Laughter drifted out from the house, crossing the small courtyard and reaching the entrance.
Qin Shi’san-lang tilted his head and listened.
The carriage was from the Zhou family, but the voices weren’t those of Master Zhou or Zhou Liu-lang.
The courtyard gate was open—clearly, there were male guests inside.
Qin Shi’san got out of the carriage and walked over.
“…That day I saw someone on the street who looked so much like you… I thought I was mistaken, but it really was you…”
“…You’ve been here this long? Why are you only now visiting the mistress?”
Two young servants were sitting and chatting by the gatehouse, laughing as they talked. Nearby sat two other unfamiliar servants.
They all spoke in the Jiang-zhou dialect—thick, heavy, and fast—but Qin Shi’san, having had little to do in his youth, had once studied various regional dialects and could understand them without much trouble.
“…This house isn’t bad. Did the Zhou family give it to the lady?”
“…It’s Miss’s own…”
“Miss’s?”
The young servant was just asking when Jin Ge’er suddenly jumped to his feet.
“Young Master Qin,” he quickly stepped forward and greeted him.
The other servants sitting in the gatehouse also hurriedly stood up, looking at the young man.
“Everyone’s here?” Qin Shi’san-lang smiled as he pointed inside and asked.
Jin Ge’er wasn’t sure who exactly he meant by “everyone,” but it sounded like Qin Shi’san-lang already knew who was inside, so he nodded blankly.
Qin Shi’san-lang stepped inside and immediately saw the three people sitting together in the main hall.
“What are these two doing here?” he asked in surprise.
“She’s the one who invited them,” Zhou Liu-lang replied sullenly. After speaking, he quickly turned his head and frowned, “Why are you here too?”
“I just happened to be passing by,” Qin Shi’san-lang said. “Thought I’d stop in and ask Lady Cheng a few things.”
“You’re the best liar,” Zhou Liu-lang muttered. “Yet somehow each of you believes you never lie.”
Qin Shi’san-lang laughed.
“If even I don’t believe myself, how could I expect the rest of the world to?” he said with a grin.
There was now one more person in the courtyard, and everyone in the open hall could see him.
Cheng Si-lang recognized the newly arrived young man—he was also someone he had seen before at the Zhou household, likely one of the Zhou sons.
It seemed the Zhou family wasn’t entirely ignoring this girl after all.
Though they had, much like their own household, settled her elsewhere, this residence was far better than some temple or monastery.
And judging by the furnishings and decor inside, they were no worse than what the Zhou family used.
“In that case, I have no further questions.”
A girl’s voice spoke.
Cheng Si-lang quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at her.
“Did you come specifically to see me?” she asked.
Cheng Si-lang hurriedly shook his head.
“No, not at all,” he said, a bit embarrassed. “I came to study at Master Jiang-zhou’s academy in the capital.”
“I came specifically to see you,” said Wang Shi’qi-lang.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled slightly and gave a small nod.
“I understand,” she said.
Cheng Si-lang seemed to remember something and took out a coin pouch.
“Do you still need anything? Take this as some pocket money,” he said, blushing a little. “It’s not much, but once the household sends more in a few days, I’ll bring you some more.”
“No need to worry. Once we bring you home, our family has more than enough money—you can spend it however you like,” Wang Shi’qi-lang added.
Truly, two fools…
The maid and Ban Qin, sitting by the doorway, both lowered their heads.
“Ban Qin,” Cheng Jiao-niang called.
The maid quickly got up and went over.
“Thank you, Brother,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The maid understood and stepped forward to take the coin pouch Cheng Si-lang had handed over. She couldn’t help but glance at him with a smile.
“Young Master is truly blessed,” she said softly.
Blessed? Shouldn’t it be her, who is receiving the care, who’s considered blessed?
Cheng Si-lang was puzzled as he watched the maid take the pouch and retreat.
“In that case, I won’t keep you from your studies,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“Not at all, not at all,” Wang Shi’qi-lang replied cheerfully.
Cheng Si-lang shot him a glare and stood up first.
“I’m staying at the academy, just outside the city. You can ask for Master Jiang-zhou’s academy and they’ll know,” he said.
“I’m staying at Zuiyun Pavilion…” Wang Shi’qi-lang began.
“He’s going straight home right now,” Cheng Si-lang cut him off.
“What’s the rush?” Wang Shi’qi-lang said, shaking his head. “If she’s going back, I’ll return with Jiao-niang.”
