Chapter 80 My Heartfelt Feelings: I'm about to flood Jinshan Temple!

They actually started arguing in front of her.

Qingduo wanted to persuade Lu Nong on the left, but Zhu Yi on the opposite side immediately took over the conversation; just as she was about to crane her neck to comfort Zhu Yi, Lu Nong immediately chimed in again.

She wanted to be a peacemaker, but there had to be room for her to act! They kept coming up with one thing after another, leaving her no room to maneuver!

What should we do?

The green flowers on the hot pan spun around.

Besides, breaking up this fight is just too difficult! From one perspective, they are my sister and brother-in-law; from another, they are my brother and sister-in-law. Which side can I side with?

Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh and blood, and everyone inside and outside is dear to us!

So difficult!

Fortunately, she had experience.

Who is she? She's Da Qingduo!

When she was little, whenever her parents argued, she would suddenly clutch her stomach, groaning in pain, tugging at her mother's sleeve, her lips drooping—she looked so pitiful.

"My stomach hurts."

Mother lost interest in arguing with Father and focused solely on rubbing her tummy. Sometimes Father was even angrier, and she would stretch out her little hand in front of him, her face full of grievance.

"It has thorns."

Suppressing his anger, Father, under her nonsensical directions, searched for the fabricated "thorn," and found it so that his brows relaxed, and the thorn was "pulled out." At this moment, she hugged Father's neck and said a few sweet words, and a smile returned to Father's face.

Qingduo's eyes fell on the wine glass next to her. She immediately had an idea, drank the wine in one gulp, and slammed her head on the table without hesitation.

She's drunk.

Tang Qingduo has a very low alcohol tolerance, so she got drunk!

The room was completely silent.

After a while, she heard Zhu Yi say in surprise, "Just this small cup, and it's already spilled? I didn't put any sleeping potion in this wine!"

Then came Sister Lu Nong's voice: "No wonder Brother Zeng said she has a low alcohol tolerance..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhu Yi interrupted, "This isn't just a low alcohol tolerance! This is an absolute lack of alcohol tolerance! What do we do now?"

"Let her sleep on my bed for a while!" Lu Nong said, reaching out to hug her, lifting her arm up, but Qing Duo didn't budge.

"Let me do it! This girl is so heavy, you can't carry her," Zhu Yi said.

I'm not heavy at all!!

Qingduo protested loudly in her heart, but could only swallow her anger on the surface. She couldn't defend herself and could only let Zhu Yi tuck her into the soft quilt. She felt comfortable physically, but her heart was filled with indescribable bitterness.

Ah! She hadn't even had a few bites of the braised pork when, by the time she pretended to wake up, the meat had already gone cold, and cold meat is so greasy.

Ugh! I should have eaten a few more bites before pretending to be drunk!

She deeply regretted her actions.

"I'm sorry," Zhu Yi suddenly said.

Qingduo perked up her ears, held her breath, and wanted to hear how Sister Lu Nong would answer.

"I was wrong too, I'm sorry," Sister Lu Nong said softly.

That's right!

Qingduo's distress vanished instantly. She was overjoyed. As expected of her, she solved everything with a single move!

Alright, they've made up. The braised pork didn't sacrifice itself in vain.

She relaxed, stretched out her limbs in the warm blankets, and planned to take the opportunity to get a good night's sleep. However, as soon as she relaxed, she suddenly realized that something was urging her.

She needed to urinate.

What's frightening is that the moment I realized this thought, the feeling became even more urgent.

Now that I'm up, they'll all know I was faking being drunk. How embarrassing! How can I use the same trick again if they ever argue in the future?

No! I must endure it, just a little longer!

But……

She curled up into a shrimp-like shape in pain, her whole body trembling slightly.

If she had another chance, she would never drink so much honey water before a meal!

Even if you drink so much honey water, you still have to relieve yourself before pretending to be drunk!

Oh, Bodhisattva!

Please help me!

Qingduo groaned inwardly.

The water is about to flood Jinshan Temple!

*

The candlelight flickered briefly, illuminating the two figures standing opposite each other in front of the bed.

“I…I…sigh,” Zhu Yi sighed, “Actually, this isn’t your problem, it’s my own. You’re so wonderful, it’s only natural that he likes you. You two have common interests, you can talk about anything, from poetry to literature, things I don’t understand. So…”

Zhu Yi said softly, "You like him... I'm not surprised."

“Qingduo is right, you are a fool!” Lu Nong suddenly said.

