“Auntie, your calligraphy is truly beautiful.”
After chatting for a while, Li Cuihong went off to prepare the meal, while Li Cuimei and Aunt Tong discussed spinning wool yarn. The eldest son went out to visit friends, the second son disappeared into his blacksmith workshop—who knows what he was tinkering with—and Lin Cui’e returned to her room. With nothing to do, Lin Fang played a game of tossing apricot pits with Xian’er for a bit before wandering over to Lin Cui’e, though she kept a cautious distance. Aware of her own clumsiness—even unintentionally, she often ended up making a mess of ink and brushes—she thought it best to stay within a safe range.
Lin Cui’e beckoned her over: “Fang’er, come here. Help your aunt decide—if I were to enter the competition, should I embroider this piece of calligraphy or that one?”
In preparation for Liangping Town’s annual autumn talent competition, Lin Cui’e now spent most of her time practicing. Participants could register for one or multiple categories based on their preferences. Under the guidance of Li Cuimei and the eldest son, Lin Cui’e had mastered skills ranging from music and chess to calligraphy, painting, and embroidery, confident she wouldn’t perform poorly. She had signed up for a combined category of calligraphy, painting, and embroidery, which was particularly challenging.
Both calligraphy pieces featured just four characters: “Eldest Sister-in-Law Teaching Her Younger Sister-in-Law.” One was bold and vigorous, exuding a masculine energy, while the other was neat and delicate, reflecting the grace of a refined young woman. Both were excellent, making it hard to choose.
Lin Fang stepped closer cautiously and asked, “Auntie, is this about my mother and you?”
Lin Cui’e nodded. “Mm.”
Lin Fang continued, “Are you just embroidering the characters, or pairing them with a painting?”
“Pairing them with a painting.”
Lin Cui’e took down a scroll from the bookshelf and unrolled it. Under the moonlight, a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Li Cuimei—yet was even more beautiful—sat on an embroidery stool, her gaze gentle as she looked down. Beside her, a little girl sat on a low stool, leaning against the woman’s knees, her chin resting on small hands as she looked up at the woman. The woman lightly stroked the girl’s hair with one hand while gesturing with the other, as if explaining something.
It was such a heartwarming scene that Lin Fang felt moved. However, her mother wasn’t one who enjoyed being the center of attention. All competition entries required an explanation of their origin. Given Lin Cui’e’s deep affection for her mother, she would never fabricate a story. If this painting were submitted, it would inevitably disturb her mother, who might feel uncomfortable. Frowning, Lin Fang said, “Mother might not agree to you submitting this piece.”
“I know,” Lin Cui’e replied, her mood dampened.
Lin Fang tried to console her: “Auntie, some things are best kept in the heart. If spoken aloud and made known to everyone, the outcome might end up contrary to your wishes.”
“Hmm?” Lin Cui’e looked puzzled, staring at Lin Fang as if she didn’t recognize her.
Lin Fang touched her own face and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that, Auntie? Did you suddenly realize how stunningly beautiful your niece is, like a fairy, and now you’re jealous, scheming to outshine me and steal my mother?”
“Ugh—” Lin Cui’e pinched Lin Fang’s cheeks and pulled them apart, gritting her teeth. “Such a little thing, yet you speak like an old soul. I can’t tell if I’m your aunt or you’re mine.”
“Well—let me think,” Lin Fang circled Lin Cui’e once, then said with mock seriousness, “You’d better stay as my aunt. I don’t want such a big niece.”
“Pfft—” Lin Cui’e burst out laughing and pinched Lin Fang’s nose. “You little imp. When you grow up, who would dare marry you?”
Freeing her nose from her aunt’s grip, Lin Fang pouted. “I don’t want to marry anyone. But you, Auntie—so beautiful and talented—if you win the competition, there’ll be a flood of suitors knocking on our door. Don’t let your eyes get dazzled by all the choices!”
Liangping Town’s autumn competition wasn’t limited to locals; outsiders could participate too. Contestants used the opportunity to secure good jobs, boost their businesses if they placed well, or find suitable matches if they were of marriageable age. That’s why Lin Fang teased Lin Cui’e about it.
