258. Is That Xiao Baoshan?
Translator: Fan Translation Studio
In front of the stall stood a handsome, steady man who was a foot taller than those around him. Was it Xiao Baoshan, his nephew? The woman next to him looked somewhat familiar. Xiao Tieshu felt as if he had met her somewhere before. She fancied the vase made in Jingdezhen city, which was famous for its ceramics, and had the man ask about its price.
The man was just like a servant carrying quite a few things bought from the market. But that didnât dim his remarkable temperament. He didnât pay attention to Xiao Tieshu because he was talking to Jia Zhenbo. Feeling somebody staring, he finally looked at Xiao Tieshu, but his eyes were calm and composed as if he didnât know the man in front of him. Was it Xiao Baoshan? Could there be two such similar men in this world?
Jia Zhenbo quoted the price, âTwo taels. Do you want it?â
Xiao Baoshan turned to Jin Xiaoyu who immediately said, âYes.â So he bought the vase.
Xiao Tieshu wrapped the vase with thick paper to prevent it from breaking. Taking the vase, Xiao Baoshan said thank you politely.
When he turned around, Xiao Tieshu asked hastily, âBaoshan? Are you Xiao Baoshan?â
But it was too crowded and noisy. Perhaps the man hadnât heard, or perhaps he wasnât Xiao Baoshan. Either way, he gave no response.
Hearing what Xiao Tieshu said, Jia Zhenbo was surprised.
âYou mean that man is your nephew? The general who⦠gave his life?â
Xiao Tieshu was still in shock. âI donât know. If it were him, he would recognize me. But as you saw, he didnât know me at all.â
Jia Zhenbo had little impression of Xiao Baoshan, but he remembered Jin Xiaoyu. âThe woman next to him looks familiar. She seems to be the owner of Longmen Inn where we once lived.â
âAh, really?â Xiao Tieshu also felt that she was familiar, but he didnât remember where he had met her.
Jia Zhenbo replied, âIâm sure she is, because Iâve never seen such a coquettish woman as her. Her voice is so sweet and t.i.tillating that it can make you feel weak at the knees.â
Xiao Tieshu laughed. âDonât let Qianqian hear that.â
âI certainly wonât. Iâve just thought about that woman for some time and have never expressed my affection for her. She can only live in a manâs heart, not his life.â
Xiao Tieshu still felt that the man was Xiao Baoshan, and that he might have lost his memory from some head injury.
âYou stay here. Iâll catch up with him to have a look.â he said.
â¦
Xiao Baoshan and Jin Xiaoyu were walking slowly as they went shopping. Xiao Tieshu soon caught up with them and followed them from a distance. He saw that they were intimate with each other. Jin Xiaoyu was holding Xiao Baoshanâs arm and he didnât refuse it. He also noticed that all the things they bought were items for a wedding like red paper decorations, wedding clothes and some gold and silver jewelry. Were they going to get married?
Xiao Tieshu couldnât help thinking, âHas Baoshan swapped his love for Little Ye with that innkeeper? Did he pretend not to know me because he wants to abandon Little Ye? If so, should I tell Little Ye about this after I go back? Will she be sad about this?â
Xiao Tieshu was so anxious that he decided to stop selling goods and go back to the tribe right away.
â¦
However, after returning to the tribe, Xiao Tieshu hesitated again.
What if Baoshan really likes that innkeeper and wants to abandon Little Ye? If I tell Little Ye about this, she will feel heartbroken and Baoshan will also be angry. I donât want to hurt either of them.
Xiao Tieshu didnât tell Ye Xiaoxian right away. Instead, he discussed it with Wong Mudan first.
The night he got back, the others were enjoying their dinner. Without saying a word, he beckoned Wong Mudan over with a wave. Confused, the others asked what was wrong, but he just cast a silent glance at Ye Xiaoxian.
Wong Mudan seldom saw such a serious expression on his face. She thought something must have gone wrong and followed him out of the yurt.
âWeâre having dinner. Canât we talk about that later?â she complained.
Xiao Tieshu said, âDinner? Thereâs something more important for you to worry about. Do you know who I met in town?â
âWho did you meet?â
Xiao Tieshu then told her about Xiao Baoshan. After learning this, she got very angry. âWhy canât we tell Little Ye about this? Sheâs suffered so much! First she was divorced first and then she escaped with us to this tribe. How hard our journey was! We were treated slightly better just because Baoshan was a general. Now, Little Ye leads us in getting work and earning money, while Baoshan is a âheroâ holding some coquette every day. How cozy his life is! Although heâs one of the Xiaos, Little Ye is the real blessing to all of us. She has a right to know about this!â
Xiao Tieshu said, âBut theyâre going to marry. What can Little Ye do after hearing about this? You want her to get Baoshan back from Longmen Inn? What if he insists on staying with that woman? Little Ye would be so upset!â
âShe needs to know the truth. Sheâs unwilling to remarry because she misses Baoshan. If she knew he was with another woman, sheâd then get over him. We should consider her future life.â
Xiao Tieshu felt a headache coming on. âBut I still feel it improper to do so.â
âWhatever. Just do as I say! If a woman wants a better life, she must forget the a.s.shole first!â
Xiao Tieshu felt her a.s.sertion was arbitrary, but he didnât know how to refute it.
âHurry up! Tell Little Ye about this!â She dragged him back right away.
But just then, they saw Ye Xiaoxian in front of them. Seeing Xiao Tieshuâs serious and anxious expression, Ye Xiaoxian had thought there was some problem with the goods. Worried that he would go to extremes, she had followed them out secretly, so she heard the whole conversation.
âWell, Little Yeâ¦â Xiao Tieshu scratched his hair, not knowing what to say.
âUncle Tieshu, did you really see Baoshan?â
Xiao Tieshu could only reply, âYes, I saw him. He was with a woman. Zhenbo said sheâs the owner of Longmen Inn who we once met. I also saw that they had bought many things for a wedding, so I guess theyâre going to get married.â
âDid you greet him?â Ye Xiaoxian looked relatively calm.
âYes, but he didnât recognize me, like heâd lost his memory. I couldnât tell whether he was pretending or not.â After saying that, he looked at Ye Xiaoxian. She remained composed.
âLittle Yeâ¦â Wong Mudan wanted to know what Ye Xiaoxian was thinking about.
Ye Xiaoxian said, âUncle Tieshu, you know which inn heâs living in, right? I want to go to town tomorrow. If heâs not there, then Iâll go to Longmen Inn.â