Chapter 100 Competing for Favor (First Update)

Wait, other people's chickens all cluck, why are these chickens all chirping?

The saddest thing in the world is that even chickens can speak bird language, but he doesn't know Turkic...

Ms. Yao discovered that her daughter's residence had been renovated, the roof tiles had been replaced, the backyard had been fenced off, and two more rooms had been built.

"Jiaojiao," Yao said to her daughter who was pouring water into the pot, "Could I... stay here for a few days as well?"

After pouring out the water, Gu Jiao put the wooden bucket aside and looked at Yao Shi with a slight puzzlement.

Madam Yao quickly replied, "I can help you with the work!"

Although Yao was born into a wealthy family, her family fell into decline when she was young, so she did not develop a spoiled personality.

Of course, it's a stretch to say that she's doing farm work in the countryside, but if her daughter can endure this hardship, why can't she, as her mother, do the same?

"No need, I can do it myself," Gu Jiao refused.

"Then... I can cook! I'm a great cook! Didn't you praise my desserts last time? I'll cook for you every day!"

"No need," Gu Jiao said.

"What about washing clothes? Look at this family, how can you manage all the work by yourself?"

Gu Jiao paused, then looked up at Madam Yao.

She didn't say anything, just stared at her intently.

Suddenly, Yao understood.

It's not that my daughter doesn't need me to do chores, it's that she doesn't need me to live here.

She wasn't unaware of this outcome, but she still refused to give up; in the end, she was just too anxious.

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Madam Yao smiled nonchalantly: "Then I'll leave Yan'er in your care. It's getting late, you go ahead and do your work, I'll head back too."

After saying that, she smiled and turned around.

Her expression and tone were impeccable, but her trembling body betrayed her sadness.

Gu Jiao glanced at her retreating figure and said, "It's not your problem."

Yao paused in her steps.

Gu Jiao hesitated for a moment. She was actually not very good at expressing her emotions: "It's mine."

She wondered if Yao would understand what she meant by saying that.

She had terrible parents, which made her start to reject all parents.

As she grew up and had her own life, she thought she no longer cared. However, the appearance of Yao made her realize that the hole in her heart had never healed.

She can accept Xiao Liulang, Xiao Jingkong, her great-aunt, and Gu Yan because they will not become her parents.

But she couldn't say these words to Yao.

Madam Yao stared intently at Gu Jiao. She had once thought that her daughter didn't accept her because her daughter couldn't forget Gu Sanlang and his wife, but now she was suddenly less sure.

Something must have happened to her daughter, but her daughter wouldn't say, and she couldn't bear to press her for answers.

Yao reluctantly boarded the carriage back to the mountain villa.

Gu Jiao continued to start the fire and cook.

The rice was steaming a little slowly.

Perhaps it was Yao's arrival that reminded her of some past events she didn't want to recall, and she thought of herself when she was two years old.

She was wearing a thin nightgown, holding a doll, and standing barefoot on a cold winter night.

She was forcibly pulled out of bed, without even being given a pair of shoes.

Her parents had a heated argument over a very small matter, but it escalated out of control and eventually fell on her.

She was pushed around and fell several times, scraping her hands.

It started with the man who called her "Dad" walking away in a huff, and then the woman who called her "Mom" also left.

She was abandoned in the bustling square, watching giants hurry past her, and she felt like a tiny ant.

"Mommy—Waaah—Mommy—"

She was terrified and burst into tears.

But the woman who called her "Mom" never came back.

The man I called "Dad" didn't show up either.

——

The rice wasn't ready in time, so Gu Jiao first made two poached eggs in sweet soup for Gu Yan. Gu Jiao went to his door to call him.

"Did they leave?" Gu Yan asked, perking up his ears.

"I'm leaving," Gu Jiao said.

Gu Yan then opened the door, but not all the way open, just a crack. He peeked out and looked around, making sure his parents were gone before walking out confidently.

When the old lady woke up, Gu Jiao cooked her a bowl of soup and then told her about Gu Yan staying at the hotel.

