Chapter 124 Has Junior Sister Been Corrupted?

Longcheng County, Jiangzhou.

July 12th, a light drizzle.

Fine raindrops, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, pelted a light green oil-paper umbrella with its dome open, scattering into mist.

Under the oil-paper umbrella, the two disciples shared the umbrella and walked side by side.

Actually, they weren't exactly side by side. One of the senior brothers turned slightly to the side, as if facing the junior sister diagonally, subtly giving her most of the space under the umbrella.

A few drops of rain dampened his left shoulder, which was exposed within the area covered by the umbrella.

Under the light green oil-paper umbrella, a junior sister suddenly said:

"It's been raining and cold these past few days, so please remember to wear warm clothes, senior brother."

"My junior sister didn't add any either."

Xie Lingjiang kept her eyes straight ahead and said, "A young lady needs one more thing in her household, Senior Brother, do you want to learn that too?"

"..."

Ouyang Rong was speechless for a moment.

The most fatal mistake was when the junior sister suddenly started driving.

Although the car wasn't going fast, come on, this is the usually serious and proper junior sister.

Oh, right.

He recently discovered something else.

During the past few days, my junior sister has occasionally revealed some girlish emotions and mannerisms.

Ouyang Rong felt a little guilty because he had led her astray and failed his teacher Xie Xun's trust.

But after thinking about it carefully, Ouyang Rong felt that something was not right.

Aside from the occasional slip of the eye, his gaze wandering aimlessly among the majestic mountains, he rarely told any lewd jokes to his junior sister.

He's quite upright and honest, isn't he?

It's not like we're in front of close friends like Su Dalang and Yan Liulang, so it's okay to be a little unserious sometimes.

It's not that the master can be domineering and bad in front of Wei Lai.

After all, in this day and age, if you make suggestive remarks in front of a girl, it's not just a matter of her blushing; she'll genuinely believe you're harassing or flirting with a respectable woman.

Moreover, sometimes, in order to satisfy his junior sister's need for aura reading, Ouyang Rong had to occasionally put on the airs of a virtuous senior brother.

Before her, an aura of righteous indignation emanated from her.

So how did his junior sister, who was such a good role model, become so bad and start flirting with her senior brother?

She would also often suddenly say something slightly sarcastic and resentful to him.

Is it true that one is influenced by one's surroundings, and that his frivolity cannot be hidden?

Ouyang Rong, who was holding an umbrella for his junior sister, looked at the rain in front of him and sighed softly, pondering to himself.

Upon further reflection, I realized that these subtle changes in our relationship seemed to have occurred after the apology banquet at the Liu family's Yuanming Tower, and it seemed to have started after we returned together in the carriage that night.

The junior sister also advanced to the seventh rank that night, becoming a mid-level Qi cultivator in the Confucian school at the tender age of not yet eighteen.

Then she stopped being as upright and gentlemanly as before... Well, junior sister is now a book reader, she has really overstepped the bounds of being a gentleman.

Someone's thoughts were as scattered as the raindrops outside the umbrella.

Lost in thought.

This "oil-paper umbrella" passed through the courtyard of the alley and entered the semi-open main hall of the county government's back residence.

It's raining today. At the Digongzha site, following Mr. Chen's suggestion, we'll take a day off to avoid affecting the construction schedule.

Instead of heading to Yue Nu Gorge early in the morning, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang went to the county government office together to handle the official business that had piled up on their desks in the past few days.

Enter the lobby.

Ouyang Rong folded the light green oil-paper umbrella outwards and placed it against a white wall beside the door.

After the female advisor had just mustered the courage to say "knock on the blockhead," she stared intently, her ears blushing slightly.

Seeing her senior brother bending down to close his umbrella, she took out a handkerchief and suddenly reached out to wipe the fabric on his left shoulder, which was wet with rain.

Ouyang Rong was taken aback and turned his head, only to see Xie Lingjiang's calm expression.

Before he could react and speak, she showed a look of realization, as if she had remembered something, and said:

"By the way, I ran into Su Dalang this morning. He asked me to ask my senior brother why he hasn't visited us for so long."

Ouyang Rong's attention was diverted, and he chuckled:

"My junior sister didn't tell him that the county government is very busy lately. The Di Gong Sluice and the Zheyi Canal are happening at the same time. I don't have time to go. Let's wait until after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It might be easier then."

Xie Lingjiang nodded:

"I did talk to him about it, but Su Dalang said that my senior brother should be busy with official duties, just like he was studying hard in his studies. He should combine work and rest and not work in isolation."

