It was a coincidence indeed.
Zheng Ruqian left Yongjing at the end of January. He arrived in the northern border region in March and set off from Anshui County in April. According to the original plan, he should have stayed in the south for three months and returned to Yongjing in July or August.
On the way through Lingnan County, he happened to be there when the tender and juicy fruit was ripe. After tasting a bite of the sweet and soft fruit that made people crave more, Zheng Ruqian sensed a big business opportunity and immediately rushed back without stopping.
As a result, that big and fat little sister of his was gone.
"How did you take care of her? How could you be her brothers? Can't you be as steady and mature as me?" Zheng Er Ye, still dressed in tattered clothes, yelled furiously with both hands behind his back, spit flying everywhere.
After scolding them, he felt quite refreshed, but also a little apprehensive.
After all, among those he scolded was their Eldest Brother.
Since they met in the dilapidated temple, Xu Mo had used a penholder to defeat him and become the Eldest Brother. It had been four and a half years. This was the first time he had risen from a farm laborer to sing triumphantly.
Xu Mo felt complicated. His lips moved for half a day before he called out, "Second brother..."
He had originally intended to apologize, but unexpectedly, Zheng Ruqian deflated like an oil lamp on the verge of burning out, with anger turning into flattery in an instant. "Eldest Brother, I didn't mean you. I, I, I, I meant those two."
Zheng Er Ye pointed a big finger at Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother, still somewhat thin, who lowered their heads uniformly.
Xu Mo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't blame our younger brothers. It was my fault. Our sister went back to the Jiang Family voluntarily for me."
In his mild voice, he recounted the ups and downs of the past few months.
At the beginning of March, the Jiang Family revealed Jiang Sheng's birth origin during the first exam, but did not recognize her back.
When the results of the April exams came out, Xu Mo failed. He discovered that his exam paper had been swapped.
At the end of April, Xu Mo reported to the Imperial Government. He was forced into desperation by the Fang Family until the Jiang Family helped him obtain a chance to retake the exam in the Golden Pavilion Hall.
In May, Jiang Sheng thanked the Jiang Family and voluntarily returned to be the Jiang Family's obedient eldest granddaughter.
And the initiator of all this...
"Damn the Fang family. I knew they were up to no good when Steward Fang suddenly helped Eldest Brother in Anshui County," Zheng Ruqian said, slapping his thighs. "Why didn't they just recognize Eldest Brother as a son of the Fang family directly instead of stealing his handwriting and living in fear of cheating?"
Xu Mo's mouth twitched.
Zheng Ruqian continued his tirade of curses against the Fang family, until Xu Mo suddenly reached out and covered his mouth. He then remembered that he also had a younger brother surnamed Fang and hurriedly swallowed the swear words he had learned during his adventures back down his stomach.
Just thinking that his fat little sister whom he had painstakingly raised was gone, and that the two of them might have to bow to each other as "Miss Jiang" if they met due to their difference in status, Zheng Ruqian became grieved and started bawling loudly with his big mouth wide open.
"Woo woo woo, my sister is gone. My one and only sister. I finally got to raise her up until now, how could she be gone!"
"Who's going to compensate me for my sister? Fang Third Brother, our sister is gone!"
Xu Mo was self-restrained and could best endure grief. At this moment, even his nose turned sour and his throat tightened.
Wen Zhiyun's eyes had long been brimming with tears that could fall as large golden beans at any time.
Who didn't want her back?
Chang Yan lowered his head with both hands at his sides, clenching and relaxing them tightly.
When sadness lingered and dark clouds shrouded the entire small courtyard on the second floor, it seemed that heartbreaking raindrops could fall at any moment.
All the sunny and handsome youths expressed their sorrow in their own ways.
Just then, the thick door bolt that was as wide as a wrist suddenly split open, and the main gate of the small courtyard swung violently open to both sides. A chubby girl tumbled in, rolling on the ground and finally sitting up in a daze.
Behind her stood an exceptionally shocked old lady beyond her prime and a personal maid whose mouth hung wide open.
Dizziness and butt pain were Jiang Sheng's first feelings.
It was only then that she realized that she had actually smashed the door open with just a charge. That was her second feeling.
When she turned her head to see the four pairs of surprised eyes, only ecstasy and excitement remained.
"Second Brother, you're back!" Jiang Sheng crawled up and charged over like a meteor.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through Zheng Ruqian's mind.
According to proper etiquette, siblings over seven should not have physical contact. Embracing would be inappropriate.
But they had not seen each other for over half a year. The sadness from her loss together with the wild joy of this dramatic turn of events made him especially miss his sister.
Just this moment of hesitation and Jiang Sheng had already pounced onto him.
Zheng Ruqian abandoned all thoughts and hugged the heavy girl, with only two words flashing through his mind, "So heavy..."
"Sister is back." Wen Zhiyun cried tears of joy that he had held back for a long time.
Xu Mo and Chang Yan could no longer hold back and they crowded over as well.
How wonderful!
Old Lady Jiang gazed dumbfoundedly at this scene.
Amidst the group, Xu Mo was the first to react. He politely apologized, "Old Lady, please pardon my brothers. My younger sister and brother have not seen each other for half a year, so they behaved inappropriately. Please come inside."
Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan also hurriedly walked over. Jiang Sheng bounced off her second brother and shyly returned to Old Lady Jiang, "I made Grandmother laugh."
Knocking the door open with her butt, charging into her brother's arms at eleven years old, this was indeed improper and not a young lady's etiquette, contrary to all the repeated exhortations from Yao Siqing to behave with nobility and elegance.
If she was just Jiang Sheng, she could have arrogantly retorted, "That's my brother. Eaten too many duck eggs?"
But now she was the eldest daughter of the Jiang Family. Although she had not paid respects to the ancestors nor met the Jiang clan members, she also had to restrain herself and learn to behave as a young lady, to be a granddaughter that would satisfy Grandmother.
"I was too excited just now," Jiang Sheng muttered. "I definitely won't do that again in the future."
Old Lady Jiang didn't say anything. She just stroked Jiang Sheng's little head and patted the dust off her clothes.
Everyone sat down in the formal reception hall of the smaller courtyard.
Zhang Auntie was at the workshop and Xiao Zhu was standing in at the clinic for Wen Zhiyun, so there was nobody in the yard who could make tea.
Xu Mo was just about to boil water himself when Tan Yue stepped forward and said, "Master Xu, please take a seat. I'll handle this."
Not too long later, she served seven cups of hot tea.