The old lady looked at the delicate young boy in front of her and, for some reason, felt that she had seen him somewhere before.

—That's right. The Emperor really liked the twins from the Marquis of Ding'an's family. He had Consort Shu lead the twins to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, so the old lady did indeed meet young Gu Yan.

However, she didn't like children, so she gave them a few things and sent them away. Now she can't even remember that.

Little Gu Yan was still young at the time and didn't remember what the Empress Dowager looked like, so the two sat facing each other and neither recognized the other.

The old lady looked at the sweet soup in her bowl, then at Gu Yan's, and smacked her lips: "I'll trade with you."

The old lady had to watch her diet; the sweet soup Gu Jiao gave her wasn't sweet enough, but Gu Yan's was.

Gu Yan, unaware of the truth, generously switched places with her.

After switching places with Gu Yan, the old lady finally got to eat the sweet egg soup she had been dreaming of!

Oh, it's so delicious I could cry!

Before Gu Yan came to the house, the old lady liked Gu Xiaoshun the most because Gu Xiaoshun was the easiest to trick and could help her save a few candied fruits as a windfall. As for Xiao Liulang and Xiao Jingkong, one was too smart and the other was too principled, so the old lady couldn't trick them.

Gu Yan's fighting ability was clearly stronger than Gu Hanhan's; on his first day, he made sure the old lady ate sweet egg soup.

For the sake of her grand scheme of making sweet egg soup, the old lady decided that she would protect this young boy!

After Yao and Lord Gu descended the mountain, Yao felt something was amiss, but she was preoccupied with seeing Gu Jiao and didn't immediately realize what was wrong. It wasn't until they returned to the manor and took out Gu Jiao's portrait that Yao's mind went blank.

“My lord.” She stared blankly at the birthmark on her daughter’s face in the portrait.

"What's wrong?" Lord Gu leaned over to look with her, but he couldn't see anything wrong.

Madam Yao said worriedly, "The abbot said that the birthmark on Jiao Jiao's face is a virginity mark, but Jiao Jiao is married, so why... could it be that they are not getting along?"

Madam Yao was now quite resentful of the Gu family: "They married Jiaojiao off so early. If she were still in the Marquis's mansion, I would have kept her for a few more years."

In the Zhao Kingdom, girls reached the age of fifteen and came of age to be married. Girls from wealthy families generally began choosing a husband only after they reached this age.

Lord Gu had no of Yao's worries, since he had never intended to acknowledge the marriage in the first place.

A poor, pedantic scholar isn't good enough for his daughter! He'll just give that poor boy some money to get rid of him. Once he gets to the capital, who's going to know that girl was married before? Then he can find her a suitable husband from a similar background!

Although that girl's character and appearance are far inferior to Jin Yu's, she is still a daughter of a marquis, so she won't be unable to get married.

——

On the other side, Xiao Liulang, unaware that his father-in-law was going to give him a sum of money to get rid of him, had just finished school and was on his way to pick up Xiao Jingkong from the nearby elementary school.

But they had only taken a few steps when a carriage blocked their way.

This was no ordinary carriage; its wheels were unlike any seen on the street—larger, taller, and more sturdier. The carriage itself was made of the finest huanghuali wood, and the silk on the canopy shimmered and was inlaid with eight enormous luminous pearls, each worth a hundred gold pieces.

The driver was a man in black wearing a straw hat, with thick arms, a tall stature, and a powerful aura.

The horse was incredibly fierce; it was a jet-black Mongolian horse, as if it had been through the battles of war, exuding a murderous aura that frightened away any of the horses in the nearby carriages from daring to approach it.

A refined-looking man stepped down from the carriage. He was about the same age as the second owner of Huichuntang, but his aura was far beyond that of ordinary people.

People around kept glancing in their direction.

The man seemed completely unconcerned. He approached Xiao Liulang, examined him closely, and smiled slightly, asking, "Are you Xiao Liulang?"

Xiao Liulang's eyes narrowed warily: "Who are you?"

