Xiao Qi, Wait! Chapter 17

Xiao Qi, Wait: Chapter 17
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Glossary

Chapter 17: Official Song, a Rogue
 
Xiao Qi really acts on her words. Song Liang Zhuo saw her crouching next to the large wooden basin and using a tree branch to lightly push each fish. At the side there was even a Ha Pi crouching in an identical posture. He couldn’t resist saying: “Just take as many as you caught. The remaining send to Uncle w.a.n.g.”
 
The mud on Song Liang Zhuo’s body had already dried, leaving specks of light brown on his white robe. Xiao Qi swept a glance over, then fished up a smaller fish from the water tank and put it in the wooden basin to the side. Lifting her chin she said: “This one is the little shrimp that Official Song caught.”
 
Xiao Qi used the stick to poke that little shrimp that was floating in the water on its side and shook her head with pity: “It’s half dead. If it can recover then I’ll raise it for you, after it’s bigger we can eat it.”
 
Reckon once it has been raised bigger she will not be able to bear eating it. Song Liang Zhuo slightly shook his head.
 
Auntie Feng ordered a few people to carry hot water into the bedroom. Song Liang Zhuo saw that everything had been prepared and warmly said: “Xiao Qi, go wash up. You can play again a little later.”
 
“No, you wash first. I have to find the fish.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo looked at the color of the sky, thinking Wen Ming Xuan and the others will probably be back soon, then got up and entered the room.
 
Xiao Qi touched every single one of them once, and at last rather justly picked out the seven, eight fish that she believed Song Liang Zhuo caught. The rest she had Lu Liu pour into the cloth bag and call for someone to send to the neighboring Uncle w.a.n.g.
 
Xiao Qi washed her hands. Smelling the fishy scent on her hands, she frowned. Xiao Qi looked at her trouser pants which were covered with yellow mud, then lifted her skirt and entered the room.
 
Lu Liu saw her enter the bedroom, so she closed the door from outside and left the small courtyard.
 
Xiao Qi was waiting for Lu Liu to help her find clothes, but after waiting half the day she still didn’t see anyone come in. Xiao Qi curled her lips and entered the inner room herself. Her eyes glanced at the excessive amount of screens before she remembered, that guy Song Liang Zhuo was taking a bath.
 
If you want to take a bath, then take a bath. But why do it in her room? Xiao Qi heard the splas.h.i.+ng sound of water, gave a soft humph and sat next to the bed.
 
“Xiao Qi, hand me a set of clothes.” Song Liang Zhuo spoke naturally.
 
“You’re taking a bath in my room and even want me to hand you clothes. Don’t you know that a woman’s innocence is extremely important!?”
 
“Then, call Lu Liu or Auntie Feng to come in.”
 
“Sss~~” Qian Xiao Qi sucked in a breath of cold air, thinking silently. Wah, he’s seriously such a beast, not even letting off an old woman like Auntie Feng.
 
Xiao Qi recalled Auntie Feng’s double chin, then Song Liang Zhuo’s square chin appeared in her head, and then, and then…… Xiao Qi couldn’t help but s.h.i.+ver.
 
After imagining Official Song and Auntie Feng, Xiao Qi felt a bit guilty. Although Official Song isn’t good, but if he married someone like Auntie Feng it would be way too tragic. Xiao Qi carried an infinitely pitying mood as she found clothes for Song Liang Zhuo and hung them on the screen, Then, unable to resist, she leaned over the screen to take a look, but other than the black hair that spilled outside the bathtub she couldn’t see anything else.
 
Xiao Qi moved forward again. The cloth on the screen was not thick in the first place, looking through it like this was a bit hazy and beautiful. Xiao Qi blinked her eyes. Who would have guessed that Official Song would suddenly, with a thunderous noise, exit the water. Xiao Qi stifled her breath and jumped back before he turned around. Only when she sat back down heavily next to the bed did she relax and violently give two coughs.
 
“Peeping on others bathing is unvirtuous, especially for ladies and it’ll cause damage to your reputation.” From behind the screen came Song Liang Zhuo’s lukewarm voice.
 
Xiao Qi rolled her eyes and refuted: “Didn’t I hand you your clothes? I didn’t see anything, all I saw was a bunch of black hair.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo glanced down at his own lower body, his temples pulsed a bit angrily.
 
“But then again, Official Song. If you’re bathing you’re bathing. You don’t wash your hair right? What did you let down your hair for? I don’t know how to do hair. Hey, and you better not ask me to serve you!”
 
So as expected he really wasn’t pure anymore?
 
Song Liang Zhuo gave an embarra.s.sed cough, and said in a stuffy voice: “You splashed river water into my hair. Why can’t I let it down to wash?”
 
Song Liang Zhuo put on his inner clothes and walked out from behind the screen. Glancing at Xiao Qi who was next to the head of the bed he said: “You should wash up too, otherwise people will make fun of you for being dirty.”
 
