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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Eighteen: Reeds and Rushes
The Wen family and the Zhou family were not traditional friends. Zhou Ziyan's father was a genuine businessman, while Junxi's father was then the director of the Qingcheng Land Tax Bureau.
Their fateful connection began simply because they coincidentally bought houses in Xiang Hall at the same time.
After becoming neighbors, they interacted more frequently, and the two families gradually became familiar with each other. Moreover, there was an inexplicable attraction between officials and businessmen, much like the poles of a magnet; when they were far apart, there was nothing, but when they came together, sparks flew.
In short, at that time, the relationship between the Wen and Zhou families was as close as that of blood relatives. However, this closeness did not extend to their children. Zhou Ziyan and Wen Junxi were initially strangers who fought without knowing each other. Even after getting acquainted, their relationship remained one of conflict rather than comfort. Their childhood rivalry was marked by love and hate, but they only managed to embody the latter two words.
As the old servant of the Zhou family put it, these two children must have unresolved grudges from their past lives.
Zhou Ziyan and Wen Junxi were fundamentally inclined to resolve issues through force rather than through words. Thus, Junxi had no idea that Zhou Ziyan had a remarkably handsome uncle.
If she had known, she would have certainly adopted a softer approach in handling her diplomatic relations with Zhou Ziyan instead of escalating matters to a point of irreconcilable conflict.
Unfortunately, by the time she met Zhou Xuanyu, she had already ventured too far down the path of being a strong-willed woman who could be likened to a female bandit or enforcer in Zhou Ziyan's eyes.
That day at the dining table, she and Zhou Ziyan got into an argument over trivial matters as usual, and then they ended up fighting over a right chicken leg despite there still being a left one available.
It was at that moment that Zhou Xuanyu walked in.
At that time, Junxi was only five years old, and her level of understanding couldn't support her in accurately using phrases like "gentleman, warm as jade" or "elegant and profound, standing tall at seven feet" to describe the shock she felt upon seeing Zhou Xuanyu for the first time.
She simply paused in her tugging at Zhou Ziyan's ear and softly asked, "Who is that person?"
Zhou Ziyan would never answer her questions when she was curious. Suddenly, he let go of her and burst into tears, his innocent expression conveying "this girl is bullying me" as he scurried over to Zhou Xuanyu.
Zhou Xuanyu crouched down and gently held Zhou Ziyan's arm, asking, "What happened?"
Zhou Ziyan quickly pointed fingers: "She stole my drumstick."
Zhou Xuanyu followed Zhou Ziyan's finger and glanced at Junxi.
Someone nearby chimed in, "Zhou Ziyan, don't make things up. Who really stole whose drumstick?"
Seeing Zhou Ziyan slandering her in front of this handsome uncle, Junxi stubbornly squeezed out two tears to show her grievance.
Their collective cries made the hall feel particularly lively.
Amidst the adults' teasing and laughter about the "little feuding couple," Zhou Xuanyu patted Zhou Ziyan on the shoulder and taught him, "Boys should always be considerate of girls. And boys shouldn't cry so easily."
As Junxi wiped her tears, she thought to herself that this uncle was not only handsome but also had good values.
After educating Zhou Ziyan, Zhou Xuanyu turned to walk towards Junxi.
Junxi lowered her head, unable to look at him. He reached out and lifted her onto his lap, using a cliché opening line typical of adults speaking to children: "Little one, what is your name?"
"My name is Junxi."
He paused for a moment, perhaps processing the strokes of those two characters.
Fearing he might forget, Junxi quickly added, "Junxi, The Mountain Has Trees, without branches, Junxi, the Junxi you do not know."
A five-year-old child introducing herself in such an enigmatic manner was indeed charming.
Yet, there was a smile in Zhou Xuanyu's eyes. When he smiled, his pupils seemed to shimmer with light.
At that time, Zhou Xuanyu was not like the often stern figure he was now; back then, he still loved to laugh.
He did not respond like most adults would by asking who taught her that; instead, he simply said, "Alright, I will remember."
He had always been a man of his word. So even after five years of pale time apart, she firmly believed upon their reunion that he had not forgotten her.
And indeed, he had not.
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