Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 265: 263: Clouds of Doubt, the Knife Scar Reappears

“I already mentioned it to Lord County Magistrate, but he said that it can only be done after the examination next month.”

Di Yelei continued practicing with his brush-pen.

“Huh? I didn’t expect that you guys would also have to take an exam!” Liu Sisi asked in surprise.

She carefully took up a knife and cut out cubes – roughly the size of a fingernail – as she attempted to create a movable printing system. Whether she could succeed was uncertain, but she would have to keep it a secret for now.

“What? Don’t tell me the bookstore also has exams; that would make people laugh out loud!”

Di Yelei put down his brush-pen, picked up his calligraphy, looked and looked, his eyebrows knitted tightly: “I feel that no matter how I write, my handwriting would never look as good as yours!”

Liu Sisi stopped her hand motion and looked at him, not intending to inform him how widespread the examination system was in the future.

“Of course not! Do you think Brother Zhang could pass the exam? And, don’t imitate the way I write. Didn’t I give you a few pieces of calligraphy model the other day? Have you practiced them?”

“You don’t know Zhang Peng’s skills? Don’t worry!”

Di Yelei handed over the calligraphy models to Liu Sisi: “Take a look, I copied it, isn’t the typeface very bad looking?”

Liu Sisi took a careful look, actually Di Yelei’s handwriting couldn’t be described as ugly.

Although he was just learning how to write, his penmanship had already revealed a hint of flair. It couldn’t be seen at all that such an honest and simple man could write in such a free and uninhibited style!

She really underestimated him!

Raising her head and looking deeply into his eyes, Liu Sisi then picked out two calligraphy models.

“From now on, you’ll write in these two typefaces. These two typefaces allow you to write differently at different times. Just maintain your advantage.”

Liu Sisi couldn’t help but look away from the yellow mud in her hand. The more she looked at Di Yelei’s writing, the more amazed she was.

Who said that only the Eldest of Di Family had the talent for studying? It was a pity that the pearl right before their eyes was covered in dust, having spent every day with his bow and arrow, wasting his great talent for learning literature!

“Ye Lei, which do you prefer, writing or hunting?”

“Hunting, of course. It’s free and comfortable. How nice!” He buried his head in writing without even looking up.

“What if you have to choose between studying or being a constable?”

“Of course being a constable. It’s good to know a few characters so I won’t be blind, right? Besides, as the husband of a female tutor, I can’t be illiterate!”

After Di Yelei finished speaking, he raised his head and smiled at her, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Liu Sisi: “…”

The man before her really deserved a beating!

A few days later, they indeed found news of the man with a knife scar on his eyebrow.

However, it wasn’t Di Yelei who brought the news, but Liu Sisi who accidentally found it.

It was a coincidence. Just entering Gan Mansion, Liu Sisi suddenly remembered that she had promised Gan Miaoruo yesterday to bring some calligraphy models, but she forgot. She then hurried out of Gan Mansion to fetch them.

As she turned around the corner, she saw Zhang Shixin, with a young woman in his arms, coming from the other end of the street. She quickly hid to one side.

The woman was indeed beautiful, and beyond her beauty, she radiated an air of arrogance!

The arrogance between her eyebrows gave her beauty a thrilling touch. It had to be said that Zhang Shixin, although immoral, had a good-looking face.

Such an arrogant woman had even condescended to be a fifth concubine – truly impressive!

They acted like they were the only ones around, affectionately kissing all the way to a tea house nearby. Soon, their figures appeared by the window on the second floor.

Seeing that there was nothing to watch, Liu Sisi turned to leave, only to see another person appear by the window, whispering something in Zhang Shixin’s ear.

This man was none other than the one who’d been monitoring her around the bookstore and had a knife scar between his eyebrows!

Liu Sisi had a sudden thought – was it possible that the man with the scar was actually Zhang Shixin’s subordinate?

The man with the scar said something, and Zhang Shixin nodded without hesitation, saying something in return.

The woman in his arms shook off his hand impatiently, said something angrily, but as her back was facing Liu Sisi, and the distance was quite far, she couldn’t hear what the two were talking about.

After a moment, Zhang Shixin pulled her back into his arms and coaxed her for a while, finally making her smile again.

But then, Liu Sisi saw Zhang Shixin take out some silver and put it in the hand of the man with the scar. He bowed and left after receiving the silver.

After witnessing this scene, Liu Sisi cautiously retreated two steps, turned around, and left.

She almost bumped into someone’s arms!

“Ah! Don’t you make any noise while walking?”

She was startled and quickly looked up, only to see a familiar face.

He didn’t say anything and just dragged her away, not stopping until they reached a corner.

“Speak up! How did you end up tailing Zhang Shixin? How did you appear there? Don’t tell me you still have feelings for him?”

The person was Di Yelei, who was looking at her with crossed arms and a suspicious expression.

“Pfft! I’d have to be crazy to have feelings for him!”

Liu Sisi sneered, “The proud and beautiful woman caught my eye, and I was curious about how she would marry that bastard Zhang Shixin and become his Fifth Concubine. So, I watched them for a little while longer and happened to see the man with the scarred face. Oh? By the way, didn’t you say you had something to do? Why are you here?”

“I followed the man with the scar here, and when I arrived, I saw you lurking around.”

Di Yelei didn’t say much, and just turned and walked away.

“What do you mean lurking? I wasn’t doing anything!”

Liu Sisi protested and followed him. But upon thinking about it, she felt like she really had been lurking around.

“Is there anything you found? Tell me, tell me quickly, come on!”

“What else could it be? Let’s go back to the bookstore and talk about it!”

Di Yelei said and quickly walked back to the bookstore, pulling Liu Sisi’s hand.

There were a few customers in the bookstore, and Di Cheng was busy attending to them. Di Yelei greeted him, then pulled Liu Sisi into the inner room.

“What’s going on? Isn’t it just Zhang Shixin ordering the man with the scar to spy on us at the bookstore? What’s so strange about that? Look at you, acting like you’re facing a formidable enemy.” Liu Sisi shook off his hand, not understanding his concern, and massaged her sore wrist.

“If it was that simple, it would be good!”

Di Yelei’s face was full of worry, and he seemed quite agitated.

Their exchange further piqued Liu Sisi’s curiosity as she asked impatiently, “What is going on? You…I’m really anxious! When did you, a big man, learn to hesitate like this? Just tell me what’s going on!”