She opened her mouth, but didn't know where to start.

The two of them ate their meal in silence.

Qingyin was about to stand up and take the bowl to the kitchen, but a pair of clean, slender hands took the dishes and chopsticks from the table first, "I'll go."

"No! I've already asked you to make breakfast. Now go read a book and don't waste time on these trivial matters." Qingyin said and tried to take the bowl back.

"No! If I don't make more, we'll just have to eat for free at home." After saying that, Xie Jin raised the bowl slightly above Qingyin's head so that she couldn't reach it.

The childish voice made Qingyin laugh out loud, and the worries of the past few days were all gone at this moment.

When she looked up, she was surprised to find that the child who followed her in the past was now a head taller than her, and the outline between a teenager and a young man was becoming more and more obvious.

She withdrew her hand uncomfortably, then remembered what Wang Po had said yesterday: "You are already twenty-two years old this year, and scholars are the most expensive. How can we rely on you alone? Just listen to Wang Po's words, that family..."

Before Wang Po finished her words, she saw Xie Jin behind her.

He thought he had just returned, but he didn't expect that he had heard everything that had been said before.

Qingyin asked: "Did you hear everything?"

"uh-huh."

Just as Qingyin was about to speak, there was a knock on the door.

While Qingyin was stunned, Xie Jin took the bowl and went into the kitchen.

Qingyin opened the door and saw Wang Po, whom she had just met yesterday. She guessed that she would continue to talk about what happened yesterday.

She signaled to Wang Po, and the two of them walked through the alley and came to the river.

Nantang Ancient Town is built along the water. There is a narrow river at the exit of each alley. Large ships cannot enter, but small boats like flat leaves can travel freely.

It was early morning now, and the boats were bustling about. On the other side of the river, there were still women washing clothes in groups of three or four, and the hydrangeas on the stone steps were in full bloom.

As soon as the two stopped talking, Wang Po couldn't help but ask, "What do you think about yesterday's incident? Let me tell you, if you miss this opportunity, you'll never get it again. The young master from Zeng's family is now working in the Governor's Office, and many people are watching him. Wang Po also thinks of you first because you have a good temper."

Of course, she didn't say anything else.

This lady Qing is not only good-tempered, but most importantly, she is beautiful. In the water town of Jiangnan, there is no shortage of girls with slender limbs and slim waists.

But this Madam Qing is the best among them.

Not to mention her face, which is the most stunning beauty in the world.

Xie Jin was washing dishes, but her thoughts had already drifted away.

Just when his patience was running out, he heard the door closing.

He shook the water droplets off his hands and walked out as if nothing had happened, and asked, "Who's here?"

Thinking of the visitor and yesterday's conversation, Qingyin shook her head. "No one. By the way, when are you planning to leave for the academy? Is there anything you need to buy?"

Xie Jin's dark eyes stared at her without blinking, revealing a hint of pity.

Qingyin paused, then sighed, "It's Wang Po." Before the young man's eyebrows drooped, she quickly said, "I've already refused."

Rejected?

Xie Jin lowered her eyes. "Sister, you don't have to do this for me. And what Wang Po said is right. You really should consider your own lifelong affairs."

Qingyin glanced at him.

Looking at the corners of his mouth that couldn't be suppressed.

Pretend, keep pretending.

Don’t think she didn’t hear it. This was the first time I called her “Sister” since I woke up.

It seems his duplicity hasn't changed.

Qingyin cleared her throat and deliberately asked: "Really? Then I'll go see Wang Po. I think she hasn't gone far." As she spoke, she pretended to lift her foot.

Xie Jin was quicker and grabbed her arm, "Don't go."

As soon as the words came out, both of them were stunned.

Qingyin then burst out laughing, "Look how nervous you are. Since I've rejected you, I won't chase you out."

Only then did Xie Jin realize that he had been deceived.

But he was happy with it.

The smile on his face grew bigger and bigger, but it froze in the next second.

Only because Qingyin continued: "I've thought about it seriously. I didn't tell you before that I was planning to meet you. It must have made you feel a little uncomfortable. Next time, if something like this happens, I'll tell you in advance. After all, we are family."

family?

Xie Jin put the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and nodded after a long while, "Sister is right, we are family."

So, we should be together for life.

Because Xie Jin had to go back to the academy after lunch, Qingyin asked him to read at home, and she went to the market with a basket.

She cleared a vegetable patch on the side of the yard at home, and at this time of year, there are plenty of eggplants and beans.

So, she decided to just go to the street corner to buy some meat.

Butcher Hu saw Qingyin from a distance. Seeing her walking straight towards him, he subconsciously raised his chest and tightened his abdomen, but it had little effect on his big belly.

When Qingyin arrived in front of the meat stall, he said with a smile on his face: "Madam Yin, come and buy some meat today!"

Aunt Wu, who was buying vegetables nearby, glanced at them with disdain and said, "They've come right up to you, and if they don't buy meat, are they looking at you?"

Butcher Hu's face flushed, and he held the butcher knife in his right hand and grinned, "Don't listen to her nonsense. Madam Yin, I'll cut it for you whichever piece you want."

Aunt Wu sorted through the leftover vegetables she had sold and muttered, "Looks like someone's eating for free again today."

Qingyin frowned.

Just now she was not sure whether this person had a problem with her or with Hu the Butcher.

Now it seems that it is for myself.

As for this kind of person, ignoring her would only make her angry to death. Qingyin smiled slightly and said, "I see there's an elbow here. I'll take it. I can use it to stew beans."

Aunt Wu paused while sorting the eggplants. She had never expected that someone could be so shameless.

Just when she was about to sneer again, she caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of her eye. She pursed her lips and put on an expression of watching a good show.

Although Hu the butcher looks tall and mighty, he is actually a henpecked husband.

Today she wants to see how this vixen sheds her skin.

Since she started selling vegetables here, he has seen this vixen no less than ten times, and every time, Hu the butcher acts like a dog seeing a bone when he sees her.

These were none of her business, so she just watched for fun.

But this vixen never paid for the meat she bought. She didn't take it seriously the first or second time, but after so many times, she felt like she was getting a bargain while others were not.

That feeling of being at a disadvantage has been tormenting her.

Later, she also asked Hu the butcher to give her some benefits to keep her quiet, but this man didn't understand what she said at all and kept asking her for money.

I can finally let out this anger today.

She was afraid that innocent people would be affected, so she tied up the remaining vegetables with a cloth and kept them away.