Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Third Brother Cherishes Me the Most

“Xiaoxue, hurry and eat, it’ll melt soon!” Mei Changgong urged her from the side.

The others noticed the commotion and turned to look, their faces smiling as if anticipating something.

The hawthorn berries were coated in a translucent sugar glaze, shimmering invitingly despite the faint chill they gave off.

Mei Gongxue hesitated for a moment but, under everyone’s expectant gazes, she lifted her chopsticks and took big bites.

The cold sensation traveled down her esophagus into her stomach, making her feel as if she were sitting inside an ice cellar.

Perhaps she ate too much at once, for it stirred tears from her eyes.

“Look at your sister, moved to tears!” Mei Heming said with a satisfied smile, the slight displeasure he had felt earlier vanishing.

He was pleased, thinking that Mei Gongxue’s attitude was softening—a good sign indeed!

After all, they were family; what grudges could last overnight?

With that little episode behind them, the group continued chatting about recent happenings around the table. Steaming hot dumplings were served, and the whole family was joyfully gathered.

Mei Gongxue looked at the cheerful scene and forced a smile, struggling to suppress the turmoil in her stomach.

She sighed and poured out the unfinished wine onto the ground.

She hoped that her father, resting peacefully in the afterlife, would see this and be at ease to enjoy a good New Year.

Just as she reached for a dumpling, the sight of the glistening braised pork nearby suddenly overwhelmed her with nausea. She put down her chopsticks and hurried outside.

Mei Changgong, being close by, was surprised and followed her.

He found Mei Gongxue in a corner, retching violently, nearly unable to stand.

After a moment, she straightened up only to meet his incredulous gaze.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

He remembered that on the day she returned, she had also suddenly run out to vomit while eating.

Mei Gongxue hesitated but did not hide the truth. “When I was in prison, I upset my stomach. Sometimes cold or greasy food triggers this.”

Mei Changgong was stunned to learn she still carried such an ailment.

He felt a mix of frustration and anger. He had hoped to cheer her up with fresh candied hawthorn, yet things had turned out this way—he had only meant well!

Irritated, he snapped, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

If she had, he wouldn't have bought the candied hawthorn, and now it looked like he forced her to eat it.

Mei Gongxue looked at him expressionlessly. “Didn’t I already say that before?”

He was surprised. Had she? He tried to recall the last time he gave her the candied hawthorn. She might have said she didn’t like it then.

Mei Changgong scratched his head in frustration. “I thought you said that just to be spiteful!”

But perhaps it wasn’t really her fault.

After some internal struggle, he stamped his foot. “No matter what, if your health is off, it needs treatment. I’ll have the doctor come and check your pulse soon!”

He glanced at Mei Gongxue’s frail form, took off his thick coat, and handed it to her.

A doctor? Mei Gongxue rubbed her stomach. If the doctor came, she wouldn’t be able to hide her condition.

Well, there was nothing to hide, really.

As she reached out to take the coat—

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the dining hall behind them. “Second Miss, what’s wrong? That’s strong liquor—you can’t drink it like that!”

Mei Changgong’s expression changed. Hearing that Mei Xianghan was in trouble, he turned and hurried inside. “What happened to Ah Xiang?”

Mei Gongxue could only withdraw her hand and watch from afar.

Her brothers circled around Mei Xianghan, some patting her back, others ordering servants to fetch a doctor, while one held her hand, asking if she’d recently suffered some heartbreak—otherwise, why would she drown herself in alcohol?

The scene was chaotic; no one paid attention to the food on the table anymore.

Even the doctor who arrived hurriedly passed by Mei Gongxue, heading straight to Mei Xianghan.

Seeing this, Mei Gongxue felt superfluous.

She quietly turned and walked away alone.

That candied hawthorn had felt like a dream, fulfilling a long-held wish. She was content.

But since it was a dream, she knew there would be a day to wake from it.

After some time, Mei Xianghan finally quieted and fell asleep.

Only then did Mei Changgong remember he had left Mei Gongxue outside alone. He rushed out—but the place was deserted, only the cold wind stirring the snow on the ground.

Suddenly, a memory from years ago came to Mei Changgong, around the same time before the New Year.

Mei Xianghan was still very young. His wife had been teaching her household accounting but she had made many mistakes and was in a foul mood.

To cheer her up, Mei Changgong had taken her out shopping.

“Third Brother, I want to go too!” Mei Gongxue had followed him like a little shadow.

He found her a bit annoying. “Aren’t you good at accounting? Sister-in-law even praised you!”

“But I want to go too!”

Unable to resist her persistence, he took her along.

He knew Mei Xianghan loved sweets, so he went all the way across town to buy the famous soft and fragrant roasted sweet potatoes.

Along the way, no matter what Mei Xianghan saw, he waved his hand and bought it, all to cheer his sister.

The three of them played outside all day until nightfall, carrying a large bundle of goodies back to the carriage.

While loading the things, he noticed the coachman sneaking glances at Mei Gongxue, who trailed at the end with empty hands.

Feeling a bit guilty, he asked her, “Is there anything you want?”

Her face instantly brightened with a radiant smile.

But by then they had left the snack street, and only a candied hawthorn stall remained.

“Third Brother, just buy me this, please,” she said sensibly.

He breathed a sigh of relief; it would have been troublesome to turn back.

But upon returning home, their father scolded him harshly.

“What kind of brother are you? You buy a whole cart of toys for Ah Xiang but only a broken candied hawthorn stick for Xiaoxue?”

He nearly got beaten then, only saved by Mei Gongxue stepping forward.

“Father, Third Brother loves me the most! He went all the way across town to get this because I love candied hawthorn the most!”

Then, right in front of them, she happily finished the entire stick of candied hawthorn.