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:Â The Way of Favors Chapter 16\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 18\n
âWhy donât we bring them into the mountains for a stroll tomorrow? Weâll do some hunting and eat out there.â Liang Tong suggested with a guilty conscience after a while.\n
Fu Chen shook his head, âWeâre only staying for two nights. Nong Nong is determined to learn how to swim, so she wonât waste any time outside. Besides, sheâs the laziest. She wonât protest if itâs just a ride in a carriage, but if you tell her to walk, she would never agree.â\n
Liang Tong was very disappointed. If Fu Rong and his younger sister wonât go, then Fu Wan wonât either.\n
âThen how about we go hunting, and roast the food in the courtyard at night?â With an itchy heart, Liang Tong racked his brains to find a chance to meet.\n
Fu Chen raised his head, thinking for a moment, âThis is a good idea. Theyâre always stuck inside, and havenât eaten these foods.â\n
Liang Tong was delighted. In the afternoon when they went hunting, he fired all of his arrows.\n
Before sunset, the two returned with a load. Fu Rong and Liang Yingfang ran out excitedly to watch the liveliness. Liang Tong looked behind the two of them and forced himself to endure the pain of not asking. He lowered his head to unload the prey while listening to Fu Chen and his sister chatting with his ears alert.\n
Fu Wan liked calm areas, which was normal for Fu Chen. He smiled, telling Fu Rong, âWeâll have a barbeque tonight. Iâll watch the fire.â\n
Her older brother was best at making this kind of food. Fu Rong was elated, and tried to please him by asking, âDo you need my help?â\n
Fu Chen laughed at her, âCome on, youâll burn your hand if youâre not careful. Youâll drown me with tears if that happens. Itâll be more normal for Wan Wan to say those words.â\n
Liang Tongâs heart beat more rapidly. Would it be possible to eat foods made by her tonight?\n
But after hearing the conversation, Fu Wan called Fu Rong and Liang Yingfang back and only asked Fu Chen to make the food and send the maid to the backyard with the food.\n
Liang Tong couldnât believe it. He felt as if a bucket of ice water had fallen from the sky when his blood was boiling.\n
Fu Chen thought that he was surprised at the interaction between him and his sisters, and said quite awkwardly, âMy younger sister here, ignore the fact that sheâs a year younger than me. She sometimes seems like the older sister here, always taking charge.â\n
Liang Tong angrily stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth, which tasted like wax.\n
Fu Rong was eating quite happily.\n
She felt an enormous amount of pity as she ate, âWe picked the wrong date. We should have come after the Dragon Boat Festival, then we could stay a few more days.â\n
Fu Wan groaned, âYou think of this place like your own house. You want to stay here as much as you want, youâre really impolite.â\n
âOlder Sister Wan, you shouldnât say that. Nong Nong and I are like sisters. As long as you guys want to, you can come here anytime. Besides, my grandfather and the others donât like to soak in the spring. If we donât come here, this place is normally empty.â Liang Yingfang hurriedly explained. She liked Fu Rong saying whatever she wanted in front of her. If Fu Rong was polite like Fu Wan or fake like Qi Zhu, she wouldnât be so close to her.\n
She was smiling happily, but Fu Wan was a little sour inside. Liang Yingfangâs mother had died when she was very young, and she was the only girl in the family. The children of all of her uncles were all sons, so she had never been around female relatives since a young age. It was no wonder that she was as cheerful as a boy.\n
Thinking about this, she wasnât polite anymore, âOkay then, weâll come again in the winter. Itâll be even better if it snows.â\n
Liang Yingfang was a little surprised, and Fu Rong was also a little strange, âOkay okay, this is what older sister said. Donât regret it when I plead to my mother.â\n
Fu Wan glared at her.\n
At night, Fu Wan and Fu Rong slept in the same room. Liang Yingfang insisted on coming over, and when the girls were together, the conversation would be endless and full of laughter, and they finally fell asleep at nine.\n
This morning, both Fu Rong and Liang Yingfang refused to get out of bed.\n
Fu Wan couldnât do anything with them and first went to wash.\n
