Ren Yaoqi waved to Yun Wenfang and Qiu Yun, and took the lead with brisk steps to go around the bamboo forest from the right side of Nuanxiang Pavilion.
Yun Wenfang and Qiu Yun looked at each other. Qiu Yun touched his chin and smiled slightly. Yun Wenfang followed Ren Yaoqi, and Qiu Yun followed soon after.
The bamboo forest behind the Nuanxiang Pavilion is just a scenic spot, so there are not many bamboos planted. However, because people take care of it on a daily basis, it looks very lush and green, and has a certain charm.
Ren Yaoqi stopped at the outermost edge of the bamboo forest, where the soil was a bit loose. He wanted to finish the job quickly and didn't want to ruin his new deerskin boots.
"Dew washes away the powdered flesh, the wind shakes the jade-green branches. It's like a gentleman, and every place is perfect for it." Qiu Yun fanned himself, shaking his head and reciting, "No wonder the ancients said, 'I would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo.' This is truly a wonderful place!"
Ren Yaoqi ignored Qiu Yunwen's taunting. She paced back and forth while sizing up the bamboo. Then she turned to Yun Wenfang and asked, "Are you sure you want me to decide what to bet on?"
Yun Wenfang looked at Ren Yaoqi and nodded. Qiu Yun also walked over and looked at Ren Yaoqi with interest, wanting to see what questions she could come up with.
Ren Yaoqi smiled, her eyes bright. "Well, I can tell the gender of bamboo. Do you believe me?"
Qiu Yun was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly, "I've never heard of bamboos being able to be distinguished between male and female. Cousin, what you said is quite interesting."
Why hadn't he noticed before that his fifth cousin was an interesting person? He had really misjudged her.
Yun Wenfang looked at Ren Yaoqi intently, and after a long moment, he shook his head and said, "I don't believe it."
Ren Yaoqi turned around and stroked a nearby bamboo, tilting his head and smiling, "Alright, let's make a bet. If I can tell whether a bamboo is male or female, I win. If I can't or if I make a mistake, Master Wen wins."
Before Yun Wenfang could reply, Qiu Yun called out, "Wait, wait. What kind of bet is this? Even though I'm your cousin, I can't take sides. With the way you're betting, winning or losing is just a matter of your word. And Zhuzi can't stand up and argue."
Ren Yaoqi said confidently, "When the time comes, I will naturally be able to produce convincing evidence for you. I'll let you be the witness, and then you can decide who wins and who loses. How's that?"
Qiu Yun closed his fan and tapped his chin lightly. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said with a smile, "That's fine! But when the time comes, my cousin, don't blame me for siding with the right side instead of my relatives."
Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly and looked at Yun Wenfang again. Yun Wenfang was leaning against a bamboo with his arms folded. His slender figure seemed to merge into one with the bamboos in the forest, and he was equally tall and handsome.
"I have no objection."
Ren Yaoqi nodded in satisfaction: "If I lose, I will give you a painting. If I win..." Ren Yaoqi's eyes turned slightly, and his smile was innocent and harmless, "Don't bother me again in the future."
Qiu Yun was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Yun Wenfang's face darkened, and he growled through gritted teeth, "When did I ever cause you any trouble?"
Ren Yaoqi blinked innocently, looking embarrassed. "What should I do? It seems that we have different understandings of 'trouble'. So, let me tell you this. If I refuse you something in the future, it's a refusal. You are not allowed to get angry or retaliate later!"
Qiu Yun laughed even louder, gasping for breath and bending over to hug a bamboo stick, looking completely ungraceful.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com