The man raised his hand, his smile gentle: "Don't be afraid. My surname is Liu. My master sent me to find you."

Having said that, he took a token from his waist and said to Xiao Liulang, "You recognize this token, right?"

——

Private school.

The children in the elementary school class were dismissed. The teacher and students all breathed a sigh of relief. The students, looking pale, carried their schoolbags out of the classroom and ran as fast as they could, as if some ferocious beast was chasing them.

The Master couldn't leave because Little Jingkong hadn't left.

The Master took his 108th deep breath of the day.

If his son weren't a student at Tianxiang Academy, he would have expelled this annoying little guy a hundred times over!

Don't let Xiao Jingkong's constant chatter at home fool you; he's actually quite quiet in class. But when he does speak, he's sure to kill the teachers!

Pian Xiaojingkong has a very strong backing—his brother-in-law is Dean Li's unilaterally declared direct disciple, and getting rid of him is tantamount to Dean Li making things difficult for his own son.

But looking at him, the teacher's eyes really ached...

Xiao Jingkong held the Three Character Classic in both hands, seemingly reciting the sutra, but occasionally glancing outside with his eyes.

"Jingkong, hasn't your brother-in-law arrived yet?" the teacher asked during the lecture.

"Mmm," Xiao Jingkong responded softly.

The teacher said, "Would you like me to take you to the gate to take a look?"

Xiao Jingkong snorted, "He can come or not, it's up to him! I don't want to see him!"

That being said, he was glancing around with his small eyes much more often.

Could it be that my bad brother-in-law is dumping him?

Like those families who promised to adopt him but ultimately abandoned him.

"Jingkong." The Master appeared beside him at some point and gently patted his small shoulder. "Your brother-in-law is here."

It's finally here! It's finally here! My nightmare of the day is over!

"Really?" Little Jingkong stood up abruptly, but quickly realized he had overreacted. He quickly composed himself, put on a calm and collected expression, packed his things, said goodbye to the teacher, and went to see Xiao Liulang outside the private school.

You're late today!

After getting into the oxcart, Xiao Jingkong said to Xiao Liulang with dissatisfaction, "Did you not study properly again and get kept after class by Teacher Zhang?"

Xiao Liulang glanced at him in surprise: "You still know that my teacher's surname is Zhang?"

“Brother Xiaoshun said it!” Xiao Jingkong thought to himself, “I know a lot of things. I not only know that your teacher is Zhang, but I also know that Gu Dashun’s teacher’s surname is Chen, and your dean’s surname is Li!”

Xiao Jingkong said seriously, "You still haven't answered my question. Were you kept after school by the teacher? Don't be arrogant just because you passed the county-level exam. Don't forget, you're still just a student in Class B!"

Well, he even understands Class B now.

Xiao Liulang looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation: "Why do you have so many questions, you little kid?"

Xiao Jingkong, hands on hips, exclaimed, "You were the one who was late, and you won't even let me say anything? You adults are so unreasonable!"

Xiao Liulang said, "You mean you're very reasonable?"

Xiao Jingkong crossed his arms and said, "Of course I'm reasonable!"

Xiao Liulang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who was it that talked back to the teacher in class and embarrassed him?"

Xiao Jingkong said earnestly, "He was wrong! I'm correcting him!"

Xiao Liulang chuckled and said, "Who was it that skipped class halfway through?"

Little Jingkong declared righteously, "He was the one who wanted to hit me! I didn't do anything wrong! He shouldn't punish a child who hasn't done anything wrong!"

The teacher had a ruler, and would give disobedient children a couple of slaps on the palm of his hand. Little Jingkong questioned the teacher in class, arguing with him until they were red in the face. The teacher, unable to bear it, took the ruler to punish him, but instead, he just slung his book bag over his shoulder and ran away from the private school!

Xiao Liulang said calmly, "Since you think you're right, why don't we take this matter to Jiaojiao and let her judge?"

Xiao Jingkong fell silent.

Although he firmly believed that he was on the side of justice, he also instinctively felt that Jiaojiao would not agree with his actions.

