Chapter 27 Truth or False: May I get into your bed? ...
Begging for mercy will only lead to shame; it's better to rely on yourself than on others!
Qingduo glared angrily at Zeng Zhengqing, but he seemed not to notice and continued chatting and laughing with his friend.
At worst, after finishing the "horse" drawing, I'll just use the best of the thirty-six stratagems—I'll go to the outhouse.
She picked up the spoon, calmly finished drawing the sugar painting, and handed it to Liu Ke. Before she could even clutch her stomach in a panic, Zeng Zhengqing asked, "I wonder what kind of dragon Madam drew?"
"What kind of one?" Qingduo was completely confused.
"The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* records several types of dragons, including Zhu, Ying, Qing, Jin, Pan, Jiao, and Kui. I wonder which one you wish to draw, Madam? I personally prefer the Yinglong. 'In times of drought, it takes the form of the Yinglong, and then heavy rain will fall.' It defeated Chiyou, controlled wind and rain, possessed immense power, and inspired awe. I wonder if you could draw one for me…"
"I can't draw it," Qingduo interrupted him mercilessly. She couldn't even draw a single dragon scale, how could she possibly draw any Yinglong?
She was utterly incredulous. She had been giving him all those meaningful glances, but he had clearly seen it all and pretended not to. What was worse, not only did he not help her, but he was making things even more difficult for her!
So he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll accept whatever you paint since it's free!"
In her anger, Qingduo forgot about her escape to the bathroom. She threw the spoon into the syrup pot and stirred it vigorously with a "bang, bang, bang," while still glaring fiercely at Zeng Zhengqing.
Reluctantly, she scooped up a spoonful of syrup, tilted her wrist slightly, but it froze in mid-air. However, she still couldn't draw a dragon!
She tried desperately to recall what the "auspicious dragon" Lu Nong had bought looked like, but she had been so busy playing and eating that she hadn't looked at it closely. What should she do? Her right foot started shaking involuntarily under the table, and in her anxiety, she actually felt the urge to urinate.
That's right! We still have the option of "running away is the best policy"!
Qingduo clutched her stomach: "Ouch..."
Zeng Zhengqing interjected, "If Madam cannot draw it, then do not force yourself."
"Who says I can't draw it!" Qingduo released her grip, straightened her back, and declared confidently, "Don't underestimate me! You wait, I'll draw it for you right now!"
Zeng Zhengqing smiled slightly: "Thank you, Madam."
Liu Ke tried desperately to purse his lips, but still managed a sneer. Qing Duo ignored them, determined to impress them with her superb skills. She stared at the empty iron plate for a long time, then suddenly tilted the syrup and wrote a large, flamboyant character on it:
"dragon"
She casually tossed a wooden stick onto the candy with a "thud," waited for it to settle, then scooped it up with a shovel and handed it to Zeng Zhengqing: "Here you go, your 'dragon'!"
Zeng Zhengqing refused to take it: "Madam, this is calligraphy, not a painting."
“Calligraphy and painting, calligraphy is painting, and painting can also be calligraphy,” Qingduo said, sticking out her neck. “Look at the ‘standing’ on the left, it’s like the head of a dragon, and the ‘moon’ is like the body of a dragon. Not to mention the right side, it looks just like the claws of a dragon. What else could this be but a painting?”
Before Zeng Zhengqing could say anything, Liu Ke stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law is absolutely right. The strokes of these characters are smooth and can be seen as the body of a vigorous dragon. How can they not be a painting?"
When someone spoke up for her, Qingduo raised her head even higher. Although she didn't say anything in agreement, her proud expression loudly conveyed the meaning of "that's right, that's right."
Zeng Zhengqing took the sugar painting and said seriously, "Thanks to your guidance, Madam, I now understand that this character is also a painting."
"Not at all," Qingduo said modestly, "You flatter me. I only know a little bit." Her lips curled up: "Don't you have important business to discuss? Come in quickly, I'll pour you some tea!" With that, she went into the house humming a little tune.
Zeng Zhengqing watched her joyful figure, a smile gradually appearing on his face. Suddenly, Liu Ke slapped him on the shoulder, interrupting his gaze, and he frowned as he looked at Liu Ke.
"My sister-in-law is so innocent and adorable. I really want to take her to meet my Wanwan. I'm sure she'll like her too!" Liu Ke said happily.
"She's very clever and mischievous, yet retains the innocence of a child." Zeng Zhengqing said, a warm smile appearing on his face as he recalled Qingduo's charming and lively demeanor.
