“Fang’er, are you there? Father has come to fetch you.”
“Father, Fang’er is here.”
Hearing her father’s call, Lin Fang immediately perked up and hurried out. She had intended to grab her father’s hand as usual and chatter away, but upon noticing another person behind him, she halted abruptly. She had never seen this man before—he was slightly shorter than her father, though without the comparison, he could be considered handsome. Tan Liu and another man stood waiting outside the door.
Dalang beckoned to Lin Fang. “Come, Fang’er, greet Master Sima.”
Lin Fang curtsied. “Greetings, Master Sima.”
The visitor laughed heartily. “Haha, no need for such formality. I’m younger than your father—you may call me Uncle. Ah, since this is our first meeting, I didn’t prepare anything, but here’s a small fish-shaped jade pendant for you to play with.”
As he spoke, Master Sima untied a delicate jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Lin Fang.
Lin Fang accepted it graciously and thanked him with another curtsy, though she still addressed him as “Master Sima.” First meetings required courtesy, and she couldn’t be too casual. Besides, calling someone “Uncle” wasn’t something to be done lightly—even if he was willing, it depended on whether she was.
Behind her, Sima Rusu followed out of the house and bowed to Dalang. “Rusu pays her respects to Uncle Lin.”
Lin Fang stifled a laugh inwardly. This girl, who had always despised rules, had now learned to play the part in this world.
Dalang was momentarily taken aback. He had only heard rumors about the peculiar appearance of the Sima family’s daughter, but this was his first time seeing her. Recovering quickly, he patted his pockets but found nothing suitable for a gift. Apologetically, he said, “Niece, please don’t be upset. I spend my days at construction sites and carry no trinkets. I’ll make it up to you when we return home.”
Sima Rusu bowed again, seizing the chance to shoot Lin Fang a meaningful glance.
“Father,” she then addressed Master Sima, her tone polite but distant, more like a subordinate than a daughter.
Master Sima didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he stared at his daughter as if he didn’t recognize her. Sima Rusu seemed oblivious, her eyes fixed on the ground, hands folded, standing silently. The atmosphere in the courtyard grew tense.
“Rusu, I’ve repeatedly asked you to remove your veil on the way here, yet you refused. Do you realize that though I see you daily, it’s been ages since I’ve truly seen your face? Why remove it now? Unless… unless…”
Unless your father means less to you than a stranger? But with outsiders present, Master Sima couldn’t voice his anguish.
Sima Rusu knelt and replied softly, “Rusu’s appearance is unsightly. Madam has never allowed me to remove my veil. If I disobey, she won’t punish me directly but will instead blame the innocent servants. Please understand, Father.”
Master Sima’s lips trembled. “And today, you’re not afraid of implicating them?”
Two maids immediately knelt, heads bowed in silence. Master Sima turned away, his shoulders shaking slightly—Lin Fang couldn’t see his expression, but it was clear he was struggling to contain his emotions.
Once composed, he apologized to Dalang. “Brother Lin, I’ve been discourteous. I must take my leave with my daughter.”
Before Dalang could respond, Xian’er rushed in, exclaiming, “Sixth Miss, Cook Gu said the watermelons are delicious and wants to pick a few more, but I’m too weak to carry them all. Could these two sisters help?” She pointed at the kneeling maids.
Lin Fang nearly laughed aloud. Xian’er was absolutely doing this on purpose. Not only was she strong enough, but there were also carts in the watermelon fields. Even without one, a simple request would have sufficed to get help. There was no need to rush back and ask for permission.
Moreover, with Master Sima present, her words indirectly revealed that the servants had already tasted the precious watermelons before their masters and were now boldly asking for more—a blatant breach of decorum. How would Master Sima, as their master, react? Those maids were surely in trouble.
Sure enough, as soon as Xian’er finished speaking, Master Sima’s face darkened. Suppressing his anger, he said to Dalang, “Brother Lin, forgive my rudeness. I must deal with these insolent servants. I take my leave.” With that, he strode out of the courtyard.
At the gate, he paused and called over his shoulder, “Rusu, follow me.”
“Father,” Sima Rusu remained kneeling, her voice trembling. “If you truly care for me, please calm your anger. If Cook Gu is punished, how will I face Madam upon returning? I have another request. Since you brought me out today, Madam will resent it. When we return, you’ll be busy with work, but I’ll remain in the inner courtyard, where my treatment will be predictable. Now that I’m out, may I stay a few more days? Even if suffering awaits me later, at least this trip won’t be in vain.”
Master Sima fell silent. He knew his wife was harsh toward his concubine’s children. This daughter had always been clever and cautious—why was she acting so out of character today?