Carefully rolling up the painting and calligraphy, Lin Cui’e picked up a book of chess strategies and walked to the other side of the room, her tone dismissive: “I’m only focused on the competition. What does it matter if people propose?”
“Oh-ho?” Lin Fang made a playful noise. “Is Auntie planning to cling to my mother forever and become an old maid?”
“Smack!” A chess piece fell at Lin Fang’s feet as Lin Cui’e scolded, “Such a little thing, yet so cheeky. Is that something you should say?”
“Heh heh heh—” Unfazed, Lin Fang sat across from Lin Cui’e and watched her arrange the chessboard. Gradually, she slumped onto the table and drifted off to dreamland, where she imagined playing chess with the Duke of Zhou.
Xian’er bent down to carry Lin Fang away, but Lin Cui’e waved her off and lifted the girl herself, placing her on her own bed and draping a thin quilt over her. Sitting by the bed, she took out a half-knitted sweater from the wardrobe and began embroidering an unfinished pattern on the front—an adorable cartoon pig. As she stitched, Lin Cui’e chuckled silently. The pig had been drawn by her niece—round and chubby, much like Lin Fang looked now.
Sighing, Lin Cui’e lost focus before she’d even stitched for long. The memory of her mother trying to drown her niece resurfaced vividly.
Returning to the courtyard that day, she’d seen her mother soaking dirty clothes in the laundry basin. It struck her as odd—since she could remember, her mother rarely did laundry, leaving most of it to her sister-in-law. Nothing seemed unusual that day, so why was her mother washing clothes? Moving closer, she peered into the basin and saw tiny infant feet sticking out from under the clothes. She quickly pushed the fabric aside—her niece lay motionless underwater.
Mother, mother, why? Even if Fang’er were ugly, she’s still of the Lin family blood. How could you be so cruel? Thankfully, Fang’er survived, though she was left different—her feet unnaturally small, her movements unsteady like a child’s, taking several times longer than others to do anything. Yet her intelligence was unmatched.
Before, their parents had kept her confined, but she’d sneak out to play. From that day on, Lin Cui’e chose to stay home voluntarily. Even though her sister-in-law kept Fang’er close, making it hard for their mother to approach, Lin Cui’e remained vigilant—not for any other reason but to protect her mother.
“Cui’e, what are you thinking about? You didn’t even notice me come in.”
“Oh, Sister-in-law. I was just wondering… if Fang’er’s hemangioma were removed, would she look like me?”
“She probably would. You and your brother share similar eyes and face shape, though your nose and lips are softer. Fang’er’s eyes are just like your brother’s. As for her nose and mouth—though slightly distorted by the hemangioma—the general shape is similar. But her face… well, Fang’er loves to eat, so she’s a bit chubby.”
“Haha, Sister-in-law, look!” Lin Cui’e held up the little sweater and shook it, making the nearly finished cartoon pig appear to wiggle, amusing Li Cuimei. “Did Fang’er draw this? Where does such a little thing get all these strange ideas? It looks lovely embroidered.”
“Oh, right.” Li Cuimei remembered why she’d come in. “I’d already knitted a sweater for you to wear at the competition, but I had to give it to Zhong Meizhen today for an emergency. You’ll need to pick another outfit. Time is running short, so decide soon.”
Lin Cui’e nodded. “Let me think about it, Sister-in-law.”
“Alright, you think. Auntie and I haven’t finished discussing yet, so I’ll go now.”
“Sister-in-law,” Lin Cui’e hesitated but finally voiced her doubt. “Why do you want me to join the competition? Is it really like Fang’er said—to marry me off?”
“Silly child.” Li Cuimei hugged her. “Every girl grows up and leaves home eventually. Our Cui’e is outstanding in both looks and talent—you deserve the best. Don’t worry, I’ve thought it through, and everything will be according to your wishes.”
Lin Cui’e rested her head on her sister-in-law’s shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you, Sister-in-law.”
Gently patting her back, Li Cuimei said softly, “Cui’e, like Fang’er, is my treasure. I want to see you both marry, have children, then grandchildren—that’s true happiness and fulfillment. Understand?”
“Mm,” Lin Cui’e murmured in reply.
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