Chapter 97: Delivering the News

Previously, Zhao Dacheng had helped a few times, and Zhou Qing had already informed him.

The one who helped his daughter was Zhou Huaishan's friend!

Zhao Dacheng quickly stepped forward, crouching beside an ant hill, watching with great interest as the ants climbed up the thin rope.

"I came to play with you."

Whoa!

Those words sounded so familiar!

Zhao Dacheng grinned up at Zhou Huaishan, baring his teeth, and patted a basket of bamboo strips beside him.

"Teach me how to weave those cricket cages of yours. I brought good wine."

Looking at the basket of bamboo strips and then at Zhao Dacheng's sincere smile, Zhou Huaishan grinned.

"It's not that I don't want to teach you, it's just that I'm a bit tied up right now."

"Why?"

"My daughter has been selling Spring Festival couplets these past few days, and I've been writing couplets every day. I’ve been writing all morning and just came out for a break. I’ll need to go back and keep writing in a bit."

Zhao Dacheng immediately waved his hand, "Why write couplets? How much is each set? I’ll buy all the red paper you have at the market price, and that’s it!"

His wealthy attitude reminded Zhou Huaishan of his own past self.

Zhou Huaishan chuckled, "That won't do!"

He was willing, but Zhou Qing would never agree. That child is stubborn.

"But I can't write for you. You’ve seen my handwriting, it’s like a bunch of squiggly bugs."

Zhao Dacheng pouted, scratching his head in frustration, but then his eyes lit up.

"How about this: I’ll find someone to write for you, and you can teach me to weave the cages."

"Who?"

"Su Heng. You should know him, the top scorer from the latest prefectural exam."

Zhou Huaishan nodded.

The top scorer, huh?

"Will he come?"

"Why not? He’s staying at my house right now. I’ll have someone go fetch him."

As he said this, Zhao Dacheng turned and gave an order. Upon receiving it, one of the guards immediately set off.

Zhou Huaishan tugged at Zhao Dacheng’s sleeve, "Why is Su Heng staying at your house?"

Zhao Dacheng smiled, "He’s my nephew, my sister’s son. After his exams, he’s been staying with us."

Zhou Huaishan didn’t ask further. As long as someone else was writing for him, that was good enough.

The two, being like-minded, immediately got to playing!

Zhao stood in stunned silence, staring at the two in the courtyard. For a moment, she couldn’t comprehend.

How is Second Brother acting so differently from before?

Zhou Yao, on the other hand, was calm and unbothered. She said lightly, "Mother, people change."

Zhao

Why does it feel like Yao has changed too?

By the time Zhou Qing and Zhou Huailin returned home, it was completely dark.

As soon as they entered the yard, they heard a commotion of people and chickens.

In the middle of the courtyard, a large fire was blazing.

Zhou Ping was in front of the fire, standing in a horse stance.

The firelight made his little face glow red, and in the cold weather, sweat was dripping down his cheeks.

On his raised arms, he had two self-made sandbags hanging, one on each side.

Not far from the fire, Zhou Huaishan and Zhao Dacheng were having a "chicken battle"!

The scene...

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth.

She saw that Zhou Huaishan and Zhao Dacheng each had a weird-looking small bamboo basket strapped to their heads.

Inside the baskets were chickens.

Only the chickens’ heads and necks were sticking out.

The two men were gearing up, full of fighting spirit, as they rushed toward each other. Then, they lowered their heads to make the chickens on top of them fight.

Each time the chickens "fought," they flapped their wings in fear and fluttered wildly inside the cages.

Zhou Qing...

She took a deep breath, helplessly rubbing her forehead, and called out, "Father!"

Hearing her voice, Zhou Huaishan, who was in the middle of playing, was so startled that he broke out in a nervous fart.

Beside him, Zhao Dacheng

A familiar smell.

Zhou Huaishan, drenched in sweat, jogged over to Zhou Qing, the chicken still on his head.

"Daughter, time flies, doesn’t it? I didn’t even realize it had gotten dark."

Zhou Qing...

Do you see how dark my face is right now?

But in front of Zhao Dacheng, she couldn’t say much.

Looking over Zhou Huaishan’s shoulder, she smiled and nodded at Zhao Dacheng, "Uncle."

Zhao Dacheng grinned back.

Seeing Zhou Qing’s expression, Zhou Huaishan felt a bit guilty. "Uh, I finished writing all the couplets. I was done before I started playing."

Zhou Qing...

Really?

I don’t believe you!

Zhou Huaishan quickly added, "Go check inside; they’re all finished!"

Zhao Dacheng chimed in, "Yeah, niece, Brother Shan finished all the couplets."

Zhou Qing

Brother Shan?

Looking between Zhou Huaishan and Zhao Dacheng, Zhou Qing couldn’t help but laugh at the nickname.

Without saying more, Zhou Qing went inside to wash up.

After changing into dry clothes, Zhou Yao and Zhao were still busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. Zhou Qing slipped into Zhou Huaishan’s room.

Inside, she saw a thick stack of cut red paper sitting there.

Not a single word on it, not even a black dot.

Holding the red paper, Zhou Qing walked out briskly, "Father, is this what you meant by ‘finished’?"

Is this the latest version of The Emperor’s New Clothes? The Emperor’s New Words?

Am I just not smart enough to see them?

At the sight of the red paper, even Zhou Huaishan was stunned. He turned to Zhao Dacheng, "Where are the words?"

Zhao Dacheng took the red paper, flipping it back and forth.

Zhou Qing...

What are you flipping for?

Do you think I’ve hidden the words?

But she couldn’t say that!

She just stood there, silently watching Zhao Dacheng.

After flipping through the paper, Zhao Dacheng, confused, looked at Zhou Huaishan. "Yeah, where are the words?"

"Where’s Su Heng?"

Zhao Dacheng replied, "He’s inside writing, isn’t he?"

Zhou Qing...

Before she could respond, one of the guards Zhao Dacheng had brought stepped forward.

"Master, I already told you, Young Master Su left for a study trip yesterday. He’s not at home."

Zhao Dacheng was suddenly shocked, jumping as he turned to the guard.

"He’s not?"

The guard...

"He’s not!"

Zhao Dacheng raised his hand and slapped the back of the guard’s neck. "Why didn’t you say so earlier? You’re trying to trick me!"

The guard immediately covered his neck, looking aggrieved.

"I told you! I told you three times when I came back!"

Zhao Dacheng blinked at the guard.

Why do I feel like you’re lying to me?

Why do I feel like Su Heng is still inside writing?

After glaring at the guard, Zhao Dacheng turned to Zhou Qing with an awkward smile. "Niece, are you sure no one’s inside? Maybe he’s hiding."

Zhou Qing couldn't laugh or cry.

Hiding?

Su Heng, a grown man, the top scorer in the prefectural exam, hiding in her father’s room playing hide-and-seek?

How did you even come up with that?

Zhou Huaishan shot Zhao Dacheng an annoyed look. "You’re just messing with me!"

Zhao Dacheng...

What gave me this illusion, making me think Su Heng was still here?

Was it the chicken on my head?

Chicken: Leave me out of this. Just let me down! I’d rather you roast me than keep wearing me like this!

Just as they were talking, a noise came from the front gate.

Everyone turned to look in unison.