Chapter 575 Speedrunning Junior Sister, Keeping the Promise Embroiderer! [Seeking Monthly Tickets!] (5000 words)
Ouyang Rong discovered that women are interested in things that are dazzling and glittering.
Naturally attracted.
Men are different.
I love straight and sturdy sticks; I can't resist them and love bringing them home...
Furthermore, women, regardless of age, find it even harder to resist something that shines brightly and attracts attention.
The jade hairpin with mandarin ducks on the riddle stall in front is a typical example.
That kind-looking, chubby old man is definitely a cunning old man.
He deserves to make money.
In the long queue, Ouyang Rong, with his back to Xie Lingjiang, fanned himself to suppress the twitching corners of his mouth.
That's how my junior sister was drawn in. The same was true for Lady Rong before her.
After saying goodbye to Rongzhen, Ouyang Rong rushed back to Xunyang Prince's Mansion at lightning speed, accompanied his gratified mentor Xie Xun, and drank a bowl of dried rice balls cooked by his junior sister.
He had already prepared an excuse to have a few drinks with his mentor and pretend to be drunk to slip away, but when Prince Li Xian and Princess Wei Mei heard that he had come, they specially withdrew from the banquet to visit him.
After a brief delay, this wasn't over yet.
No sooner had the Li Xian couple left than Li Guo'er and her brother Li Dalang arrived, having changed into casual clothes.
Using the excuse of accompanying their father and mother to celebrate the Lantern Festival, the two obtained Li Xian's consent to go out incognito with Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang to enjoy the lantern festival.
Hearing Li Dalang, who had slipped out the door, laughing heartily, he realized that this was exactly what his sister Li Guo'er had come up with.
Ouyang Rong had no idea how this little vixen could come up with so many bad ideas. Did she really not treat him like an outsider? Couldn't she have a little sense of boundaries?
With the tacit approval, and even delight, of Li Xian and his wife, as well as Xie Xun and his sister, Ouyang Rong had no choice but to reluctantly agree, and the four of them left the mansion incognito.
Having failed in his escape plan, Ouyang Rong looked around dejectedly, knowing that this time there was no one to help him, including Pei Shisan Niang.
The excuse of being busy with official duties was also intruded upon by Rongzhen and was overdrawn.
On the way here, he thought to himself that Li Dalang was a useless teammate and probably wouldn't be of much use, but... as soon as he got off the bus, he decided to make use of him.
Ouyang Rong asked Li Dalang to accompany Li Guo'er to the theater to watch circus acrobatics, swordplay, and song and dance.
He then took Xie Lingjiang to visit the fireworks and lantern festival.
Li Guo'er naturally objected, but Xie Lingjiang was not on her side. Although she said she was reluctant to part with her best friend, her body betrayed her and she decisively separated from Li Dalang and his sister, going off to enjoy some alone time with her senior brother.
Ouyang Rong chuckled inwardly; this tactic was called "divide and conquer."
With the cunning strategist Li Guo'er around, Ouyang Rong figured he wouldn't be able to escape tonight.
But what he never expected was that the places his junior sister liked to visit were somewhat the same as those of Lady Rong.
Everyone was interested in this dazzling and gleaming thoroughfare.
Their eyes were all fixed on the same piece of jewelry that had been given a unique attribute by a certain scheming old man.
It can only be said that throughout history, women's money has always been easy to earn.
"Senior Brother, is your expression displeased?"
Standing behind Ouyang Rong, the graceful young woman in red suddenly spoke.
"No, I'm just a little nervous. These riddles seem quite rare..." Ouyang Rong rubbed his face, sounding a bit tired.
Xie Lingjiang grasped his sleeve, gently shook it, and said:
"I just heard from Wang Caozhi at the Prince's Mansion that there is indeed an urgent matter at the Xunyang Grottoes. If the placement of the Buddha statue is not handled properly, it could easily cause a serious accident. Fortunately, my senior brother went there."
"A cough is definitely not something to be taken lightly."
Ouyang Rong nodded.
But then he couldn't help but recall the face of a short young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes who had confidently patted his chest to reassure him just before they entered the Prince's mansion.
He was very pleased.
Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyes and whispered:
"Alright, I'm glad that you're not angry because I was being unreasonable tonight."
Ouyang Rong grasped her somewhat awkward hand, coughed, and said:
"Actually, Lady Rong felt a little guilty on the way. She apologized to you in front of me, saying that she had bothered you late at night. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed inappropriate. It is understandable that Junior Sister was angry."
"Did she really say that?" Xie Lingjiang asked doubtfully.