Zhu Yi was stunned for a long time, his eyes darting around, and he forced a smile: "Yes, I was pretty stupid. I couldn't understand anything, and even now, I still clung to a sliver of hope. Well, I've hit a wall today, so I'll just... I'll just..."

What?

He looked up at her, his gaze deep and intense, as if trying to etch Lu Nong's face into his heart. Lu Nong looked back without flinching, her gaze as stubborn as when they first met: back then, she and Qing Duo had been driven to the brink, powerless to resist, yet her soul spoke through her eyes of her unwillingness to give up, her resilience. He simply couldn't bring himself to say the words of giving up.

I still like you.

"Even if I like someone else?" Lu Nong raised her eyebrows.

It's okay, he's a fool, he can be stubbornly persistent. As long as he doesn't reject you, you can pursue him. It doesn't matter if it doesn't work out, anyway, he's a fool!

“Even if you like someone else,” he replied.

Didn't I already know the outcome? So why is my heart only aching now? It's churning like Nezha stirring up the sea, and my mouth is filled with a sour and bitter taste, reminding me of the past. When I was a child, I was tricked by clever kids and ate unripe sour plums by the roadside, and even my eyes are sore and tight.

"Fool!" Lu Nong's voice suddenly rose.

Zhu Yi was completely stunned. He stared blankly at her. He had never seen Lu Nong so angry before. She had always been polite to him and had never spoken disrespectfully to him. Now, she was breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and her eyes were red-rimmed.

"You can't do this to yourself, you can't!" Lu Nong took a few steps forward, gripping his shirt tightly with both hands. She pulled hard, the sudden force causing him to stumble. The stubbornness in his eyes vanished, and tears of sorrow streamed down his face.

"You can't do this to yourself! You are Zhu Yi! You are the proud Black Tiger Warrior!" she choked out.

"You must never abandon your pride! No matter what, you must hold your head high, for your own sake!"

"I don't want you to humble yourself! You can't demean yourself! You can't, you absolutely can't!"

She could no longer speak and sobbed. Zhu Yi was deeply moved and could no longer bear it, so he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Lu Nong closed her eyes, clutching his shirt tightly, tears soaking his clothes: "Oh God! What...what have I done to you! Your hesitation and torment are all my fault! I should have told you everything sooner!"

"No! I was so foolish, I never understood." Zhu Yi hugged her tightly, his voice trembling. "Even now, I still feel like I'm dreaming, I can't believe that the person you fell for... is actually me!"

“It’s you, it always has been!” Lu Nong sobbed, looking up and pleading, “So, you can’t belittle yourself, you… you…”

Her voice trailed off: "I...it will break my heart..."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Zhu Yi released her and gently stroked the face he had longed for. A tear slid from her eye and landed on her lips. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but lower his head and slowly approach to kiss that glistening dewdrop.

"ah!"

As a gasp rang out behind him, he was suddenly shoved aside by Lu Nong. Caught off guard, he stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud.

The beautiful dream turned into pain, yet a sweet taste lingered in my mouth.

Both of them looked in alarm toward the source of the sound, only to see Qingduo sitting stiffly on the bed, stammering, "I heard nothing... I thought... um, I didn't know you wanted to..."

"Ouch!" She scrambled off the bed, clutching her stomach, and rushed out without even putting on her shoes. "No, no, I can't hold it in anymore!"

The door closed behind her, and her voice echoed from the courtyard: "Continue! You all continue!"

The two people inside looked at each other, and Lu Nong burst out laughing first, followed by Zhu Yi chuckling.

The whole room was filled with warmth, which dispelled the darkness and ushered in the fragrance of willows.

Springtime and humanity will meet again.

*

Qingduo both looks forward to the New Year and hopes it will be later.

After the New Year, Qingqing will be going on another long trip.

Upon hearing the news, Qingduo, disregarding the light sweat still clinging to her skin, pulled the blanket over her chest and suddenly stood up, shouting, "Fine, you went out to play by yourself again, leaving me at home unattended!"

Zeng Zhengqing quickly took the clothes and draped them over her shoulders, saying gently, "I'm not going out to play. I'm going to meet with an important person. I must personally visit him to discuss purchasing a rare collection of poems in order to show my sincerity."

"I don't care!" Qingduo shook her head desperately, her hair sticking to her jade-like neck. She turned and threw herself into Zeng Zhengqing's arms, pleading softly, "Qingqing, take me with you, please take me with you! I don't want to be home alone. I promise, I won't cause you any trouble!"

