Chapter 43 Memories

When Zhang Wenchi was ten years old, he first met Qi Sui in the garden of Qi Mansion.

"Qiuyun, where is Mother Song?" Qi Sui held onto the kite with a pitiful look in her eyes.

At that time, Qiu Yun was as old as Qi Sui, at only eight years old, and her voice was waxy: "Mom is by the side of the eldest lady, miss, we are here waiting for her to come back."

"But I want to fly a kite." Qi Sui sat on a stone stool, holding her head in both hands, and said, "When will Mother Song come back?"

"My mother is chatting with the eldest lady, so Mother Song can't leave for a while." Zhang Wenchi walked over slowly.

When Qi Sui heard his voice, she immediately sat up straight, her eyes darkened, and asked, "Who are you?"

Zhang Wenchi smiled, raised his hand and bowed, saying, "I am Zhang Wenchi."

"From the Zhang family, then you are the son raised by Aunt Zhang?"Qi Sui had heard his name, she overheard it when her mother was chatting with Song's mother.

Zhang Wenchi smiled and said calmly, "Yes."

Qi Sui was right, Zhang Wenchi is indeed Madam Zhang's adopted son, not her biological son.

He was the Zhang family's illegitimate son, the sixth child, and entered the mansion when he was eight years old. Sun was his father's second wife, and it took him some thought to let Sun raise him by his side.

Qiuyun gently pulled Qi Sui aside and whispered, "Miss, the lady just told you this morning to be careful with your words and actions."

Qi Sui realized that she had said the wrong thing again, and quickly covered her mouth with a flash of panic in her eyes. She quietly looked at Zhang Wenchi's face, and surprisingly, he didn't look offended.

Instead, he smiled at her and said, "Don't be afraid, young lady. I won't take it to heart."

Qi Sui had heard from her mother that he wasn't valued in the mansion. She spoke without restraint and mentioned his sad story butHe didn't get angry, but it still made her feel guilty.

Qi Sui glanced at the kite in her hand and said softly, "Do you want to fly a kite? I can lend it to you."

Zhang Wenchi looked up at the sky. It's clear and breezy. It's a good time to fly a kite. He said gently. He smiled and said, "I hope the young lady doesn't mind me."

Qi Sui was happy to hear his agreement. She walked up to him and said, "It's okay. Can you fly the kite very high?"

"It should be possible."

In the main hall, The maid said to Madam Qi, "Madam, the miss said she wanted to go to the back hills with Master Zhang to fly kites."

Madam Qi felt startled, turned her head and glanced at Madam Zhang, and asked the maid, "Has Sui'er met Brother Chi?"

Madam Zhang seemed to have just learned about this and interrupted with a smile: "Maybe my son was wandering around the mansion in confusion and ran into your Sui'er."

"Madam Zhang is still thinking about matchmaking." Madam Qi teased her, and then told the maid: "If they go out to play, bring a few more servants with them and be careful."

Sun Hui picked up the hot tea and said with a smile: "Isn't it because of me that you are living a stable life now?"

Mrs. Qi lowered her eyebrows and smiled softly, The two were good friends in the boudoir. When she was playing at Sun's house, she met Qi Dalang by chance and fell in love with him at first sight. Sun Hui saw through her thoughts at a glance and secretly brought the two together, which made their marriage possible.

Madam Qi asked, "You have been married to the Zhang family for two years. Is he good to you?"

"No quarrels or noises. I am happy to have peace and quiet." Sun Hui sat closer, patted her hands, and said, "Besides, I also got a son for free, and I didn't have to suffer the pain of childbirth."

"Nonsense!" Madam Qi frowned slightly, held her hand, and said, "Chi'er has a special background, it's obvious that he was forced upon you."

Sun Hui smiled bitterly, shook her head, and said, "Of course I know that the master thinks this child is a burden, but the child is really pitiful, so I can't bear it. Anyway, I can use the money of the mansion to raise him well, and it won't be a burden to me."

"But he is a child of the Zhang family, how can he be made miserable?"

"This is strange. When I first arrived at the Zhang Mansion, there were several children in the mansion. I felt that the master seemed to particularly dislike Wenchi and He ignored him on weekdays. If he met, there would be some ridicule."

