Zhou Liu-lang leaned against the mounting stone, idly twirling a horsewhip in his hand. He gazed at the bustling crowd on the street, lost in thought. Young Master Qin tapped him with his cane.
“What?” Zhou Liu-lang frowned in annoyance. “Why are you still here? Go back.”
Young Master Qin smiled and pointed in that direction.
“She’s looking for you,” he said.
A maid hurriedly stepped out of the alley, glanced around, and quickly spotted Zhou Liu-lang. She approached him with a smile.
Zhou Liu-lang straightened up, twirling his horsewhip as he looked at her.
“We left in such a rush that I didn’t bring any money. Might the young master have some to lend me?” the maid asked with a smile and a polite bow.
Young Master Qin chuckled and turned his head, while Zhou Liu-lang, catching sight of the maid’s smile, couldn’t help but let out a cold sneer.
“And what if I say no?” he asked.
The maid neither hurried nor showed any displeasure.
“Then it’s no matter,” she replied, turning to Young Master Qin. “This gentleman has such a refined demeanor—might you lend me some money instead?”
“Since your mistress praises me so highly, I naturally must oblige,” Young Master Qin laughed heartily. “A thousand gold pieces for a smile, they say. Now, a thousand gold for a word of praise? That’s surely worth it.”
With that, he gestured for his servant to fetch some money.
Before the servant could move, Zhou Liu-lang had already tossed over a pouch of coins. The maid caught it with ease.
“Thank you, young master,” she said with a smile. “My mistress and the gentlemen will return only after finishing their meal. Why not head back first, young master?”
With that, she hurried off toward the street.
Gentlemen?
Those brutes are gentlemen? Isn’t that just insulting me by calling them brutes?
Zhou Liu-lang frowned.
“You see, that lady doesn’t miss a chance to insult someone, even in just a few words,” he said.
Young Master Qin, however, shook his head.
“She’s not the type to quibble over words. If she calls them gentlemen, then there must be a reason for the title,” he said, glancing toward the mansion and sighing softly. “What a pity, though—I have no chance to step inside.”
Zhou Liu-lang snorted.
“Apologies. It’s my fault you can’t get close to the beauty,” he said.
Young Master Qin laughed heartily.
“Come on, I know a good spot. They’ve got new and interesting delicacies. Let’s go try them,” he said with a grin. “If your sister won’t pamper you, I will.”
At noon, a fragrant aroma wafted out from the slightly ajar paper doors of Cheng Jiao-niang’s residence.
Inside the room, a few men were devouring their meals, bowls in hand, eating ravenously. Jin Ge’er came running from the kitchen, carrying a platter of meat.
“Having a younger sister is the best…” Xu Bangchui mumbled through a mouthful of food, raising his chopsticks to fish a piece of meat from the pot. “…eat so well…”
Compared to the others’ boisterous behavior, the eldest brother, Fan Jianglin, and the third brother, Xu Maoxiu, maintained a more composed demeanor.
“Don’t tire yourself out any further. This is already more than enough,” they said.
Cheng Jiao-niang, who was busy with her maid dividing the dishes and arranging the meat on plates, glanced over when she heard them. Her lips curved into a slight smile.
“Brothers, don’t be so polite. How could this possibly be enough?” she replied.
Fan Jianglin and Xu Maoxiu cast an awkward glance at their companions, who were wolfing down food so quickly that plates and bowls were emptied in no time. They gave her a sheepish smile in response.
“Besides, I’m very happy as well,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, lowering her head to carefully trim a few pieces of vegetables and arrange them neatly. “It’s been a long time since it’s been this lively.”
By the time the lunch feast was over, all the purchased dishes and meat had been completely eaten.
“It’s a pity we don’t have fine wine,” Cheng Jiao-niang remarked.
Fan Jianglin chuckled and patted the wine jug beside him.
“If this doesn’t count as fine wine, Sister, then we really wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves if you keep saying that,” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled but said nothing.
“When joy comes, even water can make you drunk,” Xu Maoxiu said, tipping back the last cup of wine and draining it.
Cheng Jiao-niang stood up.
“In that case, I’ll take my leave first,” she said.
The men looked a bit puzzled and quickly stood up as well.
