Quiet Night
Cuocuo called out twice but then stopped. The man in the forest seemed not to care.
Seeing this, Taishi Zheng and Cui Zhijun hurriedly coaxed Cuo Cuo away, but the little dog had no idea what was going on. It just kept its ears perked up and looked alertly towards the pine forest not far away.
Just at this moment, the wind blew in the forest, and the sound of turning wood echoed back and forth.
But the sound was fleeting, drowned out by Song Mingyue's wild laughter. "Hahahaha, Cui Laosan, are you okay? Can you even get up? If you can't, I'm going back to sleep. I don't have time for your nonsense."
Cui Zhichou ignored Song Mingyue's ridicule and muttered silently, "Eh? What went wrong? It was working fine when we tried it inside, but why doesn't it work now that we're outside?"
However, people outside the forest could not see the situation inside the forest clearly, which made the young couple even more nervous.
They seemed to think that the third brother and his wife were so unrestrained...
Cui Zhijun reluctantly bent down and was about to pick up the puppy in front of him when Cuocuo started barking again. This time, the people in the forest finally reacted. Song Mingyue said to Cui Zhichou while looking outside. "Why do I keep hearing dogs barking? When did anyone in our family get a dog? I'll go check it out."
"Maybe it's a stray dog. Oh, don't worry about it. Come and help me think of a solution." Cui Zhichou didn't care much.
Song Mingyue refused to listen. "What can I do for you? I know nothing about your stuff. If you can't do it, just go back to sleep and don't wake your parents up and get scolded for using your tricks and not doing your job properly. Don't cry if they take your stuff away from you."
Song Mingyue's figure was getting closer and closer to the path outside the pine forest, and Cuo Cuo was still calling out.
In a moment of desperation, Taishi Zheng exchanged glances with Cui Zhijun, and Taishi Zheng, unintentionally, dropped the dog's leash. Zheng then dragged Cui Zhijun along and hid in the holly bushes around the bend. Meanwhile, Song Mingyue parted the pine branches and looked down, following the sound of the barking dog. There was no one on the path, only a small dog on a leash barking at her.
"Wow, whose puppy are you? Why are you here so late at night instead of going home?"
No one can resist the charm of a puppy.
The same went for Song Mingyue. She had just rudely scolded Cui Zhichou, and the moment she saw Cuo Cuo, she immediately lowered her voice.
Cui Zhichou followed out of the woods, carrying a small mechanical bird. Seeing Song Mingyue being so gentle, he couldn't help but complain, "Song Mingyue, when will you ever speak to me so kindly? You're more affectionate to dogs than to me."
Song Mingyue squatted in front of Cuo Cuo and smacked its cute little head.
But she frowned after hearing Cui Zhichou's voice and replied indifferently: "When? When you turn into a dog."
"Song Laoliu, if I really turn into a dog, I wonder what you'll do—" Cui Zhichou stomped his feet in anger, even shaking off a piece of the mechanical bird's wing. Song Mingyue picked up the dog leash and glanced at the shoddy workmanship in Cui Zhichou's hands. She shook her head in disdain and said, "I can remarry."
"You, you, you want to remarry? What do you want to remarry? Song Mingyue, you've pissed me off. Who else would want you besides me?" Cui Zhichou protested loudly, but the mechanical bird's parts were dwindling. So, it wouldn't be able to fly tonight.
But Song Mingyue liked the way Cui Zhichou threw tantrums. The angrier he got, the more excited Song Mingyue became.
"Oh, then you don't know. Before I married you, I had a lover. I guess he is still waiting for me now - after all, I am so hard to forget." Song Mingyue's words were outrageous, and only Cui Zhichou would fall for her trick.
"Song Mingyue, are you serious...you are so bullying." Just seeing Song Mingyue looking back, Cui Zhichou was so anxious that he almost cried.
After all, teenagers are teenagers, and their minds are really simple.
Song Mingyue was frightened by Cui Zhichou. She just wanted to tease him and didn't want to make him cry, so she quickly said, "Alright, alright, look at you. It's just that the mechanical bird didn't fly. What's the big deal? Just go back and do it again. You're not Lu Ban, how can you get it right the first time?"
