13

After Nie Huanzhang truthfully shared all the information he had gathered during his return to Liangzhou with Yuhong Xuan, he left Liangzhou and hastily rode towards Xin'an town. He had promised Zhou Chuyu that he would visit, and, more importantly, he had developed feelings for Zhou Chuyu that he knew were inappropriate. He missed him a lot. Although there were no taboo and shame for homosexual in Yuhong Dynasty, Nie Huanzhang decided to suppress his emotions. After all, Zhou Chuyu was still too young and Nie Huanzhang even doubted whether Zhou Chuyu understood such feelings. Therefore, he wanted Zhou Chuyu to make his own decision. Regardless of the outcome, Nie Huanzhang would accept it.

Nie Huanzhang knocked on the door of the house where Zhou Chuyu and Zhou Chuqi were staying in Xin'an. The one opening the door was Uncle Zhao. Upon seeing Nie Huanzhang, he exclaimed:

"Ah, it is Mr. Nie. Come in please! Please!"

"I've come to visit Brothers Zhou. Does Wangshi have returned home?" 

"Not yet. He spend half of the day at the school here every day. Now he is reading in his room now. Mr. Nie, please have a seat and let me tell him you are here."

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"Hold on, just show me the way to his room please."

"Alright, this way. Please, Mr. Nie."

As they entered Zhou Chuyu's small courtyard, they spotted him sitting by the window, engrossed in something in his hand. He even kissed it. Seeing the red string around Zhou Chuyu's neck, Nie Huanzhang couldn't help but smile contentedly. He then said to Uncle Zhao:

"You can go. I'll go in by himself."

Uncle Zhao said:

"Alright, please feel free. "

Then he left.

Nie Huanzhang stealthily entered Zhou Chuyu's room, standing quietly behind him. He gently tapped Zhou Chuyu on the shoulder, startling him. Zhou Chuyu quickly tucked the jade pendant into his collar and hastily said:

"Chuqi, why did you come back today..."

As he spoke, Zhou Chuyu stood up and turned around. When he saw who was standing behind him, he leaped into Nie Huanzhang's arms immediately, tight embracing his neck. With a nasal tone, he said:

"Ge, it is you and I missed you so much."

Nie Huanzhang also held Zhou Chuyu tightly, his eyes a bit moist. After a while, he said:

"I missed you too. What's wrong, baby? Were you crying?"

"Yeah, I thought I wouldn't see you again." Zhou Chuyu took a deep breath before continuing, "Chuqi's studies here are coming to an end. Originally, he planned to go somewhere else, but he heard about the medical studies in Jingdu so he decided to come home early."

"I promised you that if I couldn't see you here, I would visit your home."

"Yeah, I remember it but I still wanted to see you sooner."

"Still not coming down?"

Seeing Zhou Chuyu's lack of response, Nie Huanzhang sat in a chair and motioned for him to sit on his lap, cradling him in his arms:

"I brought you a gift."

Zhou Chuyu asked eagerly:

"What is it?"

Nie Huanzhang took out a small box from a bag he had brought, handing it to Zhou Chuyu. As Zhou Chuyu opened it, he found a small sculpture of a galloping golden horse inside. 

"How beautiful it is! Is it made of gold?"

"Yeah. Look, there is a piece of chrysoberyl embedded on the horse forehead. I like it at first sight and thought of buying it for you."

"Thank you! I will treasure it very well. Oh, did you agree to become a spy for His Highness?"

"No, I just told him what I heard in Huichun. My main focus is still on my business."

"Did you bring back any goods?"

"I already sold them. His Highness liked them and accepted them as a birthday gift for his mother."

"He didn't take a liking to this little golden horse. I'm really happy about that."

Nie Huanzhang smiled and said:

"This is for you. Of course I didn't show it to him."

Zhou Chuyu laughed happily. 

Zhou Chuqi really didn't expect Nie Huanzhang to come to Xin'an town again, but seeing his youngest brother so happy, he also felt very pleased. Moreover, he enjoyed chatting with Nie Huanzhang, listening to his interesting anecdotes from all over the world. It was all very fresh to him and he even envied Nie Huanzhang. He asked:

"Mr. Nie, I'm really happy to listen to your stories about Huichun and its people. But what are your plans next?"

