In the eighth month, Yanjing was fragrant with osmanthus blossoms. The tangerines beside Lingqiong Villa had only just formed, still green — standing at Lingqiong Villa and looking down, beneath the sheltering foliage of the trees, one had to strain one’s eyes to see them at all.

Shiyiniang kept saying, “Why not wait a few more days? At this time of year, they are sure to be sour and bitter.”

Xu Lingyi, wearing a short jacket made of Songjiang three-shuttle cloth, jumped nimbly out of the pavilion: “We can always come back and pick them in a couple of days!” Then he looked back at his son standing at the railing of the pavilion’s viewing ledge. “Come, Jin Ge’er!”

Jin Ge’er immediately beamed with delight and draped himself over Xu Lingyi’s back.

Shiyiniang quickly produced a bright blue rough-cloth band: “Tie him on… You can carry Jin Ge’er to the tangerine tree, but whether Jin Ge’er can keep his arms locked around your neck the whole time is another question. Imagine getting all the way to the tangerine tree, and then Jin Ge’er slips…”

Jin Ge’er squirmed and protested: “I can hold onto Father’s neck! I can hold onto Father’s neck!”

“Do as your mother says.” This time Xu Lingyi did not refuse Shiyiniang’s suggestion. He took the cloth band and tied Jin Ge’er securely onto his back.

Jin Ge’er pouted but did not dare refuse.

Shiyiniang leaned out to look down the mountain.

The guards had already stretched out a rope net made of knotted hemp below.

She let out a breath of relief.

A young maidservant called out, “The Old Madam has come!”

Shiyiniang and Xu Lingyi were both startled.

The Old Madam had already climbed up — breathing with effort and leaning on Yuban and Zhihong for support.

“What are you two playing at?” The old woman was mildly displeased. “If the guards hadn’t come in to string up a net, with the inner courtyard draped in curtains to create a passage, I never would have known you were taking Jin Ge’er to pick tangerines today!”

Shiyiniang quickly went forward to support the Old Madam.

The Old Madam made a light sound of acknowledgment, though her expression was not pleased. “Keeping one’s word is important, yes — but even so, you can’t be like this, agreeing to absolutely everything, right or wrong. You still have to make distinctions about what is reasonable and what isn’t. I am telling you: if Jin Ge’er loses so much as a single hair, I will not forgive either of you.” She spoke as she walked to the viewing ledge and settled herself. “Good child,” she said, her expression softening, her voice gentle as she coaxed Jin Ge’er, “let your father go and pick them for you, and you stay here with Grandmother and watch — won’t that do?”

“I want to go!” Jin Ge’er said in a wheedling tone, yet clung to Xu Lingyi with all his might, terrified someone might pull him off Xu Lingyi’s back. Xu Lingyi was nearly strangled out of breath. “I want to go and pick tangerines.”

Xu Lingyi was also quick to say, “Mother, it’s quite all right. Look — I’ve tied Jin Ge’er to my back!”

Shiyiniang also urged from the side, “Yesterday the Marquis went and picked two tangerines to test the route — he already knows exactly how to go. It is this concubine who is too anxious and keeps fussing, and so the Marquis asked the guards to come in and set up a net. Mother, please let Jin Ge’er give it a try!”

The Old Madam was still unconvinced, but Jin Ge’er was already calling out loudly: “Grandmother — I said I would pick tangerines to offer at Grandmother’s altar for the Bodhisattva. Something said must be done. Otherwise, no one will believe what I say.”

There had been a time when he and Cheng Ge’er were having great fun, and he had given Cheng Ge’er the small peachwood sword Xu Lingyi had given him. Two days later, he had regretted it and asked Cheng Ge’er for it back. Cheng Ge’er would not give it back, and the Old Madam had scolded Jin Ge’er with this exact phrase. He had never expected that Jin Ge’er would now turn those very words back on her.

The Old Madam was at once astonished and delighted. She looked down at the powerfully built guards at the foot of the mountain, bit her lip, and gave a reluctant nod: “Old Four — don’t forget, you have Jin Ge’er on your back!”

