Chapter 937: Sincere Advice

Chapter 937: Sincere Advice

Seeing her husband's reaction, Raelle continued, "Do you understand the poem? The first verse is talking about wine and then it jumps to a girl with braids which is associated with a crow. From there we suddenly jump to talk about seasons like spring and autumn and as if that's not enough, we move to talk about peach blossoms and chrysanthemums. Of course, I couldn't interpret it the way Opa wanted me to. He said the poem was talking about the beauty of a woman. I really couldn't see it. I still can't see it."

Shui Koshing chuckled softly, "I'm not even surprised."

Shui Xian also shook his head at her words and said, "Then how about you interpret this one, 'A sight on beauty causes insomnia A day in separation makes mania. To hold your heart in arms is what I wish. Yet the attempts in vain let me perish.'"

Before Raelle, Shui Koshing spoke up, "Son, where is the middle part? You only recited the start and end."

Raelle also nodded her head, "Yes, you skipped the middle verses."

Shui Xian scratched his head, "I forgot okay. Baby, you know the poem?"

"It's Feng Qiu Huang(Looking for You) written by Sima Xiangru in the Han Dynasty. I also know that the poem was used as a courtship to Zhou Wenjun."

"Wow! My wife is really good at it," complimented Shui Xian happily.

Raelle replied, "I might not be able to tell the meaning behind these poetries but my memory is still very good. Also, Opa made me read a lot of poetry collections from history."

That topic was very interesting to Shui Koshing who asked curiously, "Daughter-in-law, were all those collections the original copies? My father used to say the real treasure of the Xiang family was their collection of history."

Raelle nodded her head, "Yes, all those books were old and written in traditional Mandarin. Although well-perserved, one could still see how old the books are." She took a pause and added, "I also heard that our family has a treasured collection of relics but I didn't see it. It's kept at our ancestrol home and I have never been there."

While they were chattering the lunch was served and knowing Raelle's habit, they all ate in silence. It wasn't that they were trying to exclude Amiah who also sat there at the table with them but her presence was currently too small. She had been trying to stay silent and observe everything around her. And by doing that, she realized that Sora was right; everything had changed over the years.

After lunch, they sat together to chat because they hadn't seen each other for days. Raelle looked at Amiah and said, "You can sit with us if you want to. And there is no need to be so cautious or silent, it's your home as well."

Amiah was suddenly struck by those words and was left staring at Raelle's back.

Once again, Shui Koshing couldn't help saying, "It's good that you're both home. This place was too silent without you two."

"Bà, we are usually not home," reminded Raelle. "You're always home alone. Why are you feeling it so much this time?"

"Usually I get to have my meals with you two," answered Shui Koshing.

"Bà, Raelle was right. You do have a lot of white hair now," said Shui Xian. "How did that happen? Within such a short time, you planned to fast forward your aging?"

Shui Koshing glared at his son, "What kind of words are those? I'm getting old. Don't you know that already?"

"Hubby, why don't you help Bà in covering up his white hair?" suggested Raelle. "Didn't you say that you want to learn hair styling skills from Yanyan? How about practicing on Bà?"

"Practicing?" repeated Shui Koshing in a small voice while Shui Xian raised his brows at his wife.

"Why? Don't want to?" asked Raelle.

"No, I think that's a wonderful idea," smiled Shui Xian.

Raelle had to excuse herself when a maidservant passed her ringing phone to her. She went to a side to take the call leaving Shui Koshing looking at his son in displeasure.

"You! Can't you say no?" asked Shui Koshing.

"Bà, you can say no too," replied Shui Xian. "Don't look at me. I can't refuse my wife. As long as she is happy, I'll do anything."

"Then do you think I can say no to her?" retorted Shui Koshing. "That'd be a crime!" He calmed himself down before adding, "Whatever, you better make sure to give me a good haircut. Don't mess around."

"Don't worry, I've been watching a lot of tutorials," assured Shui Xian to his father but that was definitely not assuring at all.

"Watching tutorials? Do you think watching is the same as doing it?" He touched his hair and sighed, "Just make me look presentable!"

"Sure!" Shui Xian hid his smile. He looked at his sister and said, "Why are you sitting so silently? Usually, you have a lot to say. It's not like you to sit so quietly."

"Xian," Shui Koshing called out. "Behave yourself."

Shui Xian looked at his father, "I'm just asking."

"No, you're looking for trouble."

Shui Xian rubbed his nose and didn't say anything.

"Ge, you don't have to probe. I'm not looking for a fight," replied Amiah. "I just noticed I don't fit in this family."

"If you're a family, you'll find your place in it. The question is, whether you're willing to sincerely put in the effort or not," said Shui Xian. He looked over at his wife who was on the phone and added, "Everyone has to find their own place. When things come easily, they are not treasured. When you're part of this family, you took everything for granted. Now, you'll have to face the reality."

"Xian!"

"Bà, I'm not trying to snub her or something. I'm just giving a piece of sincere advice as an elder brother. Sh won't mind if she really treats me as an elder brother."