Mrs.Qi frowned and sighed, "What is the fault of the child?"

Sun Hui said sadly: "Wenchi is a weak child. He always comes back from places where I can't see him with injuries. So I just take him out of the house more often to avoid being targeted by his brothers and used as a punching bag."

"Under the same roof, Is there such a thing?" Mrs. Qi asked in surprise.

Sun Hui lowered her eyes, feeling helpless.

Madam Qi is kindhearted so she said, "Don't worry, I was worried about having no one to keep me company. You can bring Chi'er here more often, Sui'er will also have a brother to play with." Only then did Sun Hui smile.

In the back mountain, there were several servants around Qi Sui. Zhang Wenchi took a quick look and then lowered his head to pull the string, "Madam Qi loves you very much."

"Of course, doesn't Madam Zhang love you?" Qi Sui covered her mouth again, looking at him steadily.

Zhang Wenchi found this very surprising. He had been called a bastard many times since he was a child. When he was brought back home at the age of eight, he thought he would have a stable home. However, his father and brothers never treated him well. If he hadn't deliberately let the lady see the scars on his body, which aroused her sympathy, he would not have been able to stay with her.

"Do you feel pity for me?" He raised his eyes, with a hint of expectation in his heart.

Qi Sui met his eyes, nodded then shook her head, and said, "Your life is pitiful, but if I sympathize with you, you will definitely feel worse. Besides, Madam Zhang is very kind. She used to give me cakes. Since you are her son, she will love you too, so you won't be pitiful."

Zhang Wenchi felt stunned, and the tight thread in his hand suddenly broke. Qi Sui looked at the broken thread dyed red and said in surprise: "You're bleeding"

Zhang Wenchi looked down and saw that his fingers had pulled the line and cut into the flesh. He took out a handkerchief, roughly wrapped the wound, and smiled: "It's okay, it will stop after a while. Let's fly a kite."

Qi Sui frowned and pulled him towards the stone pavilion, her tone anxious: "It's not an important matter, first ask someone to see your injury."

"Are you worried about me?" Zhang Wenchi stared at her back.

Qi Sui said firmly: "Of course I'm worried." But in her heart she's thinking that if her mother knew that she had caused him to be injured, she would definitely punish her by making her copy a hundred words.

Zhang Wenchi felt happy for the first time. He looked up and suddenly laughed, and tears began to flow as he laughed.

Qi Sui looked at him strangely, but still handed him the handkerchief and didn't dare to say anything.

From then on, Zhang Wenchi's biggest hope in the mansion was to go to Qi's mansion with Sun Hui, and at least have a word or two with Qi Sui. When Qi Sui was fourteen, Zhang Wenchi saw that she's frowning, as if she's worried about something. He raised his finger to poke Qi Sui's forehead and asked, "Did you not finish your homework? Or did you fail to buy an apricot drink? Or did you lose your new hairpin?"

"None of them." Qi Sui dodged, dissatisfied. "In your eyes, am i useless?"

Zhang Wenchi raised his eyebrows, without commenting, and picked up her cup to drink, but Qi Sui took it away. She frowned and said seriously, "How many times have I told you, use your own."

"Didn't we do the same before?Now it is divided."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Every time you insist on taking mine." Qi Sui was a little angry. Her face darkened, and she changed her tone: "Why are you here again today? If your father knew, he would punish you again."

Last time Zhang Wenchi sneaked out of the house to look for her, but was seen by his brother's men, and his brother went to his father and said a lot of exaggerated things. His father disliked him to begin with and normally would not allow him to leave the house at will, so as soon as he returned home he was called to the study and made to kneel down as punishment. Even if Sun Hui went there she was kept outside.

"It's good to see you. It's just a matter of kneeling for two hours." Zhang Wenchi deliberately said it in a light-hearted manner, but his eyes were observing Qi Sui's reaction to see if she would feel distressed.

Qi Sui had a blank expression on her face and said, "Why do you want to see me? You'd better not come here often these days."

"Why?"

"My father is looking for a family for me to marry into and told me to learn more."

Zhang Wenchi's eyes became cold, then he lowered his eyes and hid them, pretending to ask unintentionally: "Which people did you see?"

