FID – Chapter 554

  Chapter 554: Insightful Dahong

  Liu Erling immediately searched for a broom, but before he could find one Liu Zhiqiu had already registered what was about to come. He turned around and climbed up the wall.

  The wall of the Liu family compound was so high that Liu Erlin couldn’t hit him with his broom, so he pointed at the bastard above him. “Come down if you have the guts!”

  Liu Zhiqiu squatted there unperturbed. “Father, going down is too easy. You can come up if you’re capable.”

  So he who had the ability to do something refused to act it out.

  ”You wicked brat! Hmph, do you think I can’t beat you like this?” Liu Erlin sneered and threw away the broom. “Dahong, bring me my weapon!”

  When Liu Zhiqiu saw what Wei Hong handed to his father, his face spasmed. “Aunt Hong, you shouldn’t be bringing such a cheat, right?”

  Wei Hong shrugged and walked away from the battlefield. “It’s not mine. This is the tool you used to hunt birds when you were young.”

  ”…”

  Liu Erlin stretched the slingshot, aiming at the person squatting above. He scoffed, “You’re quite courageous. Don’t come down, ah.”

  Swoosh —— Liu Zhiqiu jumped out of the outer wall and escaped.

  ”Bastard, don’t you dare come back!”

  In just one breath, Liu Zhiqiu flipped over from the outer wall of the vegetable garden and entered the second courtyard.

  Don’t go back? No way.

  He just had to wait until dinner was served before going out. By then his father’s anger would almost waned. It was just right.

  While lying down on the bed, he unconsciously fondled the pendant on his chest, and when he touched the warmth and coolness of the jade, he let go and closed his eyes.

  The next day, a carriage drove into Xinghua Village. At first, the villagers thought it was the Liu family who had come back. They followed behind and observed it, only to find that the carriage looked familiar. However, the people sitting inside were not the Liu family.

  They were the family of County Magistrate Kang.

  They must be here for business with the Liu family. They just didn’t know why the county magistrate visited suddenly.

  Could it be to congratulate the family?

  It was noon at that time, just after lunch in the village.

  The Liu family was about to take a nap when a knock came on the courtyard door. Du Juan was stunned when she opened it and saw her visitors.

  The three members of the County Magistrate came together, with Magistrate Kang and his wife at the front, and Kang Ziyu following behind.

  Du Juan promptly invited them in, “Why is Your Excellency here? Is there something we can do for you?”

  County Magistrate Kang said with a smile, “What else is the matter? We’re here to congratulate you. I’ve already heard the news from the capital, and I came here to catch up with the fun while I’m free today.”

  Mrs. Kang took Du Juan’s hand. “Sister Du Juan, we met once in Wanjin Restaurant. I thought you were bright-tempered at that time. I have always wanted to make friends with you but unfortunately I didn’t get the chance. My Lord planned on visiting today to send his congratulations, and I had the cheek to follow along.”

  Being so intimately held by a stranger all of a sudden, Du Juan felt uncomfortable. She couldn’t break free, so she could only stiffly follow the few of them into the house.

  Wei Hong was sitting at the door of the main courtyard, and when she saw people coming, she got up and went to the kitchen to chop firewood.

  Liu Erlin and Liu Zhiqiu were both in the main courtyard.

  Kang Ziyu followed at the end. Through the gap in the crowd, she caught sight of the handsome young man standing up from the wooden bench. She squeezed her hands nervously and felt a little hot in the face. She also felt a little restless.

  Liu Zhiqiu personally drove her away previously and forbade her from ever visiting again. Although she came with her parents today, she still felt uncomfortable.

  It was as if her visit meant bowing her head.

  When did Kang Ziyu ever bow her head to anyone?

  Anyone who saw her in Xiangshan could only support her. After her father became the magistrate of Yunzhou, even the young masters of the entire Yunzhou had to flatter her.

  Liu Zhiqiu was the only exception. He always treated her with nonchalance and indifference.

  ”Brother Liu Erlin, congratulations. Your family has been blessed with a series of happy events.” As soon as Kang Shiming entered the hall, he began with his congratulations and exchanged greetings with Liu Erlin, devoid of any official airs.

  Du Juan took advantage of this chance to carry the stools for them and distanced herself from Mrs. Kang without a trace. She also went to the kitchen to prepare tea.

  ”Dahong, what do you think they are doing here?” Hiding in the kitchen, Du Juan even patted the goosebumps on her arms. She was really frightened.

  An official wife suddenly acted so intimately to her, a country peasant woman, for no reason? She didn’t believe it.

  ”Someone never goes to the temple for no reason,” Wei Hong replied lightly, then after a brief contemplation she added, “There is no harm in treating them with courtesy.”

  ”Are you saying one who is unaccountably solicitous is hiding evil intentions? Lord Kang has been a true and honest official all these years and is quite popular, ah. He can’t be that kind of person, right?”

  ”My master said there is no such thing as true and honest people, and if there are, it must be due to insufficient leverage. If Kang Shiming was truly honest and clean, he would not have come today. The position of the prefectural magistrate of Yunzhou has been vacant, and it’s only a matter of time before the new one takes office for the handover.”

  Du Juan frowned. “If Lord Kang is interested in the prefectural magistrate’s position, why come to our house? Our family can’t help him.”

  ”Nannan can. It’s just a matter of saying the word.”

  ”…”

  Du Juan suddenly didn’t want to serve tea.

  Were they trying to target Nannan?

  Could women meddle in official affairs? If Nannan really helped, wouldn’t there be gossip behind her back? Wasn’t this causing trouble for Nannan?

  Besides, even if she were to rely on contacts, it would have to be for Zhixia. How could it be Kang Shiming’s turn?

  ”I really couldn’t tell. I thought he was a good official, but it turns out that he is also greedy at heart!” Du Juan lowered her voice and castigated under her breath.

  ”When an official moves not for money, then it must be for power. Only a rookie who is just a fledgling will have a passion for governance.”

  ”Dahong, you’re so insightful!”

  ”You flatter me, Second Madam, I’ve seen too much.” Wei Hong retained a cold expression on her face, but those who were familiar with her would have captured the complacency in her tone.

  Du Juan put back the nourishing tea that she had just taken out into the cupboard, found the big-leaf tea that farmers drank in the corner, brewed a pot carelessly, and brought it out.

  In any case, their visitors didn’t mean to drink tea. She might as well not waste it. Those were specially prepared by Nannan.

  They were expensive.

  In the main courtyard, Kang Shiming had already asked when the two elders of the Liu family and Liu Yusheng would come home.

  Liu Erlin smilingly answered, “The eldest son of the family has gotten married, and a new baby will be added in the family in a few months. It may take another half a year for them to return.”

  Kang Shiming froze for a moment and said with surprise, “Zhixia’s wife is pregnant? It’s a pity that the capital is so far away. Otherwise, I would definitely attend the full moon celebration.”

  ”Hahaha, there’s definitely a chance for that. During the Lunar New Year, he will definitely come home. By then, we must invite Your Excellency for a drink!”

  ”Okay, then I’ll wait!”

  After serving tea to them, Du Juan also sat down beside Liu Erlin, deliberately keeping a little distance from Mrs. Kang so that she would not get close to her again.

  It was a pity that she distanced herself, but the said person approached. “Sister Du Juan, it’s my first time to visit your home. It’s boring listening to these men’s chat. We can’t get in the way, so why don’t you take me out for a stroll?”

  ”…Our small village is full of fields and vegetable gardens, unlike the bustling city. There is nothing worth seeing.”