Chapter 018

Chapter 018

Whose Words Carry More Weight?

Tong Sui's first thought was that she would listen to whoever made the most sense. If neither of them had a point, she wouldn't listen to either.

But now, with Xiao Zhen staring at her so intently, his meaning couldn't be clearer. Tong Sui feared that if she told the truth, he might do something rash out of displeasure.

If someone were to stumble upon them, how could Tong Sui face others?

She lowered her eyelashes and whispered in compliance, "Yours, yours carry more weight."

Aman from the Tong family looked innocent, and this demure, blushing, soft-spoken appearance made one want to bully her until she cried.

Xiao Zhen's gaze lingered on her face, then he put her back on the ground. "Go pick."

Tong Sui bit her lip inwardly. Since the grandson was determined to break Grandfather's rules, why should she hesitate?

Without wasting time, Tong Sui started taking books from the bottom shelf, planning to go from left to right, gradually moving up layer by layer.

Xiao Zhen collected the books she took out and reminded the girl who seemed to be escaping: "After you finish talking to Second Aunt, return to your room. I'll give you the books."

Tong Sui nodded and hurried away.

The He family mother and daughter were still in the West Court, while the Middle Court was quiet. Tong Sui stood in the shadow of a house, waiting for her face to cool down before heading to the eastern courtyard.

Liu Chu had already washed the potato leaves. Seeing Tong Sui, she said, "Shall I accompany you?"

This trip would surely offend the He family even more, and Liu Chu worried that her young sister-in-law might not handle it well.

Tong Sui smiled, "Second Sister-in-Law, you staying away is helping me. If you come, they'll just make you run errands, and I'd have to help stop them."

Liu Chu felt guilty. In fact, her sister-in-law could simply rest, but she kept getting into arguments with the He family mother and daughter to help her.

Tong Sui didn't want her to feel that way. "Mother said that good relationships among sisters-in-law are like having more sisters. You've been very kind to me, so I naturally want to protect you. Let's not be too formal with each other."

Liu Chu smiled. "Alright, from now on, you're my real younger sister."

Tong Sui carried a basin of potato leaves with water droplets and headed west. She passed through the Middle Court and saw Xiao Zhen sitting in the main hall reading again. Before he could look up, she quickened her pace and darted past the door, soon passing through the Moon Gate between the two courts to reach the West Court.

He Shi and Xiao Yuchan's voices came from the main room, while Lin Ningfang's east wing room was silent. Only Ah Zhen sat under the eaves sewing clothes, which seemed to belong to He Shi.

Recognizing Tong Sui, Ah Zhen quickly put down her needle and thread and stood up, bowing respectfully.

A Fu wasn't as formal. Besides helping the Xiao family, A Fu acted more like an ordinary village girl, lively and cheerful, chatting with the masters.

Seeing her own old clothes and the basin of vegetables, Tong Sui laughed. "You're busy; no need for all this formality."

Ah Zhen gave a restrained smile, sat back down, and lowered her head, stealing glances at Second Madam.

Tong Sui turned towards the main room and raised her voice slightly. "Second Aunt, come see what good things we dug up."

Hearing there was something good, He Shi and Xiao Yuchan came out quickly. Seeing the fresh potato leaves, they were indeed pleased.

Tong Sui continued, "Grandfather also saw them and said they'd be perfect for steamed buns at noon. We've already washed the vegetables, so you should start kneading the dough. It's just in time."

He Shi and Xiao Yuchan: "..."

Tong Sui smiled and shoved the basin into Xiao Yuchan's arms, then turned and left.

Xiao Yuchan was furious. What was going on? Not only did this second sister-in-law refuse to be a pushover, but she also dared to order them around?

Just as she was about to lash out, He Shi glanced towards the west wall, signaling her daughter to keep her voice down so the grandfather outside wouldn't hear.

Xiao Yuchan stomped her foot. "So that's it?" She loved eating buns but hated making them herself!

He Shi huffed. "Fine, we'll steam them, but she won't get off easy."

The mother and daughter went to the Middle Court.

He Shi knew Xiao Zhen was in the main hall but pretended otherwise, sighing at the Moon Gate, "I initially thought your second sister-in-law looked gentle and would be a kind and virtuous wife. We could all live harmoniously. But it turns out she's only obedient when your second brother is around. As soon as he's gone, she dares to talk back to me."

Xiao Yuchan chimed in, "Yes, she's only been married for a few days, and she's already driven a wedge between us and the eldest sister-in-law. If this goes on, she might even incite your second brother against us, just like those families in the village who split up because of their wives."

He Shi added, "Fortunately, your aunt passed away early. Otherwise, with her gentle nature, she wouldn't have stood a chance against your second sister-in-law, who's deceptively sweet but manipulative."

Xiao Yuchan declared, "No, for the sake of our family's harmony, I must report this to your second brother."

He Shi cautioned, "Absolutely not. They just got married, and your second brother will definitely side with her. We'll have to endure it for now. Come, let's knead the dough."

They exchanged a glance and finally reached the south gate of the main hall.

He Shi led the way, looking up and seeing her nephew inside. Her expression changed from embarrassment to feigned surprise. "Oh, Old Second, why are you reading here? I thought you were outside."

Xiao Zhen looked at them calmly. "Grandfather asked me to stay and watch over things. Are you preparing to cook, Second Aunt?"

He Shi replied, "Yes, Aman and your eldest sister-in-law dug up some potato leaves. They're tired, so they brought them over for us to make buns. Old Second, you really chose the right wife—she's beautiful and hardworking."

She tried to mend the situation for her nephew's marriage.

