Chapter 912: Serving Two Families (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"puff--"
The atmosphere was incredibly awkward when a very soft laugh was heard.
Realizing her rudeness, the young girl bit her lip and hid behind Kang Nian, saying in a low voice, "Please forgive me, Uncle..."
Her ears turned bright red with embarrassment, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.
She was initially afraid of her uncle, whose strange gaze made her want to look away. But when she saw him grab the wrong Wenxin monogram in his panic, her tension vanished instantly.
Kang Nian: "Miao'er isn't like this when she's at home."
He wasn't blind; he could tell from Qi Shan's reaction that the other person really liked his daughter, and he immediately felt relieved. He changed his slightly stiff tone and added a touch of kinship as he chatted about everyday things: "She's usually kept under the thumb of her mother, so coming out like this has given her a bit more of a childlike look, which is a pleasant surprise."
Qi Shan forced herself to look away.
He glanced at the monogram engraved with "Qi Shi Yuan Liang," his eyes filled with complex emotions. He put it back on, took off another jade pendant that looked valuable and gave it to his cousin as a gift. He then led the father and daughter to the small reception hall inside the tent.
The three took their seats, and Qi Shan poured tea for Kang Nian.
He said, "Children should have the nature of children. The carefree years only last a few years. When they grow up, they know that worldly affairs are beyond their control, and it's hard to find the original heart of a child. Just now, I heard your father call you 'Miao'er'? Is that your nickname or your formal name?"
The last two sentences were spoken to my cousin.
Kang Miao said softly, "Uncle, it is your name."
Qi Shan brewed a pot of pear syrup for Kang Miao.
Fresh pears are unavailable this season, only pear slices. The pear slices are boiled in a pot, then sugar cubes, goji berries, and red dates are added—the flavor is exquisite. This method of drinking is something my master invented, making it convenient to enjoy fruit tea in winter.
The saying "what the superiors do, the inferiors follow" somehow spread to the common people.
In Longwu County and Sibao County, there are similar tea shops on every street. In winter, this sweet and hot drink is especially popular. Qi Shan said, "This is a popular pear drink in Sibao County. Children love it."
Kang Miao was flattered and said, "Thank you, Uncle."
Looking at the silver teacup his daughter was holding, and then at the one in his own hand, Kang Nian's lips twitched involuntarily. This cousin was just as Ji Shou had said—he didn't hide his emotions at all, and his favoritism was blatant. He then observed his cousin's appearance.
My cousin doesn't resemble my daughter at all.
When he arrived, he was still thinking that if his mother was right, Qi Shan and his daughter looked very similar when they stood together.
Will outsiders mistake them for father and daughter?
As Kang Nian pondered this, a smile crept onto his lips.
Qi Shan: "Brother, did you encounter something good?"
Kang Nian continued with a smile, "No, it's just that when Miao'er was born, Mother said she looked a lot like my aunt, and that she was a carbon copy of Yuan Liang. That made me worried when I came here that I might see Miao'er as a boy..."
Qi Shan's smile froze.
He said bitterly, "To tell you the truth, brother, I disfigured myself years ago, and this appearance I have now is a disguise."
He then looked at Kang Miao and said, "They really look alike."
"It's my fault, brother. I just wanted to chat about everyday things, but I didn't mean to bring up your sad memories." Kang Nian was amazed by Qi Shan's flawless disguise. He hadn't noticed a single flaw, but at the same time, he felt embarrassed. As Qi Shan's cousin, he had come to visit his cousin today to catch up, but he hadn't noticed that Qi Shan's appearance was different. Wasn't this just telling Qi Shan that he didn't remember him?
An ordinary person would have been angry long ago if they realized this.
Qi Shan, however, seemed oblivious.
His smile returned to its warm tone, and he asked with concern, "It's only the fifth day of the month, why did you come here, brother, and with Miao'er along?"
Kang Nian sighed and explained the reason.
