GTB Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Disciplining My Younger Sister is a Heavy Responsibility

Jiang Jiuchu looked at Ji Shutíng’s gossipy face and raised a finger, shaking it. “You betrayed me earlier, so I’ll only answer one question.”

Ji Shutíng pouted. Compared to a mysterious expert, she was more curious about when Jiuchu had met such a handsome and extraordinary young man.

“Alright! I’ll choose the latter.”

Jiang Jiuchu wasn’t surprised by Ji Shutíng’s choice. She picked up the tea handed to her by a maid and said casually, “Didn’t I tell you before that I almost got lost when I was little? He was the one who saved me.”

Ji Shutíng’s eyes widened upon hearing this. She hadn’t expected such a relationship. She looked at Jiang Jiuchu with great interest. “So, you two had a long-awaited reunion?”

Jiang Jiuchu was taken aback. “Why do you say that?”

Ji Shutíng curled her lips, acting mysterious. “Two words: atmosphere. It can only be understood, not explained!”

Jiang Jiuchu rolled her eyes, too lazy to delve into her hidden meaning. She took out the purse from her waist and handed Ji Shutíng five hundred silver notes.

“These silver notes are for you. If there’s anything else to arrange, either send someone to arrange it or give it to the shopkeeper.”

She pointed to the middle-aged man and then said, “Doesn’t our shop have a small backyard? They can stay there tomorrow first.”

“Also, the shop has already found someone to repair it. They might come over tomorrow. Just have someone directly pay them when they’re done.”

Ji Shutíng took the silver notes and praised, “You really work fast.”

Jiang Jiuchu sipped the tea in her hand without explaining.

After the two chatted idly for a few cups of tea, the two girls who had gone to the kitchen to make pastries each came back with a plate of snacks.

In terms of the pastries’ exquisiteness and style, the pretty girl clearly did a better job.

Jiang Jiuchu took a piece. The texture was quite soft, but the taste was mediocre.

However, the pastries made by the pale and thin girl looked ordinary, but the taste was excellent.

She asked Ji Shutíng, “Which one do you think is better?”

“This one is better.” Ji Shutíng raised the half-eaten pastry in her hand, then looked at the pale and thin girl in front of her. “What’s your name?”

“This servant is called Xiao Xiang.”

‘Xiao Xiang’ was the name she gave herself. Since her mother had been so cruel as to sell her to a broker, she had nothing to do with her family anymore.

“Alright, then you can go with her later!” Ji Shutíng said, then confirmed with Jiang Jiuchu, “Is it convenient for her to go to your residence to learn from Aunt Lan? Will she be discovered?”

“It’s fine. Didn’t you say that if she’s discovered, we’ll blame it on you?”

Jiang Jiuchu said, then looked at the slightly disappointed pretty girl and asked, “What about you? What’s your name?”

“This servant’s original name is Xiangcao, given by my former master. Please give me a new name, Master.”

Jiang Jiuchu thought for a moment. “Then you’ll be called Qinghe! The pastries you make are exquisite and beautiful. You can study more pastry styles in the future and work with Xiao Xiang.”

“Yes, Qinghe thanks Master for bestowing a name.” Qinghe was delighted. She liked this name very much and even more liked the work Master had arranged for her.

Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Jiang Jiuchu got up to take her leave. “Alright, I’m going back now. It’s getting late.”

Jiang Residence

Jiang Jiuche was sitting with Shí Qingya by the lake in the veranda, feeding the fish. From afar, he saw Jiang Jiuchu’s figure approaching.

“Ya’er, do you know what Chu’er has been busy with these past two days? I haven’t seen her all day. She doesn’t even bring Lǜluó with her.”

Shí Qingya gently shook her head. “I don’t know. Don’t be such a busybody. Chu’er must be with the Ji family’s daughter. She doesn’t know many people in Kyoto. It’s good that she’s made a close friend and goes out to play.”

“When I was Chu’er’s age, I was running around outside all day. I couldn’t stand being in the palace for a moment. Otherwise, how could I have met you?”

Jiang Jiuche smiled at Shí Qingya upon hearing this. He was just about to flirt when he seemed to realize something, and his face immediately became serious. He looked up at Jiang Jiuchu’s approaching figure.

Seeing this, Shí Qingya also realized that she had said something wrong. She silently turned her head and scattered the fish food in her hand, secretly apologizing to her sister-in-law.

“Brother, sister-in-law, such good spirits!”

Jiang Jiuchu ignored her brother’s serious and probing expression and said to Shí Qingya, “Sister-in-law, do you know how beautiful the scene of you and my brother together looks from afar? Hmm, how should I describe it?”

Jiang Jiuchu thought for a moment. “The sunset reflects the glow on the lotus pond, a loving couple plays with the fish in joy.”

Shí Qingya was a little embarrassed. “Chu’er’s literary talent is good enough to pass the imperial examination. She speaks in poems!”

Jiang Jiuchu smiled at Shí Qingya, then glanced at her brother.

She thought that every time she praised her brother and sister-in-law’s love in the past, they were both very happy. It didn’t seem to work today! Her brother still had the same look as if she owed him money.

“What’s wrong, brother? Is it that my poem doesn’t rhyme enough? Wait a minute! I’ll revise it. How about… ‘A couple feeds the fish, gazing at each other?’ ‘Glow’ versus ‘gazing,’ does that rhyme?”

Jiang Jiuche’s face was originally just serious, but now it had a hint of suspicion. He felt that this girl was deliberately pretending to be silly and trying to please him.

He knew this younger sister too well. If she said such nice things, there was a sixty or seventy percent chance that she had done something bad. Combined with the situation these past few days, he felt he had to add another twenty percent.

“Knowing that it’s the sunset glow, and still coming back so late, where did you go? Why didn’t you bring Lǜluó?”

After he asked, he looked at the person behind her again. “And who is she?”

Jiang Jiuchu understood the reason for her brother’s question. It seemed that it was because she hadn’t brought Lǜluó these past two days.

“I went to the Ji residence. Lǜluó hasn’t been feeling well these past two days, so I let her rest in the residence. Also, I didn’t come back that late. It’s only sunset glow when I’m almost home, right? It wasn’t like that when I came back!”

After she finished speaking, she pointed to the maid behind her. “Also, she’s a newly bought maid, named Xiao Xiang.”

Xiao Xiang quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Jiang Jiuche was speechless for a moment, so he said, “Next time you go out, you have to bring someone with you. If Lǜluó isn’t available, then bring another maid. Which young lady goes out alone?”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll go back first.” Before Jiang Jiuchu left, she didn’t forget to wink at Shí Qingya, who was sitting on the veranda bench.

Shí Qingya waited until Jiang Jiuchu was far away before saying to Jiang Jiuche, “If you’re like this, be careful that Chu’er won’t tell you anything in the future.”

Jiang Jiuche said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. If she tells you, you can tell me too.”

Shí Qingya pouted. “What? You want me to be a spy? My parents aren’t as strict as you are.”

“Our parents are too doting. They indulge her in everything. If I indulge her too, will anyone still discipline her?”

Jiang Jiuche didn’t even want to say anything about this. His parents loved his younger sister, and ever since she was kidnapped that year, they hadn’t even said a harsh word to her, saving it all up for him.

Therefore, he could only discipline her. He also had a heavy responsibility, okay?

Shí Qingya pursed her lips and didn’t say anything. Ever since she learned about Chu’er’s matter a few days ago, she understood why her parents were so doting and why her husband was so strict.