Chapter 48 On your birthday, I'm magnanimous and won't hold it against you! ...

"Use thick ink for the hair bun, and light ink for the clothes. The background shouldn't be cluttered; that's how you create a sense of emptiness and desolation," Tang Li instructed from the side. But then Qing Duo quickly made a few strokes. "Hey! Go easy! Why are you looking so bitter and resentful! You should paint a woman holding a fan, looking lost and bewildered, not a woman holding a knife, ready to kill!"

Upon closer inspection, Qingduo noticed that the eyes in the painting, which should have revealed sadness, instead exuded a sharp edge, as if the woman were about to throw out hidden weapons from her sleeves and take down a group of people with a "whoosh."

“Goodness, you’re usually so carefree. I thought you just couldn’t understand ‘grief,’ but surely you wouldn’t interpret it as ‘hatred,’ would you?” Tang Li picked up Qing Duo’s painting and clicked his tongue twice. “What a magnificent ‘Madam Zeng’s Revenge’ painting!”

"Don't call me 'Mrs. Zeng'! I'm 'Miss Tang' now!" Qingduo said irritably, putting down her pen.

Tang Li had long noticed something was off about his daughter and son-in-law. A few days ago, he casually asked, "I heard that Yuan Bai's birthday is in a few days. As an elder, you should at least give him something. What are his hobbies?" Qing Duo's expression immediately changed: "I don't know him and don't know anything about him."

Now, Tang Li looked at Qing Duo's painting and shook his head: "This won't do, repaint it. But you're not calm, go outside and run ten laps first!"

"Huh???" Qingduo was shocked. "Father! I'm so heartbroken! You don't even ask about it, and you're going to keep hurting me?"

"What does your argument with Yuan Bai have to do with me! I can't judge family matters! Besides, I know him, and I know you well. Do you think you can let yourself be wronged? Humph," he glanced at Qing Duo, "probably Yuan Bai will have to beg you to stay quiet!"

Qingduo was speechless for a moment before asking, "How...how did you know?"

"Your father has a very good eye for choosing a son-in-law!" Tang Li said proudly.

"Tch! He himself had completely forgotten about the engagement before Zeng Zhengqing even came looking for him!" Qingduo scoffed dismissively, saying, "That's not true! The son-in-law you chose isn't on the same page as your own daughter!"

So Qingduo told him what had happened, saying, "He actually yelled at me! And when I helped others, it was an act of chivalry, but he insisted on stopping me. It's outrageous!"

"So you're not going?" Tang Li asked back.

Qingduo paused for a moment: "That won't happen..."

"Then why are you angry? Didn't he turn around and apologize to you? Besides, he stopped you because he was afraid you would get into danger. In my opinion, he cares about you a lot!"

“But…” Qingduo seemed to waver after hearing her father’s words. She racked her brains to think of Zeng Zhengqing’s faults and said, “But he, but he and I have different ideas.”

Tang Li suddenly burst into laughter, saying between laughs, "You've finally met your match!"

“When you were little, we told you to go east, but you insisted on going west, which frustrated your mother and me a lot. It's true that even biological children can't always agree with their parents. It's perfectly normal that you and Yuanbai have different ideas. Everyone has their own temperament, so how can you force them to be exactly the same?”

"If I get angry every time you go against me, I'd be driven crazy by you by now!"

Qingduo rested her chin on her hand, remaining silent. Perhaps because Zeng Zhengqing had always been so accommodating to her since their marriage, she had even overlooked the fact that he also had his own thoughts. She was used to insisting on her own opinions, but forgot that he also had an unyielding stubbornness.

This time, when he didn't do as she wanted, she flew into a rage, even ignoring his subsequent attempts to appease her. She blamed his domineering attitude, but wasn't her own self-centeredness another form of tyranny?

Qingduo remembered her father's words and secretly glanced at him, feeling a little guilty. She wondered how many concessions her parents had made as she grew up.

Tang Li suddenly looked up and met her eyes. Qing Duo turned around abruptly, rubbing her shoulders and shaking her head, pretending that she had just been stretching her muscles.

Tang Li smiled slightly and said, "Enough of this small talk. Go out and run a few laps to calm down. Come back and paint when you're in a good mood!"

Qingduo really needed to get some fresh air and relax. She stood up, but before she could even leave, Tang Li added from behind, "There's a shop selling sweet and fragrant osmanthus water chestnuts. Bring some back with you, no, two. Your Aunt Zhu is here too!"

Qingduo muttered: "What do you mean by calming down? That sounds nice! But isn't that the real purpose?"

*

The mud-brick walls were covered with weeds, and when the wind blew, dust would fall in a flurry, flying straight towards people's faces.

"Ptooey! Ptooey!" Qingduo swallowed two mouthfuls of dirt. She looked up at the thatched roof and whispered to Lu Nong beside her, "Sister Lu Nong, this house is just as dilapidated as my old home."

As soon as she finished speaking, someone hurriedly came out of the house. Qingduo was startled and immediately said guiltily, "Well... but it's quite tidy!"