âLadies, young master invites you guys over.â Bai Zhi came over and said when she was eating alone. Like the other maids that Qiao Shi had chosen for her three daughters, she could barely be considered to have good posture. She wore a plain skirt and never raised her head when she stood. Only when she assisted Fu Wan in washing did her loose dress hang down, revealing her astonishingly slender waist, as if two hands could wrap around it.\n
But for Fu Wan, who had seen her mother and sisterâs stunning beauty, Bai Zhiâs waist was nothing special, so even if someone saw it, it wouldnât mean much to them. After rinsing her mouth, Fu Wan went back to check to see two girls sleeping soundly. She pinched each of them, then went to the front helplessly.\n
As she walked along the corridor, she saw two teenagers standing in front of her, the two as tall as her own brother. Compared to others, they seemed to have a tint of green.\n
Fu Wanâs first thought was to go back. She was just about to turn around when Fu Chen had discovered her under Liang Tongâs reminding, âWan Wan!â\n
Fu Wan was already unhappy that her older brother would bring an outsider to visit her. Hearing him shouting her pet name, she was even more irritated, but since they had already bumped into each other, it wouldnât be right for her to leave now. She could only walk over calmly, stopping ten or so steps away from the two, âWhat does older brother need from us?â\n
The morning was bright and warm, and she stood there wearing a begonia-red beizi, so beautiful that she seemed like a lotus that had just bloomed, her bright black apricot-sized eyes more watery than dewdrops.\n
Liang Tong really couldnât hold back anymore, and said before Fu Chen could open his mouth, âSecond, second younger sister, why is Yingfang not here?â He wanted to say Wan Wan, but fortunately, his reasoning still existed.\n
Fu Wan bit her lip silently. Who was his second younger sister?\n
Still looking forward steadily, Fu Wan looked at Fu Chen and said, âThose two are tired from playing in the water and will get up later. Older brother, what exactly do you need?â\n
Fu Chen said, âWe rarely come out, so I wanted to ask you guys if you were willing to go out for a stroll.â Nong Nongâs thoughts always changed, so it was better to ask to avoid her wronging him for not playing with her.\n
âOkay, Iâll ask them when they wake up and tell you later. Iâll go now.â Fu Wan was brief and concise, and without hesitation, turned around and walked back, her footsteps unhurried and steady. From behind, her back was graceful, but she could be seen frowning from the front.\n
âThen what should we do?â Fu Chen asked Liang Tong. âHow about practice some moves?â\n
Liang Tong reluctantly retracted his gaze and looked at this junior brother, really wanting to ask him if it was okay for him to be his brother-in-law. He couldnât endure it only after one night, wanting desperately to marry her and take her home to avoid always thinking about it. She would be his person if he married her, and he would treasure her as much as he wanted to.\n
He hesitated. As he wondered how to open his mouth, a servant walked over quickly, âYoung master, the eldest son of the Qi family is here!â\n
One sentence caused all the courage that Liang Tong had mustered to dissipate. He wiped at the sweat on his forehead, not knowing if he should blame Qi Ce or thank him.\n
The two went to welcome him.\n
Qi Ce had come on horseback, wearing a celestial blue robe with an embroidered bamboo pattern. His handsomeness was extraordinary, and when he saw the two, he smiled and said, âI was afraid that you guys would go into the mountain without me, so I came here early.â\n
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Fu Rong woke up late in the morning. Turning around half-consciously, an uncomfortable soreness suddenly came from her legs. Blinking her eyes, Fu Rong sat up, squeezing her legs, then pushed Liang Yingfang with a bitter smile, âYou were right!â\n
Liang Yingfang had stayed lying down for a long time before raising her head. Seeing Fu Rong leaning over and squeezing her legs, said indifferently, âYouâll be fine after two strolls around the courtyard. Iâm not scolding you, but you should exercise more often. The spoiled ones wonât be able to run even if they want to in the future.â\n
Fu Rong pursed her lips, âYouâre saying it so easily. You know that I canât suffer. I canât practice martial arts like you.â\n
Liang Yingfang was completely awake and leaned against the head of the bed with Fu Rong, the two of them shoulder-to-shoulder. She provocatively swung her long legs to Fu Rongâs side, âArenât you envious of my long legs? Iâll teach you a few movements. Practice them for half an hour every morning and evening. I promise that youâll also have long legs. Perhaps youâll also grow taller.â\n