"He also asked his senior brother, 'Didn't we agree to go to Yunshui Pavilion for a health-preserving tea ceremony another day? I'm so looking forward to it, Brother Liu Lang.'"

What do you mean by "longing for something"? It's more like being starved and thirsty.

Ouyang Rong remained silent.

"Work-life balance, health-preserving tea ceremony... Is what you're drinking tea? Is that health preservation? I'm too embarrassed to expose you."

Furthermore, I, a magistrate of a county, am accompanying you for tea and health benefits. If it weren't for a favor I owed you before, I...

"Next time, we'll see next time."

Ouyang Rong said with a stern face:

"Junior Sister, go back and tell Su Dalang to focus on his studies these days and not to think about anything else. He should not let down his parents and younger sister's high expectations."

"good."

Xie Lingjiang nodded, her gaze falling on Ouyang Rong's upright face, and asked:

"Health-preserving tea ceremony, what is that? Yunshui Pavilion even has such a business? It sounds quite elegant. Have you been there before, Senior Brother? You and Su Dalang are going again next time, how about I come along to check it out?"

Ouyang Rong remained calm and immediately spoke:

"It's nothing, just some scammers trying to make money. Junior sister, you shouldn't go, and I won't go either..."

"By the way, isn't there a temple fair at Donglin Temple in a few days? Let's go to the temple fair instead, and forget about Su Dalang and Liulang."

Upon hearing the following words, Xie Lingjiang immediately nodded, "Okay."

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief. Just then, Yan Liulang came running over through the rain outside the hall.

"Your Excellency, you're here."

Yan Liulang laughed, shaking his folded umbrella as he stepped into the hall.

Xie Lingjiang silently withdrew the light pink handkerchief she had used to wipe Ouyang Rong's shoulders, tucked it into her bosom, resumed her composed and aloof demeanor, turned and went to the desk to organize someone's documents, her back to them.

Yan Liulang was slightly taken aback. He glanced at the aloof figure of Miss Xie, then looked back at Ouyang Rong's calm expression.

He cursed himself inwardly for coming at the worst possible time. "Hey, how could he be so blind? Next time, I can't just barge in like that. I should observe from a distance and see if I might be disturbing anything. I should be smart and wait outside."

Actually, Yan Liulang doesn't need to be afraid of the Ming family. The Ming family has always been magnanimous and keeps public and private matters separate.

But there's no guarantee that Miss Xie won't be unhappy and might secretly make a note of it.

Although the junior female advisor beside the magistrate was usually very polite and courteous to everyone except the magistrate in the county government, and was also quite easy to talk to, with a rather friendly attitude.

However, beneath this intimacy, a sense of indifference and distance always exists and cannot be hidden.

Or perhaps Miss Xie never intended to hide it at all, nor did she do it intentionally; it's just that the people around her were vastly different in status and family background.

As everyone knows, this small Longcheng County government office was just a brief stop in the life of this noblewoman Xie.

She only works as a minor official here because of her senior brother, the county magistrate. She will surely leave this temporary nest one day soon, like a phoenix, and fly to the stage that truly belongs to her.

Therefore, in the eyes of everyone in the county government, no matter how friendly Miss Xie was, the aura she naturally exuded made people hesitate to approach her.

Of course, this excludes the Prefect.

Yan Liulang felt that only an extraordinary man like the Prefect could quickly become one with everyone in Longcheng, from noble ladies of the Xie family to refugees and slaves.

When he looks at you with a serious expression and gazes into your eyes, even the greatest distance can temporarily disappear.

"Liu Lang, why are you here so early? Have you eaten yet?"

Yan Liulang came to his senses and noticed that Ouyang Rong glanced at the document in his arms, then looked up and met his eyes, asking with a smile.

"I've eaten. Oh, by the way, Your Excellency, please take a look."

Yan Liulang realized what was happening and immediately handed him the document, reporting solemnly:

"There are actually two main reasons for coming here."

"The first thing is that the itinerary for the officials from Jiangzhou City who are coming to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony has been confirmed. The governor's office has sent a document to the county government, asking us to make preparations in advance and for both sides to make contact."

"As for the second matter... it concerns the Donglin Temple Compassionate Relief Home."

"Oh? Beitian Nursing Home?"

Ouyang Rong seemed more curious about the second matter, so he took the document and began to examine it.

It's a bit short... I'll continue writing. Guys, get some sleep!

(End of this chapter)