Xu Lingyi, fearing the Old Madam might change her mind if he waited any longer, quickly acknowledged her words and, with Jin Ge’er tied to his back, made his careful, steady way down the slope toward the tangerine trees.

Wenzhu came in carrying a bowl of snow pear paste that had been stewing for half an hour, and seeing that Xu Siyu was still reading, she smiled and said, “The Marquis has just taken the Sixth Young Master to Lingqiong Villa to pick tangerines. Why not take a break, Second Young Master, and go join in?”

Xu Siyu had just finished his examination and was waiting for the results to be posted.

“I haven’t finished my work for today,” he said. Father was taking Jin Ge’er to pick tangerines — Jin Ge’er must be overjoyed. The thought of it brought an unconscious smile to the corners of his lips. “When I’ve memorized these few pages I’ll go.” He took the snow pear paste and had a few spoonfuls, then returned to his memorization.

Wenzhu watched with a warm feeling of contentment.

As long as the Second Young Master studied diligently, the day of placing his name on the gold list would come, and with that, a path would open before him.

She quietly tidied up and withdrew.

“Really?!” Xu Sizhun sprang to his feet, his eyes bright as he looked at Wang Shu. “Father has taken Sixth Brother to pick tangerines!” He turned and pulled Xu Sijie along. “Let’s go pick tangerines too!”

Wang Shu quickly stopped Xu Sizhun: “That place is quite steep. I’ve heard the Marquis specifically had the guards set up a net at the foot of the mountain!”

“All the more reason to go and see!” said Xu Sizhun with a grin. “Last time Mother took Sixth Brother to knock chestnuts, she also spread a net beneath the tree. Sixth Brother thought it looked like fun and jumped straight off the tree into the net — bounced halfway up to the sky!” His tone was entirely envious.

“No, no!” said Xu Sijie quickly. “At the time, Sixth Brother frightened Mother’s face white…”

“I know, I know.” Xu Sizhun laughed and reassured his younger brother. “I won’t do anything like Sixth Brother. I just want to go and see!”

Xu Sijie also wanted to go and see.

Maidservants, older maidservants, and pageboys all surrounded the two of them as they headed to the inner courtyard.

Wang Shu followed close behind Xu Sizhun.

A pageboy beckoned to him from the side.

He moved quickly to step over.

“What is it?” he said, with a rather impatient air.

The pageboy looked at him with a timid glance and said fawningly, “It’s about Manager Tao again…” As he spoke, he tried to stuff a pouch into Wang Shu’s hands.

Wang Shu tossed the fat pouch back to the pageboy: “Manager Tao is an attendant who came with the Fourth Young Master’s birth mother, and also manages the Fourth Young Master’s properties. If he wants to see the Fourth Young Master, he can walk right through the front gate — who would dare stop him? I’m only a pageboy at the Fourth Young Master’s side; I have no right to accept a gift like this.” He added, “I’ll let it go this time, given that we come from the same hometown. But if you do this again, I’ll be afraid of being implicated and will have to report this matter to the Marquis.” With that, he turned and left.

The pageboy’s face went from pale to green, and he spat on the ground with a furious look: “What’s he think he is?” Then he stuffed the pouch into his own sleeve. “If you won’t take it, I will.”

Xu Lingyi, with one hand grasping a tree branch beside him and the other supporting Jin Ge’er, walked with swift and light steps through the tangled, overgrown woodland, pausing from time to time to point at the trees nearby and say something to Jin Ge’er over his shoulder. Jin Ge’er, lying on his father’s back, craned his neck toward wherever Xu Lingyi pointed and immediately broke into a wide smile.

The Old Madam, standing at the viewing ledge, gripped Shiyiniang’s hand tightly and murmured, “These few tangerine trees cannot stay — after a while, I’ll have someone come and cut them all down.”

Shiyiniang was caught between laughter and tears, but could not suppress the anxiety rising in her own heart. She watched the father and son’s retreating figures without blinking.

She saw Xu Lingyi reach the tangerine tree, untie the cloth band, and hoist Jin Ge’er up onto his shoulders.

Clusters of ripe fruit hung before Jin Ge’er’s eyes, making his brows curve with delight.