Xiao Qi knitted her brows as she watched Song Liang Zhuo walk out of the room with a dark expression, then curled her lips silently congratulating herself on her genius. Such a moody personality, as expected really isn’t good husband material.
 
Supper was a fish feast. The cook’s skill couldn’t be counted as good; the fishy taste of the sweet and sour fish was really strong, Xiao Qi only ate two pieces of fried fish before she placed it down. During dinner, Wen Ruo Shui was a bit sulky. Xiao Qi picked at her own dinner and didn’t ask either.
 
Wen Ruo Shui finally could not hold back and pouted with grievances: “Zhuo gege, can I live here?”
 
“You’re leaving?” Xiao Qi asked in surprise.
 
“Hmph, well you’re happy now right? No one will fight over Zhuo gege with you anymore!” Wen Ruo Shui shot a glare at Xiao Qi and lower her head with her eyes red.
 
“I’ll miss you, even though you’re a really dumb person.” Xiao Qi replied honestly. She already said she won’t fight with her for Official Song, how could she be dumb to the point that she doesn’t believe her, Qian Xiao Qi’s words?
 
Liu Heng Zhi laughed with a “puchi” and pounded his chest gasping for breath before saying: “Sister-in-law’s understanding is very unique. This Heng Zhi admires.”
 
Ruo Shui fiercely stomped on Liu Heng Zhi’s foot under the table. Liu Heng Zhi grinned and spoke in a warm voice: “Ruo Shui, does stomping it feel nice?”
 
Wen Ruo Shui’s face immediately flushed red. Xiao Qi looked under the table suspiciously, her eyes whirling between Wen Ruo Shui and Liu Heng Zhi before whirling back.
 
“When is Brother Ming Xuan heading out?” Song Liang Zhuo asked with a smile.
 
“Probably tomorrow. Father ordered me to bring Ruo Shui back quickly.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo nodded, and toasted: “Then, take this cup as my bidding farewell to Brother Ming Xuan.”
 
Xiao Qi also poured a cup and said to Wen Ruo Shui: “Doesn’t Official Song have to go back in the end anyways? When that time comes won’t you still be together? What is Ruo Shui jiejie so sad about?”
 
At this remark, Qian Xiao Qi’s leg suffered a rather strong kick..
 
Song Liang Zhuo expressionlessly swept an eye over Xiao Qi. Originally Xiao Qi became a bit aggravated because of the kick, but being stared with such a deep gaze by Song Liang Zhuo, she gave a cowardly smile, then drank the wine with a bitter expression.
 
Wen Ming Xuan glanced at the two with surprise, it was actually Ruo Shui’s eyes that started sparkling again. Song Liang Zhuo warmly spoke: “Ruo Shui and Heng Zhi have an engagement promise. When you guys marry you must let me know, gege and Xiao Qi will definitely prepare good gifts for Ruo Shui.”
 
“It’s not like Zhuo gege doesn’t know. That time doesn’t count!”
 
Wen Ruo Shui looked at Song Liang Zhuo with tears in her eyes. Song Liang Zhuo said with a smile: “Ruo Shui meimei, when I return to Ruzhou with Xiao Qi, you can find her to play again.”
 
Wen Ruo Shui wanted to say something but hesitated. She took a glance at Xiao Qi who was astonished and staring blankly, then at the expressionless Wen Ming Xuan. In the end she didn’t say an additional word. Wen Ruo Shui poured a cup of wine and said after a smile: “Then, when is Zhuo gege returning?”
 
Song Liang Zhuo glanced at Xiao Qi with considerable tenderness and warmly said: “Soon. Xiao Qi should also meet her own family elders.”
 
Xiao Qi looked at Song Liang Zhuo foolishly, her brows slowly knitted together.
 
The tenderness in his eyes look so sarcastic! For some reason Xiao Qi’s chest felt a dull pain so she hurriedly grabbed the wine cup and poured another mouthful. She drank too fast and choked to the point that her eyes became sparkling bright with tears like Ruo Shui’s.
 
Song Liang Zhuo slightly creased his brows and reached out to take the wine cup from her hands. Xiao Qi dodged and poured another cup, saying to Ruo Shui: “Ruo Shui jiejie, in reality some people aren’t worthy for jiejie to wait for.”
 
Xiao Qi vacantly tilted her head slightly, and mumbled something to herself before softly saying: “You don’t know. (he’s) Not good at all.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo saw Xiao Qi drown three, four cups in succession again and said with a frown: “Give me the wine cup.”
 
“No.” Xiao Qi stuffed the wine cup into her mouth and bit down. The porcelain produced a sharp burst of sound.
 
Song Liang Zhuo’s temples pulsed and he reached out to seize the wine cup she stuffed in her mouth. Xiao Qi cried “ao” and jumped back, hurriedly stuffing the wine cup into her bosom and tightly clutched it while shouting: “Official Song is a stingy chicken. Stingy chicken. A furless stingy chicken!” Won’t let me eat my fill and, and even s.n.a.t.c.h my things.” 

