Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 652 - 652 653 Making Friends_1

Chapter 652: Chapter 653: Making Friends_1 Chapter 652: Chapter 653: Making Friends_1 If Tian Niu were to follow him back, she would seem like a clingy pest. Zhao Jiangshui has been too passive in this relationship. There needs to be some initiative from him, or else without a heart that cherishes Tian Niu now, it might be even more difficult when temptations arise in the future.

Of course, she wouldn’t say this to Zhao Jiangshui. Tian Niu was aware of Muniang’s good intentions. Life is so long, and it shouldn’t be spent in endless daily togetherness. In their relationship, she had always been the proactive one, and she didn’t mind, but after getting married, it would be decades of companionship. How could she afford to neglect that? Although she really did like Zhao Jiangshui, she also wanted to be certain of his affections for her.

Zhao Jiangshui thought it over and realized she was right. If he had not passed the examination, no one would have noticed them on the road. But now things were different. He would return to his hometown in a grand procession accompanied by a government officer. If he took Tian Niu with him, her reputation would suffer once word spread. He couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly. He was always calm and restrained, a man who followed the rules. Yet, with Tian Niu, he always seemed to forget these basic principles.

Still, Zhao Jiangshui found it hard to part with her, “When will you go back?”

Tian Niu didn’t know what to say. Muniang had no fixed date of return, so how could she be so capricious as to demand to go back now? It was naturally impossible, so she said, “I’m not sure about that, but think about it, once you go back, you have to return to the capital anyway. I’ll just wait for you.”

“There are so many wealthy families in the capital. Don’t you go fancying just anyone,” Zhao Jiangshui said, uneasy.

“Are you going to miss me? Only now do you realize how good I am, right? I’ll let you be affectionate one more time,” Tian Niu, with her shameless audacity, moved closer to him.

Zhao Jiangshui blushed and pushed her away, “Don’t be so improper with others.”

“I wouldn’t dare. I’m only improper with you,” Tian Niu said teasingly.

Zhao Jiangshui had no way to persuade Tian Niu. She was like a wild child, never abiding by the rules. It was pitiful how he, a man who had always been so upright, was now led astray by her. During the days they spent together, Tian Niu frequently tempted him to intimacy, and with their hugging and kissing, Zhao Jiangshui felt a mix of guilt and secret pleasure, almost as if he was having a split personality.

Suddenly, there was some noise at the door. Zhao Jiangshui was startled and quickly pushed Tian Niu away, telling her to stay in the inner room, as it would be unseemly for a girl to be seen by visitors.

However, the visitor turned out to be an unfamiliar girl, who looked rather well-dressed. Zhao Jiangshui was taken aback and then said, “Who are you looking for?”

Jin Qingqing, with flushed cheeks and a heart beating wildly with excitement, still tried to maintain a composed demeanor, “I… My name is Jin Qingqing. You can just call me Qingqing.”

Zhao Jiangshui was utterly confused and looked at her blankly.

Jin Qingqing had no choice but to explain, “We met before, at Princess Marquis Chen’s small banquet.”

“Oh, what brings Miss Jin here to find me?” Zhao Jiangshui asked with a neutral tone, but without any intention of inviting her inside.

Jin Qingqing tentatively asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to talk inside?”

“Men and women are different; to speak indoors like this might be seen by others, potentially harming Miss Jin’s reputation. Let’s not do this,” Zhao Jiangshui replied, abiding by decorum.

Jin Qingqing, even if she were thick-skinned, couldn’t say much more. She had clearly come to gauge Zhao Jiangshui’s intentions, but now this man, either too naive or too bound by customs, wouldn’t even let her in! How was she supposed to talk?!

This really wasn’t like actual siblings; the sister could see right through her, clearly discerning her motives, while Zhao Jiangshui seemed to be thick-headed, unable to see anything!?

Angrily stomping her foot, Jin Qingqing could only say, “It’s nothing then, I’ll be leaving.”

Zhao Jiangshui touched his nose and closed the door. Jin Qingqing’s face turned as black as charcoal, as if to curse someone. Was this man truly clueless or just pretending? He couldn’t see that she was angry and just closed the door on her! She hadn’t even left yet!

Tianniu spoke in an annoyed tone, “You’ve just become the Number One Scholar, and already there’s a bitch trying to seduce you, huh!”

Zhao Jiangshui couldn’t help but laugh, “Just because someone said something, it’s seduction?”

Knowing his slowness in certain matters, Tianniu didn’t argue with him. Instead, she spoke with serious concern, “Jiangshui, you promised to marry me. You’re not allowed to like someone else.”

Zhao Jiangshui rarely saw Tianniu so earnest, and he laughed, “You know my heart. Would I be the kind of person to renege on promises?”

Only then did Tian Niu feel at ease and cheerfully went about other matters.

Initially thinking Jin Qingqing had acted on a whim and, having hit a wall, would not persist, the matter didn’t end so easily. Hearing that Jin Qingqing had gone home crying, her parents felt sorry for their daughter and started considering taking him as their son-in-law, especially as Mr. Jin had his own calculations. Although Zhao Jiangshui was currently a commoner without any backing, he was young with remarkable achievements, and with such a prominent sister, his future path was promising. It seemed good to pull him into their sphere.

However, Lady Jin was still angry with Qiao Muniang and refused, “Has the old master gone senile? Marrying Qiao Muniang’s brother and forgetting how she ruined our Qingqing’s reputation!”

Jin Qingqing was of marriageable age, and there was no shortage of suitors in the capital. However, Qiao Muniang, in a move to retaliate against Lady Jin at the palace, had deliberately smeared Jin Qingqing with a reputation for being unfilial and hot-tempered, leaving no one daring to propose. This was a great humiliation, and Lady Jin was far from swallowing her anger!

Mr. Jin snorted coldly, “Ignorant woman! What do you understand? Just because you have a little personal grudge against Marquis Chen’s daughter-in-law, you stew in your own anger and push away your own interests? Now with the Feng Family destroyed by her, are you naive enough to want to remain her enemy? Have you considered the consequences?”

Lady Jin, feeling wronged, said, “The Feng Family’s downfall was because Feng Rui happened to steal Qiao Muniang’s brother’s exam papers, if not for that…”

“Even if not for that, she would have found another reason to act against the Feng Family. Do you think she would be tolerant towards those she disapproves of? You better learn from this. Clashing with her was our miscalculation to begin with. Now, by seizing this opportunity, we could mend our relationship somewhat. I’ve made up my mind. Our Jin Family is a distinguished noble family within the court; although Zhao Jiangshui is the Number One Scholar, a rootless one at that just appointed to office, at best he’d be assigned a fifth-rank position. Our Qingqing marrying him would be marrying beneath her status, but it’s betting on the right treasure. Sooner or later, Zhao Jiangshui is bound to rise to prominence. Moreover, it serves as a favor to Marquis Chen’s son’s wife. With her brother’s current status, even marrying into our family as a concubine’s daughter would be reaching above his station, let alone as the legitimate daughter!” Mr. Jin declared confidently.