"Oh, I don't have much to do right now. I thought I'd travel around, explore, and then organize some goods before heading back to Huichun again."

"Well, in that case, I have an unexpected request. I'll be finishing my studies in just over ten days and I'd like to invite you to come back to Yucheng town with us. It's also time for Chuyu's examination. I think he'd be really happy if you were there."

Zhou Chuyu looked at Huanzhang with expectant eyes and Nie Huanzhang glanced at him before turning his gaze to Zhou Chuqi. He smiled and said:

"Well, it's fine, but please don't treat me like a guest. I am your brother. Just do whatever you need to do as usual."

Zhou Chuyu happily exclaimed:

"Ge, I'll keep you company."

Nie Huanzhang replied:

"No, you have to go to school. If not, I will leave immediately."

Zhou Chuyu pouted and looked at Nie Huanzhang with a hint of grievance. Zhou Chuqi chuckled and said:

"Chuyu, you are always like this. Three days of school and two days of idleness. Don't let Mr. Nie laugh at you and go to school every day."

Zhou Chuyu asked:

"Chuqi, could you buy some delicious food for me?"

Zhou Chuqi suggested with a smile:

"Sure, you decide what we eat, okay? But out of politeness, I think you should ask Mr. Nie more. After all, he's our guest."

But what made Zhou Chuyu happy was that every day after school, he would see Nie Huanzhang waiting outside the school and then he would take him around, buying him many things he liked to eat, little trinkets he enjoyed and even gifts for his family. 

Zhou Chuyu said:

"I'm giving gifts to my family, my dad, my mom, my grandma, my little mom, my siblings, my sister-in-law and Dun'er. That's too much."

Nie Huanzhang said:

"No problem. You can buy whatever you want. If you don't have enough money, I am here to help you."

"I has ten taels of silver when I left home. I have never spent them yet."

"Keep them for yourself. I've earned quite a bit this time and His Highness also thanked me with money. Don't worry and it won't cost much to buy gift for your family."

"How can I spend your money? If Chuqi finds out, he'll scold me."

Finding it hard to imagine the refined Zhou Chuqi scolding Zhou Chuyu, Nie Huanzhang asked:

"Do your siblings have scolded you before?"

"No, none of my siblings have shouted to me except for my elder sister, Xiang."

"Then how do you know Chuqi would scold you?"

"I just don't want you to spend money on me anymore. Look, from the journey to Xin'an town to the gift what you bought for me in Huichun, you've been spending more money for me. What do I have done for you? Actually, I have never bought anything for you so I don't want you to spend money on me again, especially buy gift for my family. If Chuqi finds out, I think he'll scold me."

Nie Huanzhang chuckled and said:

"You and I are different. I earn money but what about you? You're still in school. When you start earning your own money, you can buy me nice things, right?"

"Of course, I'll buy you whatever you want."

"So, for now, don't feel any burden about spending my money, okay? If you don't want Chuqi to know, we just won't mention who bought them."

Zhou Chuyu whispered:

"Ge, you're too kind to me. If we weren't in the street, I'd want to hug you right now."

Nie Huanzhang replied warmly:

"Baby, you've given me a sense of having a relative. That's not something that money can achieve. You've given me people to care for and people who care for me. I need to thank you for that."

So it went on for more than ten days. Zhou Chuqi paid his respects to Sun Zuo, vacated his lodgings, rented a carriage and set off towards Yucheng. Initially, everything was fine, but gradually he noticed that Zhou Chuyu was overly attached to Nie Huanzhang and Nie Huanzhang was indulging Zhou Chuyu even more than his own elder brother did. Whatever Zhou Chuyu said, Nie Huanzhang agreed without uttering a single "no". This made Zhou Chuqi couldn't help but sigh, thinking: how does my youngest brother have such a charm? Not only do our family members spoil him but even the stranger indulge him in the same way.

Nie Huanzhang, acting as a guide, took Bros Zhou on a sightseeing tour, satisfying their curiosity and meet their requirements.