Chapter 39

The weather was getting hotter, and early summer was approaching after late spring. The afternoon sun was already making people sweat all over. Xia Hongsheng leaned against a pillar, half-lying on the edge of the long corridor. Next to the corridor was a pond, where the koi fish, listless, hid under the shadows of the leaves, looking drowsy, just like Xia Hongsheng at that moment. Since the county magistrate had visited his home, those plump matrons started to come to his house one after another, saying they wanted to arrange a marriage for Xia Hongsheng. His sister-in-law was naturally delighted, but Xia Hongsheng was plagued with headaches. The body he now inhabited was only thirteen or fourteen years old, which was too early even by ancient standards. His sister-in-law's idea was to arrange a marriage first, to settle things down, and to have children early, as the Xia family had too few descendants. Xia Hongsheng was so annoyed that he had to hide in the academy. However, the students in the academy also began to seek his friendship frequently. It wasn't that Xia Hongsheng looked down on them, but with one after another, he had to deal with them carefully, not wanting to appear arrogant, which left him struggling to keep up. With no other choice, he fled to Xu Qixian's house, hoping to find some peace and quiet.

Now, the Xu family was as familiar to Xia Hongsheng as his own home. The servants would bow and greet him as "Young Master Xia" when they saw him, and since it was Xia Hongsheng, they didn't even need to announce his arrival; he could go straight in.

"You can't keep hiding like this. We are all classmates, and you can't treat them poorly. Otherwise, they'll think you look down on them, and they'll gossip, ruining your reputation," Xu Qixian mimicked Xia Hongsheng's posture, finding it much more relaxed and free than sitting stiffly.

"I know that. I didn't treat them poorly this morning. It's just too noisy, and I want some peace now," Xia Hongsheng said with a bitter smile. "These people, they are all scholars, can't they maintain a bit of dignity? A mere county magistrate's visit, such a trivial matter, is it really that big a deal?"

"Uh... Brother, speaking... cough, cough..." Xu Qixian's face turned a bit awkward. He was embarrassed by Xia Hongsheng's direct use of such a word, as scholars should maintain their dignity and not use such unrefined language.

"What else can I say? The air of the five grains?" Xia Hongsheng dismissed it with a laugh, teasing him.

Before Xu Qixian could respond, a soft giggle came from behind, drawing Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian's attention.

Seeing she had been discovered, a small figure emerged from behind a pillar, walking forward while covering her mouth and laughing. "Hehe... Big Brother Xia is so rude, not at all like a scholar!"

"What do you know? Little brat, I'm a man of great virtue, not bound by trivialities!" The little girl, though young, liked to act like a little adult, dressing up like a grown-up, which looked both out of place and amusing, making Xia Hongsheng unable to resist teasing her.

"You! You are the one who is..." The little girl's face turned red, but she couldn't bring herself to say the word, showing that her family's education was quite good, though it seemed to have stifled her natural innocence.

"What? What?" Xia Hongsheng squinted his eyes and grinned at her.

The little girl's eyes darted around, and she stomped her foot. "Hmph, I won't pay attention to you! I came to play chess with my brother!"

With that, she took out two small chess boxes and dragged Xu Qixian to the pavilion, where a chessboard was carved on the stone table. Xu Qixian, helpless, got up and followed, and Xia Hongsheng went along as well. In the pavilion, the little girl set up the chess boxes and was about to sit down when she suddenly turned to Xia Hongsheng. "Big Brother Xia, do you know how to play chess?"

Xia Hongsheng knew how to play Go and had played a few times, but his skill was quite limited, at best knowing the rules.

"Not very well," Xia Hongsheng admitted.

"That's great! Let's play! I just started learning, and I can't beat my brother, who always mocks me. Big Brother Xia, will you play with me?" The little girl, hearing Xia Hongsheng's words, immediately became excited, looking at him with pleading eyes that made Xia Hongsheng feel a bit guilty. It was quite magical, perhaps the power of a little girl's charm?

"Sure." Xia Hongsheng rolled up his sleeves and sat down. Xu Qixian grinned at him, sat on the side, and fanned himself as he watched.

The first game ended quickly, in less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn. Xia Hongsheng dominated, and the little girl was defeated step by step, eventually becoming furious and glaring at Xia Hongsheng, who laughed heartily.

"No way! I didn't play well this time! Let's play another round, and I'll definitely win!" The little girl was not one to give up easily.

