is, so I will trouble the shopkeeper to bring her up.” She also did not know what was wrong with her, she actually liked this reckless young girl.
The shopkeeper secretly breathed in his heart, and repeatedly answered: “Yes, yes, yes, I will go immediately.” Fortunately, he came up and asked, he could not offend the Murong family’s Gongzi, it was certainly not good to have any issue with them in Jin Zhou city!
After showing a fallen leaves boxing, those shop assistants were beaten badly, but those hired thugs were holding staffs and they wanted to dash forwards to me, heavens ah! There were unexpectedly more than a dozen people, this tavern actually had these many hired thugs, so this must be a family’s inn that scammed the guests. Just when I was about to think on how to beat them, that shopkeeper actually and promptly ran over, and said in a loud voice to those hired thugs. He looked like a dad who was yelling at his wife and a youngster, and he walked straight to me. He totally did not have the same ignorance that he showed a moment ago, and with that brazen face whose smile looked like a blossoming flower, he said: “Young Gongzi, please do not blame me, this old person has rotten eyes, please go upstairs, please go upstairs.”
Please, do not stand so close like this, it made me feel extremely disgusted, I did not feel like paying any attention to you, so I immediately went to the second floor to go in to the private room. That white dress woman was smiling and looking at me, she was really nice-looking, how was I not able to smile like this?! Somewhat annoyed, I sat my butt down next to the woman, grabbed the hat that was on my head, and smilingly answered: “I am Tang Xiao Xiao, what is your name?”
She still faintly answered: “Murong Shu Qing.”
“Murong… Shu Qing…” It was really a pleasant name to hear, Shu Qing, Shu Qing, it was comfortable (shufu, from Shu means comfortable) and elegant (qingya, from Qing means refined/elegant), it was really a good name. I sat up, happily and smilingly said: “Then you can call me Xiao Xiao, and I will call you Qing Qing!” It was really good!
However, Qing Qing clearly did not think like this, listening to my words, her face that originally had a light smile, was slightly startled, and she lowly mumbled: “Qin Qin (means kiss, dear one)?” I persistently nodded my head, Qing Qing was good ah, it was pleasant to hear also, it was also close and dear. Master would call me like this! But she somewhat helplessly said: “Miss and I do not seem to be very familiar (with each other)?”
I moved the chair closer to her, she did not avoid me either, so my heart was even happier, and I said: “We have met three times, moreover, you also admit that you are my elder sister, are we still not familiar (to each other)?” Regardless, I want to be friends with her. Pulling her hand, I miserably looked at her, and said in a whisper: “I left Master, I do not have any close relatives down the mountain, you will not refuse to acknowledge me, right?” Thinking that she was alone during this period, did not have anybody to love dearly, and did not have anybody to like. I originally only wanted to get a sympathy by saying it like this, but could not help to feel broken hearted.
“I….” Murong Shu Qing gently sighed. After listening to this sentence, she actually did not know how she could continue to talk, especially facing a pair of tearful eyes like this. Plus looking at her childish face that was filled with grievance, she was probably only about 15 years old. Forget it, she actually could not beat to shake off of her hand, and could only let her hold her hand.
I touched the tears out of the corners of my eyes, and looking that she did not say anything, I breathed in, and shamelessly said: “Since you do not say anything, that means you have promised me.”
She still had not spoken up, but my stomach disappointedly made a gurgling sound, when I looked at the fine food that filled the table. I just remembered that I was waiting for her for one whole morning, and I had not eaten anything! Qing Qing laughingly picked up a bowl of soup for me and pushed it in front of me. My disapproving tears almost fell down once again, besides Master, there was nobody who was so good to me. Picking up the chopsticks on the table, I drank the soup while I picked up the dishes to feed my stomach!
After eating halfway, I suddenly thought about something, so I put down the chopsticks, and asked: “I want to ask you a question.”
