Peach Blossoms Of The World (3)

Later, Nannan saw Qi Xiang a few more times. He was either at the porridge distribution stall personally serving or visiting the elderly on horseback with minimal entourage. This man spoke gently, was impeccably polite, dressed in simple clothes, rode a white horse, and had elegant manners. Compared to many legitimate sons of prominent families, he seemed more like nobility. Whenever he appeared, many girls would watch from a distance and shyly smile—"That's the second young master of the Qi family. Look at his demeanor, truly born with it. People like us can't learn that even in three lifetimes."

Nannan couldn't help but laugh from afar. She remembered how this man, who always said "our Qi family," pounded the table and swore that he would never climb up the social ladder in his life. But there was nothing wrong with that. There was no shortage of gloomy and nameless people in the lower city. Qi Xiang's performance exceeded her expectations—each bowl of porridge he handed out carried a sincerity rarely seen in upper-city residents. 

Uncle Shi's judgment was indeed accurate. This man might genuinely care about the world.

Nannan understood that this man had nothing to do with her.

But Old Nie didn't understand. Whenever he saw Qi Xiang, he would enthusiastically greet him. When Nannan advised him otherwise, Old Nie would say, "So what! Our family's help was crucial to his success. Besides, he doesn't look down on us, so why should you look down on yourself? Now that he's wealthy, he can get us a good job just by saying a few words."

Nannan grew anxious: "What did you tell him?"

Old Nie replied, "Wait and see, wait and see."

Old Nie didn't wait long. Qi Xiang came and said, "The Qi family is going to hold an ancestral ceremony. The kitchen procurement is a lucrative position, but Uncle Nie's appearance won't get him through the Qi family gate. So, I'll make arrangements, but Uncle Nie..."

Old Nie interrupted him: "Don't worry, whatever you say goes. I won't say I know you; I understand your difficulties."

Qi Xiang not only provided Old Nie with a proper outfit but also arranged an identity for him—one not tied to the sixteen noble families but respectable enough to avoid being thrown out. He even arranged for suitable suppliers at fair prices and instructed him on etiquette. He often sneaked into Old Nie's house when utterly exhausted to practice the cover story: background, business, current residence, family members. He did it meticulously, knowing this wasn't a one-time deal. Securing business for a prominent family's ancestral ceremony in the upper town would open doors in the middle town and give them sway in the lower town. 

Nannan slowly realized Qi Xiang had spent ten years embedding his people point by point across the three towns. While striving to climb higher, he also rooted himself deeper. He was like a tree on a cliff, seemingly isolated but with roots more solid than those in the fields. He knew the desires within every crevice.

Old Nie now followed him unconditionally. Qi Xiang offered him more than he ever desired, and more crucially, what he needed.

Old Nie rented the best room in an inn in the middle town, taking Nannan with him.

At first, Old Nie was cautious, but he soon grew comfortable and confident. One day he told Nannan, "Nannan, I saw Lanlan. That girl has grown so beautiful. Lanlan misses her parents and you. She asked if you could visit her."

Nannan was wary: "No."

The next day, Old Nie brought back pretty clothes and many trinkets girls liked. He said with a smile, "Lanlan misses you so much she cries every day. She said she kept half of the good things for you. Nannan, go see her."

Nannan was firmer: "Tell her not to take anything out anymore!"

The third day, Old Nie brought back even more good things. He said, "Lanlan says her birthday is coming up. Can you see her just once? If you don't go, she'll sneak out to see you."

Nannan thought for a long time. "Alright, just once."

Nannan entered the Qi estate, which was huge. A single flower tree occupied more space than their entire house.

She saw Lanlan. Lanlan was indeed beautiful. When they held hands, it was like comparing cream to cornbread. Lanlan was still mourning, living in a secluded part of the garden, dressed plainly, surrounded by many attendants.

"This is nothing, just seven people," Lanlan was unhappy with her amazement, "You can't compare it to the Qi family's young ladies."

Nannan was a bit annoyed, but Lanlan was happy. She had saved good things for a year, taking them out one by one to show off: "Do you like it? How about this one? Take it all if you like it—it's all for you. We agreed to share everything equally. You can't go back on your word."

Before coming, Nannan felt she had many things to say. But once there, they never seemed to talk about the same things. Lanlan talked about the Qi family, the young ladies, the madams, Qi Xiang. Nannan talked about the lower town, the many runaway slaves, how their neighbor Yanzi was sold to a brothel because she didn't get married, and how Xiaoyue got married and had a daughter but was constantly scolded by her in-laws.

They talked and talked, then fell silent. Suddenly, Lanlan hugged her: "Nannan, we'll be best sisters forever, right?"

Nannan wasn't as sure as before. After thinking for a while, she replied, "I think so."

Lanlan looked up with tears in her eyes: "Stay with me. I'm so scared alone. We can study and play together. We don't have to worry about anything here. We'll be together forever, okay?"

Nannan laughed: "How can I stay with you?"

Lanlan pleaded: "Marry with me. Who else would you marry? Where would you find someone as good as Qi Xiang? I swear I won't compete with you for anything. I just want to be with you and him."

Nannan didn't answer; she didn't like repeating things.

Lanlan begged with tears: "Can you visit me often? After the ancestral ceremony, you won't be able to enter, and we won't see each other."

Nannan wanted to cry too. She nodded: "Alright."

They still did everything together: eating, sleeping, playing. When Nannan visited, Lanlan cautiously dismissed all the servants, leaving only a maid named Xiaorou to alert them if someone came. Nannan asked if Xiaorou was trustworthy. Lanlan assured her: "She's trustworthy. Qi Xiang personally chose her when we entered the Qi family."