Fu Rong hugged her as if she had found a treasure, âTeach me now!â\n
âTeach you what, itâs time for breakfast. If we donât eat now, weâll have to wait until noon.â Fu Wan walked in lightly from outside, âOlder brother just asked if you guys if you wanted to go strolling in the mountain, what do you guys say?â\n
Fu Rong looked at Liang Yingfang and immediately refused, âNo, Iâm not going. I still havenât learned how to swim.â The mountain road was rugged, there was nothing good about it.\n
Fu Wan nodded her head with satisfaction.\n
After they had breakfast, Fu Rong was going to take a walk in the courtyard to relieve her sore legs. Fu Wan stood up and said, âIâll go with you.â\n
Fu Rong had already learned from Lan Xiang that Qi Ce was here, so she naturally wouldnât allow her older sister to give Qi Ce an excuse to get close to her, so she could only have Fu Wan stay inside.\n
Fu Wan indeed did not want to go. She was afraid that she would bump into Liang Tong once more, so she just told the two to behave, to go to Clear Spring Pavilion right after her legs werenât sore anymore, and to not roam around in other courtyards.\n
Fu Rong obediently agreed. Right when she left, Lan Xiang came back, and Fu Rong found an excuse to call her to the side, âWhat are young master and the others doing?â\n
Lan Xiang whispered, âThey are competing in Pine Crane Room. When I was over there, I saw young master fighting fiercely with the eldest young master of the Qi family.â\n
Fu Rong couldnât help but let out a sigh of relief. After all, this place was the manor of the Liang family. Without the convenience of the owner, Qi Ce would have to get rid of her older brother and Liang Tong before performing his evil plan, but he was a guest. With Liang Tongâs generous and hospitable temperament, how could he leave Qi Ce alone?\n
But just in case, Fu Rong still left Lan Xiang in the guest room of the backyard. If her older sister left the room, Lan Xiang would have to immediately send maids to inform her.\n
Fu Wan didnât leave, but she saw that the sun was getting higher and higher and was worried that it wouldnât be good for the two girls to soak in the spring for too long, so she ordered Bai Zhi, âGo to Clear Spring Pavilion to take a look. If Third Lady still hasnât come out, go remind them.â\n
Bai Zhi obeyed and went over.\n
Lan Xiang raised her head to only see Bai Zhi go out, so she continued to guard the room.\n
The manor of the Liang family occupied a very wide area, and the pavilions and gardens all had nice views. Bai Zhi looked around as she walked and couldnât help but slow down, occasionally stopping to admire the flowers.\n
Perhaps it was because she was distracted, because when she reached the corner, a figure suddenly came out, and Bai Zhi whispered âahâ and fell to the ground the next moment.\n
She was Fu Wanâs lead maid, and her normal clothing and food were half as good as her ladyâs, so she couldnât bear this kind of grievance and immediately put on a cold face, scolding as she got up, âWhat servant are you, walkingâŠâŠâ\n
But when she saw the cold face of the handsome man across from her, her face suddenly flushed red, and she hurriedly lowered her head to admit her mistake, âBai Zhi is reckless and made a mistake. Please, eldest young master, forgive me.â\n
âYou recognize me?â Qi Ce asked her as he stared at her back.\n
Bai Zhi was bitter inside, and her complexion changed from red to white. It turned out that he had never noticed her.\n
âReplying to eldest young master, I am a maid of the Fu family. When Old Madam of your prestigious manor had her birthday banquet, I was serving the lady, soâŠâŠâ\n
Thinning about another possibility, Bai Zhiâs face reddened again, but she saw a blue silk herbal sachet lying on the ground.\n
Was it dropped by him on accident?\n
When Bai Zhi raised her head, the man was already gone. She looked around from left to right, quickly picked up the herbal sachet, and hid it in her sleeve.\n
Behind the row of green bamboo in the front, Qi Ce cocked his mouth contemptuously. Even a maid wanted to gain favor from him. If it wasnât that Fu Wanâs whereabouts were too difficult to inquire about, he wouldnât use her.\n
The man looked around. Behind the flowers on the other side, Fu Rong shook her head towards Liang Yingfang, motioning for her to go out later to avoid being discovered by Qi Ce and alerting the enemy.\n