Liu Ke leaned closer and whispered, "Oh! My dear brother, is your love for him to the core?"
Zeng Zhengqing immediately stopped smiling. He glanced at Liu Ke, pushed him aside, and went up the steps on his own, with Liu Ke following behind him with a grin.
After entering the house, the group drank some tea before discussing the purpose of Liu Ke's trip.
"You want me to authenticate 'Ten Thousand Green Mountains'?" Qingduo asked in surprise, pointing to the scroll Liu Ke was holding in his arms. "Could this be it?"
“It was painted by your father,” Liu Ke said, stroking the scroll in his arms with a loving expression. “I brought this treasure with me today so that you and my sister-in-law could take a look and distinguish its authenticity.”
Qingduo gasped, a cold sweat suddenly breaking out on her back, and her right leg began to tremble. Zeng Zhengqing noticed her flustered state, just like when he painted the dragon, closed his teacup, and said, "I have long heard that the 'Ten Thousand Green Mountains and Flowers' painting is the most wonderful in the world. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to appreciate it. I wish I could unroll the scroll immediately and see the world inside."
Liu Ke immediately washed his hands before reverently unrolling the scroll, and the three of them gathered around to admire the painting. The painting depicted a vast river surrounded by mountains; closer inspection revealed cascading waterfalls, green willows, and red flowers; a watermill and long bridge spanned the river, with fishing boats gliding across. The numerous scenes, each unique in form and style, were completely distinct, the brushstrokes delicate, and the overall effect majestic and unforgettable.
Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but murmur, "The river flows beyond heaven and earth, the mountain colors appear and disappear in the mist."
Liu Ke said smugly, "How about it? Now it seems I didn't waste those three thousand taels of silver, did I?"
Qingduo stared blankly at the painting, speechless. Seeing that she didn't speak, Liu Ke asked, "Sister-in-law, can you see anything wrong with it?"
Qingduo nodded, then immediately shook her head. She asked, "Brother Liu, you bought the painting first before bringing it to us for authentication. If it's a fake, can you return it?"
"Of course not, but if I don't act quickly, someone else will buy it. If it's fake, I'll just burn it to keep my eyes off it. But if the real thing falls into someone else's hands, I'll suffer for the rest of my life!" Liu Ke shook his head and sighed.
Qingduo fell silent, her gaze returning to the painting. Zeng Zhengqing, seeing her dazed expression, assumed she was having trouble discerning it. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gently advised, "Madam, don't worry. If you can't determine it right away, please ask your brother Liu to stay for a day. We can examine it more closely. If it still doesn't work, don't force it. He's kind and benevolent and won't make things difficult for you."
Tsk tsk tsk, let him "stay temporarily" when you need him, and send him back home immediately when you don't. Liu Ke sighed inwardly, "A minister is too big to stay!"
He immediately said, "Yuanbai is right. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to speak up. Don't worry about it, sister-in-law."
Qingduo looked up at Zeng Zhengqing and saw him nodding and smiling at her. Suddenly, she felt emboldened. She looked at Liu Ke and said, "Brother Liu, this painting is real."
"It really is true?" Liu Ke's voice trembled.
“Yes,” Qingduo said firmly, “it couldn’t be more real.”
*
A swift gust of wind rushed in through the open window, and its plump body was suddenly crushed, crying out in pain. Qingduo couldn't bear to listen to its sobs, so she reached out and closed the window.
The bitter taste of the tonic in front of her suddenly intensified, and Qingduo muttered, "You made things difficult for me before, and now I have to brew you medicine to nourish your spirit. It's so unfair."
The words had barely left her lips when an idea flashed into her eyes. She chuckled, picked up another packet of epimedium, and tossed it in. Watching it sink, she grinned and said, "You want to embarrass me? I'll teach you a lesson!"
"The tonic tastes even stronger today," Zeng Zhengqing said, frowning as he took a sip.
Qingduo blinked: "I forgot to turn off the heat in time while I was cooking it, and the water boiled off. It's okay—a thicker consistency is more effective!"
Zeng Zhengqing said no more. Thinking of his wife's hard work in preparing the medicine, he couldn't let her efforts go to waste. He forced himself to swallow the bitterness and drank it all in one gulp. After washing up, the two extinguished the candles and rested.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, a torrential downpour began outside, like buckets of beans falling on a drum, making a continuous "thump, thump, thump" sound that made it impossible for me to sleep.
Zeng Zhengqing stared intently at the ceiling, not because of the sound of rain.