The Chinese equivalent of cheapskate contains the word for rooster in it. Chicken is more degrading though.

Liu Heng Zhi laughed with his mouth covered, the Ruo Shui who had still been hurt just now was also shocked silly by Xiao Qi’s actions and stared blankly at her.
 
Xiao Qi felt extremely wrong and looked towards Song Liang Zhuo’s face dizzily. Where was there a face, it was clearly a pig head ma!
 
“Pig head!” Xiao Qi shouted as she pointed in Song Liang Zhuo’s direction.
 
Wen Ming Xuan was originally drinking unperturbed but Xiao Qi’s shout shocked him to the point his fingers shook and his cup of wine spilled leaving only barely half a cup. Liu Heng Zhi couldn’t hold back this time and laughed while slapping the table.
 
Song Liang Zhuo felt that the veins in his forehead was pulsing even faster. From the part.i.tioned off area, Lu Liu had also ran over after hearing something. Seeing Xiao Qi’s appearance with crimson cheeks anxiously wrung her hands.
 
“Humph, big~~jerk!” Xiao Qi shook her head, and flung her hand back past her ear, seeming rather speechless.
 
Lu Liu saw that Song Liang Zhuo’s expression was getting worse and hastily explained: “Miss can’t drink wine. Most of the time you can only give her two cups to drink at most.”
 
Lu Liu apologetically paid courtesy to the people next to the table and tried walking over saying gently: “Miss, let’s go back to sleep, alright? The quilt was just aired, it’s fragrant and nice and soft!”
 
Xiao Qi’s slightly shook her askewed head for a while, then said with a pout: “No. There’s mosquitoes.”
 
Lu Liu was just about to continue the struggle when Xiao Qi’s eyes swept over. Seeing  the fish that had several pieces of meat picked out of it she shouted: “Aaah, he ate my little shrimp. Little shrimp, my little shrimp!”
 
“No, no. The little shrimp is still being raised in the water tank!”
 
Lu Liu frowned and went over to pull Xiao Qi, wanting to forcefully pull her out. Xiao Qi jumped back as if her tail had been stomped on, then turned and ran outside. Lu Liu hurriedly followed, afraid that she would climb up a tree like she did in Qian fu and refuse to come down, causing the people in the fu to surround and guard the tree the entire night. Ha Pi who had squatted in front of the entrance also swiftly scuttled out, while running he even happily gave a few low barks.
 
Song Liang Zhuo rubbed his forehead and apologetically said: “Brother Ming Xuan, Brother Heng Zhi, you guys accompany Ruo Shui meimei and take your time. I’ll see you guys off tomorrow.”
 
Wen Ruo Shui blankly stared as Song Liang Zhuo left, then grabbed Liu Heng Zhi’s sleeve and tugged it, murmuring: “What happened to Xiao Qi? Did she go stupid?”
 
Liu Heng Zhi took the opportunity to hold Wen Ruo Shui’s hand, avoiding the eye daggers Wen Ming Xuan shot over and said with a smile: “She’s drunk. The att.i.tude of a drunk, this time really was an eyeopening experience.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo with two, three steps was able to chase her to the front courtyard. Xiao Qi had already hugged a locust tree in the corner of the courtyard and was slidingly climbing her way up.Lu Liu was dragging one of her legs, but didn’t dare to use too much strength either. She worried to the point that her forehead was covered with sweat.
 
Song Liang Zhuo walked over with a dark expression and pulled her leg, dragging her down. Before she could run again, he had already lifted her in a princess hold and carried her into the back courtyard bedroom. Lu Liu ran over, hastily saying: “Guye please don’t be angry. Miss also doesn’t know what she’s doing. Guye please don’t lower yourself to Miss’s level.”
 
Song Liang Zhuo gave a soft hm. Lu Liu was just about to try persuading again when Xiao Qi had already whipped out her palm onto Song Liang Zhuo’s face.
 
The sound was very sharp and crisp. Lu Liu stood dumbly with her jaw dropped. Even Song Liang Zhuo stood in place, stunned while holding Xiao Qi. Not far away the manservant who had rushed over to help holding a lantern also froze on the spot, becoming a stark straight light-pole. Ha Pi, who was originally excitedly running circles around Song Liang Zhuo’s leg also plopped his b.u.t.t onto the floor, looking confused with his head tilted at Song Liang Zhuo and Lu Liu who suddenly stood frozen and scratched the ground, whining.
 
Xiao Qi lifted her hand and rubbed the cheek that had been slapped by her, and spoke brokenheartedly: “People that hit people aren’t good people. Official Song isn’t a good person.” After she finished, her lipped pressed together and unattractively bursted into tears.
 
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira, Edited by Sonia