Chapter 205: Strangers and Old Friends

Sunbeams filtered through the tree branches, illuminating the bluestones in the alley and casting a golden hue upon the figures and smiles of the three individuals. From a distance, it created the delightful image of old friends reuniting in the vibrant spring of February.

"...Because of my father's promotion back then, I moved with him to Bianjing... My father is now a Principal in the Ministry of Revenue... When we first arrived in Bianjing, I was unfamiliar with everything and quite naive, making quite a few blunders. But then again, the atmosphere in the capital is indeed different from Jiangning. It's hard to describe clearly right now, but Brother Ning, if you ever have leisure in the future, you must take the time to visit Bianjing. When you do, I would be honored to host you and show you around..."

"Actually, the most pleasant surprise about moving to Bianjing was reuniting with... Brother Wang. Perhaps Brother Ning doesn't know this, but Brother Wang grew up in Bianjing; he's the real local host. When I first arrived, I received a lot of help from him, haha... Oh, judging by your expression, Brother Ning, it seems you don't recall much about the past here..."

Throughout the chattering conversation, it was the enthusiastic Yu Hezhong who did most of the talking. In his words, he subtly but proudly conveyed his father's official status. A Principal in the Ministry of Revenue was a sixth-rank official, which might not sound high, but for ordinary citizens, it was already a highly esteemed position. For a bookworm and pedant like Ning Yi, it was likely an unattainable height even after a lifetime of study. With his father serving in the Ministry of Revenue, Yu Hezhong, if he played his cards right and cultivated connections, could easily secure an official position in the future.

After some conversation, Yu Hezhong noticed that Ning Yi seemed to have little memory of past events; otherwise, he would likely have had some recollection of the young woman named Wang. Yu Hezhong commented on this, then casually inquired about the recent whereabouts of a mutual acquaintance nearby. Ning Yi naturally had no idea. Yu Hezhong then chuckled, "Do you remember Chen Sifeng? He passed the imperial examination last year and is now also assigned to the Ministry of Revenue. Brother Ning, when you visit Bianjing, we can meet up with him too." It seemed Chen Sifeng was also someone Ning Yi had known previously.

The three chatted and laughed, and Yu Hezhong likely assumed Ning Yi had failed the imperial examinations and fallen on hard times. In front of the woman named Wang, Yu Hezhong occasionally displayed a sense of superiority in his speech, which was, in fact, quite normal human behavior. After all, everyone has a desire to show off. Unless one is a true gentleman among ten thousand, someone who always grants others face upon first meeting, they are likely more akin to individuals like Pu Yangyi, who adhere to the principles of a merchant family. Of course, truthfully, people like Pu Yangyi are easy to get along with if you understand your own standing; Ning Yi even liked them. However, Yu Hezhong was clearly just an ordinary person, and a bit of occasional boasting was not surprising. Ning Yi merely found it amusing to observe.

What was more noteworthy, however, was the woman named Wang, who spoke very little. Throughout the entire interaction, she mostly stood by, smiling. She seemed to feel a touch of nostalgia for the small alley and some of the things Yu Hezhong occasionally mentioned. When Yu Hezhong spoke of past events, she would occasionally agree with a word or two, but otherwise, she generally listened quietly. This standard demeanor was not unusual. However, what caught Ning Yi's attention was that whenever Yu Hezhong began to boast, if it only concerned himself, she would smile and nod, adding to his flourish. But if his boasting implicitly highlighted or subtly disparaged Ning Yi, her gaze would drift elsewhere, subtly appearing distracted, never offering any hint of agreement.

This detail was quite interesting.

At a typical banquet or gathering, there is usually a host or a respected figure. When someone boasts and shows off, the host's agreement gives them face. However, when the attitudes of two guests clash, maintaining a neutral stance, appearing fair, or mediating without alienating anyone is a profound art.

This woman did not mind her old friend's boasting and even showed a supportive attitude, praising him. But when Yu Hezhong subtly tried to belittle Ning Yi in front of her, she would use this subtle method to maintain her independence and avoid participation. Naturally, being more familiar with Yu Hezhong, she would not arbitrarily interfere with him; she handled her likes, dislikes, and degrees of closeness with great precision.

If this subtle handling were only displayed once or twice, it would be within the grasp of an ordinary person's cultivation. But if it was perfectly executed every time, it became very thought-provoking.

This woman must have been very well-bred, and she must also have had a social circle that allowed these manners to be honed and displayed. Frankly, in these times, women rarely had many opportunities for public exposure. For instance, his own wife, Su Tan'er, was quite well-bred and could navigate social circles with skill, accurately grasping people's intentions. Yet, compared to the woman before him, Su Tan'er seemed a bit sharp, not quite as smooth in certain aspects.

Among the women Ning Yi knew, Jin'er and Yunzhu, who had worked in a courtesan house, had also developed similar skills in handling relationships with others. Jin'er was more lively, often dispelling people's grievances with her own vivacity. Yunzhu was graceful, but deep down, she was pure and aloof; after spending time with her, one would inevitably sense her inner resilience and sharp edges. This woman's simple smiles, however, made Ning Yi feel a temperament similar to Pu Yangyi's.

It was merely a similarity, though, not necessarily an indication of her being equally astute. Of course, it was impossible to fully understand a person from just a few words exchanged during a first meeting. Ning Yi conversed with his two "old acquaintances" for quite a while. Just as they turned to leave, a figure emerged from the slightly dilapidated courtyard gate behind him: "Ah, Young Master, you're here."

