The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 79: So Shameless

After lunch, Xu Zhizhi and Xiao Jingheng, along with their little tail, Xu Xiaowu, returned to the old house.

Xu Zhizhi sketched some furniture designs for Xiao Jingheng to see.

Xiao Jingheng’s eyes were filled with amazement. Such furniture designs were unheard of, even in Luocheng. However, he remained calm. Naturally intelligent and quick to grasp new concepts, he admired the designs while offering some suggestions.

Xu Zhizhi, thinking Xiao Jingheng had seen similar designs in Luocheng, grew bolder and sketched a modern dressing table and wardrobe.

The styles were novel and unique, designed for convenience. Xu Zhizhi explained the structural details to Xiao Jingheng.

Xiao Jingheng then meticulously drew the exploded diagrams, making it easy for any carpenter to understand and replicate.

Xu Zhizhi admired Xiao Jingheng’s drawing skills and comprehension.

Xiao Jingheng, in turn, was impressed by Xu Zhizhi’s designs and creativity.

The two appreciated each other, their communication seamless. One spoke, the other drew.

As Xu Zhizhi looked at the handsome man beside her, her heart swelled with joy. She recalled a saying:

“All encounters in this world are causally connected. The Buddha said: It takes hundreds of glances in past lives to earn the chance to meet and know each other in this life.

Once: A heart-to-heart connection is enough to leave no regrets. Once: Spending days together is already sufficient. Remembering, the city is filled with flowers; sealing the memory, the heart remains unchanged.”

Her heart suddenly felt light, and her voice unconsciously softened. Her face radiated a captivating glow from the joy within.

Xiao Jingheng, hearing her voice suddenly become gentle, like a feather brushing his heart, couldn’t help but look up.

Their eyes met, boundless affection and trust flowing between them. It felt as if an invisible thread tightly connected their hearts.

Xiao Jingheng put down his brush, took Xu Zhizhi’s hand, and said with emotion, “Zhizhi, meeting you in this lifetime is my greatest blessing.”

Xu Zhizhi looked at Xiao Jingheng seriously. “Brother Xiao, I feel that meeting you is my greatest fortune.”

In this ancient era, finding someone who understood her and was devoted to her was rare. Through their interactions, Xu Zhizhi realized she had genuinely grown to like this man.

Meanwhile, Xu Honghua had taken an ox cart early in the morning to Qingshan Town to sell her embroidery, then traveled by carriage to her aunt’s house in Qingshi Town.

“Cousin Honghua, what brings you here? Did you come alone?” Xie Jiaqi asked with pleasant surprise.

“I came to Qingshi Town to sell embroidery and thought I’d visit Uncle, Aunt, and my cousins,” Xu Honghua replied in a sweet voice.

It was lunchtime, and the Xie family was about to eat when they saw Xu Honghua arrive. Xie Jia’an, the third daughter of the Xie family, went to fetch an extra set of bowls and chopsticks.

Mother Xie, also Xu Honghua’s aunt, was delighted to see her niece. “Honghua, you’re here?”

“Auntie, I came specifically to visit you.”

“Come, sit down and eat,” Xie Jiaqi warmly invited his cousin.

Xie Jia’an returned with the bowls and chopsticks, and everyone sat down to eat.

Since it was just the Xie family and their niece, they didn’t bother separating the tables.

Xie Jiaqi deliberately sat next to Xu Honghua, enthusiastically serving her food.

“Here, Cousin Honghua, this stir-fried meat is delicious. Have more.”

The Xie family’s standard of living was decent. There were five dishes: two meat dishes, a stir-fried egg, a vegetable dish, and a soup.

Xu Honghua, having recently eaten at her uncle’s house every day, was used to large portions of meat. The spread on the table didn’t surprise her.

She ate slowly and gracefully, appearing quiet and refined.

Xie Jia’an rolled her eyes internally. So fake!

Xie Jia’an, thirteen years old like Xu Honghua but a month younger, had never liked her cousin.

During New Year visits to her uncle’s house, whenever the cousins sat together without adults around, Xu Honghua would devour most of the meat on the table.

Xie Jia’an had long thought her cousin was selfish.

She preferred her second uncle’s daughters, Chunhua and Xiaohua, and her third uncle’s daughter, Lanhua. She wasn’t close to her other male cousins.

Xu Zhizhi was always too busy, so Xie Jia’an had never spoken much to her eldest cousin.

Xu Honghua, whom she interacted with the most, was someone Xie Jia’an disliked. Xu Honghua often envied Xie Jia’an for her nice clothes and being a town girl.

Xu Honghua secretly compared herself to Xie Jia’an, inevitably revealing her true nature.

Outwardly, Xu Honghua always appeared delicate and weak, fooling all the elders, including Xie Jia’an’s two brothers.

But Xu Honghua harbored many malicious thoughts, some of which Xie Jia’an had uncovered. However, whenever Xie Jia’an reported these to the adults, she was the one who ended up in trouble.

Xie Jia’an disliked Xu Honghua, and the feeling was mutual. Xu Honghua also disliked Xie Jia’an and her sister, Xie Jiajing.

The Xie sisters, who took after their mother, were very pretty. Xu Honghua disliked anyone prettier than herself.

Watching her brother’s eager behavior and Xu Honghua’s affected manners, Xie Jia’an silently despised them and focused on her meal.

“Honghua, since you’re here, stay for a few days. This afternoon, your cousins can take you around town,” Mother Xie said, picking up some egg for her niece with a smile.

“Auntie, I’ll head back after lunch. My uncle’s family is busy building a house,” Xu Honghua replied.

Xie Jia’an internally mocked her. As if she’s ever done any work!

The last time Xie Jia’an visited her uncle’s house for a meal, she had seen Xu Honghua lazing around until it was time to eat.

When she asked her other cousins about it, before they could answer, Xiaohua had blurted out that Xu Honghua hadn’t done a single bit of work.

Xiaohua had even secretly told Xie Jia’an that Xu Honghua had tried to steal Xu Zhizhi’s man! She had seen it when she went to find Xu Xiaowu.

Xiaohua hadn’t dared to tell her third uncle and aunt or the other sisters, fearing no one would believe her. She had only confided in Xie Jia’an before bed.

Xie Jia’an, already aware of Xu Honghua’s true nature, had believed Xiaohua immediately.

Feeling she had finally found a kindred spirit, Xiaohua had poured out everything she had seen and heard.

Xie Jia’an was utterly shocked. She had always thought her cousin was just selfish and two-faced. She had never imagined Xu Honghua could be so shameless!

When Xie Jia’an told her eldest brother, he had scolded her harshly:

“Jia’an, I know you’ve never liked Honghua, but to slander her like this—I’m so disappointed in you…”

Xie Jia’an had been deeply hurt, but her brother insisted that Xiaohua, being a child, couldn’t possibly know such things.

When Xie Jia’an told her younger sister, her sister believed her, giving her some confidence. But when she told her second brother, he also didn’t believe her. Though he didn’t scold her like their eldest brother, his disappointed head shake had infuriated Xie Jia’an.

In the end, Xie Jia’an gave up on telling her mother. She knew the result would be the same as with her brothers.

(End of Chapter)