When the woman saw Qingduo and the other woman, she was initially disappointed, but then her face lit up with surprise: "Miss Tang, has there been any result regarding that matter?"

This was the woman who had approached Qingduo for help after her clapper talk performance. Qingduo had asked her for her address, intending to talk to Zeng Zhengqing before contacting her again, but they ended up arguing when she got home. However, she was determined to do what she had decided, and thankfully, she and Lu Nong hit it off immediately, so the two of them came looking for her today.

“Sister Wu Yan, this is Sister Lu Nong. She was also deceived by Sai Linfu. We can work together to find a solution,” Qing Duo introduced.

Wu Yan invited them inside to sit down. There were two rooms in total, and Wu Yan led them into the one on the right. It was fairly spacious, though sparsely furnished. There was only a kang (heated brick bed), a table, three stools, and a peeling wooden cabinet in the corner. The cabinet door drooped precariously, revealing dusty, patched clothes inside.

A three- or four-year-old boy sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, and called out, "Mommy! Who are they?"

“They’re the ones who helped us.” Wu Yan reached out and touched his forehead. “Are you still feeling unwell?”

The boy obediently shook his head: "I'm much better, don't worry about me."

"Is he sick? What's wrong with him?" Lu Nong asked.

“Sigh, I can’t really explain it. I’ve seen several doctors, and they all say it’s a cold, but this cold keeps coming back and won’t get better. I finally managed to find another doctor, and he got a little better after taking the medicine. But the prescription was too expensive…” Wu Yan’s voice grew softer and softer as she held the child in her arms and gently rocked him.

Lu Nong saw that the boy was only wearing a single layer of clothing. She thought that it must have been cold in the mornings and evenings recently, the dilapidated house was drafty, and the mat on the kang was thin. How could a child with a cold endure it?

She exchanged a glance with Qingduo, who immediately took out her purse. Lu Nong also took out her money pouch, and the two swiped their coins together. Lu Nong stepped forward and handed the money to Wu Yan.

“That’s all we brought. Go get some medicine for the child first, then buy some warm clothes, and it would be best to change the blanket as well.”

Wu Yan said慌乱地, "I'm already very grateful that you're willing to help. How can I just take your money?"

"Oh! Consider it a loan! You can pay us back once we get the money back for you. Just accept it!" Qingduo advised.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yan glanced at the child, then at the money in Lu Nong's hand, and was quite tempted. In her dilemma, she suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to the two of them: "Thank you, benefactors! Thank you, benefactors! I really don't know what to do. If I hadn't been desperate, I wouldn't have bothered others."

Qingduo and Lu Nong quickly helped her up. Wu Yan then slowly recounted what had happened.

It turned out the book wasn't written by her, but by her husband. He went to Shouzhentang to sell books, and Sailinfu praised it highly, saying he wanted to read it carefully. However, he never heard from him again. Later, her husband discovered the book had been published, but under someone else's name. He was furious and went to confront Sailinfu, but Sailinfu claimed he had never seen him and ordered him thrown out. After several unsuccessful attempts, he was beaten on his way home one day.

He was already in poor health and soon became bedridden. The entire burden of the family fell on Wu Yan's shoulders, and only with the help of her younger brother, Wu Jiang, could she barely hold on. But not long after, her husband passed away.

“If Xiaoguang hadn’t gotten sick, I would never have wanted to bring this up again. But I really had no choice. I heard Miss Tang talking about it on the street that day, and I was tempted. I don’t want much, I just want my child to be able to get medical treatment.”

"Bang!" Qingduo slammed her hand on the table and shouted angrily, "That old bastard! He actually took someone's life!" She turned her head and saw Lu Nong, and felt a wave of fear. If Sister Lu Nong hadn't been saved, would she also...? Qingduo shuddered.

I never expected Sailinfu to be so ruthless; I was too reckless back then.

Seeing Wu Yan looking worriedly out the window as she spoke, Lu Nong asked, "What is Sister Wu waiting for?"

Wu Yan sighed and said, "To be honest, my brother can't swallow this, so this morning he went to find the person who plagiarized him and demanded money back."

Qingduo and Lu Nong were taken aback. Wu Yan continued, "We've tried to find that person before, but he wouldn't even see us. But they're a wealthy family, and we can't afford to offend them. I'm really afraid my brother might do something foolish in a moment of impulsiveness."

"A wealthy family?" Qingduo asked curiously.

"Yes, he is the young master of Cailanzhai Dyeing Workshop."

Lu Nong and Qing Duo walked out of the Wu family. Lu Nong pondered and said, "Zi Pian's family is in the printing business, and this plagiarism is from Cai Lan Zhai. They are both children of wealthy families. Could there be any connection between them?"

“That’s easy to do. Qingqing, no, Zeng Zhengqing has already found a few people whose books were stolen. We can find out by asking them.”

The two walked and discussed. Suddenly, they heard a painful groan coming from somewhere, and someone said, "You still dare to bother our young master? Do you still dare?"

Another voice said haltingly, "You, you should pay! You stole someone else's book, didn't pay, and even hit them! I, I'm going to sue you..."