Is he feeling aggrieved because of the mechanical bird incident?
Song Mingyue was really good at diverting conflicts. Cui Zhichou curled his lips and looked at his enemy, not wanting to say a word to her.
But Song Mingyue turned around and thought, why can't I coax her?
Forget it, let’s ignore him for now.
Then, standing up, Song Mingyue looked around while holding the dog's leash. "This puppy is on a leash, so it must be domesticated. I just don't know where it escaped from. Cui Laosan, stop being angry. Let's go, let's send this puppy home first. You can do whatever you want with it after that."
Cui Zhichou lowered his eyes and glanced at Cuo Cuo lying on the ground. He felt a little soft-hearted, but he gritted his teeth and turned his head without responding.
At that time, Taishi Zheng and Cui Zhijun were crouching together stealthily in the bushes not far away. Even at this moment, the couple's hands seemed to be glued together, not letting go. Cui Zhijun subconsciously glanced at the people around him, his eyes as if asking what to do next?
Unexpectedly, Zheng understood his meaning, and with a flick of her eyes, she immediately came up with a plan. The next second, Taishi Zheng made a prompt decision, holding Cui Zhijun's hand, and slowly moved in the opposite direction of the third brother and his wife.
On the other side of the third brother and his wife, Song Mingyue stared at Cui Zhichou for a long time, and it seemed that she had really offended him today.
But she has plenty of ways to make him obedient.
But Song Mingyue poked Cui Zhichou gently and said, "Are you really angry?"
Cui Zhichou moved his arms to signal her not to touch him. Song Mingyue then explained what she had just said, "Cui Laosan, I was just teasing you. You can't really turn into a dog! Besides, I married you so early. I would like to have a lover, but I don't have time for others."
"Stupid, can you use your brain?"
Cui Zhichou seemed to have been persuaded to retreat a little, his body slightly shifting towards the person next to him. However, Cui Zhichou had finally caught Song Mingyue's mistake, and he couldn't let such a good opportunity slip away. He simply said, "Look, you've spoken your mind! Song Laoliu, you've let me say everything. How can I know which of your words are true and which are false? Tell me, how are you going to prove it?"
Proof? That's easy.
Song Mingyue sneered at the words and suddenly put the hand that had touched Cuo Cuo on Cui Zhichou's chin. Cui Zhichou felt a surge of electricity in his body, and that most frightening, yet seductive voice suddenly appeared in his ears.
Cui Zhichou had a bad feeling, but it was too late to escape. "Xiao Sanlang, my period has ended this month. Didn't you only halfway through last time? How about tonight, I'll prove it to you? You're not allowed to run away~"
Help, Song Mingyue is a man-eating monster.
The evening breeze was chilly, and Cui Zhichou shivered in it. Whenever Song Mingyue mentioned this, he felt both terrified and delighted. Every time, Cui Zhichou was tormented by Song Mingyue, and even though he had already had his fill, Song Mingyue wouldn't stop.
He was often tortured until midnight.
But whenever he opened his eyes the next day, Song Mingyue would kick him away as if there was no need for him to turn back.
Cui Zhichou swore that he would never again be at Song Mingyue's beck and call. He had been tortured by her for so long, it was time for him to be tough for once. He shook off Song Mingyue's groping hands and shouted angrily, "You don't have to run away, but I want to be on top today!"
As soon as these words came out, Song Mingyue's eyes widened and she reached out to hit Cui Zhichou on the head, "Silly boy, why are you shouting so loudly? Are you afraid that others won't know? There's a dog here!"
"If you don't agree, then don't agree. Why did you hit me?" Cui Zhichou was about to turn around and leave with a wronged look on his face.
Seeing this, Song Mingyue quickly raised her hand to keep him.
She finally got into the mood, and today she had to calm him down first. "Alright, alright, I'll give you a break today. You see, it'll take some time to deliver the dog, so let's go. If there's anything, let's go back and discuss it, okay?"