Qing Qing also lifted her head up, and looked at me, she smilingly said: “Ask me!”
I seriously asked: “How did you know that it was me for these past two days? Was there any flaws in my face changing skill?” Master said that if I would find out about any flaws, then I could learn the face changing skill better like this. But she could actually recognize me several times, it seems that she must have seen my flaws.
Qing Qing looked at my humble and seeking knowledge appearance, and pointed at my eyes, she smilingly said: “Your face changing skill is very good, if there is any flaws, that is probably (because of) your eyes.” This flowery age’s girl, who had not experienced any worldly life, how could she be able to understand the emotions and moods of someone who was poor and in a poverty-stricken (situation), and how could she also understand the years that were filled with many great changes?!
“My eyes?” I touched my own eyes, and talked out loudly to myself: “So my wrinkle eyes were not sticking good these past two days?” Impossible, I already inspected them many times ah, they were very perfect! Looking that Qing Qing did not know whether to laugh or smile when she was looking at me, could it be that my wrinkle eyes were really not sticking good? Alright, I humbly nodded my head and said: “Then I will be more careful next time.”
Knowing that when I finished (speaking), she was laughing even happier, but what was she laughing about. Forget it, I would not pay attention to this topic, plus there was one more thing that I did not understand either, so I continued to ask: “Then why did you not arrest me ah?”
“Arrest you?” Murong Shu Qing shrugged her shoulders.
“Yes.” I nodded my head, it seemed that she did not know any martial arts, those servants were probably only lounge bags. Pulling Qing Qing’s hand, I seriously said: “You are really smart, you are also good oh, anyway, I have made a decision that I like you, so let’s be friends!”
Murong Shu Qing felt somewhat powerless for the first time, this person was too straightforward, and could still force herself upon someone else. She actually did not loathe this young girl, but her enthusiasm could really make people somewhat unable to endure her!
“If you do not say anything, that means you promise!” I did not care with too many things, since she did not say anything, so I would strike first and gain the upper hand, this was Master’s teaching!
Patting my round and bulging stomach, I quickly stood up! I gigglingly said: “I am full. I am leaving. Qing Qing, you stay here, right, I will come and find you again tomorrow.” My belongings were still at the cabin, so I wanted to take them here. Being by Qing Qing’s side, would surely have more interesting things to do while I was down the mountain this time. Thinking about the plentiful and interesting life that I would do in the future, I could not help but smile out loud. Waving my hand, I hurriedly went back to pack up!
Hong Xiu looked at this person whose figure disappeared in an instant just like a wisp of smoke, and she said extremely angrily: “Miss, this person is really shameless.” She had never seen this kind of shameless person before? Forcing someone to be her friend, how could there was someone like this.
Naturally, Hong Xiu still did not know that this person was the one who stole her Miss’ 500 liang, otherwise their future days would be even more interesting!
Murong Shu Qing looked at her own hands that were held (by TXX) for the whole afternoon, she gently smiled, sighed and said: “It appears that we are stuck.” She would never dare to underestimate any mankind’s perseverance and curiosity, moreover, that young woman from a moment ago, was a lot more different than the other people. They would just eat breakfast early and leave tomorrow, otherwise she was afraid that they would be troubled for the next few months!
“Qing Qing, I am here.” I thought about it, and would come here earlier to move and stay together with Qing Qing, it was not easy for me to make a good friend?!
Murong Shu Qing who was just about to enter the side room, her legs were stiffened (hearing TXX’s voice), her (TXX) action was really quick, it seemed that she could not hide from her (TXX)!!
Sian’s notes:
Hahahaha… That’s how TXX forced herself to become MSQ’s friend. So cute… There are three masters that are mentioned in this novel and I’m very curious about, unfortunately, there’s no explanation of who they are. First, MSQ small uncle first son’s master who is his wife’s master also, second, TXX’s master, and lastly, Yan Yu/Cang Su’s master which will be mentioned in their side stories.