Chapter 59: Qixi Festival

Chapter 59

Qixi Festival

Song Qilin and Kang Wang had finally reconciled, returning to their usual banter. Kang Wang stopped calling her Lady Boss and instead started calling her Shuang Shuang like Song Qilin. This, of course, earned him a sharp, bloodthirsty look from the General.

“Wuqian, since when have you gotten so familiar with her? She’s your friend’s wife, so you should address her as sister-in-law.”

Kang Wang grinned mischievously.

“Shuang Shuang and I are on good terms. You don’t need to get all riled up over nothing.”

Nie Shuang didn’t mind at all. He could call her whatever he wanted. She was more concerned that the children might start getting fussy from not seeing their parents, so she instructed Xiao San to ask Xiao Tong to bring them in.

Kang Wang had only ever met Bao Bao, so when he finally saw Bei Bei and Xiao Hua Hua, he burst out laughing, clapping Song Qilin on the shoulder with approval.

“Not bad, not bad. One birth and you’ve got three sturdy little ones.”

Bei Bei was a handsome boy. Though quieter than Bao Bao, he wasn’t oblivious. He often observed things in silence, and in truth, Nie Shuang favored him the most. He was a clever child, destined to grow up thoughtful and deep.

When Kang Wang saw Xiao Hua Hua, he was utterly captivated by her cuteness, immediately picking her up and holding her in his arms. He had never seen such an adorable, doll-like little girl before. She had big, round eyes that were bright and innocent, her eyebrows delicately arched, her tiny mouth and nose, and her chubby cheeks. Today, because they came outside, she wore a red outfit with her hair in a bun, making her look even more adorable. When she looked up at Kang Wang and smiled, her eyes crinkled like her mother’s.

“I’m going to adopt her as my goddaughter!”

Seeing that smile, Kang Wang decided on the spot.

“And who gave you permission?!”

Song Qilin snapped, sounding very much like a possessive father. The argument between the two men gave Nie Shuang a headache.

“Both of you, stop!”

Both men obediently fell silent. Nie Shuang turned to her husband first.

“What good will arguing with Kang Wang do you?”

Hearing this, Kang Wang smiled triumphantly, but before he could bask in his victory, Nie Shuang turned to him next.

“And you—saying you would adopt her, what makes you think you’re worthy of being her godfather?”

Kang Wang was momentarily speechless, unable to believe that his rank as a Wang wasn’t enough. Nonetheless, he began thinking hard.

“I...I’ll give her ten chests of gifts and a silk shop in the city. Every year, I’ll send her red envelopes and birthday presents. With me as her godfather, she’ll be recognized as a Lady. And if my rank rises in the future, her status will rise as well. How’s that...Shuang Shuang—does that sound good?”

Song Qilin struggled to hold back his laughter, the corners of his mouth betraying him. Watching his friend being outwitted by his wife was truly amusing. Shuang Shuang was remarkable, after all.

Kang Wang didn’t even realize he had just been swindled out of wealth and was now looking at Nie Shuang eagerly, awaiting her answer.

“It sounds good,”

Nie Shuang smiled at Kang Wang sincerely with an asset-extracting smile. Having Kang Wang as a godfather for their little daughter was all upside. Seeing her smile, Kang Wang felt like adding even more gifts for the mother, though Song Qilin’s watchful gaze kept him in check.

Later that day, after returning to their mansion, Song Qilin held his wife tightly. He felt uneasy.

“Shuang Shuang, if I hadn’t found you, would you and Kang Wang have...?”

His beautiful wife looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Mm...It might have been possible. But I certainly wouldn’t have married into the Wang’s palace. At most, I’d make him my lover,"

Nie Shuang replied casually.

Lover! She said the word without a hint of embarrassment, leaving Song Qilin staring at her wide-eyed in shock.

“You wouldn’t actually think of giving me a green hat[1], would you?”

“You don’t seriously think that if you hadn’t shown up, I’d remain a widow forever, do you?”

She responded, genuinely surprised. Song Qilin was stunned, standing frozen for a moment before quietly retreating to play with the children, looking forlorn like a sick wolf.

His wife was truly unlike anyone else. He was a handsome, strong man with a high-ranking background, yet to her, it seemed she could take him or leave him... Song Qilin had never felt so disheartened about himself before.

No! He needed to prove himself! If his title didn’t matter to her, then he had to make her see his worth in another way!

That night, after working himself up, Song Qilin regained his spirit. As soon as the lights were out, he eagerly began massaging her, trying to win her over. Nie Shuang felt like a noble being seduced by a servant girl.

“Shuang Shuang, is your husband’s massage pleasing you?”

He asked, his voice deep, low, and charming. Nie Shuang closed her eyes in comfort, not even bothering to open them.

“Mmmm...not bad. You’re even better than Xiao San,”

She praised, inadvertently deflating his confidence. Was he only as good as a servant...?

No, he couldn’t give up!

“Shuang Shuang, it’s been days since we’ve... You’ve been so busy. Should I serve you tonight?”

Nie Shuang, who had her eyes closed, cracked a smile at the corner of her mouth. It seemed that she had teased him too much earlier that afternoon. Now, this big dog was acting so cute. She opened her eyes, smiled sweetly, and reassured him.

“Qilin...there’s no one else but you. You’re so wonderful. Why would I look at anyone else?”

She cooed softly, her warm, fragrant body leaning into him. Although he had planned to seduce her, it was he who became flustered. The young man swallowed hard, his hands gently exploring her slender figure in awe. That night, in his efforts to please her, he used every trick he knew. Nie Shuang’s cries of pleasure filled the air, the storm of passion raging until the flowers were drenched well into the night.

