Chapter 342: What Kind of Mooncakes Do You Want?

Qin Yuan’s words made Brother Qi nod repeatedly, saying, "Madam, rest assured, this servant remembers everything. I’ll watch over my mother carefully, not letting her do any needlework, especially not embroidery. Don’t laugh at me, Madam, but I learned to sew and mend when I was very young. Although I’m not very good at it, it works well enough."

Qin Yuan was quite surprised and asked, "You can sew and mend clothes?"

Brother Qi replied, "My mother’s eyesight deteriorated early. It wasn’t right to constantly trouble the neighbor’s aunt, so I learned alongside her."

Qin Yuan nodded appreciatively, "It seems men can indeed handle needlework."

Brother Qi blushed and lowered his head.

The blind old lady said, "Madam has so many duties, we really shouldn’t be causing more trouble, but..."

Qin Yuan asked, "If there’s any difficulty, just speak up, madam. I’ll do whatever I can within my power."

The blind old lady responded, "This child is getting older, and his body has mostly recovered. It’s not ideal for us to keep staying in the mansion while recuperating. Now that he’s mobile and good at taking care of others, we might as well move back to our own place to recover and let him resume his duties once he’s fully healed."

Qin Yuan glanced at Hong Ye and said, "Is it just this? Did someone say something? I had planned to move you to another courtyard, but haven’t had time. If madam heard any gossip, it’s my fault."

The blind old lady waved her hand, "No, not at all. I just worry about breaking the mansion’s rules."

Qin Yuan considered for a moment, then said, "When Doctor Li or Xiao Dong arrives, I’ll ask them. You don’t need to worry too much about these things. Health is the priority; stay here with peace of mind."

Brother Qi and his mother expressed their gratitude repeatedly before taking their leave.

Hong Ye followed them out.

A quarter-hour later, Hong Ye returned and said, "Brother Qi ran into Seventh Miss and, on several occasions, Sixth Master’s concubine. I previously heard faint mentions of these from the nannies."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"I just remembered; they’re quite mindful of propriety and decorum."

Outside, a young maid reported, "Madam, Xiao Dong from Renhe Hall is here to pay respects."

Qin Yuan smiled, "I was just thinking of asking about Sixth Madam. Let him in."

Xiao Dong came running in, his forehead covered in sweat.

Qin Yuan asked, "Why are you all sweaty and not wiping it off?"

Cui Ming handed him a cloth, which Xiao Dong used to dab his face, "I was just at the training ground riding a horse. Happened to see Seventh Miss riding as well, so I asked her for a few pointers."

"Weren’t you supposed to practice boxing and art with Sixth Master?"

Xiao Dong replied, "Sixth Master is in Sixth Madam’s courtyard; no idea how long he’ll be there, so he let me do my own thing. I first checked on Brother Qi and his mother, then went horse riding. After riding, I checked in again; they hadn’t left yet."

Qin Yuan asked, "Brother Qi and his mother came earlier, asking to move out. Do you think it’s feasible?"

Xiao Dong said, "Brother Qi’s injuries are healed; he just needs to continue recuperating. He said he can cook and tidy up himself, so there should be no problem. His mother is just visually impaired but otherwise competent. Before entering the mansion, they managed on their own. Their diet might not be as good outside the mansion, so they should be reminded to eat well."

Qin Yuan nodded, "I’ll approve their move, but you’ll have to visit them for medical consultations, which won’t be as convenient as here."

Xiao Dong replied, "That’s fine."

After a pause, he added, "I heard from Brother Qi’s mother that the Old Madam wants the master to consult Sister-in-law Cheng’s godmother. Business is really booming."

Qin Yuan was puzzled.

"What for? Sister-in-law Cheng’s consultation?"

Xiao Dong, biting into a grape from the table, said with a smile, "What else? Naturally, for infertility, she wants a son."

Qin Yuan asked curiously, "I didn’t know about this; how did Brother Qi’s mother find out?"

Xiao Dong replied, "Not just you; even the master and I didn’t know. When we lived in the same courtyard, Brother Qi’s mother would sit quietly, unnoticed by others, but her hearing is sharp; nothing escapes her. That’s how she achieved great merit."

Qin Yuan was taken aback, "That is indeed a remarkable skill."

Xiao Dong agreed, "Exactly, even Sixteen Brother was surprised, saying he had never seen such talent."

Qin Yuan became thoughtful.

Xiao Dong snacked on various fruits, drank some sour plum juice, wiped his little mouth, sipped tea, still holding a piece of pastry, busy and content.

Qin Yuan took the opportunity to ask, "When did you leave yesterday?"

"After the play ended," Xiao Dong replied, "The master loves watching plays and even swayed along with the songs. I enjoy watching Wuqiao’s acrobatics, especially the tightrope walking high up, which was truly thrilling. It almost made my heart leap several times."

Qin Yuan laughed, "That’s called ’tightrope walking.’ There are acts even more thrilling and spectacular than that, but you’d need to visit the theater to see them. If you get a chance, persuade the master to take you. Those performers have their own exclusive venues in the theater, with better equipment than the playhouses in Marquis Mansion, allowing for more elaborate performances."

Xiao Dong was surprised, "Even more thrilling than that?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

"Of course, I’ve seen someone stand on a rope while balancing a pole on their head, on top of which others stood. The skilled ones could stack multiple layers, each person spinning plates in their hands, with the one at the bottom balancing it all while walking."

Xiao Dong was in awe, his face full of longing, "I must find a way to see that. Master’s been earning quite a bit lately, so he should be willing to take me to the theater."

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh.

Remembering something important, Xiao Dong said, "Senior sister, Master mentioned that Sixth Madam might... be prepared, and consider continuing treatment with the Dean of the Imperial Hospital. In the future, it’s best not to involve us; Master admits it’s beyond his ability."

"Alright," Qin Yuan wasn’t surprised.

Xiao Dong remarked, acting all grown-up, "Originally a healthy person, if she had listened to Master and recuperated well, she could’ve lived another ten or twenty years. But now... truly, as Master said, a doctor can treat illness but not fate. It’s a pity for Brother Kang and Fuguo’er, losing their mother so young."

Qin Yuan frowned slightly and changed the topic.

"Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, time to prepare the festival gifts. What kind of mooncakes do you like?"

Xiao Dong instantly shed his grown-up demeanor, showing a gluttonous side, smacking his lips, "It’s just Master and me; we used to go to Horizontal Street to see lights and guess riddles, but Master is terrible at guessing. We seldom eat mooncakes, with limited varieties, usually bought conveniently from pastry shops. Does the Marquis Mansion make many mooncakes?"

Qin Yuan smiled, "With so many relatives and friends in the Marquis Mansion, it’s natural to make mooncakes as gifts. Since I’m in charge of household management now, it’s not difficult to make some in styles and flavors you like."

Xiao Dong said, "I love Beijing-style, Cantonese-style, and Suzhou-style mooncakes, sweet ones, those with salted egg yolk, and even meat ones. What I really want is one of those big round ones, where the whole family gathers to eat together."

A wave of bittersweetness swept through Qin Yuan’s heart.