Free Web NovelChapter 417: Chapter 162: Everything Is Ready
Chen Wanqing finally managed to coax the solution out of Zhao Jing. The price was an aching body and numb limbs; she didn’t manage to crawl out of bed until late the next afternoon.
’But she felt the trade was well worth it. It would be even better if Jing could be a little gentler next time.’
That afternoon, Chen Wanqing "coincidentally met" Li’an at her front door.
At that moment, Xiang’er was in the courtyard, crying out in a panic, "Sister-in-law, I broke Big Brother’s inkstone! What do I do? What am I going to do?"
Chen Wanqing replied, "Money talks."
Xiang’er was completely baffled. "Sister-in-law, are we even talking about the same thing? I said I broke Big Brother’s inkstone!"
"I am giving you a solution. Money talks. You can either pay your brother back, or use your own private silver to buy him a new one. Wouldn’t that settle the matter?"
Xiang’er’s face went pale with shock. She clutched her purse, trembling.
"We’re his own flesh and blood! Does it really have to come to this?"
Li’an, who was standing under the camphor tree, stared blankly into space.
He forgot whatever he had been about to do. In that instant, it was as if he’d had an epiphany. He turned and strode away.
Only after his figure disappeared around the street corner did Chen Wanqing breathe a sigh of relief and turn to go back inside.
’She didn’t want to meddle in other people’s love lives, even if the person in question was her own cousin.’
’When it came to love and marriage, as long as the couple liked each other, everything was wonderful. Even the matchmaker who brought them together could expect five jin of pork and some silver. But if the couple’s affection soured and they grew to despise each other, then even the matchmaker’s ancestors for eighteen generations would be cursed.’
’Chen Wanqing didn’t want to get mixed up in the affairs between Li’an and the main family, but she truly wanted to help him.’
’Li’an hadn’t just been fond of Chunyue for a day or two; it had been at least five years.’
’She had seen them together more than once: catching cicada nymphs under the trees, running to the back hills to pick mushrooms. She’d seen Chunyue hide a precious white-flour steamed bun to give to Li’an, and Li’an, in turn, stuff his own boiled egg into Chunyue’s mouth.’
’They had genuine feelings for each other, and Chen Wanqing was willing to bet that their love would last—that they would go the distance together.’
Now that the matter was resolved, Chen Wanqing felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She went inside and hugged Xiang’er, who was pouting with an aggrieved look on her face.
"I was just teasing you. Your brother has several inkstones, so even if you broke one, he has others to use. And if you really did break one he was fond of, I’ll go put in a good word for you. It’s no big deal."
Xiang’er’s face lit up. "Oh, that’s wonderful! Then I’ll leave this whole mess to you, Sister-in-law. In fact, why don’t you just tell Big Brother that *you* broke the inkstone? He likes you best, so he definitely wouldn’t hold it against you..."
"...Now you’re going too far, Xiang’er."
Xiang’er winked playfully and burst out laughing. HAHAHAHA.
Zhao Jing walked out of the southern room. Chen Wanqing winked at him. A gentle smile touched Zhao Jing’s lips as he hooked his finger around hers and enclosed her hand in his palm.
"Wanqing, I hear you broke my inkstone. What are you going to give me as compensation?"
Chen Wanqing looked at him with a smile. "Are you two siblings setting me up? Is the inkstone really broken? Jing, why do you have such a sly smile on your face?"
Zhao Jing feigned injury. "Wanqing, you must be mistaken. Wanqing, don’t try to change the subject. Tell me, how do you plan to compensate me for my loss?"
"I don’t plan on compensating you for anything. This business about me breaking your inkstone... do you have any witnesses? Any evidence? You have nothing. If you dare to frame me, I’ll go to the government office and report you."
"I wouldn’t dare falsely accuse you, Wanqing. If this went to the government office, would I ever know a moment’s peace? My father-in-law is the deputy county magistrate. If he found out I was scheming against his precious daughter, he’d probably skin me alive."
"See? I knew it. You two ganged up to trick me."
"We weren’t tricking you, we were giving you a cue so you could say what you needed to say. Wanqing, you owe us for that, don’t you think?"
Chen Wanqing laughed. ’So that was it,’ she thought. ’No wonder Xiang’er’s line was so perfectly timed.’
She chuckled and said, "Jing, how about I give you an inkstone as a gift?"
"I don’t necessarily need an inkstone. Though, if you were to give me a kiss..."
She stomped hard on his foot again, but Zhao Jing didn’t get angry. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Chen Wanqing’s waist and roared with laughter.
Chen Wanqing, however, was annoyed. She glared at him for pushing his luck.
’He was so demanding yesterday, and now he wants a repeat performance today? In his dreams!’
She shrugged him off and went into the room. Zhao Jing followed at a leisurely pace.
Inside the main hall, Xiang’er watched the scene outside through the open window lattice. She couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose and say to her mother, "Just look at my big brother. He’s like a preening peacock."
