General, Madam Called You To Farm

Chapter 129 – Being Arrogant (1)
 

Young Master Xiang’s condition was stable, so Su Xiaoxiao didn’t need to stay there for long.

Before leaving, she took out two boxes of snacks from her back basket and gave them to him.

-The back basket

“This is……” Young Master Xiang looked at Su Xiaoxiao in confusion. 

Su Xiaoxiao smiled, “Today is the little new year1. I made some snacks myself. I hope you don’t mind.”

1Little New Year (小年) : also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, is a festival in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It honors the Kitchen God and takes place roughly a week before the Chinese New Year. 

Chang Ping glanced at Su Xiaoxiao, this time he didn’t dare to roll his eyes anymore. 

Young Master Xiang accepted it willingly and said, “Miss Su is really nice, thank you.” 

In fact, It wasn’t because Su Xiaoxiao cared about the little new year. It was because he gave too much money for the consultation fee and medicine last time, so she wanted to return a little bit as an appreciation. 

She really wanted to thank Mrs. Huang for reminding her that today was the little new year. 

Although it was not a valuable item, for someone like him who was rich and had noble status, he simply wouldn’t care about those expensive and valuable gifts. Perhaps the things that we thought of as treasures were not worth mentioning in his eyes. 

On the contrary, the snacks that were made by herself would look more sincere. 

“Why are there two boxes?” Young Master Xiang asked casually. 

“One box is yours and the other one is Jing Yi’s.” Su Xiaoxiao said. 

“Jing Yi.” Young Master Xiang smiled and said, “You call him by his name quite familiarly.” 

Su Xiaoxiao spread her hands, “It’s because he’s young. If I didn’t call him by his name, then how should I call him?” 

Young Master Xiang asked, “Am I very old?” 

Huh?

No, why did you care about this?

You only said that your surname was Xiang, but you didn’t say your name! 

“Zhonghua.” He said. 

“Hmm?” Su Xiaoxiao was stunned.

“My name.” He smiled warmly. 

The ancient people had surnames, given names, and courtesy names2. Such as Shen Chuan, his courtesy name was Qinghe. 

2Courtesy name (字) : also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one’s given name. According to the Book of Rites, after a man reached adulthood, it was disrespectful for others of the same generation to address him by his given name. Thus, the given name was reserved for oneself and one’s elders, whereas the courtesy name would be used by adults of the same generation to refer to one another on formal occasions or in writing. [Wikipedia] 

In this unfounded dynasty, there seemed to be no strict boundary between courtesy name and given name. It was normal for people of the same generation to call others with the given name or courtesy name, it wouldn’t be regarded as disrespect. 

Scholars had good etiquette, and they were mostly called by their surname or courtesy name. For example, fellow students might call Shen Chuan with ‘Young Master Shen’, or ‘Brother Qinghe’. Of course, it was not wrong to call him Shen Chuan. 

Did he mean that she could call him Xiang Zhonghua in the future?

Or…… Zhonghua? 

Su Xiaoxiao blinked, she was serious and solemn: “Oh.”

  ……

Not long after Su Xiaoxiao left, Jing Yi came in covered with blizzard.

Young Master Xiang was writing. 

Jing Yi came to him and asked, “Biaoge3, are you testing her today too?” 

3Biaoge (表哥) : older male cousin via female line.

“No.” Young Master Xiang continued to write.

Jing Yi said again, “Then why did you tell her your courtesy name?” 

Young Master Xiang glanced at Chang Ping, who was sweeping the snow outside his door. Chang Ping trembled and hid aside.

“You are so skillful now. You have learned how to complain to Jing Yi.” Young Master Xiang smiled faintly, “She is not a poisonous snake or fierce beast, there is no need to be so guarded against her.” 

Jing Yi frowned and said, “But then, we don’t need to trust her so much.” 

Young Master Xiang pushed a box of snacks on the table to his hand and said, “Here.” 

“What?” Jing Yi asked.

“The little new year’s gift.” Young Master Xiang said. 

Jing Yi asked strangely, “Didn’t the little new year end yesterday?” 

“In the capital, the little new year was on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. And the Qingzhou area is today.” After Young Master Xiang finished speaking, he added, “Miss Su made it herself.” 

Jing Yi had no prejudice against Su Xiaoxiao herself. He just didn’t want his older cousin to trust an outsider too much.

He tasted a bite. 

“How does it taste?” Young Master Xiang asked. 

Jing Yi said truthfully, “It’s delicious, it’s no worse than the one made by the imperial chef.” 

Young Master Xiang smiled and said, “It’s really rare ah. I remember you don’t like sweets.” 

Jing Yi thought for a moment and said, “It’s because they don’t taste good.” 

Young Master Xiang laughed and finished writing the last stroke. He put the brush on the brush holder and said to Jing Yi, “Send this couplet to Miss Su.”  

-Writing with the brush 

-Brush holder

-Couplets 

“Why?” 

“Return gift.” 

Jing Yi gasped and said, “You are going to let your precious calligraphy be stranded among the people?” 

If that person in the palace knew about this, that person would definitely be furious!