Entangled Love GL - Chapter 7
Except for stopping to eat one meal at noon, Duan Min and Yang Mei spent the entire day tidying up the bamboo slips and that room.
In the morning, Ping Ping came by for a look and said, “Min-jie, you really have nothing else to do!” and quickly walked away, pinching her nose.
Xiao Nian came with her and left with her, only dropping the sentence: “Ah Min, I’m going to help you boil water.” This made Yang Mei inwardly sigh with admiration: This child is clever; I’m the one who’s foolish. However, Yang Mei never uttered a single word of complaint from beginning to end, nor did she have the slightest thought of being lazy.
Duan Min very carefully moved the bamboo slips out, wiped and washed them clean one by one, thoroughly cleaned the room and the bookshelves, and then meticulously placed the bamboo slips back layer by layer, including the hundred-plus rolls that had been sorted and placed next door and moved downstairs previously.
Although she knew it was a sudden whim, Yang Mei still felt how dedicated Duan Min was. Because of this, Yang Mei was actually willing to help her, and at the same time, they chatted about everything under the sun, sporadically.
By evening, everything was tidied up and the room was clean and fresh. The old bookshelves and bamboo slips, in the dim candlelight, revealed a simple, ancient charm, exuding an elegance that might have existed many years ago.
Yang Mei slowly walked from front to back, and suddenly said, “Min-jie, take me to see the bamboo forest tomorrow.”
Duan Min had said during the day that all the bamboo slips here were made by her father, Duan Youchang, who used to take her to cut down the bamboo in the mountain’s bamboo forest, carry it back, cut it into sections, split it open, dry it, and then tightly string it together with cotton thread.
Duan Min stood by the door, somewhat lost in thought, and didn’t quite hear clearly for a moment, looking over blankly.
Yang Mei returned to her side, raising a smile, “Let’s go to the bamboo forest tomorrow. Isn’t it boring to stay here from morning till night?”
Duan Min thought for a moment, then nodded slightly, “It’s a bit far over there. We’ll bring some dry food and won’t rush back for lunch.”
“Great!” Yang Mei immediately became excited, “I heard there are quite a few beautiful spots in this Dragon Elephant Mountain. And the season is good now, so we should definitely go for a walk!”
Xiao Nian was already asleep. Ping Ping came again, visibly displeased, to rush them. While still on the stairs, she called out, “Stop chatting! Hurry up and wash! I’ve boiled a lot of hot water and put it in your rooms. Don’t let it get cold again!”
Yang Mei smiled and pulled her into the room, “Sister Ping Ping, look! We just finished tidying up!”
Ping Ping looked around, very surprised. The displeasure seemed to dissipate, but her tightly knit brows didn’t relax, showing a hint of worry. She paused for a moment and then whispered, “Since it’s tidied up, all the more reason to go rest.” Without urging further, she turned and went downstairs.
Duan Min followed her, took two steps, and then looked back, “Please close the door, Miss Yang.”
Yang Mei didn’t have time to correct her address. She only stared at her hurried departing back, parting her lips in vain. Then, she took out a roll of bamboo slips she had hidden earlier, blew out the lamp in the room, and gently closed the door.
Duan Min chased Ping Ping to her room and saw her turn her back and hide in the dark, feeling quite unbearable, “Ping Ping…”
“Don’t say anything,” Ping Ping didn’t turn her head back, “Min-jie, don’t say anything more to me… just talk to the Reverend.”
Duan Min was silent for a moment, then replied, “Okay, I’ll go find the Reverend tomorrow morning. Let’s sleep for now.” Duan Min backed out of her room. Just as she was closing the door to leave, she heard Ping Ping run over and burst into tears by the door. Duan Min was unable to leave. When she tried to push the door open again, she couldn’t.
“Ping Ping?”
“Min-jie,” Ping Ping managed to suppress her crying, her voice trembling, “I’m scared…”
Duan Min stood with her behind the door for a while, softly comforting her, “Silly girl, don’t overthink things. Just take it one day at a time. What is there to be afraid of?” After standing there a little longer, she finally walked away.
Yang Mei had been soaking in the bathtub for over half an shichen [two hours]. The hot water was slowly turning cold. If she stayed any longer, she might catch a chill.
Yang Mei lifted her head and listened to the light footsteps quickly skimming across the roof, wondering, should I find someone to go home for me? Finally, someone knocked on the door. The voice was like music to her ears, “Miss Yang, I’ve brought you a set of clothes.”
“Min-jie!” Yang Mei was so happy she almost stood up to greet her, but she became sober halfway up amidst the rushing sound of water. She quickly sat back down, curled up in the water, just showing her face, and mumbled, “Min-jie, come in. The door isn’t locked.”
