FID – Chapter 555

  Chapter 555: Bang! Even the Inside Was Bolted

  ”It’s the ones you don’t see in town that are novel. Let’s go. We, sisters, can have a chat while strolling. Let’s not get involved with them, menfolk.” Mrs. Kang has already stood up and smiled behind her handkerchief.

  Du Juan had no choice but to take her out. They looked at the vegetable fields, scanned the fields, and walked all the way to the Qing River along the path in the village.

  In the house, Liu Zhiqiu wasn’t keen on staying any longer now that his mother left. His father was having a good time talking with the magistrate and the two were now addressing each other ‘brother’ after a few exchanges. There was nothing that needed his attention, so he might as well go back to sleep instead of sitting with them.

  At this point, he was naturally sleepy since he got used to napping.

  Without excusing himself, Liu Zhiqiu quietly walked out of the main courtyard and headed to the second courtyard.

  He’d better avoid his father from dragging him to accompany them.

  It has been a while and when Kang Ziyu noticed that Liu Zhiqiu never spared her a glance from beginning to end, as if she was some dirty creature, she felt aggrieved and angry.

  She gnashed her teeth. Seeing that her father and Liu Erlin weren’t paying attention to her, she immediately got up and chased after Liu Zhiqiu.

  ”Liu Zhiqiu!” Kang Ziyu glared at him after blocking him at the entrance of the second courtyard. “What do you mean? We are, after all, at least guests. Don’t you even have the courtesy to greet guests?”

  ”Which is considered polite?” Liu Zhiqiu asked carelessly leaned against the courtyard wall.

  ”My father is chatting with your father, and my mother is also accompanied by your mother. At least you should entertain me. It’s fine to exchange a few pleasantries, right?”

  ”What is there to talk about with you? How to till the land? Do you know anything about it?”

  ”You—”

  The man’s sarcasm made Kang Ziyu’s eyes turn red. “Do you hate to see me that much?”

  ”You knew that you were not welcome yet you still came?”

  Liu Zhiqiu felt too lazy to mess around with such a person, so entered the second courtyard with his interest worn-out.

  ”Then who are you expecting to see? Li Junyue?!” His attitude provoked her to speak out of turn.

  The man in front suddenly turned his head, and his eyes glinted coldly. “Kang Ziyu!”

  The look in his eyes made Kang Ziyu shudder. Even when he chased her away, his eyes were never so cold.

  ”Why? Did I touch a nerve?” Kang Ziyu stood stubbornly and sneered, refusing to show timidity in front of the man. “That’s a pity. What’s the use? Li Junyue is dead. Even if you like her, you will never get her!”

  ”What an absolute nutcase!” Liu Zhiqiu withdrew his icy gaze, scoffed and turned around, continuing walking towards the courtyard.

  Looking at that face any second longer made him feel disgusted.

  If she hadn’t come with Kang Shiming, he wouldn’t have let her step a toe in at all.

  ”Wait!” Footsteps sounded behind him again, and she blocked the door before Liu Zhiqiu could close it. “I know you don’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see you either! I didn’t come here this time to quarrel with you. I have something to tell you!”

  ”Step aside!”

  ”No, I’ll leave after you hear me!”

  After confronting each other for a long time, Liu Zhiqiu opened the partly-closed door, looked down at Kang Ziyu condescendingly, and said, “Get lost!”

  ”Don’t worry, I won’t stay even if you want me to!” Kang Ziyu straightened her back, trying not to show weakness. However, the man was too close to her, and his strong manly aura around her seemingly wrapped her whole body. This made her a little nervous and breathless.

  She took a step back without a trace and turned her face sideways, avoiding the man’s indifferent eyes. “You should know what happened at the Yunzhou yamen, right? Hou Deye wronged your elder brother before and nearly ruined his future. He has now been punished. He lost his official position and will be demoted to Guinan as a guard. Once he leaves, the position of the prefectural magistrate of Yunzhou will become vacant. While the top has not yet determined a suitable candidate to take over, please use your connections to help my father and let him be transferred.”

  Liu Zhiqiu made no response, but the color of his eyes became duller. This made Kang Ziyu panic.

  ”Many wine shops of your family require the government to stretch some rules. If my father can take the position of prefectural magistrate, your family will have a reliable backer in Yunzhou. I know that your family is backed by the King of Nanling, but it would be better to have the magistrate’s support as well. The Regent is always in the capital, thousands of miles away from Yunzhou, and he may not be able to help you in time when accidents happen. At present, your new wine shops are supported by my father. My father cherishes old acquaintances and he will never abandon you. All it takes is for you to ask your sister to say a word. What do you think?”

  ”Are you done?”

  Kang Ziyu then turned her head and met the man’s eyes. “It’s the best of both worlds and its favorable for both sides. You just need to talk to your sister. She is a smart person, and she certainly will not refuse. Besides, with my father’s current political achievements, he’s more than qualified to sit in that position. No one will talk rubbish about it.”

  The man didn’t respond for a long time, and this made Kang Ziyu flustered for no reason.

  He was staring at her icily.

  This made her uneasy and unwell more than his indifference.

  ”Kang Ziyu, I didn’t realize how smart you were before. Is it because others are too stupid, or because you’re a consummate actor?”

  ”Liu Zhiqiu—”

  ”Leave if you’re done talking. If rumors abound about you breaking into a man’s bedroom, I’m afraid you might not afford the price, Miss Kang.”

  ”You!”

  The door slammed shut in front of her. In fear that she would be caught by the door, Kang Ziyu promptly took another step back.

  Bang! Even the bolt was put in place inside!

  Kang Ziyu stood at the door, her face turning blue and white. Her eyes flushed red with anger, with a mixture of shame and grievance.

  The suggestion she made was obviously beneficial to both parties. Why did Liu Zhiqiu not agree to it, and why did he ridicule her?

  If things came to fruition, their family wouldn’t benefit from it unilaterally!

  No wonder he ran home to farm after finishing half of his studies in the academy. It was obviously because his mind was not enlightened!

  She stomped her feet and left the entrance of the second courtyard. She was tempted to leave immediately with her spine straight, but in the end she didn’t and went back to the main courtyard to sit.

  She knew her father’s disposition all too well. On this trip, he was most likely embarrassed to claim connections and gain favors, that was why she decided to pester Liu Zhiqiu for a chat.

  Now that Liu Zhiqiu still loathed to see her, she could only let her father start with Liu Erlin.

  The prefectural magistrate’s position was temporarily vacant, but that wouldn’t last long long. Once the court order comes down for the hand over, it would be too late to come up with a solution.

  Her father has sat in the position of a county magistrate for years, so he must not miss this good opportunity!

  Meanwhile, Mrs. Kang followed Du Juan along the river, appreciated the scenery of the mountain village, and kept expressing her awe, showing her liking.

  ”The city radiates the prosperity of the city, but it is too noisy. If you want to enjoy life, you should find such a peaceful place with green hills and clear waters-picturesque scenery.”

  ”Mrs. Kang, you must be joking. I’ve heard that people in the city have separate manors for their retirement, which is much better than remote mountain villages.”

  Mrs. Kang sighed. “Distant manors are quiet, but they are not at all peaceful. As far as the atmosphere of a village is concerned, your Xinghua Village is the best.  I often hear from my husband that your entire village is very harmonious and bustling every day. People who live here are completely different in essence, so I’d rather come here in my old age.”

  Du Juan made no response and took it with a smile. She didn’t understand Mrs. Kang’s purpose for spouting a lot of things. Was she intending to buy land and build a house in their village?