“Then hurry up and get the family to come fetch her!” Cheng Si-lang grabbed him and whispered urgently.
Oh, right—the family was likely still waiting for his reply to see if he was satisfied. If he didn’t respond, the engagement would just be delayed.
Remembering the important matter, Wang Shi’qi-lang quickly sprang into action.
“Jiao-niang, wait just a bit longer. Your family will be here soon to bring you home,” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled and nodded, rising to see the guests out.
Seeing the two from the hall walking out, Zhou Liu-lang and Qin Shi’san stopped their conversation.
Although there were no formal introductions, Cheng Si-lang still nodded politely in greeting as he passed them.
Zhou Liu-lang ignored him, while Qin Shi’san returned the gesture with a smile.
“Which one is it?” he suddenly asked.
The question came abruptly, but both Cheng Si-lang and Wang Shi’qi-lang understood what he meant.
Wang Shi’qi-lang gave a light cough, straightened his posture, and flashed Qin Shi’san-lang a proud smile.
“Well? What do you think? Pleased?” Qin Shi’san-lang asked with a curious smile.
Wang Shi’qi-lang grinned as well.
“Pleased, very pleased,” he said with a laugh.
“Just go already,” Zhou Liu-lang said in a low voice.
Truly, the sons of the Zhou family were like the legendary dragon’s nine sons—each one different. This one looked gentle and refined, while that one had the air of a fierce god.
Thinking of how they’d been tormented by the Zhou family’s servants, Cheng Si-lang and Wang Shi’qi-lang didn’t say more. They had seen Jiao-niang, and that was enough. As for the Zhou family—there was no need to get involved any further. Without another word, they quickly walked away.
Zhou Liu-lang immediately strode toward the main hall, and after a moment’s hesitation, Qin Shi’san quickly followed.
The maid was tidying up the teacups, and Cheng Jiao-niang was about to step out as well.
“You—what are you planning to do?” Zhou Liu-lang asked.
“What do you mean, what am I planning to do?” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Zhou Liu-lang glared, about to speak, but Qin Shi’san spoke first.
“What do you think?” he asked with a smile.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Not bad,” she said.
“What’s not bad?” Zhou Liu-lang took a step forward, frowning deeply.
“That person,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, pointing toward the door.
“What’s good about him?” Zhou Liu-lang demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.
“His family background is decent, and he himself is decent too,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, nodding. “All around, not bad.”
Zhou Liu-lang gritted his teeth and glared at her.
“You’re serious?” he asked.
“Marriage is a major life matter, a natural part of being human—perfectly proper. What would I be faking?” Cheng Jiao-niang said with a light smile. “And I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“He—someone like him, from a family like that—and you, you…” Zhou Liu-lang took another step forward, pointing outside, his words stumbling over each other. “What’s so good about him? Cheng Jiao-niang, you know full well you’re not actually a fool, but everyone else still sees you as one! A man willing to marry a so-called fool—what kind of decent family is that? Who knows what they’re really after? If you marry into that family, what good days could possibly await you?”
Hearing Zhou Liu-lang’s raised voice, the maid who had returned with a fresh cup of tea stopped in her tracks.
Someone like that, from a family like that—what kind of good life could that bring?
“One hasn’t lived the days yet—how can one know if they’ll be good or bad?” she murmured.
At the same moment, a girl’s voice echoed from inside the room.
“One hasn’t lived the days yet—how can one know if they’ll be good or bad?”
It was Cheng Jiao-niang speaking. She lifted her skirt slightly as she stepped forward, glancing sideways at Zhou Liu-lang with a faint smile.
She was smiling—and now, her smile was no longer strange or off-putting. On the contrary, it was beautiful.
Yet Zhou Liu-lang felt a sudden chill deep in his chest.
He suddenly recalled the way that girl had sized up Wang Shi’qi from head to toe, how she had asked about the Wang family—and now, no matter how he looked at it, the whole scene seemed like a tigress eyeing a plump sheep delivered to her doorstep.
Wang Shi’qi? What was he, really?
And the Wang family—what were they?
If she wished it, this girl could make the entire Wang clan take her surname.
Pitiful? Nervous? Uneasy? Worried?
Who should feel that way?
That so-called fool from Jiang–zhou?
No—it was the Wang family, still thinking they had the upper hand, completely unaware of what they were walking into!