Xiao Liulang chuckled and said, "Why are you silent now? Are you afraid you can't stand up for yourself, or are you afraid Jiaojiao will be unreasonable?"

Xiao Jingkong said confidently, "Of course Jiaojiao is reasonable! I'm right too! It's just that Jiaojiao's reasoning and my reasoning are not mutually exclusive. It's a matter of reason, not a matter between me and Jiaojiao!"

Xiao Liulang: I don't know you very well, and you almost confused me.

The two of them kept bickering until they reached the village.

The two got off the oxcart and walked towards their home. As soon as they entered the house, they found that there was an extra person inside.

This person was clean-cut and good-looking; he was clearly not a villager.

"Who are you?" Xiao Jingkong asked, tilting his head.

“I am Jiaojiao’s younger brother,” Gu Yan emphasized. “My biological younger brother.”

Little Jingkong's small body swayed!

Despite all their calculations, they overlooked the fact that Jiaojiao has a younger brother. Doesn't that put him in a higher position than Gu Xiaoshun?

A strong sense of crisis rose in Xiao Jingkong's heart!

Xiao Liulang, always eager for a good show, nudged the little monk's head with a half-smile: "Ah, who is Jiaojiao's most beloved younger brother?"

Xiao Jingkong decisively removed his wicked brother-in-law's clutches.

He silently told himself, "Don't panic, don't panic. So what if he's my younger brother? He got here first! Besides, he has his own advantages, doesn't he?"

First of all, he's small, he's cute, he's adorable!

Just then, Xue Ningxiang brought over some roasted sweet potatoes, and she also noticed the handsome young boy who had appeared in her home.

Compared to her former self, Xue Ningxiang was much calmer at this moment.

After all, this family is strange. They acted as if nothing had happened when a noblewoman appeared. Even if an empress dowager appeared, she wouldn't be surprised.

Gu Yan sized her up for a while and then greeted her, "You must be Sister Xue from next door. My sister has mentioned you. I'm Gu Yan, Jiao Jiao's younger brother."

His voice was as clean as his temperament, his tone was incredibly gentle, and he had a friendly smile, revealing a touch of youthful innocence and romance.

Xue Ningxiang was completely charmed.

Little Jingkong angrily pounded his chest with his little fists: "Aaaaah, you're so big and still acting cute, and you do it better than me! Shameful!!!"

Even the guards on the roof couldn't bear to watch anymore. How could they be so shameless? Didn't they know their own place in the Marquis's mansion? Just because you're painted green doesn't mean you're a green tea b*tch.

Xiao Jingkong was holding his breath, and even dinner didn't taste good to him.

After taking a shower, Xiao Jingkong suddenly thought of another great advantage.

He's a monk, and monks can chant scriptures!

He went to chant sutras for Jiaojiao!

Master said that he is the best little monk in the world at chanting sutras, and Jiaojiao will definitely like listening to him chant sutras!

Little Jingkong pulled his little wooden fish out of the small box, put on the wooden fish and hung on his prayer beads, and went to find Gu Jiao with great pride!

But as soon as he arrived at the backyard, he heard a melodious flute tune. The flute music was plaintive and sorrowful, and even Xiao Jingkong, who did not understand music, could hear a faint trace of sadness in it.

Xiao Jingkong covered his little mouth.

As the song ended, Xiao Jingkong's eyes filled with tears.

Waaaaah, this is the most beautiful song in the world! It's a hundred times, a thousand times better than monks chanting sutras!

In the second round, Xiao Jingkong lost again!

But Xiao Jingkong was still not giving up. He had one last trump card, which was that he knew how to raise chickens!

He's a super-powerful little Jingkong who can raise seven chicks! He doesn't believe Gu Yan can be any better than him!

"Young master, your dog has been brought to you." Guard B handed the puppy he had brought from the manor to Gu Yan, and then vanished in a flash!

Gu Yan and Gu Jiao were playing with the little puppy in the backyard.

