"An Ping, stop messing around!" An Hao was startled when she saw him trying to drink and hurried to stop him, but she was still a step too slow. An Ping tilted his head back and poured the liquor into his mouth.
He frowned, struggling considerably to swallow the pungent alcohol, and his face instantly turned red all the way to the base of his neck.
"Brother-in-law, it’s your turn!" An Ping indicated the glass of wine in front of Qin Jian.
Qiang Jian picked up the glass: "I don’t usually drink, but today..."
He didn’t finish his sentence and tilted his head back, emptying the glass of liquor in one swift gulp.
An Ping looked at the empty glass and chuckled slyly: "Brother-in-law, that’s the spirit! You’re a real man!"
"Enough with you! Are you drunk yet?" An Hao snatched the wine bottle and glasses from the table and handed them back to the restaurant owner. When she turned around, An Ping was already slumped over the table.
"Sister, An Ping has drunk too much," Liu Liaolian pushed An Ping and, seeing no response, said.
"You just eat, don’t mind him."
Qin Jian spoke apologetically: "I only wanted to help him settle his nerves. I didn’t expect... This was my fault."
An Hao shook her head with a smile: "I understand your intention. Just, are you okay after drinking?"
"Don’t worry, I’m fine!"
Lunch was over, and it was just past four in the afternoon.
Since An Ping was unconscious from drinking, he naturally couldn’t go to class. An Hao, affected by his situation, had no choice but to ask for leave from school as well.
The siblings sat in Qin Jian’s car, returning to their village.
At the entrance of the village, the road inside was very narrow and inconvenient to drive through, so Qin Jian simply parked the car on the side of the road and carried An Ping on his back towards their home.
An Hao walked beside him, attracting plenty of stares and whispering gossip from the villagers along the way.
"Do you think there’s something going on between Qin Jian’s eldest son and the An family’s eldest daughter since he’s always helping her out?"
"Don’t talk nonsense, it’s just a favor. What could be going on?"
"I’ve heard Qin Jian still doesn’t have a wife!"
"Maybe this time... Stop it, don’t talk about it anymore. The An girl is looking this way. She’s fierce, better not provoke her!"
"It seems the villagers are a bit afraid of you..." Qin Jian said with a smile, looking at An Hao, "Just how formidable are you?"
An Hao gave him a glance: "Aren’t you clear on how formidable I am? I’m just defending my rights! What, do you think I’m fierce too?"
Qin Jian said thoughtfully: "I like a little hot pepper! Not a Lin Daiyu."
An Hao paused for a moment, understanding what he was implying. Was this his way of expressing his feelings?
She felt a surge of joy and looked up at Qin Jian. Seeing a fleeting mischievous smile in his eyes, An Hao suddenly understood and, clenching her fists, punched towards Qin Jian: "Who did you call a little hot pepper!"
After making the move, she hesitated for a moment, then obediently pulled back her fist.
Qin Jian caught this expression, and a hint of a smile crept onto his lips.
When they got home, Qin Jian laid An Ping on the kang bed and was ready to leave.
"Have a glass of water before you go!" An Hao watched as the beads of sweat on his forehead slid down his cheeks, drenching his collar.
"No, I have a meeting to pass on the spirit," Qin Jian declined.
"Then... wait a moment..." When An Hao noticed the long tear in his clothes, she said to him, "Take off your clothes, I’ll stitch it up for you. It will be quick."
Qin Jian looked down at his torn clothes and nodded. He began to unbutton his shirt, peeled off his outer garment, leaving only a white vest that revealed his wheat-colored, muscular and strong arms.
"Leave the clothes here; I really must go now! I’ll come to pick them up when I have time!"