Chapter 45 of Volume 1: Presenting Poetry

  In the blink of an eye, five months have passed. Today is the day Lin Er Lang and Lin Da Zhuang are released from prison. Shi Wen knows that Lin Chun will definitely come to the county today, so he and Madam Shi prepared early at home, also instructing the yamen runners to release Lin Er Lang and Lin Da Zhuang in the evening.

  Lin Chunjie and Anhe first rode the ox cart from Dashanbo's home to the town, then rented a horse carriage and headed towards the county seat. Lin Chunjie usually didn't like strolling around, but when they arrived at the county seat, people were setting up stalls for small businesses, making the streets very lively. There were fresh vegetables, fruits, and all sorts of breakfast foods, including steamed buns and baozi stalls. Many shops had just opened their doors, and you could clearly see the shop assistants and owners tidying up to welcome customers for the new day.

  Lin Chun and An He got off the horse cart, first walked to a small stall to eat some breakfast, drank two bowls of tofu brain, and then strolled around the street, bought some fresh fruit, and also went to Qianfuyuan in the county town, gave some to the shopkeeper inside, before the two arrived at the county government office on foot. Mrs. Shi had already asked Momo to wait at the door, seeing Lin Chun arrive, she happily welcomed her, "The young lady has arrived, Madam has been thinking about you since morning, please follow me into the mansion!"

  "Alright, also trouble Momo to find a young man to take my family's guard brother to rest." Lin Chun was already very familiar with this Momo, but still very polite, and it seemed that Momo was also pleased with Lin Chun's attitude towards him.

  "Don't worry, madam has arranged everything. First, enter the mansion, and someone will take your brother to rest. You can be at ease." Momo knew that Lin Chun was well-liked by both Shi Wen and Madam Shi, and Lin Chun respected herself, so she couldn't be arrogant. Moreover, having served Madam for the longest time, she deeply understood her thoughts. Adding Lin Chun's simplicity and kindness, she truly cared about Madam, and Momo also felt grateful to Lin Chun in her heart.

  Lin Chun entered the county government office and went straight to the back garden, where it was May in Yuxiang Town. The weather was pleasant, with warm spring air and blooming flowers everywhere. In the garden, a hundred flowers were in full bloom, and butterflies danced around. Madame Shi had set out refreshments and tea in the pavilion, and from afar, she gazed at Lin Chun's lake-green long dress, her two braids adorned with jasmine flowers, her face pure and bright-eyed. The more Madame Shi looked, the more satisfied she became, her eyes filled with affection. She hastily came out of the pavilion to greet Lin Chun, who scolded her, "Mother, you should have just waited in the pavilion, why did you come out?"

  "Madam, it's been a long time since we've seen the young lady, and I've missed her terribly. Today she's come to the mansion, and Madam is naturally overjoyed." Mu Mu said with a smile on her face.

  "Yes, I'm glad. You haven't come to see me and your uncle for several months." Mrs. Shi said with a slightly unhappy face.

  "Auntie, I'm sorry. It was my fault for not thinking it through. From now on, I'll definitely come to visit you once a month. It's just that our family has been busy with renovations and repairs these past few months, so I haven't had the chance to visit. Please forgive me, Auntie!" Lin Chun said with a pout, making Shi Furen laugh heartily. "Alright, this is what you've promised, so don't forget! If you don't come next time, I'll be angry with you! Just let your guards and servants handle the household chores, you're a young lady, you need to take care of your reputation." Shi Furen's words were filled with concern, making Lin Chun feel warm inside.

  "Stepmother, don't worry, Dabao understands. Let's go to the pavilion and sit down to talk. And please help me wash these fruits, they're all freshly bought. We can taste the seasonal fruits together... By the way, stepmother, there are several wild peach trees on our mountain that have borne a lot of peaches. When they ripen, I'll pick some for you to try... Lin Chun thought that in the future when he planted fruit trees and harvested more than his family could eat, if his stepmother liked the taste, maybe he could open a fruit shop in town or county."

  "Okay, often the vegetables and fruits grown at home are sweeter than those bought in town, this stepmother is still quite aware of that."

