Nannan had barely finished changing out of her princess dress when the neighbor girl, Xiaoyan, rang the doorbell.
Xiaoyan was Nannan's age and quite pretty—round-faced with large, bright eyes. She and Nannan had been friends since Nannan could remember. Every holiday, Nannan would visit Xiaoyan. Because Xiaoyan's father was the village head, Xiaoyan often heard news that other children didn't know about. Nannan had heard just days ago that Xiaoyan had gone to visit an aunt in the city, and she was surprised to find she'd already returned.
The moment Nannan opened the door, Xiaoyan launched into conversation: "Nannan! I just got back from my aunt's house today and heard you had an accident. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Nannan said, nodding. She then stepped outside and pulled Xiaoyan into the courtyard.
"I also heard that Xiao He's father gave him a terrible beating," Xiaoyan continued.
Because Aunt Mei and Uncle Qiang were still objecting to her going fishing at Brother White's house, and Nannan was still scheming about how to convince them, she wasn't paying full attention to this topic. She merely nodded absently in response.
"But why are you dressed like that today? Did you go to a charity event again?" Xiaoyan asked curiously, as if just noticing the princess dress.
The last time Nannan had worn something like this, she had indeed gone to a charity event with her mother.
"No, I went to thank the new neighbors. To thank them for saving my life," Nannan said solemnly, pronouncing each word of "saving my life" carefully, as it was a new phrase she'd just learned.
"Oh, the new neighbors! I heard my father and mother talking about them," Xiaoyan lowered her voice. "My father says they're very mysterious, probably foreigners. That courtyard where they live has been empty for a long time. They just moved in recently."
"You certainly are well-informed! Do you know anything else?" Xiaoyan's information piqued Nannan's interest, and she encouraged her friend eagerly.
Xiaoyan was delighted by the praise and said, "That's all I know for now. But I'll tell you everything I find out later." Then she asked curiously, "Did you see what they look like today?"
"I only saw the boy who saved me. I didn't meet any of the adults. Uncle Qiang said their family name is Yuwen, but I don't think that's right," Nannan said, shaking her head as she recalled Uncle Qiang's awkward moment when calling Brother White "Young Master Yuwen." She looked at Xiaoyan and asked, "Do you know what their family name is?"
"My father didn't say. But I can find out for you," Xiaoyan offered.
With her friend's promise, Nannan began scheming about how to convince Aunt Mei to let her go fish at the "Yuwen house."
Nannan spent an entire evening trying to get Aunt Mei to change her mind and agree to let her visit Brother White's house, but all her efforts failed. Whether she argued her case logically or threw a tantrum, Aunt Mei remained gently but firmly insistent that Nannan shouldn't trouble their new neighbors further. Nannan considered going on a hunger strike to protest, but then decided that would be punishing herself, so she gave up that idea.
Early the next morning, as Nannan lay in bed trying to think of a new way to convince Aunt Mei, Aunt Mei pushed open her bedroom door.
"Time to get up, my little ancestor. Don't you still want to go fishing? I've prepared the fishing net for you. Come on, brush your teeth, wash your face, and eat breakfast."
"Go fishing at the Yuwen house? Didn't you both object yesterday? And now you're suddenly agreeing?" Nannan looked at Aunt Mei's calm face skeptically. "Did you ask my mother?"
"Yes, your mother agreed," Aunt Mei answered gently.
So her tantrum yesterday had worked after all—Aunt Mei had called her mother. Nannan was delighted that her plan was proceeding smoothly. But how come mother hadn't come yet?
Nannan looked at Aunt Mei and asked, "Then why hasn't Mother come?"
"She'll be here very soon," Aunt Mei said, not looking at Nannan but turning toward the bedroom door instead. "Get up now. If you're any later, the young master won't wait for you."
"You've already made arrangements with him?" Nannan asked toward Aunt Mei's retreating back.
"Yes. Now get up," Aunt Mei said without turning around.
Nannan was impressed by how efficiently Aunt Mei had handled things. Since Aunt Mei had called her mother, perhaps she'd learned more about the Yuwen family name issue?
So Nannan called out to Aunt Mei, who was nearly at the door: "Did Mother say what their family name actually is? They're not really Yuwen, are they?"
