The next day.
At noon.
Nian Jiaojiao and Yu Chuan boarded the ox cart back to the village. After two hours, the two finally returned home.
At this time, Nan Qing was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun, while Xing Yun in the distance was feeding leaves to the wild rabbits in the cage.
Nian Jiaojiao was wondering why the person who usually never left her room would come out. Xing Yun, with sharp eyes, saw the two who were about to enter the courtyard and excitedly shouted:
"Wife, it's Wife! Second Brother! Wife is back!"
Nan Qing's ears twitched, but he didn't get up.
"Wife, have you had lunch yet?"
Xing Yun now showed no fear of Nian Jiaojiao as he did before.
Nian Jiaojiao nodded:
"Yes, is everything alright at home?"
Xing Yun replied, "Good!"
Then, as if he remembered something, he hesitated, "It's just, this... it's just..."
Nian Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows:
"Just say it, I won't blame you."
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao's generous demeanor, Xing Yun finally spoke:
"It's just that while you were taking the exam, your fourth sister came a few times..."
Nian Jiaojiao was stunned.
Fourth sister?
The protagonist Nian Zhenzhen?
Nian Jiaojiao frowned:
"What did she come for?"
Xing Yun shook his head:
"I don't know. I said Wife wasn't home, but she didn't believe me. She's been here three times in the past two days."
Nian Jiaojiao hesitated:
"Does she know what I went to do?"
Xing Yun quickly said:
"Wife, don't worry, I didn't say anything."
In fact, Xing Yun thought: If Wife couldn't pass the exam and others found out, she would definitely be ridiculed. It would be better not to let anyone know about the exam.
Nian Jiaojiao pondered: Xing Yun didn't say anything, and Nian Zhenzhen kept coming here every few days. It's likely that Mother Nian also said nothing. That's good...
The protagonist's Tong Sheng examination was the beginning of the plot and also Nian Jiaojiao's countdown to death.
Therefore, Nian Jiaojiao did not want the protagonist to know about her imperial examination, lest it cause unnecessary complications.
It was less than two years until the protagonist's exam.
As long as she climbed fast and high, the other party couldn't do anything to her.
The three husbands didn't know what Nian Jiaojiao was thinking. Nan Qing broke the silence:
"The exam, can you understand the test papers?"
Nian Jiaojiao came back to her senses, amused by Nan Qing's words.
This person was as sharp-tongued as ever!
Who would have thought that the cunning and deeply scheming great villain in the book was now so "childish"?
No wonder people say that experience is the best teacher.
The current Nan Qing had not experienced the catastrophic change in his family and the tragic death of his loved ones. Although he had some schemes, they were all on the surface.
Nian Jiaojiao wondered what the later, more mature Nan Qing would do to her.
He would probably welcome her with a smile, be very attentive to her, and then find an opportunity to make her die unexpectedly.
Nian Jiaojiao shivered.
Looking at Nan Qing's handsome face, she had only one thought:
The boss must not be offended!
Hold onto the boss's thick thigh!
Nian Jiaojiao raised her smiling face and leaned in:
"Third husband, look at what you're saying~"
Hearing Nian Jiaojiao speak, Nan Qing's expression stiffened, and Nian Jiaojiao continued: Kuaishuge
"After this exam, I was as if guided by divine inspiration! Oh~ it's all thanks to your meticulous companionship day and night, without you, how could I..."
"Is your head flooded again?"
Seeing Nian Jiaojiao going on and on, Nan Qing interrupted her.
Nian Jiaojiao didn't mind at all and even said something cliché:
"My head isn't flooded with water, it's flooded with you!"
"Nonsense!"
Nan Qing seemed angry and got up to return to his room.
Nian Jiaojiao was confused. Why was he getting angry?
Well, the flattery had gone wrong.
Alas! Don't try to guess the boss's thoughts!
Yu Chuan looked at the interaction between Nian Jiaojiao and Nan Qing with complex emotions in his eyes.
Wife didn't notice, but he did. The flushed ears exposed his thoughts. Clearly, Nan Qing fell for this kind of thing.
As soon as Nan Qing entered his room, the protagonist Nian Zhenzhen arrived.
"Nian Dabao!"
As soon as Nian Zhenzhen reached the door, she saw Nian Jiaojiao, who had not yet entered her room.
Nian Jiaojiao turned around.
She saw a girl in a white robe, with two flower buds on her head. Although not fully bloomed, she had a slightly heroic air and was angrily calling her name.
The girl quickly walked up to Nian Jiaojiao and scrutinized her.
Nian Zhenzhen was somewhat surprised.
The last time she saw this ill-intentioned third sister was at the end of last year. She didn't expect such a big change in less than a year.
First, her figure was no longer the exaggeratedly plump one. Now, she was at most slightly overweight, with some baby fat on her face.
Her face was no longer greasy and disgusting. Although not delicate, the swollen acne on her face had largely subsided.
Now, if this Nian Dabao were placed among ordinary people, she would be around average.
Nian Zhenzhen then thought, such a big change in her appearance, could it be that she saw a doctor and got medicine?
She probably spent a lot of money.
Regardless of Nian Zhenzhen's inner thoughts, Nian Jiaojiao somewhat unhappily corrected her:
"What are you calling me Nian Dabao for? I changed my name, call me Nian Jiaojiao!"
"Nian Jiaojiao?"
Nian Zhenzhen softly repeated Nian Jiaojiao's name, then mocked:
"Jiaojiao? You think you're worthy of this name? I think you're copying my name, Nian Zhenzhen!"
Nian Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at her:
"Copy you? You're too full of yourself! Besides, my name is registered with the authorities. Whether I'm worthy or not is not for you to decide! If you have something to say, say it. If not, leave. My home doesn't welcome you!"
Since she and the protagonist were at odds, Nian Jiaojiao felt there was no need to be polite.
Nian Zhenzhen gritted her teeth angrily and continued to question:
"Fine, fine, fine! Then I'll ask you, did you take money from Mother?"
Hearing them about to discuss family matters, Yu Chuan quickly said:
"Wife, why don't you discuss it inside?"
Nian Zhenzhen, however, was ungrateful and directly said:
"I'm not going into your house!"
Yu Chuan was embarrassed by the retort and could only say to Nian Jiaojiao:
"Then Xing Yun and I will go back to our room. Wife, you and... you can talk privately."
Nian Jiaojiao thought that if they argued, it would be uncomfortable for the two husbands to stand there, so she agreed.
After the two husbands left, Nian Jiaojiao slowly said:
"By what right are you questioning me?"
Nian Zhenzhen impatiently said:
"Of course, I'm asking you as a daughter to her mother! Of course, unlike you, you've been expelled from the family, so you're no longer Mother's daughter."
At this point, Nian Zhenzhen couldn't help but show a smug expression.
Nian Jiaojiao chuckled:
"Pfft, this is too funny..."
Nian Zhenzhen's eyes widened:
"What are you laughing at, what's so funny? Am I wrong?"
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head and raised an index finger:
"First, you are Mother's daughter, but you are not Mother. You cannot represent Mother's intentions!"
Then, she raised a second finger:
"Second, that's Mother's money, not yours. Only Mother can decide who gets the money and how much. Even if Mother gives it to Aunt Wang from the village or to a beggar on the roadside, you still have no right to interfere!"