The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 592: Provoking Little Chili (5)_1

"No, no need! Just a bit of ointment and it’ll be fine!" Yang Boyan shook his head.

The group stopped playing shuttlecock and moved inside to sit.

Pei Yuan and Pei Qian, along with the cook woman, brought up the Hot Fairy Grass.

Pei Qian handed a bowl to Yang Boyan, offering an apology.

Yang Boyan smiled and said not to worry, "It’ll be gone in a couple of days."

Lucky he had the good sense not to take advantage of the situation to make any demands! Pei Qian pursed her lips.

Yang Boyan found her genuinely amusing. It was her kick that had hit his eye, and here she was, begrudgingly apologizing, yet acting as if he was the sensible one. Every one of these Pei’s siblings truly had their own unique traits. Especially this Pei Qian, she’s just like a Little Chili.

Seeing him looking at Pei Qian with interest and leading his son home, Zhao Huai reminded him, "The Pei’s siblings are not to be trifled with; don’t mess with her!" Although he was not often at home, he’d heard plenty about the Pei’s siblings.

Yang Boyan curled his lips upwards, "Brother-in-law, relax! I’m not a bad person, and neither are they, so there’s nothing about causing trouble or not!" He just found Pei Qian very interesting.

"Just remember the boundaries," Zhao Huai warned with a startle.

Yang Boyan agreed wholeheartedly, then turned and followed Zhao Xiaolang and the others to Liu’er Alley.

That evening, Pei Qin prepared the barbecue, starting the charcoal fire early.

Zhao Xiaolang lingered, refusing to leave, "Sun Xingwang didn’t go, so neither will I!" Normally, he wouldn’t dare to do this. During the New Year, it was all about crazy fun; with Sun Xingwang there, he played with abandon.

Pei Qin invited him, "Then stay and eat the barbecue with us!"

"Sure!" Before anyone with him could urge him to leave, Zhao Xiaolang quickly agreed.

Yang Boyan said his thanks for the disturbance, his gaze drifting towards Pei Qian.

Pei Qian slightly curled her lips, her eyes showing disapproval. Their own home had plenty to eat, but they seemed to like freeloading off theirs! Especially this brother-in-law from the Zhao family – not a particularly tactful man, and a stranger at that. They were related by marriage to the Zhao family, so it was fine for Zhao Xiaolang and the others, but he shamelessly stayed as well.

Yang Boyan’s smile deepened as he ate the barbecue, continuously praising the meat for being so deliciously juicy and tender.

Eventually, the group devoured over thirty jin of meat, all stuffed to the brim.

Yang Boyan, leading Zhao Xiaolang, smiled and said goodbye as they left.

The next day, he brought a Dessert Box and two boxes of top-quality tea as a thank-you gift.

Seeing Pei Qian’s unconvinced look, Yang Boyan left with a smile, inviting the siblings to have a meal before departing.

Pei Qian snorted softly. They were going to eat at the Zhao family’s expense again, acting as if it was his own place!

After the bustle of the New Year’s festivities, when it came time to visit the Fang family, Pei Qian was reluctant to go.

"Then you can stay home and take care of Jiujiu!" It was very cold, and Pei Qin did not want to take Jiujiu outside.

Pei Qian couldn’t have asked for more, "Give Jiujiu to me!"

Fang Liuming stayed at home eagerly awaiting, having turned away all the matchmakers before the holiday season, he was thrilled. He hadn’t managed to speak much when delivering New Year’s gifts and wanted more interaction with Cousin Qian. He hoped she would get to know him better, understand his affection for her, and that over time she would come to like him.

But when the relatives came visiting, Pei Qian was nowhere to be seen.

Hearing that she was taking care of Jiujiu and Xiao Yong at home, Fang Liuming packed up the prepared food and rushed out the door with the donkey cart, "I’m going to bring them some food!"

Pei Qin’s face turned somewhat dark.

Mo Heng shook his head at her, then finally went inside to sit down.

As Fang Liuming hurried over with the items, Pei Qian was worrying about what to cook. This year’s New Year’s food was simply too plentiful; she didn’t even know which to eat first. Just as she was about to go to the backyard to ask Xiao Yong what he wanted to eat, she heard that Fang Liuming was coming and her face immediately turned sour, "My elder sister has gone to visit relatives, what are you doing here!?"

"Cousin said you were at home with Jiujiu, so I brought you some food." Fang Liuming knew she liked shrimp, and he had spent his saved pocket money on a bag of shrimp, "... I brought it over since you didn’t go." He used to hold back before, but now there was no need; he wanted her to be aware of his goodness, so she would like him.

Pei Qian glared at him, "We have plenty at home, no need for you to bring more!"

Fang Liuming looked at her, smiling with gentle indulgence.

Pei Qian couldn’t stand his gaze and smile, "What are you laughing at! Standing there like a post!"

Fang Liuming hurriedly followed her inside, "Let me light the stove! Let’s cook braised shrimp in oil!"

"I like spicy ones!" Pei Qian replied irritably.

He couldn’t handle too much spice, and she used to like braised shrimp in oil. Watching her, he nodded with a smile, "We’ll do the one you like!"

Pei Qian made spicy shrimp, stir-fried vegetables, and stewed soup.

Xiao Yong came to dine and saw that Fang Liuming had come. He smiled and sat aside like a third wheel, watching the two of them. Sister Qin really didn’t like this cousin getting close to her sister.

Even without him there, Fang Liuming didn’t dare to overstep, and only peeled two shrimps for Pei Qian.

"As if I don’t have hands or feet!" Pei Qian glared at him warningly.

Fang Liuming smiled and stopped peeling for her, then peeled two more for Xiao Yong.

"Thank you!" Xiao Yong said with a smile, knowing the gesture wouldn’t sway him.

Over at the Fang family, Grandma Fang and Lady Yu were holding onto Pei Qin, asking her to help assess a few potential suitors. Some people brought young men straight over, and Pei Qin couldn’t just leave, so she stayed seated.

It allowed Fang Liuming to stay for most of the day.

Just as the relatives had left, Fang Liuming came over with clothes. Seeing Pei Qin’s dark face, he cautiously said, "Sister Qin’s husband said before the New Year... that there were some problems with the books I studied. I thought I’d use the time to ask for his advice."

"Did you ask him to come!?" Pei Qin glanced at Mo Heng sideways.

"Hmm! He’s going to take the imperial examination this year. The imperial examination isn’t like the preliminary, where nine out of ten fail. If he doesn’t pass this year, he’d have to wait another three years, which would also be a delay," Mo Heng said seriously. And there was another room that was his; he could go and tidy it up himself.

Fang Liuming, seeing Mo Heng covering for him, quickly took his things to tidy up the room.

"You can sleep with him from now on!" Pei Qin ground her teeth.

"Don’t you sleep poorly without me!?" Through his relentless efforts, Pei Qin had now gotten used to sleeping while holding him.

Pei Qin looked at his handsome face, itching to do something.

Yang Boyan came over to deliver some items, inquiring whether they would make lanterns themselves. The Lantern Festival was only a few days away.

Fang Liuming keenly noticed that his gaze towards Pei Qian was unusual, instantly feeling threatened. This Young Master Yang, inexplicably getting close to Cousin Qian and the others...