Zeng Zhengqing patted her back apologetically: "It's really inconvenient to take you with me this time, but I'll be back as soon as possible, at most half a month. I won't keep you waiting for long."

Qingduo deflated, let go of his hand, pouted, and turned her back to him: "You said the same thing last time! I waited for you all day, and you didn't come back until the middle of the night! Who knows if you'll break your promise this time!"

"This time I won't keep you waiting."

"snort!"

Zeng Zhengqing tried to hug her, but Qingduo twisted her shoulders to avoid his embrace. He then hugged her from behind, pressing her head against his and coaxing, "When I come back, we'll go sightseeing together. You can choose the place, okay?"

Qingduo lowered her head and remained silent for a long while before saying in a muffled voice, "You have to keep your word and come back soon."

Zeng Zhengqing nuzzled his chin against her shoulder, then tilted his head to kiss her cheek: "Trust me, I'll definitely keep my word. Not only that, I'll also bring you a gift. What do you want? I'll have another camellia necklace made to match your hairpin, how about that?"

"I don't want to!" Qingduo turned around and hugged him tightly, her voice filled with grievance, "I only want you!"

That night, Zeng Zhengqing comforted her for a long time. The New Year passed in a mix of joy and worry, and tomorrow was the day of parting. Zeng Zhengqing deliberately went home early, wanting only to spend more time with her.

As soon as the maid announced his arrival in the courtyard, Fang Qing lifted the curtain to welcome him in. Qing Duo flew out like a bird and landed in his arms.

"Why are you only getting back now?!"

Fang Qing tactfully withdrew. The two embraced tenderly for a moment, then Qing Duo suddenly released him and said, "I have a gift for you!"

"What is it?" Zeng Zhengqing asked curiously, letting Qingduo pull him into the inner room. He saw her pick up something from the table—an oil-paper umbrella. She released herself, opened the umbrella, and slowly spun it around. The ink on the umbrella surface swirled into a mess before finally coming to a steady stop. Looking at the painting before him, Zeng Zhengqing was astonished.

On the umbrella, pine and cypress trees stand tall and proud, with a line of words written beside them: "The long wind drives the pine and cypress trees, and the sound sweeps through the valleys."

Zeng Zhengqing instantly recalled his first meeting with Qingduo. It was drizzling, and the oil-paper umbrella in her hand was painted with rosy camellias, just as radiant as she was. He also understood the deeper meaning of the pine and cypress trees in the painting, which subtly echoed his own courtesy name, "Yuanbai": pure and unyielding, steadfast and unchanging.

He took the umbrella, gently stroking its surface with his fingers: "How could I bear to use this!"

"Use it with confidence! I've applied a thick layer of tung oil, it's very waterproof!" Qingduo proudly raised her chin. "You can rest assured about my craftsmanship! I used to make all the umbrellas for Aunt He next door! I didn't eat her dumplings for nothing! Not only that, I've even made money with this skill!"

At this point, she seemed to realize that saying this made her gift to him seem less special, so she quickly added, "But none of the things I've made for them compare to the care put into this! Look at these needles, I drew them stroke by stroke with great care!"

Zeng Zhengqing closed the umbrella and gently placed it on the table. He then embraced her tenderly and murmured, "Of course I know that you always care about me the most."

Qingduo hugged him tighter and nuzzled against his chest contentedly: "It's good that you understand me."

Zeng Zhengqing lowered his head and kissed her forehead first, then her eyebrows and eyes. As his warm, rapid breath traveled down her body, she caught it steadily. Qingduo stood on tiptoe, tilted her head back, and returned the kiss, delicate, sweet, and filled with endless longing.

They are like branches and leaves in the winter rain. The branches refuse to let go of the leaves, and the leaves refuse to abandon the branches. They know that they will return to the branches one day, but there are still long seasons in between. They can only cherish this moment of eternity.

A thousand regrets welled up in Qingduo's heart once again:

Why can't she turn into a bird?

That way, you can fly to wherever you want to go.

Fly to where he is.

*

Knowing that Zeng Zhengqing was away, Lu Nong was worried that Qingduo would be lonely at home alone, so she invited her to go to the temple fair together.

"I'm not going," Qingduo said sullenly. "You and Brother Zhu go."

Lu Nong tried to persuade her for a long time, but Qing Duo, who always loved excitement, stubbornly refused to go. Seeing her listless appearance, Lu Nong was even more worried about leaving her home alone, so she said:

"That won't do! Today is the first time Wu Yan and her brother are performing the shadow puppet play 'The Heroine of Changying.' Even if you don't give us face, you should at least support them, right?"

