Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Fight

Lin Miao watched as Li Yanhe carried the two mischievous boys into their room. At midnight, she stepped out herself, and once again, fireworks lit up the night sky.

When Li Yanhe emerged, he saw Lin Miao standing in the courtyard, her gaze lifted to the dazzling bursts above, a beautiful smile gracing her lips.

“May this day come every year, and this moment every age,” she wished silently. Li Yanhe walked up behind her and said, “Why are you out here without a coat?”

He took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders. Lin Miao grinned at him, carefree as ever.

The two of them stood outside, watching the fireworks overhead. After a while, Lin Miao felt sleep tugging at her relentlessly.

She shook her head and said to Li Yanhe, “No, I can’t—I'm too sleepy.”

Li Yanhe nodded, so Lin Miao returned to her room. The next morning, when she woke, Li Yanhe was already preparing to leave.

She glanced at him, still half asleep and somewhat dazed, and asked, “On New Year's Day, what are you going out for?”

Li Yanhe looked back at her and replied, “I need to check on the barracks. If nothing urgent arises, I might be back tonight. If there’s trouble, I won’t return.”

Lin Miao watched his departing figure, lost in thought, standing dumbly as he rode away.

Cui Liu saw her standing at the door, absent-minded, and tapped her gently. “Miss, why are you daydreaming here?”

Lin Miao shook her head. “Nothing, just didn’t sleep well last night.”

After speaking, her right eyelid twitched. She asked Cui Liu, “It’s the thirteenth year of Yongchang now, isn’t it?”

Cui Liu, standing behind her, nodded, “Yes, miss, it’s the thirteenth year.”

Lin Miao laughed and shook her head. As she grew older, she found herself keeping track of time more often—perhaps simply out of boredom.

She began preparing the New Year's treats she’d made ahead: frying meatballs, small fish, and twisted pastries.

When she was young, her favorite was always the meatballs her grandmother made. Lin Miao’s cooking skills were excellent; when she was too busy, Cui Liu usually cooked.

Cui Liu was talented, and while watching Lin Miao prepare food, she quietly learned the recipes. Next time Lin Miao wanted something, Cui Liu would make it for them.

Ruoyu and Lanzhi helped out as well. Lin Miao was kind and liked to teach them, and being servants in her household was far better than elsewhere.

She taught Ruoyu and Lanzhi to write, paid them well every month, and promised that after ten years, their indentures would be returned. She also assured them that if they found a good family or someone they loved, she would arrange their marriages.

Ruoyu was still young and hadn’t thought about marriage. Lanzhi was older, but as a bondservant, she never dared hope for more.

They cooked together in the kitchen, and the morning slipped by quickly. Lin Miao sighed, lifting her eyes to the gray sky.

By then, the sky had cleared a little. The sun was out, but the air remained bitterly cold. Lin Miao shivered and turned back into the house.

She couldn’t say why, but worry gnawed at her for Li Yanhe. She’d felt uneasy since he left that morning, as if something were about to happen.

Sitting in her chair, she took out the red envelopes she hadn’t given Lin Langluan and Lin Langze the night before and handed them over.

The two boys were delighted. Opening their envelopes, they found five coins inside.

For children, five coins was a hefty sum; among their peers, they were considered quite wealthy.

Lin Miao put candies in their hands and warned, “It’s New Year’s, but you mustn’t eat too much sugar, understand?”

The boys nodded and, clutching the candies and coins, ran off to play. Since they were boys, Lin Miao let them be.

She finished frying the meatballs and sat down to review last year’s ledger. Before long, Cui Liu rushed in.

“Miss, just now the young masters got into a fight while playing outside. I heard the other boy’s head was split open!”

Lin Miao’s face changed at this, and she stood up at once. Cui Liu quickly fetched her cloak and helped her put it on.

Lin Qi and Lin Jiwang followed as Lin Miao hurried out. Down the alley, they found a woman nearby, cursing under her breath.

The child clutched his forehead—only scraped, not split open as Cui Liu claimed.

Lin Miao’s expression darkened, and she called to Lin Langluan and Lin Langze, “Why are you still standing there? Come here!”

Her tone startled them, and like children before their parent, they hurried to her side.

The irate woman saw Lin Miao and vented at the boys, “Wild brats, born with a father but no mother’s guidance! Where are your elders?”

Lin Miao’s face changed further at this, and she replied coolly, “If you have something to say, say it directly. Dragging parents into it only shows poor upbringing on your part!”

The woman trembled with rage, pointing at Lin Miao. “You little wretch! Dare insult me? Watch your mouth or I’ll tear it off!”

Lin Miao said nothing, staring at her coldly. Seeing Lin Miao’s fine clothing and composed demeanor, the woman’s bluster faded.

Lin Miao turned to the boys, “What happened? Why did you fight?”

They pouted and explained, “He saw the coins in our pouch and tried to snatch them.”

Langluan added, “Sis, you don’t know—at school, he always steals our food and the lunches you pack.”

Langze nodded, “Yes, sis, he bullies us, just because he’s older. Today was worse—not only did he take our fireworks, he tried to steal our money.”

Lin Miao understood the situation and asked, “So why did you hit him?”

The boys replied, “He tried to take our things. We didn’t want to give them up, and in the struggle, hit his head. We didn’t mean to.”

Lin Miao glanced at the crying little chubby boy on the ground and said to the two, “I know your money was taken, and you were defending yourselves.”

“But hitting people is wrong. You must apologize to your classmate.”

Obediently, the boys turned to the crying child. “Sun Zong, we didn’t mean it. Sorry!”

After their apology, the woman saw Lin Miao trying to resolve matters quietly and grew furious.

She pointed at Lin Miao, “Your kids cracked open my child’s head! Aren’t you going to pay?”

Lin Miao nodded, “Let’s call a doctor. Whatever the fee, I’ll cover it.”

The sharp-faced woman’s eyes gleamed. “I don’t need your doctor. Give me the money, I’ll hire one myself.”

Lin Miao shot her a cold look. “Your child tried to take our coins, so I’ll let that pass. But even the adults here have a robber’s logic—how can that be right?”

She turned to Lin Jiwang, “Jiwang, see if any clinics nearby are open?”

Jiwang replied, “Yes, miss, I’ll check now.”

Just as he was about to leave, a man nearby spoke, “I am a doctor. During New Year, no clinic will be open—but I can help, miss.”

Lin Miao turned to see a man in white robes. She asked, “Are you reliable?”

The man gave an odd smile and nodded, “Somewhat reliable.”

She reasoned, with the holiday, no clinic would be open, and if one was, they’d surely extort her.

Though she had money, she was loath to be cheated. She looked at the sharp-faced woman, “Let the doctor examine the injury—what treatment is needed?”

The man approached Sun Zong, moved his hand away, and saw the wound—only a superficial scrape on the forehead.