pond

"Brother Yun—you are bullying me!"

Zou Shuangqiao was so angry after hearing Cui Zhijun's words that she stamped her feet. She had never believed that such a man could exist in the world. But looking at Cui Zhijun's resolute face, Zou Shuangqiao actually felt a little happy. Although Cui Zhijun looked down on her, she admired such a man more and more.

Seeing her delicate demeanor elicit no sympathy from the person before her, Zou Shuangqiao's expression changed. She said, "Brother Yun, how can you treat a guest like this? Aren't you afraid I'll complain to the old lady? Then, I'm afraid the Second Young Master's wife will be the one to be punished."

Zou Shuangqiao really thinks she is a dish. Does she think they will be scared if she says this?

If this matter really reaches the old lady, will she offend the old uncle for a woman who wants to curry favor with the Earl's family and become his concubine?

The old lady is old, but she is not stupid.

Even the simple-minded but strong Cui Zhijian understood this, yet Zou Shuangqiao had the nerve to use it as a threat. It was truly amusing. But Cui Zhijun felt he had the ability to protect Taishi Zheng, which was why he remained so calm.

He opened his mouth to refute.

Behind them, the straightforward Cui Zhijian led Cang Yi a few steps to the undercroft. He casually shoved the umbrella Zou Shuangqiao had left aside when he arrived into her arms, then spoke before Cui Zhijun could, "Aunt Zhisong, I see why you can't tell the difference between good and bad. The second brother has said so much, and you still don't understand? Okay, okay, if you want to complain, you have to leave here and go to Fushou Pavilion first. I see you need to hurry, the old lady needs a nap at noon. Don't miss the opportunity."

Zou Shuangqiao's emotions were interrupted and he stood there with a confused look on his face.

She wondered why the people in the Bo Mansion didn't play by the rules. Was there something wrong with them, or was there something wrong with her...

Who are these people in this family?

Cui Zhijian saw that the person in front of him didn't react, and immediately glared at him, "What are you standing there for? Go—"

Zou Shuangqiao snapped back to her senses, stunned by Cui Zhijian's furious expression. Without a word, she turned and hurriedly ran towards the defense line at the courtyard gate.

Cui Zhijian finally breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Zou Shuangqiao disappear. He began to chatter to himself, "That girl is finally gone... I feel uncomfortable whenever I hear her speak. I used to think there was something wrong with her tongue. Why is she talking so hard? Doesn't she feel uncomfortable?"

Then, realizing that no one agreed with him, Cui Zhijian turned his head with a stiff neck.

He had a bad feeling.

Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces behind him, Cui Zhijian couldn't help but doubt himself. He didn't ask anyone else, only Cang Yi: "Wife, what's wrong with you? Why are you all so silent? Could it be... I'm talking too much again? Or did I misunderstand what the second brother meant?"

Cang Yi shook her head. She didn't think Dalang was wrong.

She just felt that he had become a little too different since being "enlightened" by Taishi Zheng...

Ke Zheng held Cuo Cuo, wanting to leave but hesitant, "Brother, you didn't understand Erlang's meaning correctly. Is it possible... that the oil umbrella belongs to us?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

“…”

Cui Zhijian fell into deep thought and turned around quietly.

Cui Zhijian had just said, "Then I'll go get it back for you," when Cang Yi pulled him back.

Cang Yi was no longer afraid of the dog. She pulled Cui Zhijian's sleeve and advised, "Cui Dalang, forget it. Don't scare them anymore. We have umbrellas in the house. We can give Zheng and the others one later. If you have nothing to do, go ask someone to help set up the stove. The noodles in the house should be ready by now. I'm going to get busy with Zheng and I."

Cui Zhijian stopped his swift steps when his wife spoke and replied softly, "Okay."

Zheng quickly replied, "Sister-in-law, it's okay. I just said it casually. It's just an umbrella. It's nothing serious. If it's not enough, I'll go back to my house and get more."