Ouyang Rong nodded solemnly:
"Hmm, but, well, she's probably too embarrassed to say it in front of you, so she asked me to tell you. From the few times we've met, my junior sister should have a general idea of her personality: cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She doesn't mean anything by it, it wasn't intentional..."
He spoke more and more fluently.
"It's possible to be cold on the outside but warm on the inside, but... it's not necessarily true that it's unintentional."
Xie Lingjiang turned her eyes away and looked at the lantern tower in the distance.
"What do you mean by 'intentionally'?"
Xie Lingjiang stopped on the topic and tiptoed to look at the couples of talented men and beautiful women who were leaving the long corridor ahead, looking dejected.
"Senior Brother, this batch of riddles seems really difficult. Has this hairpin been sitting there all night without being taken... Senior Brother, are you sure you want to try? Or... maybe we should just forget about it..."
She offered her thoughtful advice, but her tone was somewhat reluctant to part.
Ouyang Rong remained motionless, continuing to queue.
When a woman asks this question, it's no longer a multiple-choice question, but a fill-in-the-blank question, with only one fixed answer.
"Since you're already here, it's alright. I love solving riddles. Junior sister, just keep me company. Don't laugh at your senior brother if you don't guess correctly later."
Xie Lingjiang hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
"Oh well."
The drawn-out tone has a slightly sweet and soft feel.
Just then, Xie Lingjiang caught sight of what was happening ahead and asked with a curious expression:
"Hey, senior brother, why is that fat boss going upstairs to exchange riddles?"
"No one has answered correctly yet, why change to a new one?"
"..."
Ouyang Rong's hand, which was holding the fan handle and fanning, paused for a moment, then continued fanning, his gaze drifting to the surrounding scenery:
"Cough cough, who knows?"
...
"Grandpa, have we run into someone trying to cause trouble?"
In front of the stalls outside the corridor.
Seeing that it was almost time to line up with that familiar, handsome young man waving a folding fan, the chubby boy ran back excitedly and asked the plump old man.
"What's the rush? You have to be patient when you're out in the game. I've been traveling all over the country for so many years, I've been on guard against this for a long time."
The chubby old man, with a stern face, reprimanded his cowardly grandson, saying in a harsh tone:
"I hate freeloaders the most, especially a womanizer who does it. I can't stand it."
“My dear grandson, go back and collect the money. I’ll go and give him a little challenge. These are the latest riddles that even the most talented scholars in the capital and Luoyang can’t figure out. I need to let this kid know that there are always people more capable than you, and there’s always something beyond your understanding.”
After saying that, the fat old man opened his precious wooden box, solemnly took out a stack of carefully preserved riddle slips, and hurriedly ran up the corridor to replace them.
The chubby boy scratched his head, returned to the entrance of the corridor, collected money in one hand and handed out wooden signs in the other.
With the riddles all changed and the time just right, it was Ouyang Rong's turn.
"Here you are."
A chubby little child handed out a wooden sign with his chubby little hand.
Ouyang Rong took it and walked up the corridor.
However, the chubby boy's gaze couldn't help but fall on the Xie family noblewoman who was waiting anxiously outside the corridor behind him.
This young lady is so beautiful, like a fairy.
She was considerably taller than the aloof young lady that the playboy had just brought over...
Strange, why does this womanizing guy change girls so frequently? The one before has already gone into the lakeside grove? By the way, what exactly does Ah Weng mean by the lakeside grove?
Before the chubby child could think further, a sudden uproar and commotion erupted from all around.
The chubby child came to his senses.
A beautiful young woman in red dress stood outside the long corridor ahead, her mouth slightly open, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed into crescent moons.
The onlookers around were also filled with shock and admiration.
The chubby child followed their gaze and turned around blankly.
He immediately saw the handsome young man with the folding fan, who had just received his wooden plaque, slowly walk down the corridor in the short time that had passed since he was distracted. He then walked up to the elderly man, who was startled by the sight of the folding fan.
...
Ouyang Rong took the wooden plaque, walked up to the lantern riddle corridor, and looked up at the moonlit night.
The moon was almost high in the sky, but he had to get back before midnight.
Even though it was past midnight, it was still lively.
But since it happened after the Lantern Festival, he was considered to have broken his promise.
Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.
Re-throw the lantern in front of you.
She raised an eyebrow with a slight chuckle; this new riddle was quite interesting.
When drawing, it is round; when writing, it is square; in winter, it is short; in summer, it is long.
—Guess the scene/object]
"Spring Swallow".