"Why are you asking this?" Qi Sui glanced at him, but there's indeed a suitable candidate in her heart. She smiled shyly: "My mother said that Sister Zhou is good, and I also think she's very good. Sister Zhou is gentle and affectionate, and treats me extremely kindly."

Zhang Wenchi thought for a while. One of the girls who played well with Qi Sui on weekdays was indeed surnamed Zhou. She always sat quietly beside Qi Sui and looked unsightly, so he didn't care too much.

"Besides Lady Zhou?" Zhang Wenchi asked, staring at Qi Sui's almond-shaped eyes.

"Then I'll listen to father and mother." Qi Sui said without hesitation.

"What if I want to marry you?"

"No." Qi Sui refused immediately, leaving no room for negotiation, saying: "You already have several concubines, so just live your life in peace."

"They are not what I really want, they were given to me by my brother." Zhang Wenchi defended.

"But you still accepted them all."

Zhang Wenchi stopped talking. The two of them were silent for a while, and Qi Sui spoke again: "Your brothers in the mansion are watching you for mistakes, you should go back quickly."

Zhang Wenchi stood up and said to her: "I'll take you to Qingyun Peak to watch the cranes some other day."

"Okay." Qi Sui felt tired so she agreed casually.

When Zhang Wenchi returned to the mansion, he saw Zhang Erlang waiting for him at the door. He called out indifferently, "Second brother."

"What a coincidence that you came back, Liulang. Father is waiting for you."

"Thank you, second brother, for telling me."

The servant lit a lamp and applied medicine to Zhang Wenchi's knees, saying distressedly, "Chi'er, bear with it."

"It's okay."

The bruises from his last kneeling punishment had not healed yet, and now he had new ones. When the cold ointment was applied to the bruises, the burning sensation made him frown and sweat broke out on his forehead. The servant applied the medicine neatly and then blew gently on him, trying to relieve the pain.

"It's time for me to discuss marriage." Zhang Wenchi said, looking at the candlelight.

The servant paused, his eyes slightly widened, and he lowered his voice and said, "Brother Chi, do you have a favorite family?"

Zhang Wenchi laughed at himself and said, "Even if I do, it's wishful thinking."

"Brother Chi might as well tell the madam, maybe there's a way."

"You're right, my mother loves me and will definitely find a way for me." Zhang Wenchi patted the servant's face, but his eyes were fixed on the figure outside the door.

The next day, Zhang Wenchi went to discuss the matter with Sun Hui.

Sun Hui seemed a little dissatisfied and said, "You want to get married and settle down?"

"Yes, please ask mother to arrange it for me."

Sun Hui didn't know what was going on in his mind, so she asked, "Do you have a family that suits your taste?"

"The girl from the Zhou family is pretty good."

"Why choose the Zhou family? You've done so much and yet you still want to discuss marriage with the Zhou family?"

Zhang Wenchi naturally understood her dissatisfaction. He followed her to the Qi Mansion in order to establish a good relationship with the Qi Mansion. It would be even better if they could get married, but he felt that this would be even more unsatisfactory.

"The Zhou family has been teaching for generations, and they are considered a family of scholars. Madam Zhou is well-read and perhaps she can help me."

Sun Hui did not agree immediately and said, "The Zhou family is naturally very good, but your father may not agree."

"Mother, please ask the Zhou family about their opinion on my behalf first. I will find a way to convince father." Zhang Wenchi smiled hypocritically, "Mother, I'll leave this son's marriage to you."

After a few days, the news reached the ears of his brothers. Some of his brothers who had not yet married scolded him for being wishful thinking.

Zhang Wenchi listened quietly without changing his expression: "Are your brothers also in a hurry to get married?"

After a few days, Sun Hui looked embarrassed and told him: "I'm afraid this won't work. Your father wants your second brother to marry into the Zhou family. "

Zhang Erlang was born to the former Madam Zhang and is highly valued by the lord.

Zhang Wenchi did not seem surprised, but asked her, "What about the Zhou family?"

"Your father hasn't proposed yet, he just asked me to prepare."

Then mother should prepare well." Zhang Wenchi smiled and said, "I have never been able to compete with my second brother for what he wants."

Sun Hui comforted him: "Maybe the Zhou family won't be interested in us."