He tugged with all his might at the tangerines on the tree.

A branch bent down and sprang back up, swatting him across the face, drawing a cry of gleeful surprise from him.

The Old Madam watched, her heart aching: “That Old Four — why doesn’t he even help the child hold the branch aside? What if it hits him somewhere?”

Shiyiniang also watched Jin Ge’er with an anxious gaze.

Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie had arrived.

Seeing Jin Ge’er like that, Xu Sizhun laughed.

He waved his hand and called out to Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er gripped Xu Lingyi’s topknot and sat on his shoulders grinning.

Xu Sizhun then called out to him loudly: “Pick a few for me too!”

“All right!” Jin Ge’er nodded, and went back to picking tangerines.

Wen Yiniang tossed the embroidery hoop on the kang and slumped flat on her back.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she murmured. “Embroidering a handkerchief is only two taels of silver. With this same time and effort, I could earn ten taels, no — twenty taels.”

Xiahong covered her mouth to hide a smile: “Yiniang, why not go outside for a stroll? The Marquis has taken the Sixth Young Master to Lingqiong Villa to pick tangerines. Everyone in our courtyard has run off to watch by the Biyi Sluice!”

Wen Yiniang seemed somewhat surprised to hear this, and said quietly, “Did Qiao Yiniang go as well?”

“No!” said Xiahong. “I heard that Duke Chengguo, in order to cut household expenses, has moved everyone who lived in the east and west side courtyards out to the farmstead on the outskirts of the city. Serving maidservants and older maidservants have all been reduced wherever possible and dismissed where they can be let go. Qiao Yiniang is a widowed sister-in-law staying in the household, and while she was allowed to remain, she has been moved to a secluded courtyard in the back garden with only one young maidservant and one rough-work attendant to wait upon her. Qiao Yiniang has dug out all the bolts of cloth at the bottom of her trunks, and together with Xiuyuan is working day and night to try to sew Qiao Madam a complete set of seasonal clothing. She hasn’t gone anywhere these past few days.”

Wen Yiniang sighed.

Jin Ge’er poured the tangerines out onto a table spread with Shu brocade.

Some of the still-green tangerines rolled down and fell off.

Yuban, Zhihong, and Zhuxiang hurried forward to pick up the tangerines.

Jin Ge’er stood on a stool and searched for a long while before choosing a large one. He jumped down from the stool and ran to the Old Madam: “Grandmother, eat a tangerine!”

“Oh my!” The Old Madam beamed and kissed Jin Ge’er.

Jin Ge’er picked out two more tangerines, gave one to Xu Sizhun and one to Xu Sijie, said “Brothers, eat tangerines,” and then scrambled impatiently back up onto the stool, took a tangerine for himself, and began pulling it apart to eat.

Everyone watching burst into laughter.

Then they saw Jin Ge’er’s face scrunch up — and with a great “Bleh!” he spat out the tangerine in his mouth.

“So sour, so sour!” he wailed, clutching his cheeks and stamping his feet, startling Zhuxiang so badly her face went pale, and she quickly rushed forward to steady the stool. He had already jumped off the stool and come running toward the door.

“Mother, Mother,” he crashed headlong into Shiyiniang’s arms — she had been attended by servants as Xu Lingyi went to change clothes — “the tangerines taste terrible!”

One could imagine why.

Whether a fruit is good depends in part on climate, soil, and the spread of pollen. With only a few tangerine trees growing there, over many years, even the best variety would struggle to bear fine fruit.

Shiyiniang smiled and hugged Jin Ge’er: “Let’s rinse our mouth with fresh water!”

Jin Ge’er nodded, his large phoenix-shaped eyes glistening with moisture, looking thoroughly aggrieved.

Xu Lingyi, who had changed into a sapphire-blue plain Hangzhou silk long robe and walked in side by side with Shiyiniang, saw this and smiled despite himself: “Let’s see if you’ll go around clamoring to pick tangerines next time!”

The Old Madam immediately said with displeasure: “The child has already suffered — and now you’re mocking him.” She beckoned to Jin Ge’er: “Come, come to Grandmother.”