"Peiwan, come here quickly. I want to introduce you to a nephew from my family, named Pu Jujian."
Mrs. Song said with great enthusiasm, then turned to glance at her nephew, who was staring at Song Peiwan in a daze, and quickly reminded him.
"Jujian, aren’t you going to greet Miss Peiwan?"
Only then did Pu Jujian snap out of his daydream and hurriedly bowed.
"Greetings, Miss Peiwan."
Song Peiwan wasn’t foolish. Perhaps initially, she didn’t understand the purpose of Mrs. Song’s sudden visit.
But seeing her so eagerly introduce her family nephew, and Pu Jujian’s almost greedy gaze lingering on her.
Song Peiwan immediately understood what was happening and felt a wave of anger in her heart.
Although she didn’t show it outwardly, her tone turned very cold.
"Fourth Aunt, is there anything else? If not, I’ll go back to eat first."
"Oh, Peiwan, you haven’t eaten yet? Perfect, we haven’t either. Why don’t we go to the street for some food together? I know a bun shop, and their soup dumplings are simply amazing." Mrs. Song showed no intention of giving up and kept signaling to her nephew.
At this point, Pu Jujian also realized, stepped forward, and said with a smile.
"Peiwan, let’s go together."
Seeing Pu Jujian trying desperately to appear gentle and elegant, yet coming off as more greasy, Song Peiwan felt an inexplicable disgust.
She took two steps back and shook her head coldly.
"No need."
After saying these three words, Song Peiwan turned and left.
Seeing this, Mrs. Song felt a wave of anger. In her eyes, a foreign girl like Song Peiwan, without parents or foundation, would be marrying up if she wed her nephew.
Unexpectedly, Song Peiwan didn’t give her any face at all, naturally igniting her rage.
She hastily pushed Pu Jujian, signaling him not to just stand there, but to quickly stop her.
Only then did Pu Jujian run forward, blocking Song Peiwan’s path.
"Miss Peiwan, please give me some respect. To be honest, I truly like you, and if you agree, my aunt is willing to act as a matchmaker, and in the future..."
"Get lost." Song Peiwan, red-faced with anger, finally spoke without reservation.
Pu Jujian was left standing there, face alternating between blue and red, not knowing what to do, and then looked pleadingly at his aunt.
At this moment, Mrs. Song was also furious.
"Song Peiwan, what do you mean? Do you really think you’re some spoiled and noble lady? Let me tell you, you’re just a poor girl from the countryside, so why act so high and mighty?"
Mrs. Song’s words were extremely unpleasant.
Hearing the commotion, Tan Dong and several servants were angry.
In their minds, Song Peiwan was no longer just a second miss, she was family.
Thus, someone immediately wanted to rush over.
But Song Peiwan remained calm, signaling with her hand for these people not to act impulsively, and then turned to say to Mrs. Song.
"You’re right, I am a poor girl from the countryside, and I can’t afford to marry your nephew, so please stop bothering me, I don’t want to see you anymore."
Mrs. Song’s face was contorted with anger. "Fine, Song Peiwan, it seems you really don’t know what’s good for you. Missing out on my nephew, I see who else in Wanshou County would dare marry you."
"There’s no need for your concern, and who says I have to get married?" Song Peiwan said indifferently.
Mrs. Song was angered to laughter and was about to say something when Song Linqing arrived.
He had drunk quite a lot last night and couldn’t get up in the morning.
If Tan Ziwang hadn’t sent someone to inform him about the second miss having a quarrel, he might still be sound asleep.
Seeing him, Mrs. Song’s confidence increased.
"Linqing, I’m your Fourth Aunt, you should manage your sister, she’s getting out of hand."
"Oh, is that so, what do you suggest I do, Fourth Aunt?" Song Linqing said with a smile.
"A woman should marry at the right age. I think my nephew is quite a match, but your sister doesn’t appreciate it and even speaks rudely. Isn’t this a lack of discipline? Of course, I can’t blame you entirely, since she grew up without parents..."
Before she could finish, Song Linqing raised his hand and slapped her.
Smack!
The loud slap spun Mrs. Song around three times. When she finally steadied herself, her cheek was swollen, and she had lost several teeth.
"You... you..." Mrs. Song trembled all over, pointing at Song Linqing but unable to speak a complete sentence.
"What do you mean, am I too lenient with you? Running to my house early in the morning to scold my sister, do you really see yourself as a superior?"
"Go back and tell Song Yuanrui, I’m not afraid of anything, especially if someone dares to plot against my sister, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
Song Linqing said expressionlessly.
Hearing these threatening words, the previously arrogant Mrs. Song was intimidated. After casting a venomous glance at Song Peiwan, she left in disgrace, taking Pu Jujian with her.
After she left, Song Linqing turned around, a bit upset, and said, "Peiwan, why didn’t you make a move against that kind of person, and actually tolerated her?"
