Chapter 46

Mounting his horse, Yang Shouwen said to Ma Shiliu, "Shiliu, you are a smart man. Work hard, and I won’t treat you badly."

Yang Shouwen didn’t waste any more words with Ma Shiliu and spurred his horse to leave.

As for whether Ma Shiliu could find Gai Jiayun, Yang Shouwen didn’t care! He believed that Gai Jiayun would definitely appear at the foot of Tiger Valley Mountain.

First, he returned to the Yang residence and sent Yang Rui to the county office to report to Yang Chenglie.

Only then did Yang Shouwen head straight for the West Gate. At the West Gate, he greeted Zhu Cheng and then spurred his horse to leave Changping County.

With the onset of autumn, the nights were getting darker earlier.

After the hour of the Rooster, the sun began to set, and the slanting rays of the setting sun cast a blood-red hue over the official road.

Yang Shouwen didn’t dare to waste any time and galloped without stopping, finally returning to Tiger Valley Mountain before dark.

However, as soon as he entered the house, Yang Shouwen felt that something was amiss.

Youniang, who would usually run out to greet him first, was nowhere to be seen, and neither were Bodhi and the four puppies.

Lady Song and Lady Yang were sitting in the main hall, both looking awkward.

Yang Molili was sitting on the porch, looking a bit frightened. She only calmed down somewhat when Yang Shouwen appeared.

"Mother, Aunt, what’s happened at home?"

Lady Yang’s mouth opened, and she smiled bitterly, "Nizi, you’re back just in time… Let Lady Song speak."

"What’s wrong?"

Yang Shouwen looked at Lady Song with surprise and asked, "Mother, it’s so late, why isn’t anyone cooking? And where are Youning and Qingnu?"

"This… Lady Song smiled bitterly, "The two girls had a fight and were locked in their rooms."

"A fight?"

Yang Shouwen’s face darkened, and Lady Song’s heart skipped a beat.

Before she could speak, Yang Shouwen said, "Youniang is usually well-behaved and never argues with anyone. How could she fight with Qingnu? Or did Qingnu bully her?"

"Not exactly," Lady Yang hurriedly said, "Nizi, don’t blame Qingnu. This time, Youning was the one who hit Qingnu first."

"Why?"

"Youniang won’t say."

Yang Shouwen frowned and looked at Lady Song.

Lady Song smiled bitterly, "Nizi, don’t ask me. Qingnu also won’t say why they fought. Since neither of them will talk, they were both locked in their rooms."

Yang Shouwen thought for a moment and said softly, "Mother, Aunt, don’t worry. I’ll go talk to Youning. By the way, Erlang is staying at the office with Father and won’t be back for a few days. He’ll return on the 15th of the eighth month with Father."

After saying that, he crossed the main hall and went to the back yard.

Bodhi and the four puppies were hiding in their den in the back yard. Seeing Yang Shouwen, they quickly came to greet him.

Yang Shouwen patted Bodhi’s head and then went to Youning’s room, gently knocking on the door, "Youniang, it’s Nizi. Can I come in?"

From inside the room, a faint sobbing sound could be heard, but no one answered.

Yang Shouwen opened the door and saw that the room was dark, so he lit an oil lamp.

Youniang was huddled in the corner, hugging her knees, and had been crying her eyes out.

She looked up and, seeing Yang Shouwen, couldn’t help but burst into tears, standing up and throwing herself into Yang Shouwen’s arms.

"Nizi, wu wu wu… Youning lost the poem."

"Ah?"

Yang Shouwen was taken aback, sat down on the floor with Youning in his arms, and said softly, "What poem?"

"The one Nizi told Youning, the secret poem… Youning lost it."

Tears streamed down her face like a string of pearls.

Her tear-streaked face made Yang Shouwen’s heart ache.

"How did you lose it?"

"Youniang, today in the yard, Qingnu sister took the poem. Youning asked for it back, but she wouldn’t give it and tore it up… wu wu wu… Youning got very angry and hit her. Nizi, it’s Youning’s fault for taking it out."

At this point, Yang Shouwen finally understood what had happened.

The poem Youning mentioned was the Qingping Tune.

