Yang Xi thought for a while, “Da Ni’s name is Wu Qianyi¹, and Er Ni’s name is Wu Fangqing².”

In her eyes, Da Ni was a good wife and mother, and Er Ni was lively like the sun. She hoped that both of her female students would have bright futures.

The two girls repeated it and then carefully learned how to write their names until they could write them correctly. They then happily left the Zhou family.

After school, Zhou Yu returned to the backyard. His wife, Yang Xi, was humming happily, “So happy today?”

“I named Da Ni and Er Ni.”

Zhou Yu chuckled, “Just because of that?”

Yang Xi shook her head. “After I give birth, I’ll take both girls to school for lessons. I’ll show the boys that girls can be capable too.”

Zhou Yu was surprised. “You’ve been going to school every day lately; I thought you’d be teaching soon!”

Yang Xi handed Zhou Yu a handkerchief. “That was my initial plan, but seeing how bright the two girls are today, I changed my mind.”

Zhou Yu dried his hands. “I’m looking forward to seeing your female students outsmart the boys.”

Yang Xi glanced at him. “I’m not joking. Da Ni is a little less bright, but Er Ni is truly clever.”

Zhou Yu laughed, “Brother Wu’s daughters are amazing!”

Yang Xi smiled too. “Including the little girl, they are indeed quite capable girls.”

The couple chatted for a while before going to the main courtyard for dinner.

Ziheng, their child, had started his education early, attending lessons even before reaching the required age.

Ziheng sat beside his mother, looking somewhat unhappy. Yang Xi asked, “Did your father bully you again?”

Ziheng shook his head. “No, Father. I overheard two of my senior brothers saying behind my back that Mother should stay in the backyard. I went to confront them, and their apologies were very insincere.”

Yang Xi felt heartened by her son’s protection. He rarely dared to argue, all because he loved his mother. “Mother doesn’t care. I’ll teach them a lesson and show them how powerful I am. I like to slap them in the face directly. They’re so unconvinced now, but they’ll be ashamed later.”

Ziheng’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, slap them in the face.”

Zhong Yan wanted to laugh. He had written to his wife asking her to come over, not intending to take care of their grandchildren. Later, he changed his mind and sent another letter back. His wife hadn’t arrived yet because it was like moving house; there was too much stuff to pack.

Especially his books and notes, which all needed to be carefully sealed and stored away. However, he estimated that it would be time for her to leave.

Zhong Yan stroked his beard. “When my granddaughters come, I’ll send them to school too.”

Zhou Yu, thinking of his wife’s plan, mentioned it.

Zhong Yan thought for a moment and smiled, “Excellent, then Xi’er will have to teach a few more students.”

Yang Xi agreed, “Okay.”

The next day, Li Shi brought her two daughters to the Zhou family. “Thank you for naming them, Madam; the names are very beautiful.”

Yang Xi asked, “Why didn’t you bring Xiao Ya?”

Li Shi said, “That child went to town with her mother.”

Wu Fangqing chimed in, “Xiao Ya also envies us for having names. This girl said that when she becomes a student of xiānsheng, she will ask xiānsheng to give her one.”

Her zhínǚ was quite clever and had her own ideas.

Yang Xi smiled. “Okay.”

Li Shi had a lot of work to do at home, so she went home after sitting for a while. Yang Xi taught the two girls first, but not Zhou Xiaomei, because Xiaomei already knew how to read and write. Xiaomei had been taught by Yang Xi since she was little, and there was also a female teacher, so she didn’t need to learn with her at the moment. She would come over when Yang Xi taught new lessons.

At present, Xiaomei was most interested in embroidery.

After learning, the two girls helped Yang Xi with her work. The two girls were strong, and they quickly mastered polishing and carving.

Wu Fangqing was a talkative person. “Xiānsheng, Uncle Zhao came to our house yesterday and brought up my sister’s and my studies.”

This was one of the things Yang Xi disliked about the Zhao family. She could have simply asked her, “What did your mother say?”

Wu Fangqing smiled. “My mother said that xiānsheng personally invited us to study, so Uncle Zhao didn’t say anything.”

Yang Xi thought that if Old Man Zhao sent his granddaughter, she would accept her too, but unfortunately Old Man Zhao didn’t come today, nor did the Zhao family’s daughters.

Since the Zhou family moved here, the Zhao family’s daughters hadn’t visited, and even the scheming Second Miss Zhao hadn’t looked for Zhou Xiaomei.

Wu Qianyi spoke up, “I heard from my mother that they are looking for a husband for Eldest Miss Zhao.”

