Chapter Text
There were traces all over the cave’s wall indicating it had been hacked at with a blade, like scars piled upon scars on a person’s face.
Crash—
With a swift kick from his leg, the bucket flies into the air.
“SHEN JIU!”
The bucket made of wood is dead, but the person is living, although his own foot hurts too, he would rather die than admit it.
“Stop being such a bully!”
Being thoroughly drenched till he resembles a chicken boiled in soup, not to mention having his hard work poured away just like that, the younger boy is naturally indignant, yet beyond using his stinky mouth and yelling a few sentences, what can he do?
This Shiwu, eats hard but doesn’t eat soft, this ancestor must teach him a lesson before he gets it!
“Who asked you to rat on Qi-ge, you turtle bastard?!”
The others next to him, just a moment ago, egging that little wretched thing on with their eyes, seeing Shen Jiu’s lowered head and his pulled up sleeves, not one of them dares to utter a word - among those from the same batch of kids, sold to the different prominent households in the city, who doesn’t know, the one named Nine is truly out of his mind, capable of anything when provoked?
Like a dog forced into a corner, Shiwu, with his back against the well, has no way to escape.
“Today, I’ll - ”
“Xiao Jiu!”
Yet unexpectedly, before he can raise the piece of brick in his hand, that annoying voice calls out from behind.
“LET GO! LET GO OF ME!”
“Xiao Jiu, let it go.”
Stupid oaf, how come he’s so strong!
“Qi-ge, he’s bullying me!”
Evil people make the first accusations, yesterday, in high spirits, telling tales about Qi-ge to the young master, today, who’s the one he turns around to beg to save him?
“He’s not bullying you, Shiwu. Xiao Jiu’s just playing around.”
“Who the hell’s playing around with him? Qi-ge, Qi-ge, is it for you to call?! Just try and do it again, see how I’ll kill - ”
“Ah!”
That big fool, trying to play the hero, to be the good person, using his own body to hold back Shen Jiu and ended up getting viciously kicked, yet he can still foolishly smile while holding back tears.
He, deliberately stomps harder on the foot young master Qiu beat black and blue the day before.
“Get off! Did you think with Qi-ge around, this ancestor would spare you?!”
“Haven’t you trampled me enough? Stop! Stop stamping on me! The sky’s getting dark, come on, we should hurry.”
“The water…”
Holding the empty bucket with eyes full of tears, this sympathy ploy fools no one!
“Serves you right!”
“Come, Shiwu, Qi-ge will help you fill.”
Hmph. Don’t think this ancestor doesn’t know, later, the one carrying the heavy water bucket back will be Qi-ge, not you.
“The faster we finish, the faster we can all go back to the manor to eat!”
“A-Jiu, have more. Look, you’re so skinny!”
A pair of silver chopsticks, delicate and long, lightly picks up a piece of thick and fatty braised meat, cooked for several shichen in soy sauce and rice wine, placing the slice of pork belly into his bowl.
“This red braised pork belly’s really delicious, it’s Tang-er’s favorite! Here, have a bite.”
“…thanking miss Haitang.”
“That’s right. Our A-Jiu is well mannered and decorous, knowing his place as a lower person.”
Young master Qiu, sitting next to the old master with his lackey dog Shiwu standing by his side, one eye on the spread of dishes placed on the table, the other eye glaring at Shen Jiu, seems to be in not a bad mood today, willing to humor his younger sister a bit.
“A-QI!”
“Yes, young master.”
“Look at yourself. A whole body, up and down, drenched in sweat. It spoils the appetite.”
Spitting out a mouthful of fish bones on the floor that Qi-ge just wiped clean while pinching his nose with two fingers, Qiu Jianluo’s obviously doing it on purpose.
“Others who are unaware would think we keep beasts in this household, not slaves! Isn’t that so?”
“Indeed, indeed! Our family’s Jianluo has what it takes to govern a household. With you, this son around, Father can rest assured.”
The one named Seven, though often chastised by Shen Jiu for being silly, does not completely lack self-preservation instincts, seeing Xiao Jiu’s knuckles turning white from gripping the chopsticks with too much force, his clenched fist underneath the embroidered tablecloth, he, kneeling on the ground, hastily starts to wipe, wiping his ruddy face with the cloth used to scrub the floor.
“Sorry, young master. It’s all this slave’s fault.”
“…there’s still some water left over from washing the clothes. Take it and clean yourself up.”
“Yes, young master.”
“There should be a bowl of rice gruel in the kitchen. Yesterday, being punished to go a day without food, you ought to be hungry. Go.”
“ - many - many thanks to young master Qiu for his generosity.”
“A-Jiu ah, what are you waiting for?”
Being given a hefty slice of meat, yet he acts like someone’s carved a piece of flesh out of his body, holding the chopsticks but not lifting a grain of rice, reluctant and unwilling - interesting, how interesting!
“Don’t stand on ceremony! Eat, eat!”