Qi Sui picked a day with good weather and wanted to go flower-viewing with Madam Zhou. As a result, Zhang Wenchi came to her house and said, "You promised me that day that you would go to Qingyun Peak to view the cranes together. Are you going to break your promise?"

"Of course not!" Qi Sui had indeed forgotten about this matter, so she said, "I want Sister Zhou to come with us, is that okay?"

Zhang Wenchi agreed generously: "Of course." Then he gave the servant a look. The servant understood immediately and quietly withdrew.

Zhang Wenchi and Qi Sui went to Zhou's house to pick someone up, and a servant ran over and said, "Our girl went out early in the morning and has not come back yet."

"What an unfortunate coincidence! Why don't we go to Qingyun Peak first and let the servant wait for Madam Zhou to come back and then pass the message to her."

Qi Sui was not interested and said, "Then go."

Zhang Wenchi walked in front and led Qi Sui to the top of the mountain. Since the pavilion was small, he asked the servant and the maid to wait behind.

Surrounded by mountains, at the bottom of the mountains is an endless river. Zhang Wenchi pointed to the white cranes spreading their wings in the mountains and said, "One day, I want to do whatever I want."

"There will be that day."

Qi Sui no longer had the mood to appreciate the cranes and just responded to him incoherently.

Zhang Wenchi saw that her heart was not in it, so he asked, "Are you so unhappy to be with me?"

"It would be great if Sister Zhou could come."

"She won't come." Zhang Wenchi said decisively.

"How do you know?"

"Father is arranging a marriage for my second brother with the Zhou family, and the one my second brother has his eyes on is the sister from the Zhou family you mentioned."

Qi Sui didn't believe him, "The Zhou family and the Zhang family have no dealings, so why would they suddenly discuss marriage?"

"So what? The Zhou family might also want to marry into the Zhang family. The Zhou family is short of money, but the Zhang family can afford it."

"You're talking nonsense!" Qi Sui felt a little angry and said, "The Zhou family will not let Sister Zhou get married just for money."

Zhang Wenchi stared at her with cold eyes and said, "Why would I talk nonsense?"

"You just don't want to see me and Sister Zhou get married, so you want to sow discord between us."

"You think of me like this?"

Qi Sui was completely disappointed and was about to turn around and leave without paying any attention to him, but Zhang Wenchi stopped her, "Are you going to find her?"

"It's none of your business." She tried to shake off her hand but couldn't.

"I won't let you go to her."

While the two were arguing, Qi Sui accidentally fell backwards. Zhang Wenchi was startled and almost let go. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and grabbed her, and fell down together. After finally stopping, Qi Sui felt a splitting headache and passed out completely. When she woke up, she heard Madam Qi sitting in front of the bed sobbing.

"Mother." She spoke weakly, her throat felt like it was being torn apart by pain.

"Sui'er! You finally woke up." Madam Qi turned around quickly and wanted to touch her with both hands, but was afraid of hurting her, so she hung trembling in the air.

After Qi Sui woke up, she took good care of her for several days before she was able to get out of bed and walk. Although her spirit had recovered to a large extent, every time she was asked about what happened that day, she would have a headache and could not remember, so Madam Qi did not ask any more questions.

During this period, Sun Hui came to apologize many times and said that Zhang Wenchi fell to the ground when he returned home that day, covered with wounds. Madam Qi didn't say much, but just stopped Zhang Wenchi from inviting Qi Sui from then on.

After some days, the Zhang and Zhou families got married. Madam Qi only sent some gifts. When Qi Sui knew about this, she nodded slightly and didn't say much. The day Zhang Wenchi got out of bed was the day when the mansion was holding a wedding for Zhang Erlang. There were drums and gongs in the yard, and neighbors came to congratulate him one after another. As he was injured, he didn't need to join in the fun, so he sat in front of the window, staring at the sky in a daze.

Zhang Wenchi recalled that day, when Qi Sui was about to fall, he could have pulled her back in time, and the two of them wouldn't have to fall together, but he hesitated. Thinking of Qi Sui's eyes at that time, which were an instinctive desire to survive, Zhang Wenchi felt inexplicably happy. He thought that perhaps only in moments of crisis would Qi Sui's eyes be full of him, and not anyone else.