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Previous chapter: The Way of Favors Chapter 2\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 4\n
Fu Pinyan was a small magistrate in Jizhou, so when the matter of Fu Rong falling into the water was known by many, a few of the families with a good relationship with the Fu family came to visit her.\n
Actually, Fu Rong was fine when she woke up, so when Wife Qiao went to talk to the men and women, the three sisters led the girls to the courtyard to play. Because Fu Rong was faking her illness, everyone who came to visit rejected the invitation to go over, except the second lady of the Liang family, who raced over, afraid of nothing.\n
âYou deserved it. No one told you to be too playful and not call me. I can row boats as well as swim, so if you were with me you would have no chance of drowning.â Liang Yingfang sat on the bedside, sweeping Fu Rongâs face with the flower she had picked in the courtyard.\n
The Liang family was a martial arts family. They knew all eighteen kinds of martial arts, including the well-known one-handed eight fists. The nobles in the capital and landlords outside the capital all wanted to send their sons to the Liang family to practice his martial arts and use his martial arts skills to become famous. But itâs a pity that when the family is more noble and wealthy, the gentlemen of the family are more delicate. But the master of the Liang family doesnât care. If someone doesnât pass the disciple acceptance test, then they will be sent away.\n
Fu Pinyan was born in the manor of the Jingyang Marquis. His birth-mother was a concubine, and he had studied very hard since he was young. But Fu Chenâs personality was like one of the old marquis, liking to dance with swords and sticks. Fu Chen was smart. He would first finish the homework his father gave him and not leave any areas for his father to pick on him, then go to the âmartial arts cheatsâ that he had accumulated to practice. Seeing that his eldest son was addicted to martial arts but was afraid that he would himself, he invited a martial arts teacher for him. Last year, the family had moved to the capital of Jizhou, Xindu City, when they heard that the Liang family was accepting disciples. The father-son duo had already heard about the famous Liang family and immediately went for the apprenticeship. Fu Chen was very talented; not only did he pass the test, but he also became a direct disciple of Master Liang.\n
With this relationship, the Liang and Fu families quickly became friends, and they helped Fu Pinyan gain more power in the capital, causing the people who were planning to go and give them a âwelcome giftâ unable to proceed any further.\n
Of course, this was the matter that Fu Pinyan took most importance in. Fu Rong still didnât understand, as she was a young girl and only thought that Liang Yingfang was warm, generous, frank, and sincere, unlike the others who were quick and abrupt, so they quickly became the best of friends. On a normal day, Fu Rong spent more time with Liang Yingfang than with her two blood-related sisters.\n
âStop talking, donât you see that Iâm sick.â Even if this was a dream, this seemed too real, and Fu Rong felt like she had been with the years as they passed, so it felt like meeting an old friend when she saw Liang Yingfang. She was ecstatic, not angry at all, and looked at her with a broad smile.\n
Liang Yingfang looked at her suspiciously, then suddenly moved away, âYouâre smiling like a blooming flower, so you must be planning something. Is it a bad idea again?â In her eyes, Fu Rong was just like a little fox. Although she couldnât beat her in martial arts, she was always tactful and had many ideas, which made her suffer losses.\n
Being wronged, Fu Rong wanted to hit Liang Yingfang, but her hand stopped in midair when she thought of Liang Yingfangâs taunting, and she hugged Liang Yingfangâs elbow when she put down her guard, âYingfang, can you teach me how to swim after I recover?â This time was a lesson. It was also a lesson in the dream, but she at least wouldnât drown if she knew how to swim.\n
Liang Yingfang was very fidgeting and liked to move, so she immediately agreed, âOk, letâs go to our familyâs mansion on Zi Wei Mountain. Thereâs a hot spring there, and it can help you recover.â\n
Fu Rong was also excited, but she had just recovered from a serious illness, so she would probably have to wait a month.\n
