Chapter 279 Turning Around and Making Peace
The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing.
Wan Ziyan, dressed in plain robes, stood on the street, calmly exchanging words with the young man, but his gaze passed over the young man and stopped at the entrance of Xiangmingxuan.
The two locked eyes.
Wan Qiqi was somewhat surprised, yet not entirely.
Wan Ziyan is a reasonable person who values right and wrong, and he is also a person who values relationships and righteousness. It is impossible for him to really sever ties with me.
Whether you're an adult or a child, you should have the right to express your temper.
However, Wan Qiqi felt that Wan Ziyan's temper tantrum lasted a little too short, making her feel that he had not fully vented his emotions.
Wan Ziyan didn't know what he said to me.
Finally, he and the young man bowed to each other and went their separate ways.
Wan Ziyan looked down at his clothes, touched his hair, and made sure there was nothing wrong with him before slowly walking towards the entrance of Xiangmingxuan.
It is obvious that he came looking for Wan Qiqi.
Wan Qiqi stood still, a smile curving her lips.
She told herself that this was a chance encounter, and that he was the original owner's brother, but she had already unconsciously come to regard Wan Ziyan as her own brother.
If it weren't for him, the original owner probably would never have recognized this brother in her entire life.
Therefore, she selfishly believed that this was Wan Qiqi's brother!
Wan Qiqi tilted her head and smiled, "Second Brother, how did you know I was here?"
Her eyes curved and sparkled, as if they couldn't contain the light within them and were about to overflow.
A simple greeting made Wan Ziyan feel as if he had returned to the past.
Every time Wan Qiqi saw him, she would call him "Second Brother".
If it were up to Tao Ran's personality, he would definitely call him "elder brother" instead of "second brother".
"Second brother" is a nickname, while "elder brother" is a respectful term.
Wan Ziyan preferred to hear the title "Second Brother".
Wan Ziyan said gently, "I heard that you and Boss Zhu are going to open a restaurant. Yongliang's mule cart is still at the academy, so you must not have gone back."
Then, the two fell silent, but then spoke at the same time.
"sorry……"
"Feel sorry……"
The unanimous apology startled both of them for a moment, then they smiled faintly.
Both of them apologized without asking the other why.
The two did not linger at Xiangmingxuan, but instead headed towards the academy.
Wan Qiqi fidgeted with her fingers and couldn't help but ask, "Are you... are you feeling unwell anywhere? I used a bit too much medicine that day."
Wan Ziyan glanced at her and tapped her on the head.
He intended to exert force, but the moment he landed, he lost his strength and skimmed over Wan Qiqi's head like a dragonfly skimming the water.
"Drugging is not the act of a gentleman. Never use such despicable methods again." Wan Ziyan reprimanded, holding out his hand, "Give me the rest of the sleeping potion you have. You are not allowed to use it again."
Wan Qiqi pouted and obediently placed the remaining sleeping potion in Wan Ziyan's hand.
Then she immediately took it back, muttering, "I am not a gentleman, but a woman. It is said that only children and women are difficult to raise, so please don't hold a grudge against a little woman like me, Second Brother!"
Wan Ziyan took a deep breath, momentarily at a loss for words about his mischievous and clever younger sister.
Why not just say it directly, instead of comparing yourself to a petty person?
He glared at Wan Qiqi, but he couldn't bear to scold her; he just sighed.
After taking a few steps forward, Wan Ziyan frowned slightly, thinking of his father's corpse at the apricot grove in the eastern suburbs, and asked, "What terms did you negotiate with him?"
Wan Qiqi knew Wan Ziyan would definitely ask, so she prepared her answer in advance: "It's nothing. It's just that during his tenure as county magistrate, I didn't go anywhere else but served him and gave him advice on governing Yunhe County."
"A dignified county magistrate, actually letting a woman give him advice?" Wan Ziyan's tone was tinged with anger.
Wan Qiqi tilted her head and said, "Second brother, do you not believe in my abilities, or do you look down on the county magistrate?"
For her, all she needed was for Fang Ziming to come to her with all his troubles.
She's not a detective and can't solve cases.
If you asked her for suggestions on the county's development, she could come up with a few, but it would depend on whether Fang Ziming could actually implement them!
After all, she is dissatisfied with many things now.
One problem is that using water is too troublesome, and another is that when it rains, your feet are covered in mud, and the more you walk, the heavier it gets.
Wan Ziyan frowned even more deeply because of Wan Qiqi's words.
He sighed again and said, "Qiqi, things are different outside than at home. You must be careful what you say. If others hear what you say, you'll be in trouble!"
Wan Qiqi then realized that she might have been presumptuous in her words!
Ordinary people are not allowed to discuss officials appointed by the imperial court at will, let alone speak ill of them.
What bothers her most here is that if she accidentally says the wrong thing, she will be beaten, and in serious cases, she will be beheaded.
She nodded to Wan Ziyan, looking dejected, and said, "Yes, I know I was wrong."
When Wan Ziyan saw her like this, he felt something was wrong; this was not the sister he remembered.
After Wan Qiqi finished answering, her mind was already elsewhere.
Recalling what had happened recently, she asked, "Brother, are you going to serve as the county magistrate again after the New Year?"
Wan Ziyan replied, "No need, the imperial edict has not yet been issued."
Wan Qiqi nodded and then asked, "Will those who forced you to enter the court do anything else?"
She felt that the county magistrate was not scary; what was scary were the officials in the capital.
They're all like cunning old foxes who've cultivated for a thousand years—incredibly sly!
She felt that her skills were not up to par and were not enough to fight against these people.
The biggest difference lies in their social status.
These people, with just their identities, can completely oppress others, leaving them no chance to turn their lives around.
Wan Qiqi was genuinely worried that Wan Ziyan would be no match for these old foxes.
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