Chapter Two: The Little Man

"Mother, you truly know how to wrong someone. If anyone spoils little sister the most in this household, it's you." At these words, three people entered through the door: Master Liu Cheng, the eldest son of the Liu family, twenty-seven years old, refined and handsome, holding his eldest son Liu Wenhai by the left hand, and carrying his younger son Liu Wenchao in his right arm.

The Liu family had long been known in the south of the Yangtze as a distinguished scholarly clan, with strict family discipline—only men over forty without sons could take concubines. Madam Liu bore two sons within five years of her marriage and then had no more children. Unexpectedly, at the age of forty, she conceived again and, less than two months after her eldest daughter-in-law, gave birth to a girl—Liu Qin, the only daughter in the Liu household.

Master Liu had two sons: Hai, who was five, and Chao, who was three. The second master had married and soon after was assigned to official duties in Yunzhou, having not returned for years. Letters revealed he, too, had a son about the same age as Chao.

Ever since the generation of the great-great-grandfather, there hadn't been a girl born into the Liu family. The great-grandparents passed away years ago, their greatest regret not lacking descendants, but never having a granddaughter. This regret ended with the birth of Liu Qin, who was cherished by the entire family as a precious gem, guarded with utmost care and love.

Hearing his eldest son's words, the old lady laughed and scolded, "The moment I criticize your wife, you can't bear it. Look at how young Chao is, yet your wife doesn't stay in the rooms to look after him. She spends all day here fighting with me over little Qin. If she wants a daughter so much, she can have one of her own."

Everyone burst out laughing at the old lady's remark.

An hour later, at the grand entrance of the Liu residence, the carriages were ready. Several maids were busy loading the things needed for the journey. Three little children, surrounded by their nursemaids and servants, arrived first at the carriage. Chao, upon seeing the carriage, wriggled in his nurse’s arms, clamoring to get inside.

"Brother, we have to wait for Grandmother and Mother," Hai, being two years older, was much less rowdy than Chao.

"Auntie, I want to," Chao, finding his brother unsympathetic, turned to appeal to Liu Qin.

"Listen to your brother," Liu Qin replied with surprising authority, waving her hand. "Also, don’t call me Auntie."

"Not Auntie... then what should I call you?" Chao gazed up with wide, confused eyes, while Hai looked over with curiosity.

"Call me... oh, that, call me Uncle."

"That won’t do," the nursemaid interjected, stifling a laugh. "Miss is a girl—how could the young masters call you Uncle?"

Liu Qin rolled her eyes, exasperated, as if at a loss for words. She gestured at the nursemaid, "Put Chao down."

In the Liu household, Liu Qin’s words held more sway than even her grandmother’s. The nursemaid obediently set Chao down and watched as the young lady, taking a little boy in each hand, led the two young masters beneath a nearby tree. She turned and warned the servants, "No following, and no eavesdropping! I need to teach Hai and Chao something important."

The maids and matrons watched the three adorable children, the young miss’ imitation of adult manners far too endearing not to make them chuckle. Cuilu, simple-minded as she was, grew anxious. "Miss, what do you know about teaching? Don’t lead the young masters astray." She muttered under her breath, "Aren’t you the least reasonable person in the whole house?"

Everyone laughed. Cuilu’s friend, Cuiyu, laughed and scolded, "You talk too much."

Liu Qin pretended not to hear, gazing at the sky with a long sigh. How lonely it was—why was it so hard to find someone in this world who truly understood her?

But enough digression. Let’s return to the main story. Liu Qin gathered her thoughts and got straight to the point. She patted her little chest and asked the two boys beside her, "Look, look—what is this?"

"I know, I know! It’s brother’s new clothes!" Chao exclaimed, thrilled to be the first to answer.

"Mother is partial," said Hai, much more succinctly.

"Yes, Mother is partial," Chao eagerly agreed.

Oh, right—Liu Qin realized she might’ve been a tad too casual, helping herself to Hai’s clothes as if it were nothing, and her sister-in-law did indeed favor her. But even though she was the instigator, she couldn’t let these two little ones grow up with such a mistaken idea. This error had to be corrected at the root.

Liu Qin straightened her posture, clasped both hands behind her back, and, imitating her father, cleared her throat with a little cough. Swaying her head, she began, "As the ancient saying goes: People should respect the old and love the—something, something—"

"Respect the old and care for the young," Hai supplied, looking utterly disdainful that his little aunt couldn’t even finish the phrase.

"Show off, why don’t you." Although Liu Qin was two months younger than Hai, she was taller, so she lightly rapped him on the head. "Aunt—oh, Uncle doesn’t know? With Uncle, all you need to remember is to respect your elders. The rest doesn’t matter. Chao, you listen up, too. Uncle—no, siblings, yes, your father’s brothers and sisters—that’s your elders. Shouldn’t you honor your elders? If there’s something tasty or fun, shouldn’t elders get first pick? So, what’s wrong with me wearing Hai’s clothes? It shows you’re being filial, truly understanding respect for your elders. Got it?"

Chao didn’t quite follow such a long-winded explanation, but seeing his brother, though hesitant, still nodded, he was quick to nod along, piping up, "Got it."

Liu Qin finally relaxed. Saying so much in one breath to children was really taxing. But wait, that wasn’t the point—she’d gotten off track! She immediately corrected herself, patting her chest again. "Pay attention—this is important. Look closely."

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Liu Qin grew simultaneously proud and exasperated. "What are those looks for? Haven’t you figured it out yet? Look at my hairpin, my face, my figure—no, I mean, my clothes! Do you know what this is? This is a true man, a real boy—like you two! Now do you get it?"

She fixed her gaze on the boys, continuing her brainwashing. "Hai, Chao, if you call such a handsome, clever, adorable boy ‘Auntie,’ what will people think? They’ll say, ‘Look at that child—so foolish he can’t even tell boys from girls!’ Chao, do you want people to call you silly?"

Chao shook his head vigorously. "I don’t, but Auntie—"

"Uncle."

"Auntie—"

"Uncle."

"Auntie—"

"Uncle."

"Auntie—"

"Uncle."

...

At last, after countless corrections, Liu Qin’s brainwashing took effect. The two little boys finally promised that from now on, whenever they saw their little aunt in Hai’s clothes, they would call her Uncle instead.

Yes! Victory! Liu Qin gave herself a silent thumbs-up, cheering herself on: The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades must continue to strive.