I came here to deliver hostages, and Kang Miao is also a hostage.
Qi Shan: "..."
Has this powerful family been dealt with and gotten into trouble?
For the sake of stability in various regions, the lord will definitely need to keep some hostages under his watchful eye in the future. But this is not a good thing for the aristocratic families either. Why would they rush to send them away? After hearing that there were quite a few daughters with cultivation potential among the hostages, he changed his opinion again—the aristocratic families are really cunning!
Qi Shan disagreed, saying, "How old is Miao'er?"
“How could I not know the hostage’s difficult situation? It’s just that Miao’er is only a few years away from her coming-of-age ceremony, and in the past six months, other young men have been inquiring about her. Your sister-in-law has accumulated quite a few paintings, all of which are suitable for marriage… There’s nothing wrong with that, but when I think about how this child spent the first half of her life in the Kang family’s inner quarters, and the second half in who knows which family’s inner quarters, and then think about those free and unrestrained ladies around Shen Jun, I always feel that I’ve wronged her. Sending her here this time is also with the intention of troubling you and Ji Shou…”
With these two backing her up, who would dare to bully Kang Miao?
The above is only one of the reasons why Kang Nian made his decision. The most fundamental purpose was to take this opportunity to win over Qi Shan and Kang Shi. No matter how many years the Kang Kingdom can exist, at least during the continuation of the Kang Kingdom in this generation, the two of them are important ministers in the power center.
If we can win them over—
The Kang family will surely rise to a higher level.
Kang Nian doesn't need to worry about development over the next ten years or so.
However, these cold, calculating interests always raise eyebrows and need to be covered up with a fig leaf. This is especially true for people like Kang Shi and Qi Shan. They are already caught in the vortex of struggle and would yearn even more for emotional comfort.
Using emotions as an excuse is the best approach when dealing with them.
Qi Shan replied without hesitation, "That's natural."
Kang Nian did not expect things to go so smoothly.
After pouring tea again, Kang Nian focused more on the changes in the Kang family over the years, occasionally mentioning the studies and personalities of his children. Once the atmosphere had warmed up, Kang Nian asked with a smile, "When Ji Shou sent you a letter earlier, he mentioned that you were so focused on assisting Shen Junba's business that you had no interest in the family business?"
Qi Shan said, "I have no interest in this."
Kang Nian shook his head seriously: "That won't do."
Qi Shan was surprised that Kang Nian would urge her to get married and have children, and immediately looked distressed: "These things still depend on fate."
Kang Nian asked, "What if fate never brings you together?"
Qi Shan firmly replied, "I am unwilling to compromise."
Kang Nian brought up his father: "Father was thinking of you before he passed away. Even though he didn't say it, he always hoped that you could bring your wife and children back to the Kang family. Your aunt's boudoir has always been kept, and servants clean it every day."
Qi Shan chose to remain silent on this issue.
He knew little about the conflict between the Qi and Kang families, and to avoid revealing any flaws, he later sent people to investigate. The investigation revealed that the Qi family had fallen on hard times and was not a suitable match for the Kang family, so the Kang family tried their best to prevent the marriage.
Besides the issue of social class, there's also the fact that Qi Shan's father is truly not a good match. His only redeeming qualities are his looks and eloquence; he's adept at flattery. Qi Shan's mother, having been raised in a sheltered environment, was too naive and was ultimately taken advantage of.
She insisted on getting married despite opposition.
This caused a major rift with the Kang family, and they had no contact for many years.
Kang Nian sighed, "My father has been gone for many years..."
Qi Shan was startled: "Kang...when did Uncle leave?"
“It’s been quite a few years…” Kang Nian gave a vague answer, clearly not wanting to delve too deeply into the issue. “You have no intention of starting a family, and the Qi clan is dwindling in number. How can it be revitalized?”
Qi Shan revealed her plan: "Adoption will suffice."
