006
Qin Sang returned home quite late, but her father was still sitting with her mother in the courtyard, making clothes under a palace lantern.
After greeting them, Qin Sang went back to her house.
Qin's mother, Han Jing, glanced back at the closed door and said, "Coming home so late again, I don't know how to respond to the gossip outside."
Qin Liangyu, Qin's father, advised, "He's still just a child. Apart from getting close to that young master of the Tang family, he hasn't done anything out of line. You don't need to worry too much."
“I’m not worried. The one who should be worried is my mother. She was brought back by my mother, and I’ve never been able to get involved in many things since I was little. But I’m already over fifteen, and there’s still no word from my mother. It looks like she’ll stay by my side for another two years.”
Qin Liangyu smiled warmly: "Wouldn't it be better to keep her for two more years? She's so intelligent, it would be better if she stayed a few more years."
Han Jing glanced at him sideways: "You're so shrewd, aren't you just after her business acumen? But don't even think about it. She'll take all that gold, silver, jade, jewelry, and land with her when she gets married. She won't leave us a single penny."
Qin Liangyu chuckled to herself, while Han Jing sighed softly, "It's not that I'm after her money, it's just that she's so beautiful and eye-catching. Lately, more than one person has told me that the young master of the county magistrate's family seems to have taken a fancy to Sangsang, and he keeps ambushing her on the street."
Qin Liangyu's expression changed: "Is that so?"
Han Jing: "Would I make up something to lie to you? More than one person has told me this."
Qin Liangyu said, "How come I've never heard her mention it?"
Han Jing: "She's so determined, how could she let us know... Let's just wait and see. If she can't solve it, you'll have to ask for favors."
Qin Liangyu thought for a moment and said, "I'll go find my mother and ask her to consider Sangsang's marriage as soon as possible. Even if she doesn't get married for the next two years, we can still settle things first."
With that, he got up and left.
Qin Sang had just returned to her room and was instructing Ying'er to fetch water for washing when there was a sudden knock on the door. Opening it, she saw Qin Yue, the daughter of the Qin family. Qin Yue quickly smiled and ushered her inside, saying, "Second Sister, haven't you rested yet? What are you carrying?"
Qin Yue brought the drawing paper that was behind her back to her face, looking a little shy, and said, "Look for yourself."
Qin Sang took the paper; it contained the design of a hairpin. The composition was exquisite, and the design was unique.
Qin Yue asked, "Does it look good?"
Qin Sang nodded: "Beautiful. Really beautiful."
Qin Yue: "Should we use silver or gold to make it?"
“It would look even better if it were made of gold,” Qin Sang said, looking up. “Second Sister, you’re so wealthy, why did you suddenly want to make a hairpin?”
Qin Yue shook her head mysteriously: "I'm not rich, but I have a very rich younger sister."
Qin Sang immediately placed the paper on the table, but Qin Yue grabbed her arm and shook her: "Good sister, I'm getting married next year. If you give me a hairpin as part of my dowry, I won't need you to give me anything else. It's a good deal."
Qin Sang sat down and poured a glass of water: "Qin Yue, there's still no news about my brother's marriage, and you're getting married next year?"
Qin Yue wasn't annoyed that she called her by her name directly, and sat down to say, "Oh, marriage happens so quickly. Maybe he'll get married by the end of the year. My mother is already making arrangements for him."
Qin Sang sighed helplessly and said, "Hairpins can't generate money. I originally planned to give you two plots of land as a wedding gift..."
Qin Yue continued to shake her: "But right now I just want the hairpin, I don't want any land. Grandmother will give me land anyway, what would I do with so much land? I can't possibly eat it all."
"..." Qin Sang was stunned by the boy's ignorant remarks. Her mind raced, and she said, "Is it because your so-called best friend has been showing off her new hairpin again recently?"
Qin Yue's smile vanished instantly: "Are you going to see me off or not?"
Qin Sang coldly replied, "No need to see me out."
Qin Yue let go of her hand, and a moment later, the corners of her eyes suddenly reddened.
Qin Sang initially thought it was just a joke, but Qin Yue took it seriously. Realizing something was wrong, she quickly coughed and asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Suppressing her grievances, Qin Yue said, "Feng Lang praised Yan Yan's hairpin a few days ago!"
Feng Lang is Qin Yue's fiancé, whose full name is Han Feng. He is the nephew of her mother, Han Jing. The Yan Yan she mentioned is a female companion Qin Yue met when she was studying at the girls' college, named Su Qingyan.
Qin Sang immediately understood and said, "You went on a picnic with them a few days ago, what was he saying then?"
Qin Yue wiped away her tears and nodded.
Qin Sang frowned, feeling that this was a serious matter. One must be wary of thieves, robbers, and best friends! How could three people go on a picnic together? Especially since they were all unmarried, it was easy for things to go wrong and sparks to fly.