After Liang Yingfang had left, Fu Wan walked in, and seeing her sisterâs red face, smiled, and said, âYour illness is almost recovered from seeing your best friend, isnât it?â\n
âItâs all because my older sister is taking such good care of me.â Fu Rong said sweetly, leaning on the bed and hugging her pillow, âHave the visitors all left?â\n
Fu Wan nodded her head. She poured a cup of hot tea for her younger sister, saying, âMr. Qi took AâZhu to visit relatives this morning, so they couldnât come over and only had someone send the gift and said that they will visit you when they get back and that you should take good care of your body.â\n
The Qi familyâŠâŠ\n
Fu Rong lowered her head to drink the tea, her two rows of fine and slightly curled eyelashes concealing the gloom in her eyes.\n
The Qi family was also a powerful family in Xindu City. Mr. Qi served as the governor of Shaanxi, leaving his wife and children in their hometown to take care of his mother. The relationship between the two families in the dream was pretty good, and Fu Rong was close friends with Qi Zhu, as they were the same age. She then learned from her that her older brother Qi Ce liked her older sister Fu Wan, and she was very happy and hoped that it would happen. Ci Qi had an upright attitude and her sister was gentle and beautiful, and the two of them also matched in terms of social status. Fu Rong had also helped Qi Ce say a lot of good things about him in front of her older sister, and her sister gradually fell in love. When Qi Ce came to propose marriage, her sister had agreed shyly.\n
After they were married, the two of them stuck to each other like glue. When Fu Rong married Xu Yan, her older sister became pregnant, and it was happiness for both of them. But not long after, her sisterâs maid Bai Zhi also became pregnant. She knelt in front of her, begging her to let her have the child, and it was only then that her older sister discovered that Bai Zhi had already climbed onto Qi Ceâs bed.\n
If it was Fu Rong, who was young and ignorant at the time, she would have definitely started yelling, but her sister just ordered someone to give Bai Zhi an abortion pill and sold her.\n
Qi Ce didnât say anything.\n
Mrs. Qi wanted to keep the child, but her older sister told her calmly that it wasnât that she couldnât tolerate concubines, but it was because Bai Zhi was her person and because she had betrayed her master, there would be more Bai Zhiâs if she didnât punish severely. The day after she sold Bai Zhi, her older sister took the initiative and obtained two concubines for Qi Ce, and because she was pregnant, forbade Qi Ce from entering her room.\n
When Fu Rong went to visit her sister, her sister said none of her worries and only asked her calmly how she was doing with Xu Yan, then persuaded her to live well with Xu Yan but not put her heart on him so that if something happens, she wouldnât be too sad. Fu Rong thought that her sister had really let it go, but a few months later, her sister died from difficult labor. Two lives were lost from one body.\n
This was all Qi Ceâs fault.\n
It wasnât a big deal for men to have concubines, but why did he have to get close to her sisterâs person? Even if it was Bai Zhi who was seducing him, why didnât he refuse her? It was the ruthless betrayal of the maid on one side, and the heartless betrayal of the husband who seemed gentle and loving on the other side. With both sides against her, how could her older sister survive?\n
He had said when he was proposing that he wouldnât let her feel aggrieved at all, but he forgot all of it the moment they were married.\n
This was a man, every man, having two sides to him.\n
Just wait, Qi Ce shouldnât even think about touching her sisterâs finger.\n
~\n
At seven at night, Fu Pinyan and his son arrived home and went to see how Fu Rong was doing before they had even gone to their rooms.\n
Fu Rong was in the courtyard kicking the hand shuttlecock with the maids. It was late spring, and she wore a bright red dress, a peach blossom on her double bun. She kicked it happily, her back to the corridor, then suddenly turned around, her bright smile immediately shining under the glow of the setting sun, like a little fairy in the sky.\n
Fu Pinyanâs heart melted.\n
âAre you recovered? Youâre not obediently staying in your room, very naughty.â Fu Pinyan asked, walking down the aisle.\n
âDaddy!â\n
