Chapter 20 The truant son-in-law is happy to accept it.

"I think...I think..." Qingduo's eyes darted around, momentarily at a loss. However, based on her past experiences fighting with her parents, as long as she denied it to the death, what could Zeng Zhengqing do to her? So she said, "This is strange, what do you think, Qingqing?"

This was a way of shifting the blame back to him. Seeing that she stubbornly refused to admit it, Zeng Zhengqing just smiled and said, "Maybe I didn't look carefully when I came in."

"Yes, yes, yes, yes! Absolutely right!" Qingduo responded repeatedly, adding a compliment at the end that made it impossible for him to refute his own conclusion, "As expected of Qingqing! You figured it out so quickly!"

Zeng Zhengqing chuckled, then, meeting her bewildered gaze, composed himself and said seriously, "I am honored by your praise, Madam."

Danriguo and Qingduo went to visit Tang Li. The father and daughter were both awkward when they met again. Tang Li, disregarding Zeng Zhengqing's presence, said in a sarcastic tone, "Oh! Isn't this Miss Qin?"

"Oh, it's me, Qin Qingduo," Qingduo said, glancing around nervously, but stubbornly insisting, "Uncle Tang, where are your precious fish? Are they all stewing in the pot?"

"You!" Tang Li threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed to hit her, but Zhu Niang pulled him back. Zeng Zhengqing pulled Qing Duo behind him and advised, "Father-in-law, please calm down. Madam already knows she was wrong. She cried bitterly yesterday and blamed herself, but she is too shy to admit it, so she asked me to bring her to apologize. I hope you will consider her filial piety and not upset yourself. I apologize to you on behalf of Madam!" After saying that, he bowed.

Qingduo looked at Zeng Zhengqing, who was bending down, and felt a pang of guilt. She walked around him a few steps forward, patted her chest, and said, "I take responsibility for my own actions! I, Tang Qingduo, don't need anyone else to apologize for me! Father, I was wrong, I won't do it again!"

Tang Li snorted: "I've heard that for over a decade, and I've never seen you actually 'dare'!" He then sighed, "Forget it, forget it. This is all my fault. I spoiled you and indulged you since you were little, letting you have your way in everything, which made you so fearless. Now I'm reaping what I sowed!"

Seeing that his tone had softened, Qingduo walked over and sat on the bed with a grin: "Oh, Dad, you're exaggerating. Luckily, I was ignorant and arrogant. If I had stayed by your side properly, you would have been bored to death!"

"Dad, you are the best dad to me, and I am also your most perfect daughter." She said coquettishly, shaking Tang Li's hand as she did so.

Zhu Niang and Zeng Zhengqing chuckled to themselves at the sight. Tang Li, seeing her playful and smiling face, could no longer get angry. But if he put on a smiling face now, this girl would definitely take advantage of it. He said with a stern face, "Go away, go away, go play around over there. Trying to coax me with sweet words, I won't fall for that!"

Qingduo glanced at her father's face and saw his beard trembling slightly, clearly indicating that he was trying not to laugh. Knowing this, she said solicitously, "Okay, then I won't bother you anymore. I'll make you something delicious!" With that, she jumped off the bed, winked at Zeng Zhengqing, and went out.

Seeing that her father-in-law and son-in-law had something to talk about, Zhu Niang made an excuse to leave. After they left, Tang Li sighed, "Yuanbai, my daughter, alas, you must have found her laughable."

He recalled Qingduo's past habit of secretly drawing erotic pictures, and seeing his son-in-law's self-disciplined behavior, he feared that if he found out later, he wouldn't let it go easily. His daughter, Qingduo, seemed to like her husband very much, and he couldn't help but worry, saying, "My dear son-in-law, Azhao's current personality is all because of my neglect in disciplining her. But she's been like this for over ten years; it's probably difficult to change her."

"If she causes any serious trouble in the future, I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against me, for my sake. I can assure you that she has absolutely no malicious intent; she's just used to being carefree. Please be understanding!"

"Father-in-law, you are overthinking it. My wife knows how to handle matters of right and wrong and will not cause any trouble."

"As for her carefree nature," Zeng Zhengqing smiled slightly, "I am quite content with it."

*

After reconciling with her father, Qingduo would come to learn painting from time to time. The more lenient her father was with her in daily life, the stricter he was when it came to painting lessons. If a single line was unsteady, she had to start all over again. Qingduo couldn't help but complain endlessly, and Tang Li glared at her and scolded, "You want to succeed without putting in the effort? I've never heard of such a thing!"

He didn't hold back at all, ordering, "Draw five more pictures when you get home tonight, no, ten!"

This is terrible!

Qingduo went back and first spread out on the bed in a "big" shape. Hearing Zeng Zhengqing's footsteps returning, she quickly got up and sat down at the table to "work hard." Amid Zeng Zhengqing's praise, she could only bury herself in her painting, taking shortcuts and only finishing three paintings by the time she rested. The next morning, Zeng Zhengqing offered her a ride in his carriage, but she repeatedly refused. As soon as he left, she sneaked out.

Anyway, I'll get scolded by my dad if I don't finish the drawing, and I'll get scolded if I sneak out to play, so I might as well go out and play. Even if I get scolded, it'll be worth it.

She wandered aimlessly along the street, sometimes touching the silversmith's craftsmanship, sometimes looking at the newly blown sugar figurines. This first freedom after marriage gave her a feeling of being in another world. Unconsciously, she came to the bookstore where she had been rejected when she tried to sell her paintings, which stirred up painful memories, and she couldn't help but stop.

