At the end of the hour, Song Wan Yue brought Er Ya to the Wei Yuan Dart Station.
Hearing the report, Qi Ying darted out of the dart office, “Yue’er!”
“Sister Qi.”
Song Wan Yue called out to her with a smile.
The moment she ran out the door, not seeing Gu Yi’s figure, Qi Ying grew happier, “Why didn’t you say something to me in advance, I’ll ride to pick you up.”
Said before seeing Erma beside her, “This is ……?”
“My cousin, Erma.”
Qi Ying smiled and waved her hand at Erma, “Hello Erma.”
Er Ya shyly hid behind Song Wan Yue.
Qi Ying smiled and led them inside.
Song Wangyue hadn’t seen the layout of the dartboard carefully, so she looked at it twice, but Qi Ying saw it in her eyes, “Come on, I’ll show you around our dartboard.”
The dartboard is divided into three parts, the front is an empty courtyard, the middle is the mansion and the back is the martial arts training ground, which is currently filled with shouting voices.
Qi Ying pointed to one of the two men sparring, “That’s my elder brother Qi Bin, he and my second brother Qi Lei went out for half a year to deliver the last dart, they just came back yesterday, a group of brothers are competing against him.”
Song Wan Yue followed her hand and looked over, only to see a black press of heads.
“So Sister Qi has two more brothers?”
“Yes, I have three siblings, I’m the youngest, and both my brothers are married, but my sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews are not over here.”
Song Wangyue nodded, didn’t ask more questions and went with Qi Ying to the main courtyard.
Madam Qi was also very happy to see her, and again had pastries served, and ordered someone to buy some snacks.
“I didn’t know you were coming and didn’t prepare anything.”
“Don’t be busy, auntie, we’ve just come over from the market and had quite a lot to eat.”
Only then did Mrs Qi sit down, “The first time I saw you, my aunt felt that she shared your temper and had been looking forward to your coming.”
“I’ve been wanting to come too, but there’s a lot going on at home, and Gu Yi is always there, so I’m afraid he won’t speak out of turn and embarrass you, that’s why I didn’t come.”
At the mention of Gu Yi, Qi Ying blushed unnaturally for a moment, and Mrs. Qi did not change anything, as if Gu Yi had not embarrassed them last time.
“It’s alright, Young Master Gu is also childish at heart, we won’t bother with him.”
“Thanks a lot auntie.”
Mrs Qi waved her hand, “There’s nothing to thank you for, but then again, has Young Master Gu always been like this?”
“Well, Auntie Gu said it was a difficult birth when she gave birth to him and stayed in her stomach for a long time.
“So… ……”
Mrs. Qi seemed convinced, “It’s really hard for you too, I heard it was you who saved his life in the first place, but he pestered you and insisted on being betrothed to you? And it seems to have been difficult for your family?”
“It’s true that he pestered me, there is no more embarrassment for our family.”
“I told you, Master Gu is at least a famous figure in Qingping County, how could he possibly make things difficult for you? But girl, aunt say a unpleasant word, your family also treats you as a treasure, how to agree with you ……”
“It is my own willingness, although Gu Yi is not too good in the head, but he does not have those crooked mind, and treats me and my family very well.”
Mrs. Qi nodded her head, glanced at Qi Ying and the topic turned to her, “Look at other people Yue’er, so young and already engaged, look at you, soon to be fifteen and still no one has come to the door to say marriage.”
“Mother ……”
Qi Ying stomped her feet with a red face, “Didn’t you and father say that you would raise me for life if I couldn’t get married?”
“Your father and I were joking, you still take it seriously.”
After that, he said to Song Wan Yue, “Yue’er, you go back to your family and ask them to help you find a husband for your sister Qi, as long as he is not missing an arm or a leg, blind or without a nose, auntie is not picky.”
Song Wan Yue was amused, “That won’t do, sister Qi has to marry the best man in the world.”
“She is spoiled by us, she has a foul temper, and she only knows how to play with swords and sticks all day long.
“Auntie is going to be disappointed, Gu Yi only has two married sisters.”
“Then it’s over, now your sister Qi will be completely unmarriageable.”
“Mother ……”
Qi Ying was so angry that she stomped her foot, “How come I can’t get married? If I go out on the street and shout, people who want to marry me will line up from the door to the outside of the county.”
“Sister Qi is right, there is no telling how many people in this county are waiting to beg to marry sister Qi.”
Song Wangyue echoed.
Qi Ying raised her head in triumph, “That’s right, this girl is in demand.”
“You ah ……”
Madam Qi smiled and nudged her vaguely.
After staying at the dartboard for a little over half an hour, Song Wan Yue got up to say goodbye and Qi Ying sent her out with a fond smile.
Only after watching them walk away did she turn around and go back.
Song Wan Yue led Er Ya to the bookshop.
Er Ya’s coat pockets were bulging on both sides, containing various snacks given by Madam Qi. She held Song Wan Yue’s hand in one hand while covering the other pocket, lest the snacks inside should fall out.
She walked through two streets and arrived at the bookstore.
Inside were all kinds of books, as well as pens, ink, paper and inkstones.
Song Wangyue led Erma inside and took a small stool for her to sit by the counter, “Sister is going to buy paper and bookkeeping books, you sit still, we’ll go back to the bazaar when we’re done.”
Er Ya nodded obediently and when Song Wan Yue went in, she took out a few dried fruits from her pocket and ate them slowly.
After picking out some substandard paper and holding it in her hand, Song Wangyue searched for the account book, but after searching around she couldn’t find it, she raised her voice and asked the shopkeeper, “Excuse me, where is the account book you have here?”
“It’s on the second tier of the innermost shelf.”
After answering, the shopkeeper remembered that Song Wangyue was a young girl and could not reach it, so she came out of the counter, walked to the cabinet over there, moved a ladder and brought down several different ledger books, “Which one do you want?”
Song Wangyue picked one, waited for the counterkeeper to put the remaining ones back, came down from the ladder, and as he came over, put the things on the counter, “Total ……”
Before she finished her words, she suddenly looked towards where Erma was sitting just now, except for a small stool, where was the shadow of Erma.
“Erma!”
Song Wangyue shouted and headed out, and at the doorway, there was a fallen dried fruit.
Her heart tightened and she scrambled around, there was another one not far away.
She followed it down and chased it all the way to inside a dilapidated hutong.
“Erma!”
Song Wangyue shouted anxiously.
The hutong was silent and there was no response.
Forcing herself to calm down, Song Wan Yue held her breath and tentatively pushed open one of the doors. Inside was a dilapidated mansion, in disrepair and empty.
She pushed open another one, and it was still the same.
She went to push the third one when there was a slight movement behind her, she jerked back, a handful of powder was raised to her face and Song Wan Yue fell limply.