Finally, the Qixi Festival arrived. The square in front of the government hall was lively with excitement. A simple pavilion had been set up for Kang Wang and the important officials of the city to watch the festivities. Xiangyun Tea House had a booth offering free tea to all the attendees. The young girls started signing up for the competition early in the morning, and the competition began around mid-Chen hour (8:00 a.m.). After that, the calligraphy competition began. The participants ranged in age, as there were no restrictions. The prize for the winners in both categories was ten taels of silver and a box of Hong Bao tea. The second and third place winners would receive five and three taels, respectively. For commoners, these were significant amounts. A family could live for an entire year on just three taels. Everyone was eager to win, and with so many competitors, the selection rounds had to be divided into multiple heats.

For the needle-threading competition, fifty-eight girls participated, so the contest was divided into five rounds with about twelve participants in each round. In front of each girl was a table covered with a red cloth, a long white thread, and a pile of needles. When the judge signaled the start of the competition by beating the gong, the participants had to thread as many needles as possible. When the gong sounded again to stop, the judges would count how many needles each contestant had threaded, and the one with the most would be declared the winner.

In some rounds, there were more than one winner due to ties, which led to nine girls qualifying for the final round.

The judges used the same method for determining the top three winners, but this time the needles were smaller, making it more challenging to thread. The remaining girls worked hard, some becoming so pressured that their hands began to shake. By time was up, the winner had threaded twelve needles in less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea. All the participants were beaming with joy; the winners received cash prizes and gifts, while everyone who competed received a sample box of Hong Bao tea to take home.

The calligraphy competition was just as lively. Teachers from the local academy served as judges, and in the interest of fairness, scholars from the academy were barred from entering. Contestants ranged from boys aged eleven or twelve to scholars in their forties. Small wooden tables were arranged in rows across the open courtyard, and the participants—both young and old—used their writing tools to copy a short poem read by the judges, which included characters with complex strokes that were difficult to write. Those who finished quickly signed their names in the corner of the paper before submitting it.

The judging process took some time. While the selection was ongoing, young disciples from the Shen Nong Protection Agency put on a martial arts demonstration, performing with swords, staffs, and fists, drawing great interest from the audience. Even though there was no formal donation collection, the crowd threw money into the equipment bags in support. The impressive skills of the children made the Shen Nong Protection Agency become a hot topic at the festival. Although many children of the local merchants had not enrolled as disciples, they had learned the lessons without paying any fees. Nie Shuang had left this decision to Yan Zhan and the trainers, who, seeing no harm, agreed to teach the children for free. The public praised the Lady Boss for her generosity and kindness, and the reputation of Shen Nong Protection Agency grew even further. After the Qixi Festival, many parents came to enroll their children in the agency, and almost all of Huangjing’s merchants began using Shen Nong Protection Agency’s services.

In the calligraphy competition, many competitors were closely matched in skill, including a thirteen-year-old who made it to the final round. The judges spent considerable time deliberating and selected ten scrolls, which they narrowed down to three before deciding the winner. The three finalists were so closely matched. The opinions of the teachers were undecided, so they called upon Kang Wang to make the final decision.

Nearby, Xiangyun Tea House had set up a booth to offer free tea to festival-goers. In keeping with the festive atmosphere, they served Hong Bao tea to quench thirst. Nie Shuang, enjoying such activities, personally served tea to passersby. Many young men, seeing her, were struck by her beauty and gazed at her in awe. However, upon noticing the tall, imposing man standing beside her with a fierce expression, they quickly averted their gaze and hurried away.

"It was so much fun!"

Nie Shuang beamed with joy. Many embroidery and stationery shops from the city had set up stalls offering discounted goods. Young girls and boys, who studied how to read and write, bought many supplies and left with their hands full. After the event, they wandered around the city’s shops, buzzing with excitement, making the whole city thrive with activity. It truly was a day of happiness for many. The Tian Fo Si Temple received more donations for incense and sold more amulets and charms than they usually did in an entire year. The temple’s caretaker couldn’t help but think that this Lady Boss was truly a goddess of wealth. Everything she touched turned to gold, and those who worked with her reaped the benefits as well.

Since the students from the academy were unable to participate in the day’s competitions, a special banquet was planned for them and their teachers that evening at the Wang’s palace as a gesture of gratitude. Xiangyun Tea House took charge of the food and drinks for the event. Originally, the plan was to have only the teachers and students attend, but some students, whose families were officials in the city, expressed a desire to join as well, seeking special permission to attend.

At first, Kang Wang was reluctant to grant permission. He was a solitary man who didn’t enjoy social gatherings. However, Nie Shuang made him reconsider.

"These individuals come from noble families, and one day they may follow the same path. Normally, you don’t act prominently and avoid associating with local officials, which is a good thing. But since this is the first Qixi Festival we’re holding, it wouldn’t be strange to invite their families. It wouldn’t draw much attention, and it would make the event livelier."

Upon hearing this, Kang Wang agreed. Some scholars who weren’t from noble families also took the opportunity to bring their families, thrilled to be allowed entry into Kang Wang’s palace, which was not a place outsiders could easily visit.That night, there were two men who caught everyone’s attention. Kang Wang was still unmarried. While the position of the primary consort might be hard to fill due to Xian Fei’s high standards, the title of secondary consort was certainly enticing. General Song was no less attractive. Still young, he was already a third-rank official, handsome and dignified, and had a good family background. He was the heir of Yong An Hou—part of the extended royal family. Though he already had a principal wife, she was merely a merchant, and many of the Furens and their daughters believed themselves to be of higher standing. They felt that even if they married into his family later, their noble status would overshadow his principal wife. As a result, the banquet was filled with many young women of eligible ages to marriage.

[1] “Giving someone a green hat” or “wearing a green hat” is an expression that Chinese use when a woman cheats on her husband or boyfriend because the phrase sounds similar to the word for cuckold.