Looking at the people coming and going at the door, she regretted her laziness and willfulness, thinking to herself: Tang Qingduo, if you don't work hard, you'll be the one rejected next time!

In a moment of conviction, she was about to turn around and go to her father's place to learn painting when she heard a passerby say, "I didn't expect Zi Pian to be so beautiful."

"Yes! She's talented and beautiful, no wonder she's the author I admire!"

Zi Pian? That name sounds so familiar! Where have I heard it before? Qing Duo stopped and pondered, when she inadvertently glanced at the book in their hands, which was titled "Hua Tang Chun".

This was the classic she had revered as the guiding principle for cultivating herself into a refined lady! Her spirits lifted instantly, and she followed the flow of people into the bookstore. It turned out that Zi Pian was selling her novella today. Qing Duo pushed through the crowd, squeezed forward, and bought a copy. Zi Pian sat gracefully in the center of the room, wearing a white veil. Every movement she made was elegant and noble. She bowed to the customers who bought the books, smiled gently, and said repeatedly, "Thank you."

Ah! She actually said "thank you" to herself! Qingduo exclaimed excitedly, "I should be thanking you! The character Chen Siyao in the book has benefited me greatly!"

She eagerly asked, "Sister, when will the second volume be published? I'll definitely come and buy it!"

Before Zi Pian could answer, someone shouted, "She didn't write this book! She's a fraud!"

The bookstore fell silent instantly, and everyone looked toward the source of the sound. A slender woman stood at the door, her cheekbones slightly protruding, her cold eyes fixed on Zi Pian like sharp knives, ready to stab her to the ground.

Someone immediately reacted and shouted, "You're talking nonsense! Zi Pian isn't that kind of person!"

The others chimed in, "That's right! You're making baseless accusations!"

"If you don't believe me, ask her!" The woman pointed at Zi Pian and said coldly, "Do you dare swear to heaven that you wrote this book?"

"You think we should just swear an oath because you tell us to? Why should we listen to you?" the people in the shop complained.

“It’s alright. If swearing can clear up the misunderstanding, I’m willing to swear.” Zi Pian stepped forward gracefully, pointing one finger to the sky and the other to the ground, and said in a melodious voice, “Heaven and earth bear witness, I, Zi Pian, swear that I wrote this book. If there is any falsehood, I am willing to accept the punishment of heaven!”

"You, you're lying!" The woman exclaimed, not expecting Zi Pian to actually swear. "You dare to lie to heaven and earth! You have absolutely no sense of reverence!"

She turned to the crowd and said, "Don't believe her! She not only plagiarized my work, but she also deceived God! Such a person is not worth your admiration!"

The moment Qingduo saw the woman, she felt as if she had seen her somewhere before. As she confronted Zipian, her stubbornness brought back her memories. Wasn't this the "dove-head" she had met at Jiyue Nunnery? Only today she had her hair in a braid, unlike the messy hair of the day. It took her a while to remember that the nun at the nunnery had called her "Lunong".

Although the two did not know each other well, their brief acquaintance was enough to show that she was a slow-witted simpleton. Qingduo pondered, "This kind of person shouldn't lie."

She asked, "Do you have any evidence?"

Reminded by her words, Lu Nong repeatedly said, "Yes, yes!" She took off the package on her back and opened it, revealing rows of manuscripts. As she distributed them, she said, "Everyone, please take a look! This is my original manuscript! Zi Pian only changed the title and the names of the authors; everything else is copied exactly. What else could it be but plagiarism!"

Qingduo also received a sheet of paper. The handwriting on it was delicate and with few scribblings. She read it carefully and confirmed that it was indeed the content of the first volume of "Huatang Chun," only the names of the people in it were different. She was already mostly convinced of its authenticity.

The people around them were talking amongst themselves. Qingduo asked, "Does Sister Zipian have a manuscript as proof?"

Zi Pian sneered, "My 'Hua Tang Chun' has been printed in Wuzhou City alone, with more than a few thousand copies printed. Can a mere manuscript be used as evidence? Hmph, she probably read my book and copied it down just to extort money from me!"

"Oh my God! My father taught me to be honest and upright, and never to do anything deceitful! You are despicable! You copied my book, and now you're trying to frame me!" Lu Nong gritted her teeth, her face flushed red, and she said angrily.

"Who's making such a racket here?" A man came out from the inner room. It was "Shopkeeper Xia," whom Qingduo knew well. When Lu Nong saw him, she seemed to see a savior and shouted, "Shopkeeper Sai! I handed you the book myself back then. You can testify for me! I wrote this book! My book predates 'Painting Hall Spring'!"

Shopkeeper Sai gave a forced smile and said, "Oh? Who are you? I don't remember what you're talking about."

Lu Nong said urgently, "How could you not remember! You said you needed time to read it carefully, so you told me to leave the manuscript and wait. Only a few days later did you say you refused to accept it and return the manuscript to me..." She suddenly stopped, looked back and forth between Manager Sai and Zi Pian, and seeing their mocking expressions, she suddenly realized, "You, you are in cahoots!"

Lu Nong's eyes seemed to spit fire as she roared, "What a vicious thief!"

A note from the author:

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Qingduo: This sister's fighting power is too weak. She's so angry, but she can't do anything about it. She still has to rely on me.

Also, yes, my story has been renamed again!