Chapter 35: Fighting for Favor
The two elders spoke in a low voice, but they couldn't help but feel that Chu Ci was so close!
I didn't expect that the seemingly old-fashioned old lady and the always loyal old man would actually show off their love? Chu Ci's eyes immediately lit up as if he had eaten a big piece of melon.
"Ahem, ahem." Qian Chuanzi, who was standing nearby, heard the noise and guessed Chu Ci and the others had almost finished their conversation. He faked a cough and walked over. "Congratulations on the young lady's safe return. We've been delayed for quite some time now. Now that the young lady is safe, let's all rest up tonight and leave tomorrow."
In an instant, the relaxed atmosphere vanished, and solemn expressions appeared on everyone's faces.
On the contrary, Chu Ci had even prepared himself to be left behind. Now that Qian Chuanzi and the others had waited for him for two days, it was also a gesture of friendship. "Okay, since we're leaving tomorrow, let's have a good meal tonight."
As Chu Ci spoke, he rushed through the crowd and searched a carriage on the outskirts. "The Tatars may not be good at other things, but they are masters at hunting. Since we went there, there's no reason to return empty-handed. So, we took their kitchen and the pots and pans."
There were so many officials present before, and everyone was on edge, that they didn't even notice the presence of a carriage.
Now seeing the carriage full of packages, the people from the Chu and Liu families were jealous.
Seeing this, Qianyan was afraid that the two families would make another stupid move. Regardless of the cold war she was still having with Chu Ci, she quickly called the children of the Fan family. "Sister-in-law, we are here to help you."
After hearing Qianyan's words, Chu Ci remembered what he had forgotten. He slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory. What you asked about my uncle just now is true. He was imprisoned in Black Cloud Mountain for five years."
Qianyan heard this and tears welled up in her eyes, "Is he okay?"
"Don't cry, don't cry! It's all over, everything will be fine." Seeing the usually strong little girl crying, Chu Ci suddenly panicked. He hurriedly tried to comfort her while asking Fan Jingrui for help.
Fan Jingrui had always thought Chu Ci was omnipotent, but he had never expected that there would be times when he needed help. He was instantly delighted and mouthed, "I'll be right there."
Chu Ci nodded, showing perfect understanding.
But Qianyan, who was carrying him on his back, didn't notice it and continued to sob as he asked, "Will it?"
"I believe you, sister-in-law. I will." Chu Ci agreed so quickly that Qian Yan immediately sensed her weakness. She then pressed further, "But no matter how good our lives are, if they come at your expense, we won't be happy. So, sister-in-law, you have to promise me that you won't do that again. We must share both good and bad times. Okay?"
Even Qianxue joined in the fun, "And me, sister-in-law, you can't forget me."
At this time, even if Qianyan asked for the moon in the sky, Chu Ci would agree without hesitation: "Okay."
Having received the guarantee, Qianyan blinked at Qianxue excitedly, without any trace of the decadent look he had before.
Seeing this, Fan Jingrui's face was bulging with veins. She kept reminding herself in her heart that they were all her sisters, her real sisters. But her wife was hers! So she stepped forward without hesitation and pulled Qianyan away from Chu Ci. "Pay attention to your manners."
In order to avoid Chu Ci's favoritism, he pulled Duan Tianji out and said, "Don't you want to know about the situation of your uncle Duan? I'll tell you."
Although Qianyan was angry that her elder brother prevented her from getting close to her sister-in-law, she also wanted to know about her uncle's situation, so she had no choice but to obey.
This is more like it, and it looks much better. Fan Jingrui felt a little relieved, and also told Duan Tianji's situation: "Uncle Tianji will be working with his master, Mr. Dugu, to assist Master Shen in the investigation, which will take some time. But he said that as soon as he leaves the government office, he will come to find Sister Qianyan first."
"Looking for me? Isn't my uncle going back to the capital?" Duan Tianji's father and brother both served in the military and had residences in the capital. It's just that his biological mother died young, so now his stepmother is the head of the family!
Fan Jingrui knew this, but didn't want Qianyan to worry. So he gave another, more legitimate reason: "I have to say, your sister-in-law is really a lucky star for our family. General Duan and his son have been transferred to Lingnan Road."
Now, not only Fan Qianyan, but also several other younger generations of the Fan family who came to help could hardly suppress the joy on their faces.
However, such joy was seen as a naked mockery by the Chu and Liu families. Especially Chu Xiaxiong. Chu Ci was clearly his daughter. If...if, would they also have a share in the good times of the Fan family?
He completely ignored the fact that only sincerity can be exchanged for sincerity, and Chu Ci was not open-hearted to the Fan family from the beginning.
Li Yanran felt even more bitter and unbearable, blurting out: "What's there to be proud of? In the end, you will still be exiled."
As luck would have it, Chu Yuhao took advantage of the chaos to sneak over and deliver some sesame cakes to his father. Upon hearing this, he said unhappily, "That's just because I was born in your belly."
The implication is that if the Chu family had not found Chu Ci, she would not have encountered this series of disasters.
Li Yanran immediately wanted to teach this brat a lesson for daring to contradict her grandmother, but Chu Junyi stopped her. "Mother, Hao'er is just a child."
With his father's support, Chu Yuhao became bolder and even made a face at Li Yanran, "Lolulu, I can't catch you, bad grandma can't catch you." Then he ran away mischievously.
Chu Ci didn't know that because of him, the Chu family, which had been tending to be peaceful, was in turmoil again.
She hadn't eaten properly for two days and just wanted to treat her stomach. Her eldest sister, Fan Qianxi, who had been missing the entire time, seemed to know she needed her and appeared out of nowhere.
Chu Ci was slightly startled, "Sister, what are you doing?"
Fan Qianxi seemed to know what Chu Ci wanted to ask: "Qianxue and Qianxi are too noisy. They practiced martial arts and cried at the same time in the middle of the night. I went out to hide away."
Chu Ci heard this and knew that his elder sister didn't want to talk more. Although it felt strange, he didn't force her. He smiled and said, "Okay, let's do it as usual. I'll prepare the seasoning and the recipe, and my elder sister will cook. Qianxue and Qianyan, you can help out. We're having a barbecue dinner today."
"Barbecue feast? Sister-in-law, are you planning to eat all of this at once?" Qianyan pointed at the half-rooster, three pheasants, two rabbits, and half of a small wild boar lying on the ground.
So many? Is my sister-in-law going crazy with hunger? Qianyan subconsciously placed her hand on Chu Ci's forehead, "I'm fine, no fever!"
Chu Ci immediately knew what the little girl was thinking and gave her a fierce look. "Eating venison and chicken together, little girl, are you so arrogant?"
"Isn't it possible?" Not only Qianyan, but even the eldest sister Fan Qianxi was surprised.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com