"Alright... well, then why don't we try this mechanical bird?" Cui Zhichou was still thinking about his mechanical bird, which was almost falling apart. Song Mingyue pointed at the scattered parts and laughed, "Cui Laosan, take a look at your broken bird and see if it can still fly."
Cui Zhichou looked at the mess on the ground, picked up the parts silently, and replied dejectedly: "Let's go, take the puppy home."
At that time, Tai Shi Zheng and Cui Zhijun finally went around the back of the holly bush and came to the distant intersection.
The young couple hurried back down the path. On the way, Zheng said to Cui Zhijun, "Erlang, whatever I shout later, just follow my lead. You must act like you're extremely anxious, okay?"
Cui Zhiyun did not answer.
Zheng did not bother to say more, but just pretended to shout out from where the third brother and his wife were standing: "Cuocuo, Cuocuo, where have you been? Cuocuo? Are you here——"
Tai Shi Zheng's voice was heard, and Cuo Cuo barked in response.
"Is this my second sister-in-law's voice?" Song Mingyue looked at Cui Zhichou. Cui Zhichou nodded, but did not dare to confirm.
Until Zheng pulled the indifferent Cui Zhijun hard, signaling him to shout together.
Cui Zhijun finally bit the bullet and called out, "Cuocuo."
"It's my second brother." Although Cui Zhichou couldn't see the person clearly from a distance, he immediately recognized Cui Zhijun's voice. Song Mingyue was puzzled, "Is this little thing my second brother and his wife's? When did they get a dog?"
Cui Zhichou shook his head. "You're the only one who cares too much. At least you can find a home for the puppy."
The two of them didn't have time to talk anymore and started arguing again.
Maybe this is how they get along. Even under the candlelight tent, when they are tossing and turning over the covers, they can still curse at each other...
Song Mingyue glared at Cui Zhichou and said nothing more.
-
Not long after, Taishi Zheng and Cui Zhijun came along the road. When Cui Zhichou saw them, he waved and said, "Second brother, second sister-in-law. Come quickly! Are you looking for it—is its name Cuocuo?"
At this time, Cuo Cuo looked at the two people coming towards her. She was very surprised that they were just behind her, so why were they coming from a distance again?
But the puppy doesn't have so many bad intentions.
It still greeted him with the highest puppy etiquette, wagging its tail excitedly.
Zheng said that if she was going to perform the play, she had to perform it in its entirety. This was a bad idea she came up with in order to avoid embarrassing the third brother and his wife, as well as herself.
But after taking a few steps forward, she said anxiously, "Cuocuo, you were just taking a walk, why did you end up here? It's so hard for us to find you, but I was so worried. It's a good thing your uncle and aunt found you. What if you were taken away by some bad guys?"
"Old Three, Mingyue, thank you so much."
Taishi Zheng's speech was smooth and coherent, and it seemed that he had planned it all along. Cui Zhijun couldn't help but want to laugh when he heard it from behind, but he held it back in front of so many people.
"Second sister-in-law, why are you being so polite? This puppy is really yours! I can't believe it. When did you get a dog?" Song Mingyue lowered her eyes and handed the leash to Taishi Zheng. This was like returning the dog to its original owner, saving them the trouble of going door to door.
Zheng took the dog leash and said proudly, "Oh, this is my Erlang. He was worried that I would be bored alone, so he sent it to me yesterday to keep me company."
"As expected of my second brother, he is really considerate... unlike some people." Song Mingyue said as she turned her gaze to Cui Zhichou. Cui Zhichou frowned. He really didn't understand how this could be related to him!
While talking, Cui Zhijun's eyes fell on Cui Zhichou's arms, and asked him abnormally: "Sanlang, why are you here so late——"
When Cui Zhichou heard his second brother's question, he immediately put on a smile and replied, "Oh, we came to this forest to try out this mechanical bird. Second brother, you know that all the servants in my house are arranged by my mother to watch over me, so I dare not set it out in the yard openly. If I get reported, I will be in trouble. I can only drag Mingyue here to try it secretly. But in the end, it failed..."
Cui Zhijun nodded and said nothing more.
