FID – Chapter 977

Chapter 977 – Living a Life Everyone Envy

“No wonder Little White Lotus is utterly devoted to my brother—he really knows how to charm someone,” Liu Yuzheng sighed.

By modern standards, this would be called romantic.

No sooner had she spoken than the man beside her pulled a jade hairpin from his sleeve and gently placed it in her bun.

His dark eyes, like a rippling lake, held a teasing smile as he asked, “Now, would you be devoted to me as well?”

Liu Yusheng reached up to touch her hair, feeling the cool jade beneath her fingertips, and smiled. “I’ve been devoted for a long time.”

Their eyes met and held, and a faint sweetness flowed through the air between them.

“Tsk, I bought it too, and you’re just copying me?” someone nearby teased, in a lazy, playful tone.

Feng Qingbai glanced at him indifferently, then turned back to take Liu Yusheng’s hand. “I bought the pin when your brother had just entered the shop.”

The implication was clear: he bought it first, and Liu Zhiqiu was merely following his lead.

Liu Zhiqiu also took Muqiu’s hand. “Little White Lotus, he’s stubborn. We won’t argue. You know my heart.”

“Could you two at least consider my feelings?” an exasperated and fed up voice interjected.

Liu Zhixia stood expressionless, watching the two couples showing off their affection, brows furrowed tightly enough to form a knot.

“Oh, so you’re here,” Feng Qingbai replied lightly.

Liu Yusheng covered her mouth and laughed. “Who told you not to bring Big Sister-in-law along?”

“A loner should keep quiet. Why make things uncomfortable for yourself?”

Liu Zhixia “…” Turned green with envy.

Were they bullying a scholar, thinking he had no sense of romance?

“Hah.” Liu Zhixia sneered. “What goes around comes around. Just wait.”

His company burst out laughing.

Even though it was a scene of mutual teasing, there was an unmistakable warmth and lightness to it.

“Your Highnesses? Why are you here?” someone nearby exclaimed in surprise.

Fortunately, they lowered their voices, so as not to cause a commotion.

When they looked back, they saw Kang Shiming and his wife in plain clothes, standing not far from them. They looked aged and weary, somewhat out of place amidst the cheerful atmosphere.

“Why is Lord Kang here?” Liu Yusheng was also surprised.

At this time, Kang Shiming should have been in Xiangshan County. How did he and his wife appear here?

Kang Shiming approached with his wife and cupped his hands politely. “Your Highness, please do not call me Lord anymore. I have resigned from office, and once the matters at the government office are handed over, I will officially retire. Today I’ve brought my wife and daughter back to our hometown to settle them first.”

Liu Yuzheng nodded. “I see. Your hometown is in Yuzhou?”

“Yes, just next to Pingshi Town.”

“Lord Kang is a good official. To retire in the prime of life is truly a pity,” Liu Yusheng smiled. “In that case, we won’t take up any more of your time. Farewell.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they went in another direction. From beginning to end, no one even glanced at Kang Shiming and his wife’s daughter, Kang Ziyu, who lowered her head and hung her face.

“Later, let’s go to Biehe Restaurant for a good meal. Last time we heard the food there was excellent, and I promised I’d bring you next time,” one man said cheerfully as they passed by. “While Feng Qingbai is here, we’ll eat like big shots. I’ll order the most expensive dishes for you!”

“Okay, I’ll eat with you.” The woman’s voice was soft, full of sweetness and happiness.

“Liu Zhiqiu, can you stop having your miserly fits at random times?” Another man’s voice was calm and faint, sounding slightly displeased, but in fact teasing and indulgent.

“When have I ever not had fits at random times? I’m always in one. Also, call me Second Brother, don’t forget your position at home, brother-in-law.”

“I think you’re always asking for a beating.”

“Big Brother, you’re my real brother. Can’t you go easy on me?”

Their voices gradually faded, leaving behind laughter, mock anger, and free-spirited banter.

That group of people lived in a way everyone envied.

Kang Shiming stood there for a long while, finally letting out a long sigh and bitter smile. “Let’s go.”

Mrs. Kang nodded silently. As she turned, she glanced at her daughter. The affection that had once filled her eyes was gone, replaced only by bitterness and indifference.

After the couple turned away, Kang Ziyu, who had kept her head lowered the whole time, finally looked up toward where the crowd had disappeared, her eyes vacant and numb.

It turned out that Liu Zhiqiu could be caring.

He personally placed the hairpin on her.

He held her hand tightly on the street.

Wherever he went, he thought of Liu Muqiu.

When they were together, their happiness was enviable.

Liu Muqiu, Li Junyue… it turned out that when a person risks everything, they really could triumph over fate.

Years passed, and everything changed—people and things alike.

Liu Muqiu had become the envy of everyone as the Liu family’s daughter-in-law.

Kang Ziyu, however, had long become a decayed speck of dust in the course of fate.

While sitting in Biehe Restaurant and letting Liu Zhiqiu order the dishes a bit more expensive, Liu Yusheng asked Feng Qingbai, “Now that Kang Shiming has left, who will be transferred here next?”

“It will naturally be a good official,” Feng Qingbai said with a faint smile. “I personally requested the transfer; Xiangshan County won’t collapse.”

The Liu family was in Yunzhou, and here in Xiangshan, there was no way he would send an incompetent person to ruin this place.

“Our family is in Xiangshan. Even if a corrupt official were sent, he wouldn’t dare touch our brewery. What’s there to worry about?” The person choosing the dishes added, “If he really is greedy, I’ll grab him with Aunt Hong and Uncle Lan and tie him up in a sack.”

“Pfft!” Liu Muqiu couldn’t help laughing. She suddenly remembered how that man had once taken her along to tie up someone in a sack to get revenge for her.

Now, she barely even remembered his name, only that with him backing her up, when she personally punished that scumbag, it was the first time in her life she felt that kind of satisfaction.

Liu Yusheng also remembered that time—when she was with her grandparents and father, the Wang family’s Second Young Master had been found unconscious in the field, and by the time he was carried out, his face was bruised and battered beyond recognition.

The attackers had been merciless.

The Wang family had no choice but to swallow that silent humiliation; if they had made a scene, they wouldn’t have been able to take over the Liu family’s fruit wine business.

Liu Zhiqiu calculated everything thoroughly as underhanded methods were his specialty.

At that time, Kang Ziyu was there, along with Lord Kang. Back then, he had still been full of vigor and ambition.

When the Liu family expanded the brewery, he had contributed a portion of the effort; it was his idea first, and he had persuaded her.

Setting aside social obligations, Kang Shiming truly counted as a good official—sincerely and wholeheartedly concerned for the people of Xiangshan.

During his years in Xiangshan County, his achievements were enough to earn him promotion and honors. Unfortunately, he was undone by his own daughter.

Seeing him just now, he no longer looked like a man in his forties; his entire being emanated the heaviness of twilight, like a life on the wane.

Mrs. Kang was the same—haggard and aged, no longer carrying the demeanor of an official’s wife.

Such is the love of parents for their child.

The couple had been willing to give up their careers and prospects for the sake of this daughter, hoping that Kang Ziyu would understand the painstaking care behind it and not disappoint her parents again.

Outside, people said Kang Ziyu had gone mad, but she knew the truth.

A truly mad person would not lower their gaze and restrain their expression upon encountering someone familiar; they would not appear so calm, nor display such desolation.