More sounds of punches and kicks followed. "You think you're so great? You even want to file a complaint? Humph, our young master and the county magistrate's son are good friends. Who do you think you are!"

Qingduo and Lu Nong immediately guessed who had been beaten. Qingduo was about to rush over when Lu Nong grabbed her arm, saying, "Hey, we can't beat him. We'd better go and get more people to help us!"

"It's alright, I have a plan." At this point, it's time to use her connections. Qingduo said, "Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. I'm the young mistress of the Zeng family, and my brother-in-law is a county magistrate. Let's see who dares to touch me!"

*

"How is it? Have you made up?" Liu Ke asked.

Zeng Zhengqing glanced at him: "She has started having the servants call her 'Miss Tang'."

Liu Ke immediately understood: "Please accept my condolences."

He patted Zeng Zhengqing on the shoulder and comforted him, "It's alright, it's the same to drink with your brothers on your birthday."

He had originally planned to have a lively birthday celebration with a few close friends, but Zeng Zhengqing wasn't in the mood, so the two of them went boating under the moon. They drank together quietly, when a woman's tender, lingering song drifted from a neighboring boat:

"How can I bear not to seek you out? I resent the lonely bed. If I could exchange my heart for yours, I would know how deep my longing for you is."

The peaks of my eyebrows have deepened at some point, I don't know when they appeared.

Zeng Zhengqing had been able to drink a few cups with the wine before, barely managing to keep up. But looking at the shimmering moonlight reflected in his cup, he sighed softly, put the cup down, and found that even the finest wine had lost its flavor.

The boatman plunged the oar into the water with a "plop," stirring the water back and forth with a "whoosh." The melancholy weighing on his heart surged up like the lake water, making him restless and depressed.

Then it would be better to go back.

On the return carriage, Zeng Zhengqing closed his eyes for a short rest, gently pressing his temples to relieve his fatigue. However, he was still pondering the matter of the bookstore, but a thought involuntarily popped into his mind: fulfill her wish.

He suddenly stopped, opened his eyes, and his mind flashed through thoughts of his family, shop, clan... These were all responsibilities he should bear. He silently asked himself: Should I abandon the principles I have always followed for this moment?

I don't ask you to bring honor to the Zeng family. You must protect your mother, protect your brother, protect your family, and keep them safe and sound...

His father's dying words echoed in his ears again, and he remembered them.

No, I cannot give in.

Zeng Zhengqing had only taken a few steps into the mansion when he heard someone calling him.

"Big brother?" He stopped and turned around. Zeng Zhengji walked up to him and said in surprise, "You just got back? Your sister-in-law wanted to celebrate your birthday and has been waiting for you at Liushuang Pavilion! She..."

The initial shock quickly turned into delight. Zeng Zhengqing couldn't hear what was said afterward, nor did he have time to listen. He walked extremely fast, each step faster than usual. He passed through the long corridor, causing the lanterns under the corridor to sway gently; he stepped through the moon gate, startling the bamboo leaves. He still felt he was walking too slowly, urging himself: Faster, faster.

Madam...Ah Zhao is waiting for him.

Finally arriving at the foot of Huangshi Rockery, he looked up. The night was deep and still, the mountain slept soundly, and all the scenery was obscured. Only the pavilion on the mountain, radiating a warm yellow glow, brought him a sense of peace.

Zeng Zhengqing lifted his robes and steadily climbed the stone steps. The sound of the wind, the night's chirping, the rustling of leaves, mingled with countless thoughts, forming boundless waves that surged and rolled in his heart. The heavy footsteps could not conceal the thumping of his chest.

"Why are you only just getting back!"

The voice came from above. Zeng Zhengqing looked up and saw Qingduo standing at the top. The warm yellow light gilded her with a soft golden edge. She was wearing a pomegranate red dress and stood gracefully, just like the bright and beautiful girl in his memory. A gentle breeze blew by, and her clothes fluttered, making her look elegant and graceful.

Zeng Zhengqing stopped and stood there gazing at her from afar.

The deepest longing in my gaze is like a familiar memory from a past life.

Qingduo complained, "My stomach has been growling for ages!"

Zeng Zhengqing stared at her intently, a whole lot of words on the tip of his tongue, but he only managed to utter one sentence: "You're not angry with me anymore?"

"Isn't today your birthday?"

Qingduo descended the stone steps step by step and stood before him. Her eyes were bright and clear, like a gentle moonlit night, ethereal and otherworldly.

"I, I, I'm just temporarily putting it aside," she said awkwardly, turning her face away.

"I'm going to be angry again tomorrow!"

-----------------------

The author writes: How can I bear not to seek you out? I lament my lonely bed. If I could exchange my heart for yours, I would know how deep my longing is. (From "Su Zhong Qing: Where Has He Gone in the Long Night?")

The deepest longing in my gaze is like a memory from a past life. (From Chapter 3 of *The Flower and the Moon's Mark*)

[Tenosynovitis flare-up, practicing voice input and typing together, new skill acquired]