Zheng tried to comfort him, "It's okay, Third Brother. Take your time. How can you succeed in one try? You're already very capable. I believe that as long as you work hard, you can succeed. And why would you have to hide next time? Just bring Mingyue to our room and set it off. Aunt Wu and Yuanzi won't say anything."
"Really? Thank you so much, sister-in-law~" Kind words can always soothe people's hearts, and Cui Zhichou felt warm in his heart after hearing them.
Song Mingyue turned her head to look at Cui Zhichou's silly look and smiled knowingly.
No matter how much she said in disdain, she was always willing to protect Cui Zhichou's unappreciated and misunderstood interests. But perhaps what Song Mingyue was protecting was also the self who was once disrespected, belittled and suppressed by her parents.
"Okay, okay, since Cuo Cuo has found her owner, let's not disturb Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law from taking a walk. It's getting late, so we won't disturb them any longer. Cui Lao San, let's go." Song Mingyue urged tactfully.
After all, she had finally seen Cui Zhijun and Tai Shizheng alone, and they also had their own things to do.
But Cui Zhichou couldn't figure out what was going on. He just wondered what Song Mingyue was so anxious about.
Could it be that she is still preparing tonight——
Thunder roared out of nowhere. Cui Zhichou didn't have time to say goodbye before Song Mingyue dragged him away in the opposite direction of Cui Zhijun and the others. Zheng, holding Cuocuo's hand, turned to look at Cui Zhijun. Fortunately, they didn't hear all the conversation about the third brother and his wife.
Otherwise, it’s not just Cui Zhichou who is panicking now.
Taishi Zheng was worried that Cui Zhijun was tired, so she asked, "It's the beginning of the night, isn't it? My dear, do you want to walk a little longer? Or do you want to go home?" Cui Zhijun turned around and looked at her, but didn't say he wanted to go home. "We finally got out. Let's go to Cangyun Pavilion and sit for a while before going back."
Newlyweds are not as straightforward and passionate as old married couples, and even their words are immature.
Zheng responded with "OK".
The two men smiled slightly and walked away towards Cangyun Pavilion side by side.
-
Arrive at Cangyun Pavilion.
Cui Zhijun took the dog leash from Taishi Zheng's hand and tied it to the small tree beside the pavilion. However, he turned his head to look at Taishi Zheng who was sitting in the pavilion when he tied the knot halfway. "There's no one here right now. Why not let it run around?"
"Forget it, it's too small and will run around. Let's just sit for a while and then go back."
Zheng shook her head and then turned her affectionate gaze to Cuo Cuo, "Xiaobao, let's bear with it for a while. We can untie you when we get back to the courtyard~"
Cuo Cuo barked twice in response.
Cui Zhijun followed Taishi Zheng's instructions and continued to tie the knot. When he sat down next to Taishi Zheng, the winter night's silence enveloped them. Cui Zhijun stared at the dim light before him, not saying a word for a long while.
What a quiet time.
The earth is resting, everything is quiet, and everyone is looking forward to a better spring.
"Where did you go yesterday?"
The first person to speak was Cui Zhijun.
Tai Shi Zheng glanced at him slightly. She was very happy to share her experiences with Cui Zhijun, but she was afraid that he didn't want to listen.
"Grandfather brought back a deer from his winter hunt. Eleventh Lady invited Sister Yi and me to the Prince of Bei's mansion for a stew. The braised deer ribs we had for lunch today were brought back from there. My dear, do you know them? One is a grandson of the Prince of Bei, and the other is the niece of the young lady. They are both my best friends, and I really want to introduce them to you if I have the chance. They, including Xia Laowu, are all excellent people. Enthusiastic, generous, and sincere. If it weren't for them, I can't imagine how boring my childhood would have been."
When Zheng mentioned them, her face lit up with joy. This group of friends was her pride.
Cui Zhijun nodded, "I know, I've seen it before."
Zheng couldn't help but be curious, "Have you seen him before? Where have you seen him before, sir?"
Cui Zhijun clasped his hands tightly against his knees. Taishi Zheng's words brought back memories of the wedding reception. "I ran into them outside Taishi's house the day I picked you up. They were lively and interesting people."
"I feel at ease to receive such an evaluation from my husband."