Kang Nian was overjoyed, and the answer was exactly what he wanted: "The Qi family only has some elderly people left now, where will you adopt them?"
If it is adoption, then naturally one should choose a child with a close blood relationship.
Qi Shan also took the opportunity to tell his plan: "To be honest, brother, I want to adopt a child from the Kang family."
Ideally, it should be related to "Qishan" by blood.
The closest blood relatives are none other than the children of the Kang Nian brothers.
Qi Shan had originally considered adopting one of Kang Jishou's children, but this cousin of hers was a jinx; he couldn't even solve his single status, let alone have children. The clan head's lineage rarely adopted children, thus narrowing down Qi Shan's choices to only Kang Shi's second and third brothers. Qi Shan hadn't yet investigated how many children these two had and hadn't decided which one to adopt.
now--
No need to worry anymore.
No one was more suitable than Kang Miao. When Kang Nian brought Kang Miao to see him and deliberately steered the conversation towards the child, Qi Shan knew his true intentions. Even though there was some scheming involved, he could pretend not to see it for Kang Miao's sake.
Kang Nian sighed: "Including those who died young, not many children have been born in the main branch of the clan in recent years, while there are suitable children in the collateral branches. However, they are not related by blood and are raised halfway through life. Even if people are willing to adopt them, they are not as close as biological children."
Qi Shan suddenly asked, "When is Miao'er's birthday?"
Kang Nian smiled broadly: "It's quite a coincidence."
"Where does the skill come from?"
“Miao’er and Yuanliang share the same birthday.” As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something, “If you are determined to adopt one, what do you think of Miao’er? You look alike and have the same birthday, so you are more destined for each other than your biological father, me.”
Kang Nian made a half-joking, half-serious remark about jealousy.
Qi Shan's expression went blank for a moment.
Same birthday?
"Yes, I heard it from my mother."
Although the two families had become strained over a marriage, they were still relatives. The Kang family had sent a full-month celebration gift for their younger sister's baby, so they knew Qi Shan's birth date and time. When Kang Miao was born, the elders in the family were filled with emotion.
Qi Shan's lips moved slightly: "The same..."
He came to his senses and asked Kang Miao how old she was.
Kang Miao respectfully replied, "It's the eleventh."
Qi Shan murmured, "Eleven years old, eleven years old..."
[This age, this appearance, this birthday... Qi Yuanliang, tell me, is it you who has returned?]
Qi Shan seemed to have forgotten the presence of Kang Nian and his daughter. His eyes had reddened at some point, and there were even some glistening tears. Kang Nian was puzzled by his reaction—adopting a ready-made daughter was a good thing, but was it really necessary to be so moved?
In the blink of an eye, Qi Shan returned to normal.
No trace of tears or red threads remained.
Qi Shan said, "This child is indeed destined for me. However, we shouldn't rush the adoption; we need time to prepare."
When he said "no rush," I thought I was going to be rejected.
After hearing the rest of the story, I was completely relieved.
Kang Nian smiled and said, "That's natural."
Qi Shan: "Did your sister-in-law agree?"
The child was born from someone else's womb, and adoption is different from other arrangements. Legally speaking, once adopted, Kang Miao would be Qi Shan's daughter, and would become a cousin of the original Kang family, unable to acknowledge her parents. Would Kang Nian's wife easily agree to this?
Kang Nian chuckled awkwardly: "Wasn't this a spur-of-the-moment decision?"
If his wife didn't know, how could she be giving him the cold shoulder? She only agreed reluctantly for the sake of their daughter's future. Kang Nian naturally couldn't say it out loud, as that would expose that it was premeditated. He only said he would write to ask his wife's opinion.
Kang Nian never expected that the biggest opponent of this matter wouldn't be his wife, but his troublesome younger brother. He tricked Qi Shan into agreeing in the morning, and in the afternoon, Kang Shi got wind of it and called.
"No, this cannot be agreed to!"