Xiao Jingkong lives in the mountains year-round, where there are no dogs. He has only seen a few dogs in the village, but they are all fierce big yellow dogs, unlike the soft and cute little puppy in front of him.

"Woof!"

Even if Xiao Jingkong stumbles, it will still bark!

Gu Jiao threw a small bone into the vegetable garden.

The little puppy ran over panting, picked up Xiao Gu and placed her in front of Gu Jiao.

Xiao Jingkong thought raising chicks was already difficult enough, but he never expected that Gu Yan would also raise dogs!

How did he manage to do something so difficult?

Xiao Jingkong's logic is that all things, small ones are easy to take care of, while large ones are not. For example, one is relatively easy to take care of, as long as one is fed, that's enough. But one's brother-in-law is not easy to take care of; one has to worry about his exams and how he walks every day.

"This is so hard for me..."

Little Jingkong finally turned into a little salted fish, soullessly stranded on the bed in the west room.

When Xiao Liulang finished tidying up the woodshed and returned to the west room, Xiao Jingkong was already lying on his back, snoring softly.

Xiao Liulang tucked him in and put his little wooden fish, prayer beads, and Buddhist scriptures back into his box. After doing this, he went to the main room.

Gu Jiao had just entered the main room when she saw him and asked softly, "Are you asleep?"

Xiao Liulang nodded and lowered his voice, "She's asleep. Where's Gu Yan?"

Gu Jiao said, "They've gone to sleep too."

The two sat down in their chairs and simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

It feels a bit like a parent asking, "Is the baby asleep?" "Yes, and the older one?" "The older one is asleep too."

Then the parents can finally start doing their own things.

Gu Jiao said to him, "Go for rehabilitation."

A cobblestone path was built in the backyard specifically for his rehabilitation. Even knowing that it was caused by a psychological issue, she couldn't give up any efforts.

Xiao Liulang said self-deprecatingly, "Even if I practice, I still can't walk."

Gu Jiao pointed to his legs and said seriously, "At least the muscles won't atrophy. If you ever want to leave, they can always support your dreams and take you anywhere."

Xiao Liulang's heart was touched.

But the next second, he started making fun of himself.

dream?

He has no dreams.

However, her statement "If you want to leave" sounds ordinary, but upon closer examination, it seems to have a deeper meaning.

Does she mean "he walked" or "he left"?

Xiao Liulang looked at her with a deep, unsettling gaze.

Gu Jiao didn't explain further, but smiled and said, "Let's go."

She took his cane and helped him to the backyard.

Night fell, and the entire village was fast asleep.

Under the serene moonlight, she took his arm and walked step by step along the cobblestone path in the backyard.

This road looks very long, but it can end in the blink of an eye. I wonder if it will be the same for him and her.

The next day, Xiao Liulang got up early to go to the academy. Today, Xiao Jingkong's private school was closed, and Gu Jiao saw him off alone on the oxcart.

It was still early, and since Xiao Jingkong didn't have to go to school, Gu Jiao thought he would sleep in. But he woke up as soon as Xiao Liulang left.

He first went to the backyard to practice horse stance for a while, and then practiced standing in the stirrups, which is to stand and do the splits with his legs raised above his head. He also had Gu Jiao put a bowl of water on his feet.

The little monk looked earnest and adorable as he practiced his skills.

After he finished practicing his skills, Gu Jiao had just finished tidying up the kitchen and was planning to go up the mountain to pick some mushrooms.

Since Gu Yan was still fast asleep, the little monk, who had the chance to have Jiao Jiao all to himself, naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass and suggested that he go up the mountain with Jiao Jiao!

Gu Jiao agreed.

The two carried their small baskets on their backs, and as soon as they opened the door, they saw a horse-drawn carriage parked in front of their house.

A kind-looking young man stepped down from the carriage, cupped his hands in greeting to Gu Jiao, and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, is this Xiao Liulang's home?"

"Who are you?" Gu Jiao asked.

The young man said in a friendly tone, "You must be Madam Xiao? My steward asked me to invite you to town for a chat."

(End of this chapter)