When children look up from below, the Qingming Festival is the perfect time to adorn themselves.
Once the gossamer thread breaks, all strength is lost; do not blame the east wind for parting.
—Guess the toy
"Paper kite".
[As April approached and May began, the window paper was torn and re-papered.]
My husband has been in Beijing for three years, and he hasn't sent a single letter.
— Guess the names of four medicines
"Pinellia ternata, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Angelica sinensis, Angelica dahurica."
Ouyang Rong spoke clearly and without pause. The people outside the corridor were astonished to find that he spent no more than three breaths in front of each lantern, including browsing them.
On the contrary, the time it took to walk between the two lanterns slightly slowed him down.
Ouyang Rong maintained an almost constant pace and read out the answers to the riddles one by one in about thirty breaths.
The chubby old man kept looking down and up at the answer slip of paper, as if afraid of missing his mistake. But in the end, his eyes widened.
Amidst the shocked gasps of the crowd around him, Ouyang Rong walked down the corridor.
"Ahem, could you please pass it over here?" He covered his face with his folding fan and pointed somewhat embarrassedly at the mandarin duck jade hairpin.
The fat old man leaned back, his face grim as he stared at the uncouth young man before him, his hand still unconsciously pressed tightly against the jade hairpin adorned with mandarin ducks… He glared at the uncouth young man before him, his expression darkening.
"Shopkeeper?" Ouyang Rong called out tentatively again.
The fat old man's face flushed red instantly, but he was a man of his word and, gritting his teeth, handed over the prize.
Ouyang Rong pulled the jade hairpin with mandarin ducks from the fat old man's hand, turned around, and personally put the hairpin into the hair of his junior sister, who was overjoyed and had arrived with a happy expression.
The chubby boy walked over dejectedly and handed back the three taels of silver.
Ouyang Rong asked, "Does Junior Sister like it?"
"Don't ask... Senior Brother, aren't you ashamed? So many people are watching."
She glared at him, but remained motionless as he inserted the hairpin.
Ouyang Rong laughed heartily, closed his paper fan, and used the tip of the fan to push the chubby child's hand, which was clutching three taels of silver, into his arms:
"If you like it, junior sister, I won't accept the money. Thank you, boss. However... next time, it would be best to offer some new products. Just a suggestion."
Whether he was talking about new poems and riddles or something else entirely, Ouyang Rong led Xie Lingjiang away.
The grandfather and grandson were stunned for a moment, looked at each other, and remained silent.
A moment later, the old man and the young man watched Ouyang Rong's departing figure with somewhat complicated expressions.
"Grandpa, no wonder this older brother can take so many young ladies to the lakeside grove..."
"What lakeside grove? That's called a scene of flowers and moonlight, with willows swaying in the breeze, a beautiful woman like the moon, and a gentleman like jade!"
The fat old man corrected him seriously.
Fat kid: ...
...
For a full hour, Ouyang Rong, along with Xie Lingjiang, quickly went through all the lantern riddles, flower lanterns, and theatrical performances—all the activities and entertainment available during the Lantern Festival.
Beneath the red lanterns in front of Jingyi Courtyard, two figures stood silently, loosening their clasped hands, embracing each other lightly, bidding farewell in silence...
It was a real embrace, and Ouyang Rong separated them as soon as they touched. He kept his eyes straight ahead, preparing to watch his junior sister enter the room, but then he noticed that she was not moving for a long time. He asked in surprise, "Um, why isn't junior sister going in?"
Xie Lingjiang glanced down at her neatly arranged yet barely concealed chest, biting one side of her lip: "Senior Brother...something's not right."
Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't speak. He reached into her sleeve and pulled out a little ink spirit that had been pretending to be asleep and eavesdropping for a long time. The little girl in Confucian robes, who was being lifted by the back of her collar, struggled from side to side, threatening with her neck stiff: "You two are shameless! Put this fairy down right now..."
Xie Lingjiang was stunned. Ouyang Rong shrugged, tucked the little black spirit into her arms, clapped his hands, then turned and called out towards the gate, "Teacher, Madam Xie, get some rest. We have to travel tomorrow..."
Inside the once quiet gate, a series of light but somewhat hurried footsteps suddenly echoed, as if they were rushing away.
Xie Lingjiang: ...
Ouyang Rong looked reluctant to part: "The night is too short, and I am also reluctant to leave... But Teacher, you are leaving tomorrow, so please come back soon. Junior Sister, please go and keep me company a little longer."
"Senior Brother..." Xie Lingjiang was moved and couldn't help but call out, her voice choked with emotion.
