The renovations on the estate had finally come to an end. The next morning Chu Yun and Xiao Zai took a tour of one of the last courtyards to be finished while the foreman pointed out how they had followed all of Chu Yun's instructions for the design.
"We've installed the swing among the bamboo grove for some privacy," the man said, following the path between the tall bamboo until they reached a small clearing with a wooden swing and fountain, which trickled water peacefully back into a stone basin.
The sounds of nature were stronger among the evergreen clouds of lush bamboo foliage, rustling peacefully in the wind, tiny leaves sprinkled with the thin powder that had fallen overnight.
The foreman rested his hands on his hips and looked on proudly at the product of his and his men's labour. "His Grace mentioned only that he wanted a bamboo grove in this courtyard and a swing, but we thought it would be more charming for the swing to be hidden among the bamboo."