Xiao Zhen smiled and stood up. "She's young, so please bear with her if she's not always considerate."

He Shi smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Aman is great, just a bit reserved, like your Third Younger Brother's wife, who doesn't like socializing much."

Xiao Zhen said, "I'll leave you to it. I'll check on things."

With that, he exited through the nearby north gate.

Xiao Yuchan, who usually couldn't read her second brother, whispered, "Mother, he must have heard everything. What does this mean?"

Mrs. He smiled confidently: "Men love their pride; even if he favors his wife, after what I said, he would still have to pretend and coax his wife to help us."

Xiao Yuchan: "That's not necessarily true. Third Brother has a wife now and no longer cares about his mother. No matter how you mock him, he wouldn't dare say a harsh word to Third Sister-in-law."

Mrs. He: "Go away, don’t mention him to me; I don't want to hear it!"

---

Tong Sui handed the dishes to Mrs. He and returned. After tidying up her room, she had nothing else to do, so she sat on the kang and waited for Xiao Zhen's book.

As she waited, the man finally arrived, a bit later than she expected. Could he have been chatting with Mrs. He and her daughter?

Tong Sui didn't mind him being close to his aunt and cousin, but she was curious about him engaging in casual conversation.

The slightly ajar door was pushed open, and Tong Sui first saw Xiao Zhen's face before looking at his chest where he held the book.

With an eager expression, Xiao Zhen immediately handed her the book.

Tong Sui reached out to take it, but just as her hand was about to touch the book, she remembered something and explained: "I just washed my hands."

Xiao Zhen looked at her small hands. Born into a hunter's family, her palms had a thin layer of calluses, but her hands were otherwise white and smooth, with slender fingers.

Tong Sui took the book and placed it on her lap, planning to read it after he left.

Xiao Zhen indeed left.

Tong Sui remembered his reminder to read it secretly, so she moved to the corner of the kang, preparing to lock the door.

The long, narrow bolt made a slight scraping sound as she moved it.

Xiao Zhen's voice came through: "I haven't left yet."

Tong Sui: ...

She quietly undid the bolt again.

In the next moment, Xiao Zhen entered carrying a basin of water.

Tong Sui looked at him, puzzled.

Xiao Zhen held one side of the basin with one hand and locked the door with the other.

Tong Sui: ...

Without looking at her or explaining, he casually took off his outer robe and undershirt, turning to wash his chest facing away from her.

Tong Sui turned to the window, thinking that this person must have done some strenuous work in the morning to be so clean.

Accompanied by the sound of water, Tong Sui reverently opened the book.

Books hold golden mansions, and the books containing them are even more precious. Tong Sui cherished the book deeply, focusing entirely on it and ignoring Xiao Zhen.

Until suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. His shoulders, freshly washed with cold water, felt like a furnace.

Tong Sui's hand trembled, and the warm breath on her neck made her lean back into his embrace.

Above her head were three large windows, their panels hanging from hooks, revealing the blue sky outside.

Tong Sui panicked and tried to stop him: "Don't do this; someone might come over to visit, and there's also Eldest Sister and Second Aunt..."

Xiao Zhen: "Eldest Sister saw me return and won't come looking for you. Second Aunt and the others are preparing lunch and won't come either. If villagers need anything, they'll go to the west to find Grandfather."

All her excuses were blocked, so Tong Sui could only tell the truth: "I... I don't want to do this during the day."

Apart from worrying about being heard, she mainly didn't want him to see her so clearly; she hadn't even examined herself closely.

Xiao Zhen paused by her red ear, his voice hoarse: "I've been thinking about this since the study; if I could bear it, I wouldn't be doing this."

Tong Sui: "..."

Xiao Zhen took the book from her and placed it on the windowsill, then turned her around, determined.

Tong Sui made one last effort: "Lay, lay out the quilt."

Xiao Zhen agreed.

---

For over half an hour, no one disturbed them, making it seem as if only they lived in the eastern courtyard.

But Tong Sui could hear the shouts from the martial arts training ground to the west, the villagers' chatter as they passed by the Xiao residence, and the flapping wings of birds flying over the eaves.

The quilt had long been thrown aside by Xiao Zhen, and he held her wrists tightly. Tong Sui covered her ears and refused to open her eyes.

What a person, no matter how many books he read, he was still a rough and uncouth warrior to her.

"Eat more in the future; you're too skinny."

Lying down to rest, Xiao Zhen held her slender shoulder and said.

Tong Sui didn't agree. Compared to girls from poorer families, and even to Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang, she was already considered plump, just not as round as Xiao Yuchan.

Moreover, regarding meals, every household carefully measured their food, barely managing to eat seven-tenths full. If they ate freely, others would go hungry, and even someone as shrewd as Mrs. He wouldn't dare indulge.

"Get up quickly," Tong Sui pushed his hand away and grabbed the quilt to cover herself completely.

The children would soon return from the private school, and the practice session at the martial arts ground would end shortly. Xiao Zhen, having had his fill, did not delay further.

After Tong Sui dressed, Xiao Zhen went to find the old man first.

Tong Sui folded the quilt, freshened up, and looked in the mirror. Her flushed cheeks were as obvious as trying to hide three hundred taels of silver in plain sight.

She stayed in her room until Liu Chu called her to have dinner in the central courtyard. Only then did Tong Sui leave.

She deliberately avoided looking at Liu Chu and smiled as she asked Mianmian, "What did the teacher talk about today?"

Mianmian answered obediently.

Liu Chu hadn't thought much of it at first, but seeing Tong Sui's attempt to cover up, she chuckled and pretended not to notice.