Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Xia Lanyue unbuttoned her clothes, and the outer garment slid down her shoulders. She placed the garment on a stone, then loosened her belt...

Xia Lanyue, dressed in close-fitting clothes, slowly walked into the river.

She hadn't taken a bath in a long time, and now, the cool river water enveloped her, making her feel comfortable and relaxed.

She submerged her head in the water, swimming underwater and enjoying the gentle flow of water gliding over her skin.

She surfaced, took a breath, and then sank back down, immersing herself in the tranquility.

After a short while, Xia Lanyue slowly emerged from the water.

After getting dressed, she walked along the path toward the reeds, but stopped after a short distance.

Ah Xiang was staring wide-eyed in her direction. When he saw it was her, he happily ran towards her.

"No one came by just now, right?" Xia Lanyue asked.

"No, I just stared at them, and no one came."

Xia Lanyue squatted down and pinched A Xiang's little face. "A Xiang is so amazing. He can even help Aunt Yue with chores now."

Ah Xiang smiled憨憨地.

Xia Lanyue pulled A Xiang along and herded the ducks back home.

No one was home; Tian Guang and his wife had gone to work in the fields and hadn't returned yet.

Xia Lanyue walked into the room, picked up the towel draped at the foot of the bed, and dried her hair.

She styled her hair into a simple bun and then inserted a hairpin.

"I'm so tired, combing my hair is such a hassle," Xia Lanyue complained as she rubbed her aching arms.

Ah Xiang ran in and stood next to Xia Lanyue, asking, "Aunt Yue, is your hair done?"

Xia Lanyue turned around and faced him directly, "Alright, A Xiang, can you tell me if it looks good or not?"

"It looks good," Ah Xiang said shyly.

Xia Lanyue was amused by his appearance.

Then, she handed the mirror to A-Xiang, saying, "Put it back. Remember where you got it from, so your grandmother doesn't find out."

"Okay," A-Xiang replied, and ran towards Wang Cui's house.

In Xia Yao's courtyard, Xia Huifang held Xia Lanyue's hand, beaming from ear to ear. "I'm so happy you've come."

“Ah Xiang kept insisting on coming to see Mr. Xia, so I brought him here,” Xia Lanyue said, holding Ah Xiang’s hand.

"Come inside quickly. Pan Gao must be feeling stifled staying indoors. You can keep him company and talk to him," Xia Huifang said, leading Xia Lanyue and the other woman to the east room.

"Climbing high, look who's here!" Xia Huifang walked up to Xia Yao.

Xia Yao was sitting on the bed reading a book when he saw that it was her. He was a little surprised, then closed the book, smiled and nodded to greet her, "Hello, Miss Yue."

Before entering the room, Xia Lanyue told herself to stay calm and not reveal her thoughts. However, when she heard his voice, she still couldn't control the flutter in her heart. She tried her best to remain calm and softly uttered a few words, "Hello, Mr. Xia," before lowering her eyes and no longer daring to look him in the eye.

Xia Hui seemed to have sensed her intentions, and asked with a hint of delight, "Miss Yue, how old are you?"

"twenty".

“Oh my, you’re the same age as our Panzhao, then you must have a lot to talk about,” Xia Huifang said, even happier.

“Aunt Xia, just call me A-Yue,” Xia Lanyue said.

“Alright, you’re all young people, don’t be so reserved,” Xia Huifang said, pulling Xia Lanyue’s hand and turning to Xia Yao. “Pangao, you entertain A-Yue, I’m going to brew the medicine.”

Xia Yao nodded, and Xia Huifang took the opportunity to leave.

Normally she could talk non-stop, but today she seemed unusually reserved and shy. She wanted to speak to break the awkward atmosphere, but didn't know what to say. She began to regret coming here.

Fortunately, Mr. Xia's voice came just in time, "A-Yue, please have a seat."

Xia Lanyue nodded and walked to the stool by the window. Just as she sat down, she heard Mr. Xia ask, "Would you like some loquat?"

"Eat—" Xia Lanyue looked at him, who was holding a loquat and asking A Xiang a question. Hearing her answer, Xia Yao turned to look at her.

