Chapter 383: Descending to the River in March

In March, the skies over Xiahe Village were impossibly clear, washed clean as if someone had taken a giant brush to the heavens. A few wisps of white clouds drifted lazily across the expanse, casting fleeting shadows over a sprawling apricot grove. Beneath those clouds, the trees were just beginning to stir with new life, tiny green shoots unfurling among the old branches. A gentle breeze swept through the grove, and petals rained down like delicate apricot blossoms, carpeting the ground in pale pink.

This apricot grove had stood for over a century, a silent witness to countless seasons. At its heart lay an ancient apricot tree, leaning slightly to one side, its bark cracked and weathered like the deep wrinkles of a venerable old man. The tree’s gnarled branches twisted and turned in all directions, forming natural playgrounds for the village children.

Several mischievous little rascals, clad in split-crotch trousers typical of village boys, were currently engaged in a lively game atop the serpentine branches. One of the boys, blindfolded with a scrap of cloth, crawled daringly along the twisted limbs, groping left and right, shouting and flailing his arms like a tiny tiger. The other children clung silently to the branches, holding their breath, barely daring to move as they watched him pass.

Just as the blindfolded boy inched near one of his companions, another child deliberately shook a nearby branch, causing him to veer off at the last second. The boy who had been nearly caught responded with a grateful nod toward the one who had subtly saved him.

Yet the relief was short-lived. In a swift reversal, the blindfolded boy swung back with surprising speed and grabbed the other child before he could react.

“Hahaha! Got you!” the blindfolded boy laughed, pulling the cloth away from his eyes and baring his teeth in triumph.

“You little trickster! You peeked under the blindfold, didn’t you?” the captured boy protested indignantly.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” said the boy named Xiaoxiaozhi, shrugging and wrinkling his nose. “You haven’t bathed in months; you stink to high heaven. I didn’t need to look—just one sniff and I knew exactly where you were!”

“Quick, it’s your turn to catch me now!” Xiaoxiaozhi tossed the blindfold to the other boy, urging him impatiently.

But the boy hesitated. Pointing behind Xiaoxiaozhi, he whispered urgently, “Run, Xiaoxiaozhi! Quick! Your sister’s here!”

“Nonsense. It’s my turn, and even if my sister is here—” Xiaoxiaozhi waved his chubby hands dramatically, unconcerned.

“Even if what?” a girl’s voice rang from below the tree.

Startled, Xiaoxiaozhi lost his footing and tumbled downward. The girl beneath the tree caught him just in time, nearly being knocked over herself. She rolled her eyes and gave him two sharp pats on the bottom, pressing him firmly to the ground.

“Ouch! Sister Yu! If you hit me again, I’ll tell Mother, and see if she doesn’t give you a good scolding!” the boy yelped, his voice a mixture of indignation and fear.

“You dare threaten me? Don’t think I won’t spank you! Mother gave you that nickname so you’d learn from An-gege, but look at you—you’re just sullying Zhi-gege’s reputation!” The girl delivered another pair of firm pats, her tone teasing yet strict.

“I’m not sullying him! Second Aunt said Zhi-gege loved playing ‘tree monkey’ even when he was little!” the boy wailed.

“You still won’t admit you’re wrong? Fine, then I won’t take you to Second Uncle’s house this time!” The girl’s words threatened to crush his little heart.

“Second Uncle’s house? Really?!” The boy sprang up instantly, excitement lighting up his chubby face.

“Yes, yes! Sister Yu, I was wrong!” he squealed, abandoning all pretense of stubbornness, scampering after the girl like a devoted puppy.

“Xiaoxiaozhi! Where are you going? Come play with us!” called one of the other children from the branches above.

“I’m going to my Second Uncle’s house! That’s where Zhi-gege lives! Do you know who Zhi-gege is? He’s none other than Zhu Ping’an, the top scholar of the Ming imperial exams!” Xiaoxiaozhi puffed out his chest with pride, his pudgy hands squeezing his round waist, beaming as though he could almost touch the heavens.

The children in the trees gazed down at him with wide-eyed admiration. Even though everyone knew Zhi-gege was indeed Zhu Ping’an, Xiaoxiaozhi’s exuberant boasting made the legend of his brother feel tangible and dazzling to them.

“Sister Yu! When Zhi-gege was little, did he always give you the best treats?” the boy asked eagerly, clutching her skirts as he looked up with his round, expectant face.

“Of course! Zhi-gege was always the sweetest to me. When Grandmother made scrambled eggs, he would always let me have the first bite,” the girl said, holding his small hand, pouting slightly like a pampered little sister.

Hearing this, the boy’s mouth watered uncontrollably. Scrambled eggs from Zhi-gege? They must be the best scrambled eggs in the world!

As they walked step by step toward the old family estate, the boy’s sharp eyes noticed that outside, everyone was preparing to leave—his grandparents, his eldest uncle’s family, and Fourth Uncle’s household were all there too.

He wrinkled his nose in distaste, whispering to the girl, “Sister Yu… why is Eldest Uncle’s family going too?”

Though they all lived in the old estate, he disliked Eldest Uncle’s household thoroughly. Eldest Uncle was hypocritical, his wife always acted superior, and his daughter-in-law, Jun-ge’s new bride, was even worse—always stirring trouble with that single, sharp eye of hers.

“It was Eldest Uncle’s decision. Who knows what he’s thinking,” the girl whispered back, frowning. “When we get to Second Uncle’s, don’t just eat—make sure you keep an eye out for Second Aunt too.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Yu! I’ve got this,” the boy said, thumping his chest like a tiny man.

“Ugh, what a stench! Fourth brother, where have you been rolling around this time? Third Aunt, why aren’t you controlling him? If he keeps this up, he’ll never amount to anything! In our household, children this age already have tutors,” a young, heavily made-up woman standing at the old estate’s entrance sniffed disdainfully.

Third Aunt shot the woman a look but said nothing. The boy, however, wasn’t about to stay quiet.

“Too many words!” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

“You…!” the painted woman fumed.

“What you? Fourth brother didn’t say anything wrong, why are you nagging so much?” Zhu Pingjun strolled out from the crowd, casually glancing at his one-eyed wife, clearly annoyed.

“What nonsense! That’s your wife!” Eldest Aunt interjected, lightly smacking Zhu Pingjun’s shoulder. She had her eye on this daughter-in-law’s wealth and influence, hoping to benefit a little herself.

“Hehe… Jun-ge’s wife has a sharp eye…” Fourth Aunt whispered to herself, giggling while observing Eldest Uncle’s family.

“Of course I have a sharp eye! I can tell Fourth Aunt is blessed. This little one runs all over the place, making such a fuss, but Fourth Aunt doesn’t have to worry. He’s a little rascal for sure,” Jun-ge’s wife said, glancing slyly at Fourth Aunt while laughing, patting her not-yet-pregnant belly teasingly.

“You…” Fourth Aunt scowled, furious that someone would use a child as a pretext.

“Enough! Stop squabbling. Nitpicking over small matters diminishes our dignity. Zhi-er has passed the imperial exams; this is a joyous occasion for the whole family. Forget these trivialities. It’s time to visit Second Uncle’s house to celebrate properly. Right, Father?” Eldest Uncle Zhu Shouren, dressed in a brand-new deep blue silk jacket with a square cap, looked every bit the dignified patriarch.

“Mm,” Father Zhu replied, holding a new tobacco pouch gifted by his son at the market just a few days ago. Without another word, the plan was set. The entire household of the old estate marched in a grand procession to Zhu Ping’an’s home.