Fu Rong immediately threw down the hand shuttlecock and ran towards her father, saying happily, âI was already recovered at noon. Itâs so boring inside, so I came out to play. Even the doctor said that a patient needs to move more, so thereâs nothing for daddy to be worried about. Was it busy in the office today? You havenât even changed your clothes, come inside to drink some tea!â\n
When his daughter was naughty, it made oneâs head hurt, but when she was cute, she was very obedient. Fu Pinyan smiled as he rubbed her head, and the three of them went into the room.\n
The maid brought it some tea, and Fu Rong poured some tea for her father. Fu Pinyan and Fu Chen locked eyes for a moment and then pretended that they knew nothing.\n
Fu Rong knew that her tricks wouldnât be able to trick the two of them, so she walked around Fu Pinyan and tried to please him by massaging his shoulders, âFather has worked hard for an entire day, so Iâll help you reduce your anxiety.â\n
Fu Pinyan accepted her offer happily, âUse more strength.â\n
Fu Rong immediately used more strength.\n
Fu Chen was looking from the side and pretended to squeeze his shoulders tiredly, saying to Fu Rong, âYour older brother was hit two times by his master, so younger sister should also massage my shoulders later.â\n
âOk, but you have to first agree to something.â Fu Rong blinked her eyes at her older brother.\n
âSay it.â Fu Chen took a sip of tea.\n
Fu Rong looked at him with her shining eyes, âThe spring air has been good these few days, so I want to take a walk outside. Mother was pregnant last year so we didnât go out much, so shouldnât we go out and play more often now? Daddy had government affairs and can go, Little Guan is too young, so older brother should take us three sisters to just take a stroll around our manor. Weâll come back on the same day we go, ok?â\n
She wouldnât come back. Without a senior accompanying her, she could secretly order one of her maids to go buy medicine that could cure chickenpox. It might even cure it, and she wouldnât need to endure the pain of developing rashes. In the house, she couldnât do anything that wouldnât be known by her father, and it would be hard to explain, and her father would surely doubt her. If the medicine doesnât work, she could just stay in the mansion to recuperate and not worry about infecting her younger brother.\n
Fu Chen didnât take the bait. âI have no say in this, youâll have to ask father. Itâll only take you if father agrees.â\n
âDaddy,â Fu Rong said slowly, looking at Fu Pinyan with a tilted head, âDaddy dotes on me the most, so youâll agree, right? If daddy is worried, then you can have Uncle Liu accompany us. I promise I wonât cause any trouble.â\n
Uncle Liu was the housekeeper of the front courtyard, one of Fu Pinyanâs most talented and loyal subordinates.\n
Fu Pinyan didnât say anything.\n
Fu Rong tried again, âJust agree, daddy. Your position is getting higher and higher, and your time with us is less. If you donât accompany us, shouldnât we go ourselves and take in the fresh air?â\n
âYou really want to go so badly?â Fu Pinyan asked, his head tilted to the side.\n
This means that heâs considering it. Fu Rong was ecstatic and massaged her fatherâs back harder, âYes, I really want to go. If daddy agrees, then Iâll listen to daddy for the whole year!â\n
His daughter was chattering like a lark. Fu Pinyan looked outside, at the soft sunset, red flowers and green grass, a slight smile in his eyes, âOkay, Iâll take a rest tomorrow, and weâll all go together.â\n
Traveling with his wife and dear daughter and riding horses with his eldest son was more than worthy of this good springtime.\n
âDaddy is so nice!â Although it wasnât exactly what she wanted, Fu Rong was still very excited about going out as a family and massaged him even harder.\n
âOkay okay, go to your room to rest, weâll leave now.â Fu Pinyan stood up and left, having other matters to take care of in the front courtyard.\n
Fu Rong only came back when she sent her father off at the front door, then sat in front of the mirror in her room, analyzing herself.\n
A thirteen-year-old girl, her face slender, as cute as a young boy, turning red when pinched slightly. Her eyes were even brighter than the stars in the sky. Fu Rong liked beauty the most and seemed to be unable to take her eyes off her face. Her fingers slowly moved up to her smooth forehead, her eyes filled with self-admirance suddenly becoming firm.\n
This time, there would definitely be no little pit.\n