Cang Yi smiled and waved her hand. She said, "We have it ready in the house. Why go to such trouble to go home? Don't worry that we don't have enough. If we really don't have enough, when Dalang is on duty, we can ask him to take the shower - it's his fault for being so quick and heartless."

"Ah?" Cui Zhijian frowned, "I didn't mean to..."

This is truly my daughter-in-law!

Cang Yi ignored him. She turned around, let go of Cui Zhijian, and walked over to Zheng, asking with concern, "Zheng, I want to ask you about this Zou family lady. Why was she invited here by the old lady at this time? Could it be that she's really here for that incident from last time? Also... could it be that her two sisters have fallen in love with Erlang?"

It's rare for Cang Yi to ask on his own initiative.

But Cang Yi's intentions were not good, she was just concerned about the young couple.

Unexpectedly, Cui Zhijian overheard a few words and asked, "What happened last time? What happened?"

"It was the Kuaixue Banquet. Didn't Third Aunt mention taking a concubine?" Cang Yi turned her head back to her naive husband. Cui Zhijian nodded and said he remembered such an event. Cang Yi then continued, "So, it seems that Madam Zou came here for this matter. She probably has her eyes on..."

Cang Yi said half of the words.

Cui Zhijian interrupted her whimsically, "Fall in love? Fell in love with whom? She wouldn't fall in love with me, would she—"

“…”

Cui Zhijun's habit of embarrassing others comes back again.

He finally understood why Cui Zhijian had never been favored by his father for so many years. Sometimes it was really worrying to see his elder brother.

Cui Zhijun silently took Taishi Zheng's hand and went to add firewood to the stove.

At that time, only Cang Yi was left standing in front of Cui Zhijian. He gently patted his shoulder and said to him in a gentle tone: "Dalang, you'd better keep your heart at ease. I am the only one who can fall in love with you in this life."

-

In the small garden, Zou Shuangqiao walked shamefacedly by the pond, holding an oil-oil umbrella. She paused, lowered her eyes to gaze at the charming face reflected in the pond, and cursed in grievance, "Damn that Cui family's Erlang! He actually looks down on me! How can the girl in his family be even half as good as me? I think he's really blind!"

Zou Shuangqiao is self-admiring.

As he spoke, he became anxious and kicked the tree next to him.

If you are immoral in your taste, you will be in trouble.

Seeing the muddy pond after the rain, Zou Shuangqiao took a big step, lost her balance, slipped, and fell heavily to the ground. She cried out, "Why am I so unlucky today! It's all their fault. I'm not done with them—"

Zou Shuangqiao's movements shook the heavens.

Cui Zhichou, who was passing by on the path in the distance, was stunned for a moment. He turned to Cui Zhilin beside him and said, "Cousin, is there thunder?!"

Cui Zhilin was being dragged along by his cousin's clothes, not even his sleeves. So, he just hugged his clothes and didn't have time to pay attention to any noise. "Hey, Chou'er, I just got off duty and you dragged me here without saying a word. Why don't you tell me what's wrong with your cousin's wife? That way, I can be prepared. And please let go of your hand! If you keep pulling like this, what will happen to my cousin tomorrow when he goes back on duty?"

Cui Zhichou showed no intention of letting go after hearing this. He just hurried forward and said, "Cousin, Mingyue said she felt sick and wanted to vomit when she saw me, and then she said she had a headache when she saw me. Oh, I don't know what's wrong with her. You'd better come with me quickly."

"My cousin is a skilled doctor. You will definitely know what is wrong with Mingyue at a glance—"

"Ah, ah?"

Cui Zhilin felt something was wrong after hearing this...

But since his cousin had a request, and they were all family, it wouldn't be a problem for him to go with him and take a look.

As they passed by the familiar pond, Zou Shuangqiao's pitiful figure squatting on the ground caught Cui Zhilin's attention. Without saying hello, he was about to step forward to check, but Cui Zhichou grabbed him and asked, "Hey, where are you going, cousin?"