"No. I've been playing chess for many years. One game is enough, and another would be bullying you!" Xia Hongsheng waved his fan arrogantly, his demeanor making people want to kick him.

Xu Qixian's grin grew wider, and he watched Xia Hongsheng with a strange smile.

"Chicken! How about we make a bet? If I win, you have to follow my orders, and you have to do whatever I say! If I lose, well, you can do whatever you want!" The little girl, with a fierce expression, said to Xia Hongsheng, almost grinding her teeth, which looked quite amusing.

Hey, this little girl is quite competitive! Xia Hongsheng grinned. "Little brat, fine! Let's bet, come on!"

"Cough, Brother Xia, a gentleman's word is a binding promise. Are you sure you want to bet?" Xu Qixian looked at Xia Hongsheng with a strange expression.

Seeing Xu Qixian's look, Xia Hongsheng's caution began to rise. He turned to look at the little girl, who, though looking furious, had a glint of cunning in her eyes, setting off alarm bells in his head. He closed his fan. "Forget it, bullying a child isn't my style. Let's not play this game."

"No way! You already said it! Hmph, a great young master like you, afraid to accept a challenge from a little girl? People will laugh at you." The little girl rolled her eyes and gave Xia Hongsheng a disdainful look, speaking in a mocking tone. "Forget it, since you're so scared, I won't make it hard for you, but..."

She stopped speaking, sighing and shaking her head in a show of disappointment.

Damn, this little girl is a sly one! Xia Hongsheng slapped his fan on the stone table. "Fine, let's play! Do you think I'm afraid of you?!"

Xu Qixian sighed and shook his head, while Xia Hongsheng was full of fighting spirit.

After the incense stick burned, Xia Hongsheng was dumbfounded. Xu Hui, sitting opposite him, had a victorious smile on her face, like a cunning fox, laughing nonstop.

"Again!" Xia Hongsheng slapped the table.

This time, it didn't even take the time for an incense stick to burn before Xia Hongsheng was dumbfounded again.

"I don't believe it! Again!" Xia Hongsheng, furious and embarrassed, said.

This time, it was even faster. In the blink of an eye, Xia Hongsheng was defeated.

Xia Hongsheng opened his mouth wide, eyes wide, and looked up at Xu Hui, who had a cunning smile on her face. "Little brat, did you trick me?!"

"Brother Xia, I warned you... My little sister is very talented, the best among the younger generation of our Xu family. Even I can't match her in Go. I can't even last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn..." Xu Qixian fanned himself, shaking his head and sighing as he said to Xia Hongsheng.

"Xu Hui, you tricked me..." Xia Hongsheng was filled with resentment.

"A lady has heard that a bet is a binding promise. My brother warned you, but since you insisted on betting, you should now accept the consequences," the little girl laughed like a fox, covering her mouth.

Xia Hongsheng stiffened his neck. "No, you tricked me first, deliberately losing the first game. That's not a gentleman's way."

"I'm a little girl, not a gentleman." The little girl smiled even more. "But you, a scholar, should keep your word. I've heard that a gentleman's word is a binding promise. Once said, it can't be taken back. Well, the first thing I want you to do is call me 'sister' from now on!"

Xia Hongsheng's face was full of black lines and white eyes. He had misjudged her, thinking she was a pure little girl, but she turned out to be a cunning little fox. Damn, and Xu Qixian, that brother who forgets his principles for his sister, a sister-obsessed fool, should have warned him more clearly!

"Little sister, you're so beautiful, you should be more generous. How about this, you tricked me first, so let's each take a step back. I'll surrender and lose half, okay?" Xia Hongsheng changed his strategy.

"No! Once said, it can't be taken back!" The little girl was firm, not letting up. "If you lose, you lose. Have you ever seen water that was poured out be taken back?"

Xia Hongsheng slapped the table. "Fine! If the water can be taken back, the bet is off. If I can take back the water I pour out, will you agree?"

"Ha, I don't believe you! The water is already in the soil, how can it be taken back?" The little girl gave Xia Hongsheng another pair of white eyes.

Xia Hongsheng stood up and clapped his hands. "Hmph, little brat, you haven't seen the world. Bring a basin of water, and I'll show you my magic to take back the water I pour out!"

The little girl was unconvinced and turned to call out. "Someone, bring a basin of water! I want to see how this young master takes back the water he pours out!"

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