Chapter 153

When the relationship between the two families was good, they did jokingly talk about becoming in-laws.

Although Fang Heng was too young to fully understand what it meant to take a wife, he still resolutely thumped his chest and promised, "I will take good care of my little sister."

But that was in the past.

With the passing of Uncle and the decline of the Fang family, those beautiful scenes were like mirages, no longer existing.

"You need me?" Fang Heng lowered his eyelashes, speaking lightly, "Little sister Yuyao, you have already been betrothed to my cousin Fang Yuan."

With that one sentence, it was like a thunderclap.

Wang Yuyao seemed to have just recalled this matter. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, and her tears went from light to heavy and then to a torrent. She forced herself not to let them fall, only trembling as she cried out, "So...brother Heng is unwilling to help me anymore?"

"Since you are betrothed to Fang Yuan, you should naturally seek help from Fang Yuan for any matters." Fang Heng looked up sincerely, "If it is some trivial thing, you as the young lady of the prestigious Wang family would not have come to me for help. If it is a major matter, I, an orphan, would not be much help either. I'm afraid I have let you down."

Wang Yuyao was stunned.

Fang Heng did not say anything more to her. He took Jiang Sheng's hand and walked back, "I told you to go back earlier but you wouldn't listen. Now lunch is going cold, and if you eat it you'll get an upset stomach."

"No no, Jiang Sheng has a strong stomach. She can even eat leftovers." The little girl stuck out her tongue. She did not expect the battle to shift so quickly.

Fang Heng still glared at her. "That was before. Now who would bear to let you eat leftovers?"

Jiang Sheng was at a loss. She could only take out her coquettishness as her last resort, "Third brother, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Don't be mad."

The siblings walked while chattering away, behaving intimately like family.

Wang Yuyao watched with eyes wide open, feeling something sour sprouting and bursting forth from the bottom of her heart.

Back at the courtyard with the hairpin flowers. Auntie Zhang was indeed reheating the dishes. Seeing them return, she smiled and warmly greeted, "Little Jiang Sheng is back. Hurry and eat while it's hot."

Jiang Sheng shyly lowered her head.

What third brother said was right. Everyone was indeed waiting for her and would not let her eat leftovers anymore.

When she sat down at the small wooden table, Auntie Zhang brought over steaming hot wonton soup. Jiang Sheng deeply inhaled the aroma and sighed contentedly, "I declare that wonton soup is now my favorite winter soup."

The other brothers also chuckled lightly, except for the glaring third brother who fell silent.

Jiang Sheng turned her head and saw his somewhat absent-minded expression. She knew he must still be thinking about what happened earlier.

After all, they grew up together as siblings. How could feelings of closeness vanish and promises of help be so easily broken?

Just like when five-year-old Jiang Sheng met nine-year-old brother, even though brother later abandoned her, in Jiang Sheng's heart, he still carried warmth and beauty that would never fade.

"Third brother, if that sister really needs a lot of help, you can consider helping her a bit," Jiang Sheng held up a finger, "Just help a little, and don't hurt yourself."

Fang Heng woke from his memories and frowned, "I don't plan on helping her."

Jiang Sheng: "..."

"I don't plan on helping her." Fang Heng's tone paused slightly, "I've just arrived in the city. She's known of my existence for a while but chose this timing to appear. Even if I don't have eldest brother and fifth brother's intelligence, I know there must be a scheme."

Moreover, was she really completely unaware of what Lady Wang did?

Now that she has appeared before him again, what exactly are her intentions?

Fang Heng didn't know, or rather, didn't want to know. He wasn't hiding like an ostrich, just unwilling to let the already dissipated familial affection between cousins deteriorate into deeper hatred and enmity.

The youth lowered his head, praying in his heart for Wang Yuyao to not appear again.

But having heard everything, Chang Yan and Xu Mo both knew she would come again.

In the blink of an eye, it was nearing the end of the year.

The entire Anshui county was immersed in festive red colors. Jiang Sheng excitedly bought red lanterns and paired couplets to decorate the entire courtyard. She also got new clothes, shoes and purses for her brothers.

Fang Heng also gave the eight servants time off to visit family or eat, drink and have fun.

Although these things happened every year, no one ever got tired of them. The main reason was that ordinary days throughout the year were boring until the liveliness around New Year's. The aunties in the workshop also gradually stopped work and returned home, carrying prepared holiday gifts and wages, smiling with gums showing.

Jiang Sheng's state of mind this year was complex.

She was happy to have food, clothing and shelter, yet worried that silly second brother would not make it back in time, resulting in an incomplete family reunion.

As a result, the little girl was almost becoming a nagging old lady, standing by the courtyard gate every day calling out, "Second brother come back soon, second brother come back soon!"

Passing by, Xu Mo couldn't help laughing. "Are you chanting a spell?"

"I'm fervently hoping." Jiang Sheng started blathering, "The books say, sincerity moves heaven. I'm sincerely chanting like this, heaven will feel it and definitely send a wild dog to bite second brother back."

Xu Mo facepalmed.

By lunch time, the road ahead still only had festive passersby, and no silhouette of silly second brother.

Disappointed, Jiang Sheng was about to go eat.

Suddenly, a figure rushed over, giving her a fright.

She thought it was Wang Yuyao again, but on closer look it was an unfamiliar girl.

This girl didn't enter the courtyard, or act violently. She directly went weak in the knees and knelt at the entrance, desperately kowtowing inside, "Young Master Fang, Young Master Fang, please see our young lady. Our young lady doesn't want to harm you. It's the Fang family who wants to harm Young Master Fang. Our young lady has come to report!"

The important contents of her words caused Jiang Sheng's little head to blank out for a moment.

Fortunately Xu Mo was not far away reading. Hearing the commotion, he came over and shielded his sister behind him. Frowning, he yelled, "Third brother Fang, come take care of this!"

Although they all knew not to bother the court without reason, letting Wang Yuyao keep disturbing the courtyard like this was clearly inappropriate.

What if she scared Jiang Sheng?

Not long after, Fang Heng arrived with Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun.

Seeing the kowtowing maid, the brothers all showed cold looks on their faces.

"Third brother, you've bullied too harshly. At this juncture you still say it's for your own good, afraid we'd be treated like fools?" Chang Yan pursed his lips, "If third brother won't deal with this, then I'll have to overstep."

Even the usually indifferent Wen Zhiyun took out a paper package from his sleeve, sorting through it and saying, "Third brother, do you need help?"

Fang Heng laughed bitterly, knowing he couldn't avoid this any longer.

He nodded to his brothers, then strode over to the maid and coldly said, "Stop kowtowing. Tell Wang Yuyao I'll go help with whatever she wants."