Yang Shouwen had written the poem yesterday and given it to Youning. The little girl… apparently, Youning had been reading the poem outside today when Yang Qingnu saw it and took it. Since it was a secret between Youning and Nizi, Youning naturally didn’t agree, leading to a quarrel. Yang Qingnu then tore up the poem, which enraged Youning.

Given Yang Qingnu’s spoiled nature, it wasn’t surprising that she would do such a thing.

Yang Shouwen frowned slightly, feeling a bit unhappy.

Because he had told Youning that the poem was a secret between them, when Lady Song and Lady Yang asked about it, Youning didn’t say anything. And Yang Qingnu, of course, wouldn’t tell Lady Song and Lady Yang about it.

He reached out and stroked Youning’s head, then took a handkerchief from his waist pouch and gently wiped away the tears on Youning’s face.

"Youniang, don’t cry!"

"Nizi, I’m sorry."

Youniang said, feeling sad again, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Yang Shouwen smiled, "Youniang, tell Nizi, did you memorize the poem?"

"Of course… Youning is the smartest, second only to Nizi."

Youniang looked up, her eyes still brimming with tears, but her little face showed a proud smile.

"Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of beauty, the spring breeze caresses the railing, and the dew is thick. If not seen on the Jade Mountain, it would be met on the moonlit terrace."

Yang Shouwen clapped softly and then poked Youning’s little nose, "See, the poem is back, isn’t it?"

"But…"

"Youniang, a poem written on paper can be torn, and if it’s gone, it’s gone. As long as Youning remembers it in your heart, the poem won’t be lost, and it will still be a secret between Nizi and Youning. Even if everyone knows the poem in the future, it doesn’t matter, because it’s a gift Nizi gave to Youning."

Youniang’s eyes sparkled with joy.

She nodded, "Nizi, Youning will remember. I’ll go apologize to Qingnu sister."

"Why apologize?"

"Qingnu sister is the daughter of the master, and Youning is a servant. It’s wrong for a servant to hit a lady, so Youning should apologize to Qingnu sister."

Yang Shouwen felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Just as he was about to stop her, Youning broke free from his embrace and ran to the door of the opposite room.

Yang Shouwen quickly followed, and Lady Song and Lady Yang, seeing this, also breathed a sigh of relief.

Youniang opened the door and entered the room.

Yang Shouwen stood outside the door, watching Youning walk to Qingnu’s side.

"Qingnu sister, I’m sorry, Youning knows she was wrong."

"You little wretch, don’t pretend to be good in front of me. I’ll never let you off! When Father comes, I’ll tell him to sell you and your mother to the brothel. Then we’ll see if you still act so high and mighty."

Yang Qingnu finished speaking and slapped Youning across the face.

The loud slap felt like it had hit Yang Shouwen’s heart.

A surge of anger rose to his head. Originally, Yang Shouwen didn’t want to lose his temper, but at this moment, he couldn’t hold back.

With a loud thud, Yang Shouwen kicked the door open and strode into the room.

He reached out and grabbed Yang Qingnu by the neck, his face ashen, eyes blazing with fury.

Yang Qingnu was already terrified when Yang Shouwen burst in.

Before she could speak, Yang Shouwen had already grabbed her by the neck, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Qingnu, don’t think I’m afraid of you just because I tolerate you."

"Nizi, let go!"

"Nizi, stop!"

Youniang hugged Yang Shouwen’s arm, and Lady Song and Lady Yang also rushed in, shocked by the scene.

"Nizi, let go! It’s my fault, don’t do this."

Youniang’s cries gradually calmed Yang Shouwen down.

Yang Qingnu, on the other hand, was turning pale, clearly about to lose consciousness…

Yang Shouwen released his grip, and Yang Qingnu fell to the ground, gasping for breath, and then burst into tears.

Just then, she was really scared!

Because from Yang Shouwen’s eyes, she saw a deep-seated murderous intent.

Yang Shouwen took a deep breath and stepped back.

"Nizi, are you crazy? Qingnu is still your sister."

Lady Song was also terrified, rushing to hug Qingnu and turning to scold Yang Shouwen loudly.

Yang Shouwen calmed down, reached out, and held Youning’s hand, then said sternly, "She should be grateful that she’s my sister… otherwise, for what she said to Youning just now, I would have strangled her to death."

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