She fumbled with her fingers over the teacup: "So, what do you think about this?"
Qin Yue said, "I want to make a hairpin that's even better than that silver one!"
"..." Qin Sang almost choked on her tea. "Very good, very principled." After calming herself down, she said, "How about this, I need to go up the mountain to pick some tea in the next couple of days. Can you help me? Also, invite Han Feng and your good friend Su Qingyan along. I might consider helping you out."
"Really?!" Qin Yue burst into laughter immediately upon hearing that the hairpin was available. "How difficult could that be? The scenery on the mountain has been beautiful lately, and I haven't been to your tea garden in a long time. The place we went on our last outing wasn't very nice, and I even mentioned your tea garden to them."
Qin Sang sipped her tea and nodded.
Qin Yue spread her hands: "Then give me the money."
Qin Sang: "Weren't you going to make a gold hairpin?"
Qin Yue laughed and said, "There's no need for such precious things. I can just have a silver hairpin."
Qin Sang then took out a silver ingot from her drawer and handed it to Qin Yue. Seeing her leave happily, she shook her head helplessly and sighed, "Silly."
**
Two days later, Xie Sui'an, nourished by Qin Sang's varied rice porridge and side dishes, regained his rosy complexion, his illness was cured, and he was full of energy.
Once I recovered, I started doing things again.
He and Jinyun waited early at the alley entrance that Yang Wenhao passed by every day, their faces covered with a brocade handkerchief, humming a little tune as they waited for the fish to fall into the net.
Yang Wenhao was humming a song and even started singing opera as he walked into the alley, when he saw a masked man standing arrogantly at the alley entrance, blocking his way.
Young Master Yang had done many outrageous things, and no one in Li County dared to mess with him. Seeing this, he wasn't afraid at all. He was still humming a tune under his breath as he looked back and saw that there were indeed people blocking the other side as well.
He and his servant stood still, and he raised his chin arrogantly, saying, "Do you know who you think you are? You dare to rob me? You... ah!"
Before he could finish speaking, a pebble struck him squarely in the back, and through his thin clothes, the pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat instantly.
A familiar pain! It's from the person who attacked me that day!
Yang Wenhao turned around and saw Jinyun rushing towards him like the wind, so fast that it even carried away the fallen petals from other trees into the alley.
Before he could even speak, Yang Wenhao had already been punched in the mouth and nose.
Young Master Yang, proud and delicate, couldn't withstand a punch from a master from the capital. He staggered back two or three steps, barely managing to grab the wall to avoid sitting down. Before the pain had even fully registered, blood was already dripping from his nose.
He reached up and touched the blood in his nose, ready to burst into tears, but before he could even open his mouth, a bitter pill was grabbed and thrown into his mouth.
Jinyun said happily in his ear, "Don't shout. This medicine is very weak. The more you shout, the faster the poison will take effect."
The pill choked him, nearly killing him. Looking down, Young Master Yang realized his servant had already been knocked unconscious. Clutching his chest, he was both shocked and furious: "Do you want to die...?"
Xie Sui'an slowly walked up to him and said in a low voice, "You're the one who's courting death. You're the first person to dare put drugs in my flesh."
"You...you're trying to scare me!" Yang Wenhao said with disdain. "I've had someone investigate you. You're just a traveling merchant, a lowly commoner! My father is the county magistrate. You dare to touch me!"
"Tsk," Xie Sui'an straightened his clothes, "I've already done this, and even fed you poison. If you behave yourself and apologize, I might consider giving you the antidote."
Yang Wenhao retorted, "You hit me first! I have no grudge against you. You hit my hand with a stone first, leaving my arm immobile for two days, and I still have bruises!"
Xie Sui'an laughed: "So, you know I'm powerful, yet you still dare to mess with me?"
Yang Wenhao was filled with rage, but he was no match for the man, especially the servant beside him. Even if you searched the entire Li County, you wouldn't be able to find a single one of those servants. A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, so he decided to get the antidote first.
Just as he was about to speak, a woman's voice suddenly came from the alley entrance: "What are you doing?"
The group turned around and, by sheer coincidence, it was Qin Sang.
Yang Wenhao shouted, "Sangsang, help! Sangsang, quickly report to the authorities! Someone is trying to kill me!"
Xie Sui'an reached out and turned Yang Wenhao's face towards the wall, then walked towards Qin Sang: "Miss Sang Sang, what a coincidence, we meet here again."
Jinyun immediately stood like a stone pillar next to Yang Wenhao, blocking his view and threatening, "Don't shout, or the poison will take effect!"
Yang Wenhao immediately shut up and stopped shouting, his eager gaze sweeping past Jinyun and outwards.
"Who are you...?" Qin Sang asked.