Yang Xi said, “Indeed, she’s of marriageable age. Do you know which family they are considering?”

Wu Qianyi actually knew, “The Hu family is prominent in the village. The Hu family has a grandson who is about the same age as Miss Zhao.”

Yang Xi found it difficult to put into words. The Hu family was indeed a prominent surname, and someone from their clan had even become a tongsheng. If she remembered correctly, it wasn’t from the branch of the Hu family that was called Hu Dajia. Of the several girls in the village who had bound feet, were two of them from the Hu family?

Wu Qianyi asked, “Xiānsheng, is there something wrong with the Hu family?”

Yang Xi recounted the information she’d heard from Third Yang: “The Hu family has very strict rules.”

They were indeed a wealthy family, a desirable match in some people’s eyes. However, the Zhao family was somewhat dependent on the Zhou family, so was the Hu family’s marriage proposal actually aimed at the Zhou family?

To be honest, the Zhou family had a tradition of filial piety, and Zhou Xiaomei was of marriageable age, so no one had actually come to the Zhou family to inquire about her. Therefore, their attention had been focused on the Wu and Zhao families. The Wu family refused, and the Zhao family had their own considerations; Eldest Miss Zhao was getting older, so the marriage was arranged.

Yang Xi didn’t plan to inquire further; she had told Third Yang in the afternoon, and Third Yang said he would look into it.

Yang Xi asked, “I heard you’ve taken in two more eighteen-year-old boys and are teaching them martial arts?”

Third Yang exclaimed in surprise, “Jiejie, your information network is amazing!”

Yang Xi replied, “…The village is only so big.”

Third Yang continued, “One of these boys is an orphan from the village, and the other, like us, came south to settle down. They secretly watched me teach Third Wu and Fourth Wu martial arts, and I found out they were good people, so I took them in.”

Yang Xi stared at Third Yang. “You’re not leaving anywhere this year. Stay home and study.”

Third Yang felt incredibly guilty. “I didn’t plan to leave.”

Yang Xi chuckled, “I know what you’re up to. What, did you find out where the pirates are?”

Third Yang was speechless.

Yang Xi snorted. This kid went to the county to borrow files; did he really think she didn’t know? He’d scour the entire Xiang County!

Third Yang cleared his throat. “Jiejie, I have some good news for you.”

“Go ahead.”

Third Yang said. “The fruit has been found and will arrive the day after tomorrow.”

Yang Xi was indeed happy. Third Yang continued, “Unfortunately, it’s only the trees. I had someone bring back the saplings.”

Yang Xi was speechless. Oh right, it was not the season for ripe fruit. Pregnancy really does make you stupid for three years!

The siblings teased each other, sitting opposite each other without saying a word.

Yang Xi spoke first, “You’re very good.”

“Isn’t your brother especially thoughtful?”

Yang Xi asked blankly. “Yes.”

Third Yang’s eyes were full of laughter. “Unfortunately, my jiejie isn’t thoughtful.”

Yang Xi picked up the newly made ruler. “Come here.”

Third Yang suddenly darted out of the house. “Jiejie, I have to go now. I won’t be back for dinner tonight.”

Yang Xi was regretful. She really wanted to test if the ruler hurt when hitting someone. She couldn’t bear to use it on her son, and her two female students were precious. Third Yang was the most suitable.

The next day, Zhong Yan dropped a bombshell. “I wrote a letter to General Bai a few days ago, and he replied today.”

(End of this chapter)

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Footnote

1. Wú Qiānyí (大妮) 芊 (qiān)—originally refers to lush, flourishing vegetation, especially luxuriant grass or greenery. It conveys a sense of abundance, vitality, and flourishing growth and can also have a delicate, graceful feeling when used in a girl’s name. 宜 (yí) means suitable, fitting, appropriate, proper, and, by extension, pleasant, harmonious, and well-balanced. It is also common in traditional Chinese names because of its association with things being “just right.” So 芊宜 (Qiānyí) can suggest something like “gracefully flourishing and harmonious” or “a girl who flourishes and is well-balanced.” There isn’t necessarily a fixed literal phrase intended by the parents.
2. Wú Fāngqíng (二妮) 芳 (fāng)—fragrant, aromatic, especially associated with flowers. Figuratively, it means beautiful, virtuous, or having a good reputation. It is a very traditional feminine name character. 晴 (qíng)—clear/fair weather, especially a clear sky after rain. Figuratively, it evokes brightness, cheerfulness, and a sunny disposition. 芳晴 (Fāngqíng) therefore has a lovely image of “fragrant flowers beneath a clear sky,” or more loosely, “fragrant and bright.”