A large hand reached out and ruffled her hair... A moment later, the pretty young woman in red watched her righteous senior brother's back disappear into the distance. Tonight, she had won a unique pair of jade hairpins, sniffed, smiled sweetly, turned around, and stepped lightly through the gate...
Back in the carriage, the gentleman breathed a sigh of relief, but his face became urgent, and he spoke rapidly: "Ali, go to Xingzi Lake, quickly."
At that moment, a series of clear wooden fish sounds rang in his ears: [Merit: 1,888]... [Merit: 1,908]!
With his merit points almost back to what they were before tonight, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance back at Jingyiting's direction, coughed, covered his mouth with his fist, and then looked away rather guiltily... There was no time to investigate further now, and the carriage under his butt hurriedly headed towards Xingzi Lake.
When the carriage arrived at Xingzi Lake, the moon was already high in the sky.
Midnight has arrived.
When they arrived at the quiet courtyard and the carriage dropped off Ouyang Rong, it was already a quarter of an hour late.
Ouyang Rong looked anxious.
From a distance, he had only seen that the quiet courtyard was completely dark.
"Is she asleep or... gone?"
Ouyang Rong was suddenly startled and rushed into the courtyard.
"Embroiderer!" He rushed into the room, looking around anxiously.
The atmosphere was silent for a moment.
"Ah ah."
Finally, a weak voice came from behind. In the dimly lit courtyard, a slender girl who had been squatting with her knees drawn up was standing up, raising her hands and stretching them out, groping her way forward.
Ouyang Rong rushed over and grabbed her two small hands that reached out to him. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. He tried his best to speak in a gentle voice: "Be careful."
"Ya ya."
"Why aren't you turning on the lights? Don't try to save me money..."
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but scold him, but he stopped halfway through his sentence, feeling a sudden pang of sadness in his heart.
She really doesn't need a light.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingxiu also froze on the spot. After a moment, she turned around without saying a word and began to grope for something.
"No, no need to order anymore. It was my mistake. Don't be sad..."
The embroiderer ignored her, lit an oil lamp, and carefully carried it back. During this time, hot lamp oil dripped onto the back of her hand, but the flame on her palm remained motionless.
Ouyang Rong fell silent; the lamp in her hand was lit for him.
Both of them felt guilty and blamed themselves for not taking better care of each other.
He took the lamp with trembling hands and immediately changed the subject:
"Um, I'm a little late, let me explain..."
The embroiderer shook her head, gently pushed him away, and groped her way to the kitchen without looking back.
Ouyang Rong nervously opened his mouth, but then realized that she didn't seem to be angry.
From inside the kitchen came the clanging sound of a pot lid being lifted.
"This is……"
A moment later, Ouyang Rong looked at the slender girl in front of him who was walking out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of hot dried rice balls in both hands, her face full of expectation, and his expression changed slightly.
"Ahem, Miss Embroidery, could we save this? We can reheat it and eat it tomorrow morning..." Ouyang Rong muttered softly.
"Huh?" The embroiderer tilted her head, her little face seemingly stunned for a moment.
"Okay, eat!"
Ouyang Rong nodded decisively, took the soup bowl, buried his head and counted the soup pieces one by one, stuffing them into his mouth until his cheeks were bulging.
Inside the courtyard, by the stone table, Zhao Qingxiu rested her chin on her hands, her delicate face, which was blindfolded, facing him as if she were "looking" at him.
She didn't ask Ouyang Rong why he was late tonight.
Including the bowl made by his aunt, Ouyang Rong, who had swallowed his fourth bowl of dumplings tonight, looked up and gave Zhao Qingxiu, who was listening to his chewing, a bright and cheerful smile:
"It smells so good...wait, do they put chili in dried meat balls too?"
Ouyang Rong's expression suddenly changed, and the pungent taste of dogwood filled his mouth, causing him to gasp.
Unexpectedly, the last bowl of dried glutinous rice balls tonight turned out to be an assassin. Caught off guard, Ouyang Rong's face turned red, and he hurriedly dropped the bowl, covering his mouth with both hands: "Mmm..."
"Pfft—" The girl with the sky-blue ribbon blindfolded suddenly laughed.
Ouyang Rong paused, his eyes fixed on the rare smiling face before him. As if possessed, he reached out and tore off the sky-blue ribbon.
Under the moonlight, a pretty little face beamed with joy.
Whether it was my imagination or not, there seemed to be a glimmer of light in her long-dim, dark eyes.
It twinkles, like the brightest star in the night sky.
(End of this chapter)
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