Guo Baiyu sat alone under a cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, painting a picture of Ping'an. Every detail of her still lingered clearly in his mind. At that time, he believed that if he returned home, he would slowly free her from the memory, but the longer the time passed, the clearer the memory and the stronger the feeling of missing. It has been two years, ten months and twelve days since Guo Baiyu last saw Ping'an and Zhao Renshu on that lonely dirt road for the last time. He remembered his way back to them, but he chose not to visit. Since the day he left them, he decided to give up this love triangle. In two months, the three-year contract between Zhao Renshu and him will end.
Guo Baiyu's courtyard is the smallest of all other family members. He likes a simple life. When other family members have twenty to fifty maids and servants. Guo Baiyu has only three. For example, the grand lady of the house who is Guo Baiyu's grandmother, she has ten personal maids. Twenty maids clean and take care of her yard. Ten male servants to help the maid. She also has ten private guards who are strictly trained to protect herself from thieves.
He heard footsteps slowly approaching him.
Guo Baiyu, "What is it?" He continued painting.
Xiao Mei, "Young master, I'm sorry to disturb you, but the master is back. He wants a family dinner tonight."
Guo Baiyu, "Thank you Xiao Mei." He turned around and gave her a smile. "Remind me later."
Xiao Mei, "Yes, young master. Do you wish for anything in the kitchen?"
Guo Baiyu, "No, you can go." He turned back to his painting.
Xiao Mei knew from two years and ten months ago that whenever the young master missed this lady, he would draw a picture for her. In his study room nowadays, most of the paintings by the young master are this lady, but she dare not ask him who this lady is. Even if she don't ask, Xiao Mei knew, this lady is very important to him, and he misses her deeply.
The Guo families are very strict in choosing maids, so when Guo Baiyu brought Xiao Mei back to his home five years ago to be his personal maid, everyone was shocked. His father and grandmother could not go against his wishes at the time, because he was the sole conducting business and brought money into the family save.
Xiao Mei has been deformed since she was born. One of her eyes is bigger than the other. Her crooked mouth made her speech a little difficult to understand. She is four feet ten inches tall. Her head is a bit big. Moreover, her hands were also deformed. The picky finger sticks to the ring finger. The middle finger sticks to index finger, on both hands.
The reason Guo Baiyu chose her was because Xiao Mei is a quick learner. Gou Baiyu taught her how to read and write. Within six months of working for him, she could read and write without any problems. On the other hand, Xiao Mei admires Guo Baiyu very much. Since she was born, she has been an unknown child until Guo Baiyu named her Xiao Mei.
Guo Baiyu put the finished painting on the table, put away the paintbrush, and looked at the painting. He closed his eyes, and the memory of the one month he spend with Ping'an and Zhao Renshu began to play in his mind again. From the first time he met her on that dirt road, to the last moment of goodbye when he kissed her. He didn't remember how long he daydreamed until Xiao Mei's voice woke him up.
Xiao Mei, "Young master, it is six in the evening."
Guo Baiyu opened his eyes.
Xiao Me, "Do you want to change clothes before going to main dining hall? The master said we have guests tonight, and he orders all the young masters to attend."
Guo Baiyu rolled up his finished painting and handed it to Xiao Mei.
Guo Baiyu, "I'll go change."
Xiao Mei, "I will take the painting to the study room."
Guo Baiyu, "Thank You Xiao Mei."
The Guo family dining hall is very large. The maid set two big Chinese round tables in the middle of the hall. Fifteen servants walked back in fort between the kitchen and the family dining hall, placing dishes of food on the two tables. There are two roles of seats in the big hall, ten beautiful wooden chairs on each side. When Guo Baiyu arrive at the dining hall, everyone except the grand lady had already arrived included the four guests. Guo Baiyu found an empty chair beside the door way. The five Guo brothers looked at the two fairly beautiful ladies sitting across from them. Shortly after, the grand lady Guo walked into the dinning hall with her ten maids Master Guo stood up and walked to Grand Lady Guo.
