A piece of Japanese incense

“He’er, He’er?!”

My thoughts were called back, "Hey! Is it over?" I touched the back of my neck. Mosquitoes are really annoying creatures. Every time they bite me, they leave ugly little red spots.

"Come and meet your cousin." Zhi Yian turned towards me and pointed behind me.

I turned around in surprise, only to see a man in a frost-colored robe with lace and curly grass patterns embroidered on the lapels with silver thread. His bony hands were holding a jar of wine. Although he looked dusty, he was still handsome and elegant, with a great demeanor. However, there was a coldness between his brows that made people dare not get too close to him.

"Cousin, I think I've met He'er before." He strode over and gave us a lazily smile.

I picked at the mosquito bite through my clothes. In my mind, pictures flashed through my mind like slides, and I tried my best to search for relevant information about this man.

"Lingshan Temple?" He raised his eyebrows with a lazy and nonchalant smile on his face.

"Oh! You are...that person~" I suddenly realized.

He smiled calmly and nodded.

"He'er, this is your father's uncle's son. You should call him your cousin." Zhi Yian put his hand on his shoulder and introduced the man in a calm tone.

I bowed and said, "Hello, uncle." My smile was a little stiff, and I laughed dryly twice. I couldn't help scratching my back again.

He took out a hairpin from his sleeve that held the wine jar, and said, "Ah He, I don't know what you like, but I saw that girls all like ornaments, so I picked this hairpin. Don't dislike my taste."

I took the hairpin with a smile on my face. A lifelike white camellia was carved on the head of the hairpin. Under the sunlight, the tiny stamens seemed to come alive, blooming with soft yet sharp brilliance.

"Wow! This hairpin is so beautiful! Thank you, uncle! You have great taste!" I inserted the hairpin into my hair with a smile.

"There is one more person who loves you. Aren't you very happy, He'er?" Zhi Yian put one hand on my shoulder and the other hand around that person's shoulder, with joy shining in his eyes.

I felt an itch on the back of my hand, and I inadvertently pulled my father's hand away. I instantly reached out to swat the mosquito, leaving only a slightly red mark. The itching spread to my arm like a tide, as if an unbearable battle was raging on my skin.

I slapped my body hard, trying to calm the itch. The two of them looked at me in confusion, and I pretended to brush the dirt off my knees and asked casually, "Daddy, when are we going back? I want to go home."

Upon hearing this, my uncle said softly, "It's not too late to try the wine I brought before you leave! This is the wine from Junzitai, and its name is 'Mingshi'. I heard that this wine is soft on the palate, has a mellow taste, and a clear and comfortable aftertaste. Ah He, do you want to have a sip too?" My uncle opened the seal of the wine, and sure enough, it exuded an enticing aroma, as if calling people to come and taste it.

I took a deep sniff of the wine and thought to myself, "Hmm~ It smells really good. I don't know if it tastes good or not. If it does, maybe I can buy a jar for Yu Nian to drink. Maybe it can help relieve the stress of the exam, hehe." Then I turned my head to look at my father, anticipation flashing in my eyes.

"He'er is still young, it's not right for him to drink alcohol. Let the two of us drink a couple of cups with my father." Zhi Yian glanced at me, waved his hand, refused my uncle on my behalf, walked to the monument, and took two small cups.

On the way home, Zhi Yian and I sat in the car. His face was flushed, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise. His tone was indescribably cheerful: "He'er, Jinqi is your brother Anian's classmate. Daddy is so happy to find another relative after so many years. If he wins the first prize in the future, he can serve as an official in the court with Daddy. Daddy is finally not fighting alone. Daddy is very relieved..."

Seeing my father's rare incoherent speech, I gradually let down my guard and asked with a smile, "I am happy for you, too! Are you drunk? Do you want to go home with me?"

He supported his forehead with one hand, leaned on the coffee table, and said vaguely: "No need, if your mother saw me, she would be unhappy."

While scratching her itch, she asked, "Will Daddy allow Brother Nian to take a holiday? I finally got home and want to celebrate Brother Nian's birthday~"

"The Spring Examination is approaching, don't make a fuss. There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate his birthday in the future, so let him study in peace."

"Oh." I glared at him, curled my lips and sighed, and said no more.

As soon as the carriage reached the entrance of the alley, Yu Zhu's bright voice was heard: "Girl! The girl is back! Girl!"

Before the carriage stopped, Yuzhu was already waiting with the sedan chair in his arms.

My grandma and grandpa also rushed out of the house in a panic, as if we hadn't seen each other for many years.

"Hebao is back!" Grandma took the ceramic kettle from Yanliu, "Hebao, are you thirsty? Do you want some water?"

"Grandma, I miss you so much. I miss grandpa too." I hugged my grandmother tightly and said coquettishly.

Zhi Yian just said hello briefly in the car and left.

I couldn't wait to run into the house and lay down comfortably on the couch. Fuguier lay beside me and rubbed his head against my chin.

My grandfather first placed a sky-blue cloud-patterned lumbar pillow for me, then checked my pulse and my forehead. He asked with concern, "I heard from Ming'en that your forehead was purple, which scared me. Does it still hurt? Why are there rashes all over your neck? Does it itch?"

I snuggled tightly in my grandfather's arms and comforted him softly, "Oh, it's okay. I just bumped into something when I got up. It doesn't hurt anymore. These bumps are from mosquito bites in the mountains. Your eldest granddaughter is so adorable that even mosquitoes can't help but want to kiss her, haha."

"It's as sweet as precious blood. Everyone who comes here wants to have a taste of it~" said my grandmother humorously.

My grandfather stood up and left with a smile on his face, probably to get the Ziyun ointment for me.

"When your mother and Aunt Hong come back, we will have dinner."

"Where have they gone?"

Grandma responded, "I'm going to buy things for Anian. She's going to take the exam soon, so she needs to prepare everything, including pens, inkstones, snacks, shoes and socks. Oh, go change your clothes with Baoer. It's unlucky to wear these clothes."

I thought to myself that my grandmother had never liked my father. I was afraid that she would be unhappy if I wore the clothes my father gave me. I stood up and was about to change, but then I thought of Yu Nian, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, and asked casually, "When will Aunt Hong and the others go to give the clothes to Brother Nian?"

"I'll go after dinner."

"Then I want to go too!"

Grandfather handed the Ziyun ointment to grandmother and squinted at me: "Old woman, look, Yi An was right, wasn't he? He knew that you were going to visit your brother, so he specifically asked me to stay at home and watch over you. I forbid you to run around and distract your brother!"

"What! I protest! Why can't I go!" I shouted.

"Why do you think so? During the imperial examination, who set off firecrackers and set fire to the bookshelf? On the eve of the autumn examination, who had to release a 'drifting bottle'? Almost drowned, and Ah Nian went to save him, and he was admitted to the examination room with a cold?"

I pursed my lips but didn't dare to say a word.

"Be good, my son. Stay home and play Landlord with your grandfather! Tomorrow we will go to Xianshi County to enjoy the spring."

"Madam, Miss and Miss Hong are back and said that dinner is ready."

My grandmother closed the lid of the Ziyun ointment and pulled me up from the couch.

"Let's go eat first. After dinner, take a comfortable bath. Grandma will apply medicine to Hebao~"

I couldn't help laughing: "Why are you coaxing her like a child?" Then I took my grandmother's hand and walked out of the front hall together.