Tai Shi Zheng laughed out loud after saying this. She said that only they could leave such a deep impression on people.
Unexpectedly, the atmosphere dropped again.
Zheng watched Cui Zhijun's silence with a gentle gaze. She pondered something for a long time before suddenly asking, "My dear... do you have any close friends? I haven't heard of them."
Good friends? Are they the same as her and them?
Cui Zhiyun asked himself, he didn't even know the meaning of friends, so his answer was brief and concise.
He responded sincerely, "No."
But that's the reality.
For twenty years, Cui Zhijun spent his days surrounded by books, rarely interacting with others. He seemed trapped by his family background, or perhaps weighed down by the rituals of his father. From a young age, Cui Zhijun had no control over who he could associate with and who he could not. He might have resisted at first, but in the end, he was left to his own devices.
"Not even one?" Zheng asked unwillingly. Cui Zhijun said calmly, "Not even one."
how so……
However, Tai Shi Zheng still captured that moment of loss.
She stared at Choi Shik-jun silently for a long time. Zheng's expression wasn't pity, nor was it mockery. She was simply surprised. As a leaf fluttered down, Zheng suddenly smiled and said to Choi Shik-jun, "In that case, from today on, I'll be your friend."
Of course, my friends can also be your friends if you wish."
Looking back suddenly, there was a warm person filling Cui Zhijun's eyes.
Many people stopped and walked forward, but only a few remained. Would Taishi Zheng be the same? Cui Zhijun didn't dare to confirm. He looked at her fiery eyes and couldn't help but say, "Okay."
Tai Shi Zheng was overjoyed to hear the response and grabbed Cui Zhijun's hand, "So, we can be good friends for life~"
Cui Zhijun didn't dodge, and Zheng was very proud.
But she suddenly remembered what she and her sisters had said yesterday at Prince Bei's mansion, and said to Cui Zhijun, "Oh, my dear, I heard the other day that Xia Laowu has also come to study at your Imperial College. If you meet him there someday, please remember to take care of him. It would be best if you could ask him more about his studies. I think if he doesn't pass the exam, he will have to settle down at your Imperial College for the rest of his life..."
Cui Zhijun had a vague impression of him, "Xia Laowu?"
"Isn't that the Fifth Brother Xia Buyu from the Right General's family that you mentioned? Wasn't he originally studying with you at Zishan Hall? How could he be——"
Taishi Zheng sighed and then recounted the entire story of Xia Buyu. Once Cui Zhijun had a rough understanding of the situation, he agreed to Zheng's request, "Madam, I've taken note of your words. If I ever have the chance to meet you, I'll do as you say."
"Then I'll thank you on behalf of Uncle Xia~"
Zheng gently patted Cui Zhijun's arm and spoke well of Xia Buyu again, "Actually, my dear, although Xia Laowu is flashy, has a bad reputation, and is not serious, he is a very righteous person. If you get along well with him, you will like him. He is not a person who has so many twists and turns. He is easy to get along with."
Cui Zhijun looked up, smiled and said nothing.
At this moment, Taishi Zheng took Cui Zhijun's hand and climbed up together. With a loud lazy bow, Zheng stood up and smiled with narrowed eyes, "Alright, my good friend, it's late. Let's go home. I'm a little sleepy."
"Let's go." Cui Zhijun held her palm and spoke softly.
Watching the two of them stand up, their hands still clasped together intimately.
The young couple came to the small tree. Seeing that Cuocuo was drooping with her head and looked very sleepy, Cui Zhijun tried to loosen Taishi Zheng's hand, but he couldn't loosen it for a long time. He asked, "Madam, how can I untie the rope when you are holding me like this?"
Zheng turned around and replied, "Then remember to tie it back after you untie it."
Cui Zhijun nodded, and Tai Shizheng finally let go of his hand with relief.
As expected, a gentleman's word is as good as gold. After Cui Zhijun untied the rope, he held Cuo Cuo in one hand and Tai Shi Zheng in the other. Next to the bright candlelight and under the faint moonlight, the family of three slowly walked home towards Yinzhu Yatang.
Simple and plain,
So, it's another good day.
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