  "Big Ya, I'm here. Let's stay in the house for lunch at noon, and after lunch, we'll discuss Lin Er Lang and Lin Da Zhuang's affairs again. Shi Qi just brought back a puppy from An He, and he's so excited that he can't even think straight. He also wants you to name it, Big Ya, and thank you too!" Shi Wen said as she walked over with big strides.

  "Big sister, don't spoil that kid. Ever since you became his sister, he's been showing off to people every day. Now you've given him a little dog, next time he'll come asking for this and that. You can't spoil him." Mrs. Shi was very strict with her three sons. Shi Yu is now studying hard at home every day, preparing to take the imperial examination in the capital. Shi Yuan likes to go out and play, but Mrs. Shi doesn't let him leave the house. Shi Qi is the youngest, but he also goes to school every day. The rules and discipline of the Shi family are very strict.

  "Don't worry, Shi Qi is of the same age as Da Tou, and his mother's strict teachings are also for his own good. Da Ya understands this in her heart, and it's all because of her kindness that both brothers and Shi Qi are aware of it."

  "Madam, Young Master's wife has brought your little golden grandson." Momo was holding a plate of fruit and walking over, with Shi Yu's wife, whose name was Yue Xiang, following behind her, carrying a boy who was less than one year old.

  Lin Chun greeted her and saw the little boy in her arms, staring blankly at himself with wide eyes, drooling from his small mouth. As he looked, he suddenly smiled and kicked his little feet. Lin Chun was delighted and walked up to him, smiling. He, however, felt a bit embarrassed, turned his head and buried it in his mother's bosom, occasionally tilting his head to steal glances.

  Mrs. Shi was also amused, and Yuexiang was obviously a little unbelievable. Usually her own son would either cry loudly or be unhappy when he saw strangers, but today when he saw this adopted daughter of the Shi family, he unexpectedly reversed his usual state, becoming excited and curious.

  Shi Wen burst out laughing, took a piece of fruit from the plate, and asked Momo to hand over Little Star to her. Little Star was the nickname for this little boy, whose full name was Shi Yu Ke. Shi Wen said that they should wait until Shi Yu Ke came back before taking it. Shi Wen picked up Little Star in one swift motion, putting the fruit to his lips. Little Star stuck out his small tongue, licking the sweetness off the fruit, with a look of satisfaction on his face. "Looks like our little star really likes this auntie, huh? Auntie, looks like your gift for meeting him today is well-deserved!"

  Last time, Lin Chun didn't go see Xiao Xingxing because he was too small and Lin Chun was afraid of scaring him. He also thought that Shi Yu's wife, Yue Xiang, wasn't very fond of him, so he had the self-awareness not to disturb her. But today, when he saw the child, it seemed like they hit it off. "Uh, Father, your words make me a bit... I came in a hurry today and didn't prepare anything. If Madam doesn't mind, I'll compose a poem on the spot as a gift for Xiao Xingxing." Lin Chun said to Yue Xiang.

  "My sister is being polite, you can compose a poem for Little Star, and Little Star likes you too, I'm very happy about it." Moon Xiang's words were calm and peaceful, without any hint of joy.

  Shi Wen and Mrs. Shi were somewhat displeased, but Lin Chun pretended not to notice, "Since that's the case, I'll trouble Uncle Shi to have someone prepare the writing materials." Shi Wen immediately instructed his personal attendant to go to the study, and soon the attendant returned with a tray, on which was a complete set of high-quality stationery. Lin Chun noticed that when Yue Xiang saw this set of stationery, her expression changed slightly, but she quickly recovered.

  Shi Wen and Mrs. Shi were unmoved, Lin Chun didn't know the reason behind it, he ground the ink himself, picked up his brush and wrote, a humble "Limestone Ode" appeared on the paper: Thousands of hammers and chisels come out of the deep mountains, fierce fire burns as if nothing. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, not afraid at all, want to leave a clear conscience in the world.

  Lin Chuyu put down his pen, and Shi Wen followed with a silent recitation before slapping the table in praise: "Good, good poem, good poem."