Aunt Mei stopped and turned around, speaking to Nannan in a teasing tone: "Why do you keep asking about that, my little detective? Stop being suspicious. Your mother said their name is Yuwen."
"Then what does their family do?" Nannan asked, remembering Xiaoyan's information.
"Sometimes I really do suspect there's a full-grown adult living inside that little head of yours, my little princess. Now get up and eat breakfast," Aunt Mei said, leaving the room without answering Nannan's question.
After breakfast, Nannan changed into her favorite blue T-shirt and white shorts, put on the white sun hat Aunt Mei had prepared, and set out. Uncle Qiang dropped her and Aunt Mei at the second gate of the Yuwen property and then left. Shiwei led them to the young master's study.
When Nannan and Aunt Mei arrived at the study door, the young master was, as yesterday, quietly reading a book. This time he had changed into a different white robe, though it was still white.
"We're here, Brother White! See, I told you white suits you," Nannan said from the doorway.
Brother White, who had been absorbed in his reading, looked up at the sound of Nannan's cheerful voice and smiled.
"Miss Chu has arrived! Please, come in and sit. Have you had breakfast? Would you like me to have Wu-ma bring some pastries?" Brother White gestured for them to enter while asking solicitously.
"We've already eaten. And from now on, you can call me Nannan, just like Aunt Mei does. Can I go fishing now?" Nannan didn't enter the room.
"Of course, Nannan," Brother White agreed with an easygoing smile. "Would you like me to accompany you fishing?"
"No, I can manage on my own," Nannan answered confidently.
"Very well, as you wish, Nannan," Brother White said. Then, turning to Shiwei beside Nannan, he said, "Shiwei, please take Miss Chu to the fishing spot. I'll join you once I finish what I'm doing."
Shiwei took Nannan and Aunt Mei to a very safe fishing spot—a pavilion beside the corridor. The fishing net Aunt Mei had brought was the one her mother had used last year. With Aunt Mei's help, Nannan set it up, and to her surprise, it wasn't long before it was overflowing with fish.
Once the fish were placed in a bucket she'd brought along, Nannan grew bored. She said to Aunt Mei, "I'm going to see what Brother White is doing," and then skipped back to his study door. She found him reading again.
"Brother White, may I come in?" Nannan asked politely at the door.
Brother White looked up and smiled at her. "Back from fishing already, Nannan?" He pointed to the sofa and said, "Of course, you can always come in."
Nannan walked in and sat on the sofa. She noticed that chocolate cake had already been prepared on the table.
"The cake is for you," Brother White said, as if noticing her gaze and answering her unspoken question. Then he asked, "Did you enjoy fishing?"
"It was boring. I filled a whole bucket so quickly—no fun at all."
"Was it because it was too easy? Not challenging enough?"
Nannan was amazed at Brother White's mind-reading ability. "Yes, that's exactly it. It's no fun when it's too easy," she said, pouting slightly.
Brother White was amused by her expression and said, "Then how about I play a challenging game with you?"
"What kind of game?"
"Why don't we play chess?"
"Chess? I've never played. How do you play?" Nannan's excitement returned at the prospect of a new game.
For the next month, Brother White became Nannan's chess teacher. She had Aunt Mei accompany her to his house almost every day to practice. Brother White even gave her a chess set to take home and practice with. In the evenings, she played with Aunt Mei at home, then with Uncle Qiang, and even invited Xiaoyan to play. Nannan quickly found herself unbeatable against everyone—except Brother White.
One afternoon, Nannan was playing chess with Brother White and had already lost three games in a row. In the fourth game, she sat staring at the board. After studying for a long time, she realized there was no way to turn this loss into a win. She looked at Brother White, who was calmly watching her, and felt a surge of frustration that she could never beat him. In anger, she flipped the entire chessboard over. "I don't want to play anymore," she said, looking at the scattered pieces.
Aunt Mei was startled and rushed over to pick up the pieces from the floor. "Please forgive her, Young Master Yuwen. Nannan is still young," she said apologetically.
Brother White stood and walked over to Nannan. He smiled gently, reached out, and touched her head. "How could I be upset? Nannan, are you hungry? Let's not play chess today. Would you like a piece of cake?"
He then placed a plate of cake in front of Nannan.
After that, something remarkable happened: Nannan's chess skills improved dramatically. Soon she could draw with Brother White in every game.