Duan Min’s wet, long hair was casually spread out, making her look a little different than usual. She came in, placed the clothes in her hand on the table, and said, “There are no new clothes here. Miss Yang, please make do with wearing mine for now. I haven’t worn this set for a long time; it’s been kept clean.”
Yang Mei nodded and immediately drank some water, choked, and quickly laughed, “Min-jie, you are so kind. It would be even better if you didn’t call me Miss Yang.”
Duan Min smiled and said, “If you wash your clothes now, they might be dry by tomorrow morning.”
“Min-jie, leave them!” Yang Mei quickly stopped her from tidying up the clothes she had changed out of and piled on the chair, “How can I trouble you with this? I’ll wash them in a moment!”
Duan Min didn’t insist, “You can hang them in the corridor or the courtyard. It shouldn’t rain these two days.”
“Okay…” Yang Mei, with her short memory, eagerly nodded again. Her somewhat disheveled appearance made Duan Min smile, “It’s almost the third watch [11 PM – 1 AM]. You should rest as soon as possible.” With that, she turned and left.
Yang Mei submerged herself completely in the water. Although the water was no longer hot, it still steamed her face red. Duan Min’s old set of clothes was within arm’s reach. The unique scent of perilla and agastache, at first whiff, was a pungent smell with medicinal properties, but once accustomed to it, one had to be careful not to get addicted.
The next morning, Jing Hui and Jing Ci drew water and watered the vegetables by the well as usual. Xiao Nian was also feeding the birds in the courtyard, but she was quiet, entirely lacking the cheerfulness of the day before.
Yang Mei mustered her spirits and greeted her. Xiao Nian responded with two worried ‘hm’s. Although Yang Mei felt strange, she didn’t ask further and went straight to the kitchen to help Ping Ping get the bowls and chopsticks.
Ping Ping was also moody, her face looking very unwell. Seeing her, she only said, “Miss Yang, did you not sleep well last night?”
Yang Mei raised her hand to touch her face and smiled, “Maybe I went to sleep late.” She then asked in return, “Sister Ping Ping also looks like she has no energy?”
Ping Ping pursed her lips, “Maybe the rats are making noise. They never stop on the eaves.”
Ping Ping took out the bowls and chopsticks. Yang Mei quickly took them and carried them to the through-hall, setting up each one.
Duan Min and Reverend Yuan Chang came down from the stairs together at this time. Yang Mei greeted them with a smile, reminding Duan Min, “Min-jie, don’t forget we’re going out today.”
Duan Min smiled, “Naturally, I won’t forget.”
Reverend Yuan Chang picked up her broom to sweep the corridor. Yang Mei offered to help, but Duan Min stopped her, “Reverend Yuan Chang is accustomed to doing this every day; she won’t need you to go.”
So, Yang Mei stayed by Duan Min’s side, watching her look at everyone outside the through-hall doing their respective tasks, where even the birds, sparrows, insects, and fish were in perfect order.
Yang Mei couldn’t help but smile, “Min-jie, never mind me, an outsider, but why are you also idle? Did you also stand and watch like this when you used to come here?”
Duan Min thought for a moment and slowly said, “When my father was here, he always told me to read early in the morning. After he passed away, I became idle.” After saying this, Duan Min walked toward the courtyard, not waiting for Yang Mei to say anything more.
“What’s wrong with Xiao Nian today?”
Xiao Nian was very uneasy and dared not look at Duan Min. She avoided her by turning this way and that for a long time. After Duan Min asked a few times, she quietly replied, “I didn’t boil water yesterday…”
Duan Min smiled, “We were too late yesterday. Xiao Nian, be good. It’s not your fault.”
Xiao Nian looked up at her, still wearing a sad expression.
Duan Min thought for a moment and said seriously, “Then how about this: I originally wanted to take you out today, but now I’ll punish you to stay home and reflect. You are not allowed to follow me all day.”
Xiao Nian widened her eyes, “Ah Min, are you going out?”
“Yes,” Duan Min pointed to Yang Mei, who had followed her, “I’m taking her to the bamboo forest, but not you.”
Xiao Nian’s mouth twisted, as if she were about to cry.
Yang Mei looked on and felt that the punishment was too severe, but she decided not to offer a single word of persuasion. She had thought yesterday that if they went to the bamboo forest, even if others didn’t follow, at least Xiao Nian would. Was Duan Min saying this because she actually wanted to go alone with her?
“…You must listen carefully to the masters. And to Ping Ping—you must listen to whatever she tells you to do. Then, I won’t be angry with you anymore.”
Xiao Nian reluctantly agreed. Duan Min stepped forward and shook her arm, her gentle expression returning, “Hurry up and scatter the grains. We’ll go feed the fish together.”