This was Xiaochan, who had finished cleaning the room and was wiping sweat from her brow as she came out. Dressed today in a floral jacket, she exuded the charm of a humble yet pretty young woman. Upon seeing the two people talking to her young master by the gate, she gave a soft gasp and moved to stand behind Ning Yi. Xiaochan herself was beautiful, and both Yu Hezhong and the woman named Wang paused in slight surprise before Yu Hezhong smiled and said, "Oh, is this your younger brother's wife?"

The woman named Wang, still dressed in men's attire, bowed first and asked, "Is this your elder brother's wife?"

The terms "younger brother's wife" and "elder brother's wife" likely flattered Xiaochan. Her eyes darted about, showing a mix of slight surprise and pleasure. Then she glanced at Ning Yi and leaned closer to him, saying, "Uh, no, I'm the young master's maid. My name is Chan'er. And you two... gentlemen are?"

"We are old acquaintances of Young Master Ning; I used to live over there..." Knowing she was a maid, there was no need for formal introductions. After greeting them, Xiaochan said little more. After a few more exchanges, Wang and Yu eventually turned and departed. Ning Yi and Xiaochan watched their retreating figures from the alley. Xiaochan said, "Young Master, have you remembered things from before? Oh, right... that Mr. Wang is a woman."

"Even a fool could tell," Ning Yi said, smiling and patting her head. "No, I don't know them. They just used to live here and remembered me, so they came to say hello. They probably just remembered this courtyard..."

The courtyard looked truly dilapidated at the moment, with a worn-out lintel. Although only two months had passed since the Lunar New Year, there were no festive paintings or spring couplets, making it stand out awkwardly from the surrounding houses and courtyards. Ning Yi looked down at himself, dusty and stained, holding a tattered book, and couldn't help but shake his head and smile. Xiaochan glanced around and seemed to have an idea, saying, "Xiaochan will call someone tomorrow to renovate the courtyard." She thought for a moment, then chuckled, "I really wonder what Young Master was like when he lived here before..."

"I heard he was a foolish bookworm..." Ning Yi chuckled, then looked at Xiaochan. "Don't tell me you don't know; you know better than I do. Isn't that why Tan'er chose me? Now it turns out to be a misrepresentation, regretting it, aren't you? Tsk, poor Xi Junyu..."

"Hehe, that just shows Miss had good taste... Besides, Chan'er dared not speak then; Miss was very serious at the time..."

The young maid began chattering about amusing incidents from before the wedding, and the two turned and walked into the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Wang and Yu walked past various courtyards. In truth, when they left Jiangning years ago, they were both young. Though they retained some memories now, they only recalled some childhood playmates from the area. Yu Hezhong was a bit more familiar with the neighborhood. He left for a moment, knocking on a few doors according to his memory to ask around. When he returned, the woman named Wang was looking into the courtyard where she used to live, which was now occupied by another family. Yu Hezhong chuckled, "I don't remember many people from before. I just asked around, and I actually found someone I knew. After a brief chat, I also inquired about that young Ning. Guess what?"

He paused for effect, but the woman named Wang did not directly ask. Instead, she lowered her head in thought. "His maid is very pretty, and her clothes are quite nice. I suppose he hasn't been living in that courtyard for the past few years, has he?"

"Hmm, the person I just met doesn't live around here much, so they weren't very clear. They only recalled it when I pointed to the courtyard, saying that the owner of that house married into the family. The wife comes from a wealthy textile merchant family, and I heard it caused quite a stir back then..."

The woman named Wang looked in that direction. "That sounds quite good..."

"Ahem, I got a bit carried away just now. I shouldn't have asked about his imperial examination status and such. Since he's a live-in son-in-law, he probably can't take the exams anymore... It's just hard to imagine he'd actually marry into a family like that, sigh..." Yu Hezhong sighed.

"In life, there are always situations beyond one's control..."

"Uh, I'll come back in a few days and ask my cousin about those old acquaintances. Oh, Shishi, do you think we should invite him out to meet again in a few days, just as friends? It might even be good for him?"

As Yu Hezhong spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the woman named Shishi. She smiled slightly and shook her head. "If you and Chen Sifeng invite him out, that would certainly be beneficial. But with my status, and him being a live-in son-in-law, it's better not to cause him any trouble. Besides, I just returned on a whim, taking a detour to revisit. I wasn't planning any grand return. Back then... I didn't even talk to him much; we weren't truly familiar."

Hearing this, Yu Hezhong laughed. "True. Well then... let's leave it at that..."

As they spoke, they turned and, a moment later, their figures disappeared at the street corner at the end of the alley.

This chance encounter didn't linger long in Ning Yi's mind. He also hadn't anticipated that, not long after, the three of them would have another opportunity to meet. That afternoon, returning home, he found Qin Shaohe, the eldest son of Qin Siyuan, who had been waiting for a long time at the Su family residence. Qin Shaohe had come to visit as a private citizen, not in his official capacity; otherwise, the Su household would have been in utter chaos.

Having returned to Jiangning these past few days, the middle-aged man, now holding the official position of Prefect, had many matters to attend to and many people to visit. He had missed an opportunity to meet Ning Yi a few days prior. It was only today that he finally found the time again, waiting at the Su family home until Ning Yi returned, finally meeting him and expressing his gratitude.