This reason was hard for Qingduo to refuse. She lazily let Fangqing dress her up, and was forcibly dragged out the door by Lu Nong.

As soon as she stepped outside, Lu Nong saw Zhu Yi waiting at the door in a carriage. She was startled: "Where did this carriage come from? It wasn't here when we came together."

"Hehe," Zhu Yi chuckled twice, "I just rented this place. It's a bit far from the temple fair, Lulu, I'm worried you'll get tired."

Lu Nong quickly stole a glance at Qing Duo and saw that she was staring blankly into the distance, not paying attention to their conversation. She turned around and gave Zhu Yi a reproachful look, and whispered, "Don't call her that! Qing Duo is still here!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yi looked at Qing Duo and saw that she looked absent-minded and her eyes were no longer as bright as before. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her and said, "Hey, little Qing Duo, I didn't let you eat to your heart's content last time. Today it's my treat. Whatever you want to eat or play at the temple fair, I'll take care of it!"

"How could I possibly accept that?" Qingduo looked into the distance and said casually, "What if I spend all the money you saved to marry Lulu?"

Before Zhu Yi could react, he patted his chest and said generously, "Hey! How much money could this cost! Your older brother here has a business now and is making money, so you can spend it without worry!"

Lu Nong's face turned red as she pounced on Qing Duo to pinch her cheek. "You little brat, how dare you make fun of me! I'll teach you a lesson!"

Qingduo was completely different from before. She hid behind Zhu Yi, nimbly dodging left and right, and didn't forget to continue teasing Lu Nong: "Big brother, save me! My sister-in-law is going to hit me!"

"You!" Hearing her say that, Lu Nong was both ashamed and angry, and refused to give up.

The two chased and dodged around Zhu Yi, who was all smiles. Like a mother hen, she blocked Lu Nong's path and advised, "Alright, alright, she's still young. Don't take it to heart. Didn't you always tell me to keep my temper in check? Why are you taking her so seriously today?"

Then, she slapped Qingduo with her backhand, "That's enough! 'Lulu' is what I call her, who gives you the right to call her that?"

Qingduo giggled and asked, "Then what should I be called?"

She peeked out and looked at Lu Nong, drawing out her words, "Nong—Nong—"

This "provocation" slowed her down a step, and Lu Nong reached out to grab her. Seeing that things were not going well, Qing Duo took off running. She hadn't forgotten her survival skills. Before long, Lu Nong was far behind her.

Qingduo ran for a while, then looked back and saw that Lu Nong was no longer there. She then jogged back along the same route and saw Lu Nong standing there panting. She went over to her with a grin and said, "Good Lulu, good Nong Nong, what's wrong?"

Before she could finish speaking, Lu Nong suddenly sat up, grabbed her wrist, and pinched her cheek with her other hand, twisting it from side to side: "Little one, all's fair in love and war, you know that?"

"Ouch!" Qingduo immediately begged for mercy, "Ouch, ouch, it hurts! Lulu, no, Sister Lulu, I was wrong! I was wrong!"

Lu Nong applied even more force.

Amidst all the commotion, the three arrived at the temple fair. When they found Wu Yan and her sister, they had just set up their stall and hadn't started performing yet. Qingduo volunteered to help them attract customers.

With the gong in hand, Qingduo trembled with excitement. She mustered all her strength and banged it a few times, then shouted at the top of her lungs, "Watch the show! Watch the show! A wonderful shadow puppet show! The new work by Lu Nong, author of 'Hua Tang Chun,' about the heroine Chang Ying adventuring in the martial world!"

Hearing "Huatangchun," people nearby became interested and gathered around to inquire. Seeing that her calls were effective, Qingduo worked even harder. Zhu Yi, standing nearby, cupped his hand to his mouth and helped shout, "Shadow puppet show! A sequel to 'Huatangchun'! Don't miss it!"

The two men were each shouting their wares when suddenly a man stopped in front of them. He pointed at Qingduo in surprise and said:

"You...you're not a sorcerer with a youthful appearance?"

He then pointed at Zhu Yi: "Aren't you his pageboy?"

"Ouch!" Qingduo cried out in fright and turned her back abruptly.

"Oh dear!" Zhu Yi cried out and hurriedly turned around to cover his face.

"What are you doing here? And you," the man looked Qingduo up and down, even more surprised, "you're a woman?"

Oh no, that's terrible!

Qingduo secretly groaned, not knowing what to do.

What's Dong Wenyuan doing here?

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Author's note: Hmph, just popping in.