Xie Sui'an pulled off the face towel: "You don't recognize me so quickly? Who told you not to bring me porridge yourself? You just send me a maid to fob me off every day."
Qin Sang was speechless: "You hit him?"
Xie Sui'an shook his head: "No, just settling a score between men."
Qin Sang had already seen Yang Wenhao's nosebleed. She was afraid that things would get out of hand, so she diligently cooked porridge for him... She immediately said softly, "When will this cycle of revenge end? Why not stop here today? He's just a child and hasn't done anything wrong. Besides, if you hit him, his father will definitely cause you trouble. Why bother?"
Xie Sui'an nodded: "I was also planning to stop here. What are you carrying? Is it porridge you brought for me?"
Qin Sang said, "No."
Xie Sui'an reached out to lift the lid to look, but Qin Sang pulled the basket back and walked around him into the alley.
When Yang Wenhao saw her come in, he became even more anxious and whispered, "What are you doing here? You should go and report to the authorities right now..."
Qin Sang looked at Xie Suian: "Young Master Lu, the feud between you two started because of me. Let me be the peacemaker today. If you two are willing to give Qin Sang some face, please stop fighting, okay?"
Yang Wenhao pointed to his chest and whispered, "They poisoned me!"
Qin Sang looked at Xie Sui'an who had followed her in. Xie Sui'an smiled and took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket: "Since Miss Sang Sang has spoken, I have to give her face. Here, this is for you, not for him."
Qin Sang took the medicine, handed it to Yang Wenhao, and continued to persuade him, "Let's leave it at that. The medicine you gave him almost killed him. Now that he beat you up, we're even." As she spoke, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "This person has a powerful background. We can't afford to offend him."
After saying this, she turned around, grabbed Xie Suian's sleeve, and dragged him out of the alley to prevent their grudges from getting out of hand.
Xie Sui'an looked down at the small hand fiddling with his sleeve, then at the girl's hair, noticing a flower had just fallen on her head. He casually removed it, laughing, "Look, you're getting flowers everywhere..."
“Young master, you’ve been staying here for several days,” Qin Sang interrupted him naturally, letting go of his hand at the alley entrance. “I wonder if you’ve finished your business. Our place is small and the temple is small too; I’m afraid it can’t accommodate such a large Buddha statue.”
When it came to business, Xie Sui'an suddenly stopped in front of her, then leaned closer to her face and began to observe her carefully. After a moment, he suddenly said, "You look familiar. You look like an old friend of mine."
Qin Sang looked completely bewildered.
Xie Sui'an straightened up with a puzzled look on his face. After a moment, he said with a relaxed expression, "Fine, whoever you are, I'll consider you a friend. I still have to wait for someone here. Is there anything fun to do here? I'm so tired of this small county town, it's so boring."
Hearing his question, Qin Sang thought it wouldn't hurt to send him away for a couple of days, so she pointed to the south of the city and said, "There is a Phoenix Spring Mountain to the south of the city. The peach blossoms are in full bloom right now, and the scenery is quite nice. You could stay there for a couple of days, young master. It should be quite a unique experience."
Xie Suian said, "Going up the mountain to admire the flowers? That sounds nice. Will you come with me?"
Qin Sang almost rolled her eyes at this shameless man, and said coldly, "No, I am not familiar with you, young master, and besides, there is a difference between men and women. Please leave me a way out." After speaking, she glanced into the alley and saw that Yang Wenhao had already run away, so she bowed and said, "Farewell."
She breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself that it was fortunate she had run into him; otherwise, she didn't know how much trouble she would have caused. It was better this way; she could wait until Yang Wenhao came to ambush her again before trying to persuade him, and hopefully, there wouldn't be any more trouble.
Today, she made a new batch of tea at home, intending to take it to Tang Zi'an to try, and also to help out at the clinic. The weather has been unpredictable lately, and many people are sick, making the clinic especially busy. Since her master hasn't returned yet, she goes to the clinic every day to help with consultations and dispensing medicine.
Walk to the end of Zhengyang Main Street, turn right, and follow the river to reach the clinic. However, two women walk towards you. One of them is tall and has a pretty but ordinary appearance; she is Qin Yue, the second sister of the clinic.
The slender, delicate woman next to Qin Yue, who was covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughing softly, looking fragile and vulnerable, was none other than Su Qingyan, the good friend that her second sister often mentioned.
This girl is pretty and delicate, with red lips and white teeth, and a graceful figure. She is more eye-catching than my second sister, but I don't know why she is still not engaged.
The three of them bumped into each other and exchanged greetings and pleasantries.
Su Yanqing said that she caught a cold the night before. When Qin Yue found out, she insisted on accompanying her to get medicine. She praised her second sister in detail. At the end, Qin Yue suddenly said, "By the way, Sangsang, Fenglang asked when you are going up the mountain. He is going on a long trip in a few days."
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