Chapter 108: You Once Looked Down on Me, Now You Can’t Reach Me

Chapter 108: You Once Looked Down on Me, Now You Can't Reach Me

Zheng Jinxiu approached Cui Yongnian with her basket in hand. "Cousin Cui, try these, I made them myself."

Cui Yongnian didn't hesitate and grabbed a piece, popping it into his mouth.

Zheng Jinxiu's heart leaped with joy. She asked, "Cousin, how does it taste?"

Cui Yongnian blinked his eyes. "Haven't you tried it?"

Zheng Jinxiu's smile froze. "I... I haven't had the chance yet."

"Well, then have one," he suggested.

In a daze, Zheng Jinxiu took one and took a bite.

Then Cui Yongnian inquired, "How does it taste?"

Zheng Jinxiu: "..."

"Not bad."

Cui Yongnian smiled and said, "That's right, Cousin Jinxiu. In the future, if you want to know if something tastes good, you don't need to ask someone else specifically. Just try it yourself."

Zheng Jinxiu: "..."

Zheng Jinyu couldn't hold back her laughter and chuckled.

Zheng Jinxiu glared at her with a dark expression.

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly. "Cousin Cui truly lives up to his reputation as a learned scholar. Your words always make so much sense. I find it odd too, how some people like to give things to others to taste and then ask if they're good. Why don't they try it themselves? Besides, everyone has different tastes. Some may find sweet things delicious, while others might find them too cloying. Sour, sweet, bitter, or spicy – what you think is tasty might not be the same for me, right?"

Zheng Jinxiu glared at Zheng Jinyu with a dark face but didn't want to leave a bad impression on Cui Yongnian. She wanted to scold Zheng Jinyu but held back.

Zheng Jinyu, on the other hand, spoke her mind freely, making Zheng Jinxiu furious.

"Sister, why do you speak to me with veiled insults? Have I done something wrong to upset you?"

"No, I'm just speaking the truth."

"You..."

"Sister, I speak my mind. You've always been kind-hearted, so you won't be angry with me, right?"

Zheng Jinxiu bit her lip, suppressing her anger.

"Sis, you're joking, right? Cousin Cui is right. Why would I be angry?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly and continued, "The snacks you wanted to send have arrived. Put them here, and you can go back now."

Zheng Jinxiu was taken aback. "What? Go back? But..."

With innocent eyes, Zheng Jinyu blinked at her. "What else? Cousin Cui and I have some important business to attend to, and we can't concentrate with you here."

"What business? When I came in, you were sitting here drinking tea."

Zheng Jinyu replied calmly, "I was having tea because I needed a break after working hard. Now that I'm rested, it's time for me to get back to work. Take care, sis. I won't see you out, little sis."

"You..."

"Chunmei, see the guest out," Zheng Jinyu instructed her servant without waiting for Zheng Jinxiu to respond.

Zheng Jinxiu stomped her foot in frustration, her eyes reddening as she spoke with a tinge of anger, "I know that my sister has never cared for me, so I usually avoid visiting your Yusheng Courtyard, fearing that it would upset you. If not for Cousin Cui being here today, I wouldn't have dared to disturb you. Now that I've caused you distress, I'll take my leave."

With a pitiful expression, she glanced at Cui Yongnian before covering her face with a handkerchief and departing.

Chunmei followed her, seeing her off until she left the Yusheng Courtyard.

Zheng Jinyu chuckled and mimicked Zheng Jinxiu's tone, "After her antics, it seems I'm the one in the wrong."

Cui Yongnian smiled faintly and shook his head, "She's merely a clown trying to steal the spotlight. To argue with her would only demean yourself, don't you think?"

Zheng Jinyu's smile faded as she turned to look at Cui Yongnian and asked, "Cousin Cui, when did you realize that she isn't my real sister?"

Cui Yongnian gave her a cryptic glance, "I knew from the start."

"Oh, so you knew from the beginning. Then you've been acting all this while, haven't you?"

Cui Yongnian looked genuinely bewildered, "What are you talking about, Cousin? I didn't say anything. Don't accuse me wrongly."

"Ha, speaking in riddles before an honest person, he's really gotten into the act," Zheng Jinyu scoffed. She casually picked up a pastry and took a bite.

Not eating? Well, it would be a waste not to.

After a while, Cui Yongnian left. If their assumption was correct, Zheng Jinxiu would go and complain. If he didn't leave now, Madam Zheng would soon arrive, and another drama would unfold.

It wasn't that he was afraid of acting out the scene; he just found it tedious and wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble as much as possible.

Once Cui Yongnian had gone, Zheng Jinyu examined the two jewelry designs on the table inspired by the osmanthus flower. The master's creations were always exquisite, with the size of the osmanthus blossoms and the blank spaces perfectly balanced.

Xie Peiyu had mentioned before that although there was some exaggeration in the rumors about Cui Yongnian, his skills were indeed extraordinary. That was the truth.

Every move made by the prominent families held deep significance.

Like supporting a child prodigy or, previously, promoting only the reputation of Mister Qinghe while concealing his true identity from the outside world.

But why would Cui Yongnian reveal his true identity now?

It was as if Zheng Jinyu had a premonition – she felt that something significant was about to unfold in this world. The butterfly effect from her tiny wings flapping couldn't merely be confined to derailing the original storyline.

...

Sure enough, Zheng Jinxiu came to complain. Not long after Cui Yongnian left, she appeared at the door, arm in arm with Lady Zheng.

Zheng Jinyu was enjoying the pastries Zheng Jinxiu had sent when they arrived. Upon seeing this, Zheng Jinxiu stomped her foot in frustration but held back from expressing her anger.

"Mother, Sister, you're here. Please, have a seat."

As Zheng Jinyu invited Lady Zheng and Zheng Jinxiu to sit down, she offered them the remaining pastries she hadn't finished.

"Mother, try this. Sister said she made it herself. I tasted one earlier, and it's quite delicious."

"Oh, really? I'll give it a try then." Lady Zheng picked up one to sample.

Zheng Jinxiu seethed with anger but maintained a composed tone. "I thought Sister didn't like sweets." She had clearly stated her dislike for them just moments ago.

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly. "I don't particularly like overly sweet treats, but this one made by Sister is just right. I quite enjoy it."

Madam Zheng tasted it and smiled. "Indeed, it's good without being cloying."

Zheng Jinxiu had no choice but to say, "If Mother likes it, I'll make it for you again next time."

"Alright, you're thoughtful."

Turning to Zheng Jinyu, she asked, "Eh, didn't you say Yongnian was here with you? Where is he?"

Zheng Jinyu replied calmly, "Cousin Zhi has returned home. He just left a moment ago."

"Oh, really? That's unfortunate. Jinyu, what was Yongnian doing here?"

Picking up the painting on the table, Zheng Jinyu said to Madam Zheng, "Cousin came to help me with the design draft. We agreed on a price of a thousand taels per set. This is what Cousin did – do you think it looks nice, Mother?"

Both Zheng Jinxiu and Madam Zheng were taken aback.

Madam Zheng commented, "It does look nice, but is Yongnian short on silver?"

"I'm not aware of the situation," Madam Zheng speculated, imagining that perhaps he had spent all his silver and, being too embarrassed to ask her for more, had turned to Jinyu to sell his paintings as a means to earn money.

She concluded that this was most likely the case.