"I was afraid it would cause trouble for you." Song Peiwan sighed.
"Trouble? Ha, trouble is the last thing I worry about. I tell you, if anyone dares treat you like that again, no matter who it is, give them a good slap first, understand?" Song Linqing said.
"Mm, got it." Song Peiwan nodded.
And so this storm passed.
But many knew this wouldn’t be the end of it.
Mrs. Song wouldn’t just let it go after being slapped. Who knows what kind of trouble might arise?
But everyone agreed that Song Linqing was in the right. After all, being bullied like this at home, if he didn’t intervene, who knows what could have happened?
Zhao Ya hadn’t intervened the entire time.
It’s not that he didn’t want to intervene, but he knew that Song Linqing would never let others bully his sister.
Indeed, things went just as he had anticipated.
However, even though Song Linqing behaved quite normally, Zhao Ya could still see his worry from subtle details.
Song Yuanrui, as an elder in the family, was quite powerful and respected.
Although it was his wife who was at fault initially, being slapped in public, even just to save face, would probably not end well.
Zhao Ya didn’t say anything, but while everyone was discussing the incident, he found Tan Dong.
"Let’s go!"
"Where to?" Tan Dong asked, somewhat surprised.
"Come with me to take care of something."
Tan Dong perked up, immediately connecting it to today’s events.
"Are we going to take out that old witch? I’ve long disliked her, let me do the honors," Tan Dong said, seething with murderous intent.
"Not ’take out,’ I want you to spy."
"Spy? On whom?"
Hearing it was spying and not killing, Tan Dong felt a bit deflated.
"You’ll know when the time comes, just follow me."
Zhao Ya led Tan Dong out the door, found a secluded alley, then grabbed Tan Dong by the collar and took him onto the roof.
Although he didn’t know where Song Yuanrui lived, this was no problem for Zhao Ya.
Because right when Mrs. Song was causing a scene, Zhao Ya secretly flicked some poisonous powder onto her.
This stuff wasn’t very toxic, but it emitted a faint fragrance that lingered for a long time.
Only Zhao Ya could discern it, so he used it as a guiding marker.
Following the scent, Zhao Ya quickly arrived at Song Yuanrui’s house.
Even though it was broad daylight,
and he still had someone in tow,
with Zhao Ya’s current skills, he could fly in openly without anyone noticing.
Soon, Zhao Ya brought Tan Dong to the back residence.
As soon as they landed on the rooftop, they heard crying and cursing from inside.
"I’ll never coexist with those two bastards, Song Linqing and Song Peiwan. No matter what, I have to kill them!"
"Alright, calm down first. If you keep shouting, your injury will never heal," consoled Song Yuanrui.
He was looking rather helpless as he bandaged his wife’s wound.
He clearly understood the incident just narrated by Pu Jujian.
However, he knew that the authenticity of Pu Jujian’s words was highly questionable.
Because he didn’t believe Song Linqing truly behaved as arrogantly and unreasonably as described.
His wife must have said something extreme to provoke them.
But he didn’t voice these thoughts.
As it would only make Mrs. Song more hysterical.
Pu Jujian also felt on pins and needles; when his aunt raged, even he was somewhat afraid.
So he quickly found an excuse and took his leave.
Song Yuanrui didn’t try to stop him.
He was pondering how to handle this matter.
As per Mrs. Song’s suggestion —killing the Song siblings wasn’t an option, but doing nothing at all risked external criticism, suggesting cowardice.
The balance was tremendously difficult to maintain.
While he was grappling with this dilemma, Zhao Ya observed from the rooftop as Pu Jujian left the building, then said to Tan Dong:
"Stay up here and make sure you catch every word of their fiendish plot against Peiwan, leave nothing out, understand?"
"Don’t worry, I’ll keep a firm watch on these old coots. But Zhao, where are you going?"
"I have a hunch this Pu Jujian is no simple character, I need to have a look."
With that, Zhao Ya lunged and vanished behind the eaves.
Tan Dong looked on with envy, wondering when he might acquire such formidable lightweight skill.
If he learned it, wouldn’t visiting the brothel to listen to music become free of charge in the future?
Pu Jujian was oblivious to all this.
Having exited Song Yuanrui’s house, he walked dejectedly down the road.
The words Song Peiwan said that morning still echoed in his ear.
He finally realized how ridiculous his previous thoughts had been.
Ever since he caught a distant glimpse of Song Peiwan, Pu Jujian had become utterly infatuated, unable to extricate himself.
Now all his fantasies had burst like bubbles, one could only imagine his deep-seated dejection.
No, I must consult that brother from the cult to find a way to win her back.
If all else fails, I’ll beg for some Immortal Elixir; in any case, I must have her.
Thinking along these lines, Pu Jujian quickened his pace and headed swiftly in one direction.