Master Guo, "Mother this way." He led her to one of the round Chinese table. "The olds are sitting here and the young are sitting over there."
The young people went to their table and sat down. The names of Guo's sons all end with "Yu". Guo Baiyu is the first young master of the Guo family. Guo Yingyu is the second young master and he is the first son of lady fourth. Guo Jinyu is the third young master and he is the second son of lady fourth. Guo Hongyu is the fourth young master and he is the only son of the second lady. Guo Heiyu is the fifth young master and he is the youngest son of lady fourth. Guo Mingyu is the sixth young master and he is the only child of the first lady of the house.
In Capital City, everyone expressed admiration for Master Guo's six handsome and talented sons. The Guo was the fourth riches family in Capital City. The Wu and the Fang are the richest among the rest of the upper-class families in Capital City, so when the Wu family visits the Guo family tonight, Guo's sons must show their best behavior.
Guo Baiyu already knew the reason why the Wu sisters came here tonight. They visited the Guo brothers to chose a husband according to their parent's request. His other brothers are already in conversation with the Wu sisters. They tried hard to leave a good impression on the Wu sisters. Guo Baiyu remained silent and just looked at them.
At the dinner table, the younger generation is eating and sharing educational experiences. Memories flashed in Guo Baiyu's heart. He recalled the moment at Peach Blossom Valley where he was sitting in the kitchen table with Zhao Renshu and Ping'an, eating the plain food she cooked. He recalled her smile, he recalled his jokes, and recalled his own happiness.
Guo Baiyu murmured softly, "It's just you, him, and me."
Guo Mingyu, "Ge, what do you say?"
Guo Baiyu, "Nothing."
Guo Mingyu complained, "Why should I come? I don't even like the two ladies."
Guo Baiyu, "Behave yourself."
The younger brother nodded and continued to eat without looking at his other brothers.
Guo Yingyu, "How about after dinner we can show you two around?"
Master Wu, "That's great. I want to discuss some business with Master Guo."
Master Guo, "Baiyu, you stay behind." His three wives and four sons gave Guo Baiyu a disgusting expression.
One of the maid pulled another chair beside Master Guo. Guo Baiyu walked over and sat between Grand lady Guo and Master Guo across from Master and Madam Wu.
Master Wu, "Childe Guo. The reason we brought our daughters here today is to let them look at you and your brothers. My daughters, Meixiang and Meirong are both taking a liking in you."
Master Guo, "Master Wu, I understand that both of the maidens like Baiyu. You don't need to ask him. I accept the marriage proposal and I am counter with a proposal of my own."
Master Wu, "Oh."
Master Guo, "Baiyu will marry Lady Meixiang and Yingyu will ask for Lady Meirong's hand." Everyone smiled expect Guo Baiyu. "What do you say?"
Mast Wu, "Master Guo, I have nothing to say. You choose two of the most talented sons to be my son-in-laws. Besides accepting, what can I say. Ha...ha...ha.."
Grand lady Guo smiled, "Good. Baiyu and Yingyu will have a family."
Around midnight, Xiao Mei walked to her master bedroom. She saw that the light was still on, so she peeked inside and she saw her master's painting again. She walked into the kitchen.
Guo Baiyu heard a knock at the door.
Xiao Mei, "May I come in?"
Guo Baiyu, "Come in."
She put the desert and a pot of green tea on the table next to her master. She looked at the painting, and this time there were three people on it. She recognized the lady, but she did not recognize the other man in the painting. She knew, the other one is her young master. They sit and eat under some blossom trees.
Guo Baiyu, "You don't have to wait for me. I will sleep here tonight. Please close the door when you take your leave." He continued painting.
Xiao Mei walked to door, "Good night young master." She closed the door.
After he finished he wrote on the Painting:
"Meet or part, live and die
Took a oath, sworn our lives
Walk with you, side by side,
Be your cane, throughout your life
Forever I, stands beside you
Until hair turns grey, our day is due"
Guo Baiyu sighed softly, "Ping'an, are you doing well?"