“...Well, Ah Xiang, Mr. Xia gave it to me.” Xia Lanyue smiled at them.

"Thank you, sir," Ah Xiang said politely as he accepted the gift.

"Haha... At home, don't call him 'sir,' call him 'uncle,'" Xia Yao pinched A Xiang's cheek, then took another loquat from the plate next to him and handed it to A Xiang, "You can give this to Aunt Yue."

Xia Lanyue felt sweat trickling down her face. She took the loquat and fidgeted with it, trying to hide her embarrassment. The loquat was mostly skin and pit, so she ate it very slowly.

A-Xiang stood by the bed, his hand on Xia Panyao's leg, and asked him, "Is Uncle's foot feeling better?"

"much better."

"When will you come to the private school to study?"

"We have to wait a few more days until the field holiday is over."

"Shall I massage your feet?" Ah Xiang was very considerate.

"Thank you, A-Xiang, but I can't rub my feet; I need to apply medicine to make them heal."

They chatted for a while, then Ah Xiang seemed a little sleepy and lay down on Xia Yao's lap without saying a word. The air suddenly became very quiet.

"I've heard that Miss Yue is well-read?" Xia Yao spoke up, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Oh, not at all, I've only read a few," Xia Lanyue said guiltily, lowering her head, hoping not to be asked what books she read. But usually, once the conversation reached this point, the next question would be about the books. So, Xia Lanyue quickly came up with a plan. She remembered a friend telling her that when you don't know what to talk about, just praise the other person, and the topic will naturally come up. With that in mind, she decided to take the initiative, "Mr. Xia's scholarship is truly renowned far and wide. On my first day here, I heard Uncle Tian and Aunt Wang praising you. Ah Xiang also always mentions you, so it's clear that you have a great influence."

This trick really worked. Xia Yao was a little embarrassed by the praise and lowered his head with a smile.

"I heard that Mr. Xia will also participate in this year's autumn imperial examination?"

Xia Yao was a little surprised, but quickly smiled knowingly, "Yes, but my foot isn't healed yet, so I'm not sure if I can participate."

“Don’t worry, I’ve heard that Dr. Zhang is a skilled doctor; he’ll definitely be able to cure your illness,” Xia Lanyue said. She remembered that his illness was caused by an insect bite, but she hadn’t heard Tian Guang mention it again. Now she was curious about what had happened. “Mr. Xia, what kind of insect bit you?”

"I didn't see it clearly at the time. I was reading a book. By the time I noticed it, it had already run away."

Xia Lanyue looked at Xia Yao with a questioning gaze. Her doubts didn't stem from the insects, but from the fact that he was lying!

When he spoke, his eyes were looking to the upper right. She remembered reading in a book that when people lie, their eyes unconsciously look to the upper right!

Xia Lanyue wasn't quite sure, because she didn't understand why there was anything to hide.

Xia Lanyue forced a smile, which was her response to Xia Yao's words.

"hu~hu~"

Ah Xiang's snoring began at a steady pace. He was standing by the window, asleep with his head on Xia Yao's lap.

Xia Yao hugged A Xiang with both arms and carried him to the bed, even sharing some of his own blanket with him.

"Why did you look at me like that just now, young lady?" Xia Yao asked out of the blue.

Xia Lanyue was taken aback. Did he see through her thoughts and deliberately make her say it? Or was he teasing her? But she wasn't sure, and said, "Sir has the air of a scholar."

"Thank you for the compliment, young lady. Is there anything else?" Xia Yao pressed.

Xia Lanyue was speechless. Coupled with what had just happened with the insects, she had calmed down considerably. After thinking for a moment, she said, "What if I say there aren't any?"

“But when I met the girl, I felt an instant connection with her,” Xia Yao said with a hint of joking.

Was he trying to flirt with her? Xia Lanyue was utterly disgusted by how clichéd that was.

Xia Lanyue smiled and lowered her head, remaining silent.

"Is there anything you want to ask me, young lady?" Xia Yao asked.

Xia Lanyue shook her head; she couldn't respond to his words.

Regardless of his intentions, Xia Lanyue felt that Xia Yao was definitely not the kind of bookworm his mother described.