Lin Fang stepped beside Sima Rusu and bowed to Master Sima. “Master Sima, though we’ve just met, I’ve found great rapport with Miss Sima. May I request that she stay for a few days so we may converse further?”
Dalang, delighted that his usually mature daughter was finally behaving like a child—eager to play with a friend—also interceded. “Brother Sima, since our daughters get along so well, let her stay with Fang’er for a while.”
Xian’er, meanwhile, ignored the commotion and went inside to tidy up, leaving the mess she’d stirred behind.
Master Sima relented. “Very well.” He bowed to Dalang. “Brother Lin, might I trouble you for a room where my daughter and I can stay for a few days?”
Dalang readily agreed. Since Lin Cuiping’s departure, her courtyard had been vacant, so he offered it to Master Sima.
The earlier tension had masked Lin Fang’s exhaustion, but now she felt weak and swayed, leaning against Dalang.
“Tired?”
Dalang crouched, and Lin Fang naturally climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his sturdy shoulders, closing her eyes in complete relaxation.
Behind them, Sima Rusu stared in astonishment. It was said that men doted on grandsons, not daughters—let alone a concubine’s child. Even the legitimate sons of the main wife had never been held by their father. Yet Lin Fang enjoyed such treatment, and her ease suggested this was routine.
In Sima Rusu’s memory, even her own birth mother had never been affectionate. Only her wet nurse, who had raised her, had shown warmth, but she had long been dismissed by Madam. The current servants, including Cook Gu and the maids, reported her every move to Madam. The two senior maids attended to her meticulously but without warmth.
Master Sima, witnessing the scene between Dalang and Lin Fang, mirrored his daughter’s expression, though more restrained.
Lin Fang had no energy to ponder how the Sima family would discipline their servants. Lulled by her father’s warm, steady back, she fell asleep. When she awoke, hunger gnawed at her. After a bowl of dumplings from Nanny Liu, she hurried to question her father about the Sima family. She needed to understand Sima Rusu—knowing one’s enemy was half the battle. The Sima family was wealthy, and since her father did business in town, he surely knew about them.
Unlike the upstart Shangguan family, the Simas had been merchants for generations, though they kept a low profile.
Master Sima had a main wife and three concubines. The wife bore two sons and a daughter—the eldest, a nine-year-old girl, was simple-minded, unable to distinguish her parents, and confined to the inner courtyard. The two legitimate sons were seven and three.
The concubines had borne three sons and three daughters, but none of the sons survived past five. Sima Rusu was the only surviving concubine’s daughter. Once strikingly beautiful, her hair and skin had inexplicably turned white two winters prior, after which Madam forbade her from leaving the house.
After the Shangguan family’s downfall, Qi Biao was the first to learn of the government’s plan to auction their properties. Before the official announcement, the Qi and Lin families had already bought the Shangguan shops in Baishui Town and the wasteland along the road. Master Sima, though well-connected, was too late—the best properties were gone.
Upon learning the Lins and Qis had acted first, Master Sima investigated but found no background on either family. His merchant’s instinct told him they were formidable. Failing to compete, he decided to befriend them.
To win them over, he needed to appeal to their interests. Hearing that Dalang doted on his wife and daughter, and that Lin Fang was cherished not only by her parents but also her brothers, Master Sima saw an opportunity. If he could please the Lin women, other matters would follow smoothly. However, the Lin women rarely visited town, making contact difficult.
Left with no choice, Master Sima took the initiative. Though his wife refused to accompany him, disdainful of the “country bumpkins,” he brought his long-confined concubine’s daughter on the half-day journey to Lin Village. Sima Rusu’s appearance at the schoolhouse was no accident—he had planned it after tracking Lin Fang’s movements.
Unexpectedly, his daughter refused to return that day. Truthfully, of his four living children, this exceptionally clever concubine’s daughter was his favorite. Unwilling to leave her alone in unfamiliar territory, he stayed—marking the first time he had ever indulged a child.
Lin Fang had a hunch that Sima Rusu’s sudden change in appearance was deliberate. That girl had always been cunning and unpredictable.
Having exhausted her questions, Lin Fang shifted to discussing her school plans.
Her parents, as always, supported her unconditionally. Though amused by her terminology, they agreed to serve as her “honorary advisors.” She clarified that advisors were only consulted when convenient—but funding was non-negotiable. She wasn’t about to spend her own savings.
In the days that followed, Sima Rusu visited daily. Cook Gu and the two junior maids were gone, leaving only the two senior maids in tow. Lin Fang gradually learned of her old friend’s plight.
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