Chapter 8 The Young Master’s Offer
That day, after Second Sister went in for her dance lesson, Elder Sister took me back to the calligraphy shop.
This time, besides the shopkeeper, two men were standing inside.
The one in front wore luxurious clothes and had an elegant, refined appearance. He was clearly the master.
The one behind him had sharp eyes and a serious expression. He looked like a guard, though he was quite young, probably not yet capped.
The moment Elder Sister and I entered, he noticed us. His black bean-like eyes stared at us intently.
The shopkeeper looked up. "Ah! It's this young lady. This young master has taken a liking to your calligraphy and is willing to pay one hundred taels."
One hundred taels!
I gasped.
Hearing this, the young master who had been looking down at the writing finally raised his head. "You wrote this?"
Elder Sister nodded gently. "Yes. This humble one has poor skills and can only imitate one-tenth of Master Cilin's charm."
The young master's eyes brightened. "Master Cilin once guided my calligraphy. He is the teacher I respect the most. I never expected someone else would also admire his style. Young lady's strokes are profound. May I ask for your guidance?"
Elder Sister stepped forward. "It would be my honor!"
The two of them wrote and chatted by the desk.
The guard and I stared at each other. I was so bored I kept yawning.
As one hour was almost up, I grew as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Elder Sister, however, was not in a hurry at all. She answered the young master's questions slowly and carefully.
Only when the guard reminded them did they reluctantly say goodbye, agreeing to meet again the next day to discuss calligraphy.
Once we left the shop, I immediately started running. "Elder Sister, hurry! We won't make it in time."
But Elder Sister grabbed the back of my collar. "What's the rush? We have been coming out these days but never took a proper walk. Come, Elder Sister will buy you delicious food."
Elder Sister really took me shopping. She bought crisp candy, pastries, honey, candied hawthorn...
By the time we returned to Pingle Workshop, the sky was almost dark.
The moment she saw us, Second Sister raised her hand to slap Elder Sister.
"How dare you sneak out behind my back? You are looking for death!"
Elder Sister actually caught Second Sister's wrist. "Yun Shu, I accompany you here to practice dance every day. Today I only bought Niuniu some snacks. What is wrong with that?"
"You dare talk back to me! I..."
Second Sister tried to break free, but she had become much thinner lately. She was as weak as a willow and could not shake Elder Sister off.
In the end, Elder Sister flung her hand away. "If we don't return to the mansion now, Father and Mother will discover you took us out without permission."
With that, Elder Sister pulled me and turned to leave.
"You... Just wait!"
Second Sister stormed past us in a rage, walking ahead.
That night, I asked worriedly, "Elder Sister, what do you think Second Sister will do to us?"
Elder Sister turned over and hugged me. "Plum Blossom Festival is coming soon. She won't have time to think about it."
I counted on my fingers.
Only five days left.