“Yes, yes, we’ll take our leave too. We’ve disturbed you for too long,” they said hastily and somewhat chaotically.
“No, brothers, you’re staying here. I’ll be staying at my grandmother’s house,” Cheng Jiao-niang clarified.
The men froze for a moment, then hurriedly waved their hands.
“How could we do that? Eating your food, drinking your wine, and now staying in your house as well?” they said in a fluster.
Cheng Jiao-niang’s lips curved into a smile.
“You call me your sister,” she said. “Since we’re family, why be so formal?”
Xu Maoxiu silenced everyone’s noisy chatter and looked at Cheng Jiao-niang with a solemn expression.
“Sister, I just overheard Jin Ge’er saying casually that you originally intended to stay here,” he said, his eyes flickering slightly on his rugged, stubble-covered face. “Since you call us brothers, then if there’s anything, you should speak directly. Don’t make us worry.”
Jin Ge’er, who had been “rescued” from the earlier commotion, was now surrounded by various people in the crowd, some of whom were from the Chen family, tossing out sarcastic remarks.
“…The mistress was already taken, and if we lose you too, the Chen family might as well not show its face in the capital…”
“…It’s all that Zhou family scoundrel’s fault, causing such chaos that everyone forgot about you, Jin Ge’er…”
“…Your mistress was carried off by those Zhou family men…”
These low-level servants, tugging Jin Ge’er along as they babbled nonsense, might have only said a few things. Still, it surprised everyone that Xu Maoxiu had caught on to it.
The other men also came to their senses, glancing between Xu Maoxiu and Cheng Jiao-niang.
“What’s this? Someone’s been bullying our sister?” they asked, their faces turning red with indignation, one by one.
Cheng Jiao-niang’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“You’re overthinking,” she said. “No one has bullied me—or rather, it’s just that others think they’ve bullied me.”
After saying this, she glanced at Xu Maoxiu and smiled again.
“I’ve already said, I just wanted a brother, that’s all,” she said.
Xu Maoxiu and the others escorted her all the way out, watching as she left in a carriage with her maid. Meanwhile, Jin Ge’er stayed behind, busily tidying up.
“Maoxiu, your suspicions about her are really uncalled for,” Fan Jianglin suddenly remarked.
Xu Maoxiu gave a wry smile.
“I just think this whole thing is a bit too unbelievable,” he said.
It truly was incredible…
They had escaped from the northwest, with the Xu Maoxiu on the brink of death. On the road, they’d met a lady who not only saved his life but didn’t charge them a single coin—and even gave them money to spend. Now, this lifesaver had gone so far as to swear an oath of kinship with them and become their sworn sister.
This lady, so beautiful, clearly came from a good family even if she didn’t say so, and possessed medical skills that could bring the dying back to life.
She was worlds apart from them—mere commoners. They should never have crossed paths.
And yet, she’d become their sister?
Who would believe it if they told anyone? Even they themselves couldn’t believe it.
“Maoxiu, she said it herself—she just wanted a brother, nothing more,” Fan Jianglin said. “Don’t overthink it. If she really wanted to use us for something…”
He paused and gave a wry smile.
“What could we even offer her?” he said, spreading his rough, calloused hands. “This life of mine? It’s hers if she wants it—it was hers to begin with, since she saved it.”
Then, he glanced at Xu Maoxiu.
“And your life, well, that’s not ours to decide,” he added.
Xu Maoxiu laughed heartily.
“You’re right—I’m overthinking things. I pride myself on having read a few books and having dealt with a few injustices, and I think I’ve seen through human nature. But most of the time, it’s just a fool worrying over nothing. If I hadn’t let my suspicions about Xiang Qi run wild, I wouldn’t have caused that misunderstanding,” he said with a hint of self-mockery.
The sound of other brothers’ loud voices came from behind.
“Wow, there are so many rooms here… We can each have one to ourselves!”
“That’s great, no more being disturbed by the fourth brother’s snoring…”
“Bullshit, it’s your snoring that keeps me awake!”
“I’m going to take this room…”
“I’m taking this one; you find another one!”
Fan Jianglin and Xu Maoxiu exchanged a glance and both laughed heartily.
They actually had a sister. They actually had a home.
