It was later that Xiqiu learned that Zhi would identify Qingyuan and Qingshan by noticing that Qingshan’s right cheek was larger than Qingyuan’s.
Xiqiu looked at Zhi, took a cloth to wipe his face, and softly said, "What about the two of them? Why did you co back alone, and where’s your brother? Did you see him?"
"The two of them went to wash their hands because Nanny Rong called us for dinner. As for brother, I don’t know, did he co looking for ?" He turned to leave, saying, "I’ll go find brother. Did he get lost?"
"Don’t go!" Xiqiu grabbed his hand, "Brother might still be with Mr. Ji." Saying this, she led Zhi into the room, pointed to the sparrow in his hand that was barely alive, and asked, "What do you intend to do with this sparrow? Are you going to hold it while you eat and sleep, or are you going to let it go so it can go ho for dinner? Or shall we find a cage to put it in?"
"Does it have a ho?" Zhi tilted his head, looking at the sparrow in his hand. Xiqiu nodded in reply, "Yes, you caught it, and its mother might be worried by now."
Zhi furrowed his brows tightly, appearing to weigh the decision between releasing it or keeping it.
After thinking for a while, he reluctantly asked Xiqiu, "Mom, can I let it play with for a while before it goes back?" He pouted slightly, "I just t it."
Xiqiu found it amusing internally but kept a serious expression, "Then let’s find a cage for it to rest in for a while, shall we? Then you can wash your hands to eat, and after dinner, you can play with it."
"Let it eat with ." Zhi shook his head firmly and replied, "Didn’t you say it should go ho for dinner? Then let it eat with us!" Saying this, he turned and ran towards the shelf in the corner where there was a basin of clean water. Without waiting for Xiqiu to speak, he dunked the sparrow into the water and said, "Co on, wash up, we’re having dinner!"
Chunliu chuckled, "Second Young Master, sparrows are different from us. Just feed it so food, and that’s enough; it doesn’t need to wash its hands." Walking over, she coaxed him and took the sparrow from his hand, "I’ll dry it off and put it in the cage; how about that? You can feed it later."
"Mom said that’s unhygienic!" Zhi hesitated, looked back at Xiqiu, and she nodded with a smile. Zhi finally let go of the sparrow, and Chunliu found a birdcage and put the wet sparrow, which was rolling its eyes, into it.
Zhi followed behind, pointing at the outer corridor, "Hang it here, hang it here."
Qingyuan grabbed a stool and stood on it to hang the sparrow up. Zhi also tugged on Qingyuan’s clothes, tiptoeing to see the sparrow, "Play on your own; I’ll co to feed you after eating!" Saying so, he seriously climbed down and turned to Xiqiu standing at the door, "Mom, let’s eat."
"Let’s wait for your brother; you co in and change clothes first." Xiqiu led him inside, and Zhi obediently stood there, letting Mrs. Zhou help him change clothes. He took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. Xiqiu smiled and asked, "Are you hungry? If you are, you can have a snack first."
"No!" Zhi shook his head and climbed to Xiqiu’s side, looking up at her, "Mom, let’s give it a na."
"Hmm?" Xiqiu paused and realized he ant the sparrow hanging outside. She asked, "Alright, Zhi, you give it a na!"
Zhi sat up straight, furrowing his brows and thinking seriously for a long ti, then waved his hand, dismissing his thoughts, "Forget it, let’s just call it sparrow!" Saying so, he leaned back on the bed. Xiqiu puzzledly asked, "Why not na it?"
"Only Twelfth Aunt would na everything," he said with a disdainful expression, "I’m not a girl, so fussy."
Xiqiu tapped his forehead, "Where did you learn that? Don’t talk like that about Twelfth Aunt!"
"Got it!" Zhi nodded, then sat up again to look outside, "Why isn’t brother back yet?"
Xiqiu thought it strange too; Min usually ca back straight after school, even if Mr. Ji extended the class. She was about to ask Chunliu to check the outer courtyard when Min’s voice was heard in the yard. Zhi jumped up and shouted, "Brother!"
"Zhi." Min lifted the curtain and ca in, wearing a turquoise jacket, with big eyes and full lips. Over the years, daily running made her body more robust. She greeted Xiqiu with a salute, "Mother, Xing and Sheng are here, so I ca back late!"
"They ca? Where are they?" Xiqiu looked towards the door as Sheng’s loud voice was heard outside, "Fourth Aunt!" followed by him rushing in like the wind.
Sheng looked very much like Fifth Young Master, with a gentle appearance but an opposite personality - lively and playful. He greeted Xiqiu, shouting, "Fourth Aunt!" behind him was Xing, in a bamboo-colored jacket, with a jeweled crown tied on her head, greeting Xiqiu with a bow, "Fourth Aunt!" She smiled at Zhi, "Zhi!"
Xiqiu nodded to the two of them, "Why did you co over now? You haven’t eaten, right?" Xing chuckled lightly, and Sheng waved his hand, "No, Mr. Song is resting today, so we planned to eat at Fourth Aunt’s place."
"Is that so? Then Fourth Aunt will have the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes." Saying this, she looked at Chunliu and instructed her to add so dishes.
Sheng walked over to Zhi, grinning, "Zhi, did you miss ?"
"Yes!" Zhi replied in his childish voice, reaching out, "Brother, you said you’d bring the salt-baked chicken from Hongyan Building this ti."
"Haha!" Sheng laughed and pointed at Zhi, "I knew you’d love it; don’t worry, I didn’t forget!" Saying so, he pulled out an oil paper package from behind him and handed it to Zhi, "Sll it, isn’t it fragrant?"
Zhi sniffed with his little nose, "Hmm, really fragrant, thank you, brother!"
Sheng, looking pleased with himself, handed the oil paper package to Mrs. Zhou, "It needs to be deboned; take it to the kitchen and instruct them to serve it properly." Mrs. Zhou nodded and left.
Xiqiu had the children sit on the bed and asked Sheng, "How have your parents been recently?"
"They’re doing well." Sheng replied, "Father stays at ho reading and painting all day, while Mother is out managing the business, saying she wants to open a branch shop."
Fifth Madam had opened a general store, selling daily items like salt and grains, and was said to be doing good business.
"That’s good!" Xiqiu smiled, then looked at the neatly sitting Xing, "Have your studies been rigorous lately?"
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