Kang Nian said helplessly, "Ji Shou, there must be a reason, right?"
"Brother, do you know his name?" Kang Shi couldn't just expose Qi Shan right away, so he quickly came up with a suitable reason. "He's a villain! You gave your niece to him, and like father, like son!"
Kang Nian thought it was something else, but he didn't expect it to be this.
He calmly replied, "So what if it's a wicked scheme?"
In this world, few are truly good: "If Miao'er can learn a skill, it will be a blessing for her."
Kind people are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden.
There's nothing wrong with using wicked means to protect yourself.
Kang Shi paced anxiously back and forth in the tent, hesitant and uncertain. Just then, Kang Miao returned. As soon as Kang Shi saw her face, he knew what Qi Shan was planning. His opposition became even more vehement, and he even blurted out: "Instead of giving Miao'er to him, you might as well find a woman of marriageable age in the clan to marry him, preferably one who looks somewhat like Miao'er... Force him into marriage, and I guarantee he'll agree!"
Kang Nian was so angry that he cursed Kang Shi.
"You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?"
What do you mean by forcing your cousin to marry a woman who looks somewhat like Miao'er? Kang Miao is to be adopted by Qi Shan; they are father and daughter in a legitimate way! Is this something a real uncle should say?
Kang Miao's face turned pale, and she was at a loss for what to do.
For a moment, Kang Shi was at a loss for words.
Finally, left with no other choice, he told the truth.
"Yuanliang died many years ago!"
Now it was Kang Nian's turn to be expressionless: "What?"
Kang Shi covered his face and forced himself to finish the rest of the story. However, he did not directly reveal Qi Shan's true identity. He only said that the current Qi Shan had been saved by the real Qi Shan, and that the current Qi Shan was taking care of the Qi family under the identity of the real Qi Shan in order to repay the debt, just so that "Qi Shan" could live in the world.
“Brother, I’ve known this brother for a long time and worked with him for many years. I know he has a bad reputation outside, but deep down he’s a grateful, kind, and stubborn person. He wants to help Yuanliang revitalize the Qi family. My suggestion was to have him choose someone from the Kang family who is closely related to Yuanliang by blood. He only wants to be adopted and will never marry again. He can’t completely erase his existence and hand over everything he has built up just because of the life-saving grace. Brother, this is not fair!”
Kang Nian's expression became much more complicated.
Whether it's the real Yuanliang or the fake Yuanliang now, he doesn't have much affection for either; he cares more about the Kang family.
Why don't you grant his wish?
Kang Shi's eyes widened suddenly: "Brother!"
His tone carried a hint of anger.
Kang Nian sighed and looked up at his fourth brother: "Ji Shou, since Father and Erlang passed away, the only person I can talk to and discuss things with is Sanlang. You know Sanlang's health. Do you understand how difficult it has been for him to support the family all these years?"
Kang Shi opened his mouth: "Brother..."
"Whether he is Yuanliang or not is not important. What is important is that he is 'evil.' You also said that he has been struggling with a knot in his heart all these years. Isn't it perfect to let Miao'er resolve it now? You look down on scheming and plotting, but I am not entirely without sincerity."
The two brothers fell into a long silence.
Kang Nian added, “You should have told your brother about this sooner. The adoption has already been announced, how can it be taken back? Discuss it with him later. As long as he treats Miao’er like his own daughter, when Miao’er gets married, the first child will take the surname of Qi, and the second child will take his family name. This way, the child can inherit both surnames, which would be a win-win situation.”
Kang Shi felt like a stranger when he looked at his elder brother like this.
"If I had told you sooner..."
“Miao’er is the best choice.” Kang Nian made no attempt to hide his feelings. “According to you, he can’t refuse this face.”
|ω`)
Kang Miao has definitely been adopted. Yuan Liang will have another daughter, and he won't have to envy Wu Hui for having a little darling anymore.
(End of this chapter)
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