Xiaorou was the prettiest servant in the Qi household, charming and quick-witted, outshining both Lanlan and Nannan with a bit of grooming.

Nannan secretly asked Lanlan if she worried about her. Lanlan wasn't: "Why should I be? She's a bonded servant and can't enter the young masters' rooms."

The Qi family's ancestral ceremony was ending, and Old Nie started settling accounts. Nannan and Lanlan were about to part. Nannan thought and secretly returned to her old home in the lower town, digging up the orchid Uncle Shi had planted in the neighbor's yard.

She wanted to leave Lanlan a memento.

She held the orchid and sneaked into the Qi family's side gate as usual. Xiaorou was waiting as usual.

"This way," Xiaorou said, looking a bit strange.

This wasn't the way to Lanlan's place. Nannan felt something was wrong.

"Miss said… she's enjoying the flowers today," Xiaorou was clearly lying.

"Tell her I have something to do and need to leave," Nannan turned to go.

Xiaorou lowered her head and coughed. Two servants rushed out, one covering her mouth, the other lifting her feet, running fast.

Xiaorou sold her out to the Qi family. Nannan saw the steward give Xiaorou a bulging cloth bag.

The steward interrogated her, beat her in various ways, but she stubbornly stuck to the agreed story: "Miss Lan Yin and I hit it off. She felt lonely and wanted to chat. If you don't believe me, ask her."

The steward hadn't expected her to be so tight-lipped. He was a bit panicked. Beaten and dazed, Nannan heard a man's voice asking the steward: "Did she confess?"

The steward was troubled: "She said nothing."

The man, elderly, spoke slowly: "Could that little wretch be slandering Shi Lanyin?"

The steward suggested: "Should we ask Miss Lan?"

The man flatly rejected: "No, without evidence, what's the word of a servant worth? You know Xiang's temper. If we provoke him, it won't end well."

The steward was distressed: "Then… what should we do? Old Nie will ask, we can't explain this."

The man snorted: "He wouldn't dare! Wake her up."

A bucket of cold water was poured on Nannan. She opened her eyes—a man over fifty, dressed in extravagance she had never seen before.

She glared fiercely at the man.

The man stared strangely at her soaked clothing.

He stepped forward and asked, "Strange… are you not afraid?"

She sneered and retorted, "Afraid of what?"

She made a mistake. A girl shouldn't be proud and aloof, with no one to rely on. She didn't know that in the upper town, there were no such healthy, strong, wild yet untouched bodies.

She aroused the man's desire, and he fulfilled it.

She kept her eyes open, with no tears, only fire.

The man left, and so did she, disheveled and broken, wandering the Qi family garden, clutching the blood-stained orchid.

She saw her father rushing in, slapping himself, shouting her name.

She saw Lanlan rushing in, wiping her tears, shouting her name.

Lanlan cried, "You didn't listen to me! You didn't listen to me!"

Her father also cried, "What do we do now! What do we do! Damn it, I'll fight them to the death!"

She tilted her head, hugged her arms: "Don't worry, I won't die."

No one was reassured.

Three days later, Qi Xiang came.

He came to settle accounts—the ancestral ceremony's and Nannan's.

His voice was always gentle, while Old Nie went from roaring to shouting to crying to calmly reasoning.

Nannan sat under the peach tree, staring blankly at the sky, her heart growing colder. The man who violated her was Qi Yanping, the head of the Qi family, someone they couldn't even hope to confront.

After a while, her mother came out to comfort her.

—— "Nannan, the Second Young Master said the master isn't a bad person. He genuinely likes you. He said he wants to bring you into the family."

—— "Nannan, I know you feel wronged, but think about your future. After what happened, what will you do?"

—— "Nannan, even if you don't think about yourself, think about your parents. Your father is so worried about you that his hair has turned white. You're still young, with a long road ahead. If something happens to you later, how will your parents live?"

—— "Nannan, don't worry. The Second Young Master also said that if you truly don't want to, he will help find you a small household, and the Qi family will provide the dowry."

Nannan couldn't hold back anymore and shouted towards the door, "Let Qi Xiang come and talk to me himself!"

Her mother hesitated, "How can something like this be discussed face-to-face?"

Nannan's heart burned with anger. She pushed her mother aside and exclaimed, "Ha! The Qi family has the guts to take me but not to face me?"

Her mother was shocked. Qi Xiang came out and persuaded Aunt Nie to leave so he could talk to Nannan alone.

Nannan had nothing to say and refused outright, "Go back and tell that old man you recently acknowledged that I won't sell. Even if I do, it will be at a clear price, and it's not up to him."

Her mother stomped her foot in anger and scolded, "How can this girl talk so shamelessly?"

Her sister-in-law came out to comfort her mother, "Nannan, look at how you've upset your mother."

Her father came out and said, "If you don't agree, just don't agree. This has nothing to do with the Second Young Master. Why speak so harshly to him?"

Amidst the chaos, Qi Xiang made a decision. He approached Nannan and said, "I know what kind of person you are, and you know what kind of person I am. Nannan, you have no way out. If you trust me, I'll marry you. I'll make arrangements with the master so you two don't have to meet."

Nannan's face was pale, but her lips were unusually red. She smiled at Qi Xiang and said, "Wow! What a great favor. I, do, not, care."

She thought, so what if there's no way out? At worst, I'll die. What do I fear?

She thought, why should I die? Why can the real wrongdoer act as if nothing happened?

She thought, I don't want charity; I want revenge. I don't want dependence; I want strength— but where is the strength?

She saw a spider weaving a large web in the branches of the peach tree. The spider was small, bright red, and eerily beautiful—so strange that despite watching this tree every day, she had never seen something so frightening.

A voice behind her said, "Nie Xiaotao, you have seen your spirit."