Cui Zhilin pointed towards the pond and said, "Chou'er, look, it looks like someone has fallen over there. Let's go over and take a look."

Cui Zhichou glanced over there upon hearing this, but he seemed to feel that his own affairs were more urgent. "Brother cousin, don't worry about it. My brother is in a hurry here. How can I care about so many things? My daughter Mingyue is more important. We have many people in the house, and someone will go to ask about her soon. Can't you see that she can still move? It's okay, cousin, don't worry. Just follow me to Ginkgo Pavilion!"

But Cui Zhilin is a soft-hearted person.

He could rescue the county lady, a stranger to him, by the Jinming Lake, so he wouldn't stand by and watch someone fall and die. Cui Zhilin shook off Cui Zhichou's arm and said gently as he walked forward, "Chou'er, there's no need to delay matters with my sister-in-law. I'll go check on this side, go check on it."

Cui Zhichou knew that his cousin was kind-hearted. Although he was anxious, he still compromised and said, "Okay, just take a look--"

Cui Zhilin waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

-

By the pond, Zou Shuangqiao was still sulking and hadn't gotten up yet when she heard a gentle voice ask her, "Madam, did you fall? Is there something wrong? Do you need help getting up?"

Zou Shuangqiao didn't look up.

She was feeling annoyed and didn't want to talk to anyone, so she said unhappily, "No need..."

Unexpectedly, as they were talking, Cui Zhichou came from a distance and shouted, "Cousin, didn't we agree to just take a look? Have you seen enough?"

"Is she okay? Let's go."

Cousin?

Zou Shuangqiao's abacus began to tick.

This doesn't sound like a messenger, so who is this person... Suddenly looking up, Cui Zhilin's pretty face caught her eye. Zou Shuangqiao was surprised, and her attitude changed instantly. She only heard her red lips move slightly, and she called out aggrievedly: "Brother Lin, I have something to ask~"

Cui Zhilin looked at Zou Shuangqiao and sighed subconsciously: "Sister Zou, why are you here?"

Cui Zhichou looked at the people on the shore in confusion and was extremely anxious.

No, these two know each other? How come they are chatting?

Zou Shuangqiao, however, pressed on, gently lifting the hem of her skirt and tearfully complaining to Cui Zhilin, "Brother Lin, I was just walking here, and I don't know if it was too slippery due to the rain, but I fell down. When I tried to stand up again, I found I couldn't move at all. I'm so lucky to have met Brother Lin today, otherwise I really don't know what I would have done... Brother Lin, you are truly my savior."

Cui Zhilin's heart softened when he heard this, and he believed the person in front of him. "Is that so? Then, Miss Zou, don't move. Let me come and take a look at you. If you've injured your bones, it won't be good."

Cui Zhilin said this and reached out to check Zou Shuangqiao's injuries.

Cui Zhichou was shocked. If his cousin were to see her now, how long would he have to wait? What about his wife? There has to be a first come first served order. He stopped Cui Zhilin and said, "Cousin, didn't you say you would go see Mingyue? You can't go back on your word. I clearly saw her move just now, how come she can't move now? Isn't she lying? No, cousin, come with me."

Cui Zhichou was stubborn.

He pulled Cui Zhilin up again.

Seeing this, Zou Shuangqiao retreated and pretended to be understanding. "Ah? Brother Lin, you still have something important to do? Then please don't delay because of me. This young man is right, I am fine. I lied to you. Look, I can still move..."

"Brother Lin, don't worry about me..."

"Ha! Cousin, you must have heard it. She said she could move."

But how could Cui Zhichou defeat Zou Shuangqiao?

As they were talking, Zou Shuangqiao pretended to stand up, but then groaned in pain and fell to the ground. Cui Zhilin couldn't bear the pain of Zou Shuangqiao's fall. He turned around and scolded Cui Zhichou, "Chou'er, look at what Zou's sister has become like! How can you be so cold and stand by and even accuse others of lying? Where have you learned the morality that your uncle taught you?"