After eating and drinking, everyone chatted about various topics. As dusk approached, they returned to their homes. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
Shen Qingfeng naturally took the painting away, rolling it up very carefully, afraid of accidentally folding or tearing it.
Once everyone had left, Shen Qinglan handed a tael of silver to Dong Yao.
Afraid she might lose the money, Dong Yao offered to keep it for her.
But Shen Qinglan said, "Buy meat."
Shen Qingju couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Meat, meat, meat. Is there anything in your eyes besides meat?"
Shen Qinglan stared at her without speaking.
Though there was no malice, Shen Qingju felt a chill down her spine from that gaze.
"Why are you staring at your sister like that? I’ve already prepared the bath for you; hurry up and wash and go to sleep."
Recalling earlier words exchanged between Shen Qingju and Shen Qinghe, Shen Qinglan hurriedly added, "Thank you."
Wouldn’t this make her appear less aloof?
How could she have known that her words would make Shen Qingju’s hair stand on end?
Shen Qingju glared at her and said, "Stop talking nonsense and go take your bath."
Shen Qinglan replied, turned around, and went back inside to grab clothes and take a bath.
Dong Yao shook her head helplessly and said, "How can this child be so slow-witted, sigh!"
Recalling earlier, with a silly grin, always with a snotty and drooling dirty face, Shen Qinglan was a little fool. Shen Qingju quickly added, "Being slow is better than being foolish!"
Dong Yao nodded in agreement.
Now, the third daughter may seem slow on the surface, but she’s quite clever.
Not only can she hunt, she can write and paint, far better than when she was foolish.
Shen Qingzhu, troubled, said, "Ever since the third sister recovered from her illness, she hardly pays attention to us!"
Shen Qingju snorted coldly, "After she recovered, you became the silliest in the house!"
Shen Qingzhu protested, "Big sister, how am I silly?"
"In what way are you not silly?"
With a face full of disdain, Shen Qingju said, "You’re already sixteen and still playing with mud with the little kids in the village. Do you think you’re not silly?"
Shen Qingzhu said, feeling wronged, "I’m just playing to accompany little brother!"
Shen Qingju said, "Hmph. Starting tomorrow, you’re not allowed to take little brother out. Stay put. Either help mom and dad in the fields or join Qingping and Qing’an to study with the big cousin.
If I find you playing wildly outside, I’ll tell dad to send you to my uncle’s place. I’m not joking."
Shen Qingzhu dared not argue and accepted the reprimand obediently.
Dong Yao looked at Shen Qingju, already eighteen, and said softly, "Qingju, you’re eighteen now, and the Li family there..."
Before Dong Yao could finish, Shen Qingju said angrily, "Whether they like it or not, I won’t marry into their family. Their son is a scholar, destined to be an officer, and I’m not fit to be an official’s wife."
Dong Yao frowned and said softly, "Qingju, lower your voice!"
Shen Qingju scoffed disdainfully, "Why lower my voice? Afraid they might hear? How come they didn’t worry about us hearing when they despised our family for having a fool and said marrying me would disgrace their son’s reputation?"
Dong Yao sighed, unable to persuade her anymore.
Shen Qingju continued, her face cold, "Mom, don’t say anything about it. I know what Li Wei is like, but you also know what his parents are like. I’m not marrying into a family that insulted my sister. This engagement should be canceled early; there are other men besides Li Wei in this world."
Dong Yao frowned, "But, little Wei, he..."
Shen Qingju interrupted, "Enough, Mom, I’m going to bed."