Chapter 1274: Getting Beaten

Gu Jinli listened, raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced at Brother Cheng, and said nothing.

But Hui Niang was straightforward: "Isn’t it just a painting by your brother? Is it really that precious? We’ve seen them before. Those that weren’t painted well were even cut up and used as oil paper to wrap bean dregs cakes for guests."

Brother Cheng was so angry his little face was turning green and snorted: "But this one is painted extremely well, as Mr. Ouyang said."

After speaking, he glanced at the table and said: "Third Sister, the table is full of food, there’s no place to put the painting. Let’s go to the stone table under the kapok tree to look at the painting."

Without waiting for Ouyang Ming to speak, he turned and ran to the kapok tree not far away.

Ouyang Ming was stunned and then smiled, saying to the three of them, "Let’s go over there together to look at the painting."

"Third Sister, you go ahead. We’ve seen our eldest brother’s paintings too many times." Gu Jinli noticed that Brother Cheng had something on his mind and didn’t go over.

Luo Huiniang nodded too: "Yeah, we won’t go. Brother Jin’an paints New Year paintings for our families every year, and they’re still up on the doors of several homes. We’ve really seen enough. Third Miss, go by yourself. We’ll stay here and eat. The meat dishes at your house are just too delicious."

No wonder it’s a wealthy family; they’re generous with the meat!

Ouyang Ming chuckled. This Miss Luo was straightforward and sincere; she enjoyed interacting with such people: "Then you keep eating, but save some room for the lunch banquet. The kitchen has prepared many famous dishes from the Capital, which are rarely seen in He’an Prefecture."

"The kitchen has more good dishes!" Luo Huiniang was excited and quickly said, "Alright, I’ll eat a little less now to save room for lunch."

Ouyang Ming nodded with a smile and went to the kapok tree. Taking the scroll Brother Cheng handed over, she intended to look at this Jin’s painting.

But when she opened the scroll, there was another painting hidden inside.

This painting was quite peculiar, depicting two people, or rather, a girl and a pair of hands... The girl was wearing a familiar dress, without a face, only most of her body and long hanging black hair.

The girl’s right hand held a bow, and her left hand was being held by another pair of hands, whose owner was putting a bracelet on her.

The bracelet wasn’t made of precious materials, just small beans strung together, dyed red, symbolizing love beans... as the poem says, red beans express longing.

Ouyang Ming was stunned, looking at the red bean bracelet in the painting and the hands putting it on the girl... The fingers were long and slender, with larger knuckles, clearly a man’s hands, and on the man’s sleeve were a few bamboo leaves embroidered.

She had seen such clothes on that very talented Qilin Zi.

She remembered that young man; he had a handsome face like an orchid, a tall and straight posture like bamboo, a noble character like snow, and a temperament like a wolf hidden beneath the surface...

"Qilin Zi joining an agricultural family, what a pity."

Grandfather’s words echoed in Ouyang Ming’s mind, yet she still blushed uncontrollably.

She was only sixteen and suddenly discovered that a young man of similar age and interests liked her. Even as composed as she was, and even knowing the eventual outcome, she couldn’t help blushing.

But she quickly put away the painting that shouldn’t have appeared, set it aside, and praised the farm’s prosperity painting: "Jin’s painting is truly famous for a reason, very lifelike and excellently painted."

Brother Cheng: "..."

Is that it?!

What about the other painting, Third Sister, aren’t you going to say something?

Brother Cheng was anxious, looking at the painting Ouyang Ming set aside, feeling a sour nose and red eyes... Is it really impossible to overcome social class prejudices? Is it truly impossible for a farm boy to marry a noble daughter?

"I’ve finished looking. Brother Cheng, take the painting back to Grandpa." Ouyang Ming rolled up both paintings, placed them in the scroll tube, as if she hadn’t seen that painting which wasn’t supposed to be there.

Brother Cheng was stunned; he hadn’t expected this outcome. He looked up at Ouyang Ming, and tears began to fall from his eyes, finally saying: "Third Sister, I’m sorry... My brother didn’t know, it was all my own doing, don’t blame him."

He just liked you and didn’t do anything disrespectful, it’s all my fault!

Ouyang Ming smiled, placed her hand on Brother Cheng’s head, lowered her head, and said, "Well, Third Sister forgives you. Let’s go, don’t do this again in the future."

When she was in the Capital, people often mocked her for being an orphan without father’s or brother’s support. When she was younger, she had also thought about how nice it would be if she had a brother.

Brother Cheng was smart and adorable, and both her grandfather and she liked him a lot. What moved her even more was the Gu Family siblings supporting each other.

For this kind of relationship she could never have, she forgave this child who made a mistake for his brother.

Brother Cheng was very surprised. He didn’t expect that after doing something so improper, Third Sister would just forgive him: "Third Sister..."

Ouyang Ming smiled and said no more, turned around, and left.

Brother Cheng was dazed for a while, then also left the back courtyard and delivered the painting to Master Ouyang, though he secretly took out that longing painting again.

Gu Jinli watched Ouyang Ming, her suspicions growing, but she was tactful, not asking more questions, only telling Ouyang Ming amusing stories from the countryside.

Ouyang Ming was very curious about rural things, listening with interest, and when she noticed Gu Jinxiu wasn’t talking much, she initiated a conversation about embroidery, praising her excellent skills.

Once Gu Jinxiu started talking about embroidery, she became quite open, and the conversation with Ouyang Ming flowed smoothly.

Luo Huiniang chatted with Ouyang Ming about the escort agency’s trips, broadening Ouyang Ming’s horizons once more.

During this, Ouyang Yu came in once, speaking sarcastically: "Third Sister, I heard you had the kitchen prepare honey-glazed crystal pork, which is a secret recipe passed down for a thousand years in our Ouyang Family. If you’re not a noble daughter, you probably can’t grasp the true flavor of this delicacy."

Ha, Gu Jinli laughed and said, "Isn’t this honey-glazed crystal pork made from pork hocks? Its true flavor must be the taste of pork, which we eat regularly and can certainly appreciate."

Ouyang Yu was stunned, evidently infuriated, then mocked again: "Ha, you’re born in an agricultural family, and can only eat pork."

Gu Jinli: "Miss Wu, I heard you love eating ham. Do you know what ham is made of?"

Ouyang Yu naturally knew ham was made from pork. After hearing this, her face twisted in anger, and she ran away resentfully.

Ouyang Ming shook her head, saying to Gu Jinli: "Fifth Sister is young and was spoiled by the family. Don’t mind her."

Gu Jinli, eating snacks and drinking tea, smiled and said: "Rest assured, Third Sister. We’re here to have fun with you. We won’t mind others’ attitudes."

Ouyang Ming liked Gu Jinli’s approach of dealing with each matter individually, never getting entangled unnecessarily.

Gu Jinli also liked Ouyang Ming, finding her transparent, articulate, with some heroine qualities. In short, she had a wonderful time at the Ouyang residence today.

Brother Cheng, on the other hand, had a tougher day. Initially thinking he could help his big brother, he didn’t expect Ouyang Ming to ignore the painting.

When he returned home, he tried to sneak the longing painting back into Gu Jin’an’s room, only to be caught red-handed by his own brother.

Brother Cheng’s heart sank: I’m done for, I’m going to get beaten!