Chapter 40: Really Good Enough
Early that morning, Ling Yichen sought out Ling Chunxi at her house.
“What’s the matter? There’s no need for you to be here so early. I refuse to have you accompanying me because I don’t intend on getting hit by stones thrown by your admirers on my way to the assessment.” Ling Chunxi continued washing her face whilst casting dissatisfied looks at Ling Yichen. Such an annoying rascal. He actually thought she would flake out on the assessment and came to make sure she attended by showing up at this ungodly hour. If any of his suitors saw this, they might get the wrong idea, which would only bring her more trouble.
“I brought you steamed meat buns.” Ling Yichen listlessly held up two bulging oil paper bags with a deadpan expression. There was still steam rising out of them.
Ling Chunxi smirked. “Ah, you really are such…” She was about to complete her arbitrary mantra of praise when she recalled Ling Yichen telling her to not say it to him anymore. She swallowed her initial words and continued with different ones, “… a person of tremendous courtesy. If you’re visiting to speak to me, speaking to me would be enough. There’s no need to bring food each time.” Ling Chunxi said all the things a proper lady should, however her actions belied her words. She dropped her face towel at the speed of light and grabbed the bags out of Ling Yichen’s hand, swiftly bringing them inside the house.
Ling Yichen had already been accustomed to expecting nothing of Ling Chunxi’s attempts at pretense. Everyone had an Achilles’ heel, and he understood what Ling Chunxi’s was very well. As such, he remained unbothered by this. His handsome face never betrayed any change in expression.
Aunt Wang who was waiting by the dining area silently turned to look over at the both of them. This wasn’t her Miss, was it? No, no… it couldn’t be. She was too shameless, too pragmatic. She treated Master Yichen with such impatience earlier, but after she saw the meat buns, her attitude changed instantly.
“Don’t be late. I’ll be waiting for you there,” ordered Ling Yichen in his deep voice.
“Yes, yes. I know, I know. I won’t be late.” Ling Chunxi tossed out her reply casually with a dismissive wave before she bit heartily into the meat bun.
Upon securing this guarantee, Ling Yichen left with a face as blank as when he came. This display stunned Aunt Wang. The dynamic between Miss and Ling Yichen was too odd indeed.
Though Ling Chunxi wanted to leave right after breakfast, she was held back by Aunt Wang who insisted she put on her wide-brimmed hat. “Miss, I’m happy to see you’re beautiful now, but such beauty could also invite misfortune. Master Yichen is a good man. If you feel it is a good match between the two of you, then perhaps you should agree to take his hand. He is a better choice than others who would simply lust after you for sure. If you wait too long, I’m afraid that might not be wise since Master Yichen might not feel the same…”
“Aunt Wang. I’ll wear the hat. Okay? I’ll wear the hat. So, stop with this nonsense.” Ling Chunxi’s head had almost doubled its size1 due to her annoyance at this. She snatched the hat up and put it on her head before she hurried off with Little White in her arms. To Aunt Wang, as to everyone else here, getting married to someone within the Ling family was fine. But, Ling Chunxi simply could not abide by the practice of marrying one’s own relatives.
…
The Ling family’s ancestral court was more crowded than usual on this day. Everyone from the Ling family was present. They all swarmed the inner and outer spaces of the main courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard was a stage with a milk white stone monument placed at its center. There was a groove carved upon the stone monument to be used by participants to pour in their Battle Qi. This was a method used to assess one’s innate talent. There were also five chairs placed onstage behind the stone monument. The five clan elders would fill these seats. They were always seated at close proximity to the stone monument to allow them to view the proceedings as they took place and come to a decision quickly.
When Ling Chunxi arrived, the courtyard buzzed with a boisterous energy. Usually, no one would have noticed her. But this time, someone did. His hair had already begun growing back in short stubs sprouting from his bald head. When Ling Yuanhong caught sight of Ling Chunxi, he quickly squeezed through the crowd to get to her.
1 – A Chinese metaphor to depict an exaggerated extent of the problems one faces. The literal translation of the phrase would be ‘one head, twice as big’.