He felt like he was burning with heat. A few days ago, he thought it was because of the heat, so he had Fangqing change to a thinner blanket in the morning. Then it rained in the evening, and although it was cool, the heat in his body was even worse than before. It felt like all the moisture in his internal organs had evaporated, and he felt so suffocated that he couldn't breathe. He irritably loosened his collar.
What's worse, the person beside him seemed to be unable to sleep because of the sound of the rain. She tossed and turned, making it impossible for his body to ignore her presence. Something inside him was quietly awakened, clamoring for something.
A deafening boom resounded. Zeng Zhengqing heard Qingduo cry out, "Oh my god!" before pulling the covers over her head and trembling.
He felt a tremor coming from his right side and asked with concern, "Is Madam afraid of thunder?"
"No, no, I'm not afraid."
"Then why are you trembling?"
Qingduo peeked out from under the covers and replied in a muffled voice, "I'm just scared today."
Zeng Zhengqing was taken aback. What did she mean by that? Just as he was about to ask further, a thunderous roar sounded, and Qingduo's half-exposed head retreated back under the covers. He stared in astonishment at the twisted blankets, his hand, which he wanted to use to soothe her, frozen in mid-air, unsure of what to do.
"Excuse me," the trembling blanket asked politely as the thunder subsided, "may I stay in your bed for a while?"
Zeng Zhengqing swallowed the almost-uttered "I can't accept it," feigning modesty and remaining silent. Seeing his silence, Qingduo said dejectedly, "I know this is a bit unreasonable, but if you're not willing..."
"Come in!" Zeng Zhengqing said, pulling back the covers before she could finish speaking.
Like a turtle stretching its limbs, green blossoms sprouted from under the covers. She happily wriggled over to Zeng Zhengqing, resting her head on his arm, letting him lower the covers and wrap her up. She sincerely praised, "Thank you, Qingqing, you are such a good person!"
The "good man" subtly curled his arms around her back, gently pulling her closer until her cheek touched his chest. He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had finally received the rain he had been longing for, and said, "You're welcome."
Thunder rumbled, and the body in his arms tensed instantly. He naturally held her tightly, patting her back gently. Under the warm comfort, her body softened again.
This was the second time he had held her, and his entire attention was completely absorbed by her body; this was the first time. He smelled the sweet jasmine scent in her hair and couldn't help but stroke it until his wife looked up, her breath brushing against his face like feathers, and a surge of heat rushed through him.
His breathing became more and more rapid, but Qingduo was oblivious. She whispered, "Qingqing, could we buy back the 'Green Mountains and Ten Thousand Flowers' painting from Brother Liu?"
"Hmm?" Zeng Zhengqing tried hard to listen to Qingduo's words, but his lips unconsciously moved downwards. He said in a hoarse voice, "This is his favorite, he won't part with it."
Yes, he wouldn't part with it. He had tasted those soft lips before, and the fire in his chest crackled and raged, burning so intensely that his throat tightened.
"He will," Qingduo murmured, her hand unconsciously tightening around Zeng Zhengqing's clothes.
He mumbled a reply: "Hmm?"
Zeng Zhengqing had no interest in listening to what she was saying; he was already immersed in the fragrance and felt that no matter how colorful the camellia or jasmine were, none could compare to her captivating charm and gentle demeanor.
Closer, closer still, his heart pounded uncontrollably. Just a little more downwards, and he would be...
"Because I lied," she finally said.
Zeng Zhengqing was distracted. He only noticed that the head in his arms had suddenly drooped, thwarting his wishes and making him feel frustrated. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her head back. His Adam's apple bobbed violently. Learning from his previous experience, he quickly moved closer.
Like a shooting star, it must fall into its own world.
"Brother Liu's painting is fake," Qingduo whispered.
His warm breath brushed against her lips, and Zeng Zhengqing paused. Why bring up another man now? He frowned in displeasure, about to express his displeasure, when suddenly, he belatedly realized what he was doing.
"Huh???" He released Qingduo and stumbled backward, staring in shock at her blurry face in the darkness.
Qingduo couldn't see his expression either, but she sensed his surprise from his stagnant breathing. She sighed and repeated:
"It's so fake it couldn't be more fake."
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Author's Note: Zeng Zhengqing: Next time you hug me, please don't say anything!
Qingduo: Where did you hug me? I was taking refuge!
Zeng Zhengqing: Please don't speak next time you seek refuge!
My kiss… [resting chin on hand]
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