âDaohua!â
A delighted voice carried over, and as Daohua turned around, she saw Zhou Jingwan running over, pulling along a beautiful young lady with a slender figure.
âJingwan!â
Daohua immediately waved and greeted Zhou Jingwan, then ran towards her.
In the process, not paying attention, the pig-headed kite that had just flown up fell down again, and, coincidentally, knocked Dong Yuanyaoâs down as well.
Dong Yuanyao stomped her foot in frustration and jumped up.
âYan Yiyi, if you donât want to admit defeat just say so, why are you crashing into my paper kite?â
Daohua paused, shrugged at Dong Yuanyao, and spread her hands, âAn unexpected incident, purely a mistake.â
âYou wait for me!â
Dong Yuanyao huffed and turned to pick up her paper kite.
By this time, Zhou Jingwan had arrived.
âLook at you, no sooner have you left me, youâve found another playmate!â Zhou Jingwan looked at Daohua with the eyes of someone watching a faithless lover, âBe honest, now that you have Sister Dong, have you forgotten all about me?â
Daohua walked over to Zhou Jingwan with a radiant smile, holding her hand, âEven if I forget myself, I dare not forget our Miss Zhou.â
Zhou Jingwanâs face brightened up a bit, but she still harrumphed, âThen why didnât you tell me when you came to the Temple of the Flower God to celebrate today?â
Daohua replied innocently, âHow would I know you were coming to the provincial capital?â As she spoke, she smiled at the girl next to Zhou Jingwan and shook Zhou Jingwanâs arm, âWho is this sister? You must introduce me quickly.â
Zhou Jingwan glared at Daohua, seemingly letting her off the hook, and pulled the young lady beside her, saying, âThis is Sister Zhang from the Provincial Criminal Investigatorâs family.â She whispered a bit softer, âMy future sister-in-law.â
Upon hearing this, Daohuaâs eyes lit up immediately; she took a good look at Miss Zhang from the Zhang Family and curtsied, âGreetings, Sister Zhang.â
Seeing Daohuaâs eyes light up, Zhang Nanyan smiled and pursed her lips. Truly, as Jingwan had said, the Yan Familyâs young lady was lively and cheerful; she returned the greeting, âMiss Yan.â
âSister Zhang!â
At that moment, Dong Yuanyao came back with her paper kite.
Zhang Nanyan greeted her with a smile, âLittle Sister Dong.â
Dong Yuanyao, still seething, handed Daohua her pig-headed kite and then asked, âSister Zhang, I havenât seen you in such a long time, what have you been up to?â
Zhang from the Provincial Criminal Investigatorâs family and her father were both officials in Zhongzhou Province, and every time the families met, they would see each other and were quite familiar.
Zhang Nanyan lowered her head somewhat shyly, uncertain how to answer the question.
Since she had gotten engaged, sheâd been at home embroidering her bridal outfit.
But how could she bring herself to mention such a thing?
Lucky for her, Zhou Jingwan, the little sister-in-law, was quite considerate. Sensing Zhang Nanyanâs embarrassment, she quickly came to the rescue, âSister Zhang has been at home learning how to manage household matters.â
Dong Yuanyao looked at Zhou Jingwan, and as though realizing something, smiled meaningfully at Zhang Nanyan, âLook at me, I completely forgot about Sister Zhangâs engagement, I really deserve a slap.â Saying this, she gently patted her own face.
Seeing Dong Yuanyao teasing herself made Zhang Nanyanâs face turn red with embarrassment.
Zhou Jingwan hurriedly defended her, âSister Dong, you mustnât bully my sister-in-law.â
Dong Yuanyao immediately laughed, âOh, youâre protecting her now!â
Daohua tugged at Dong Yuanyao teasingly, âYou better be careful, or someone might come to settle the score with you.â She then pointed in the direction where Xiao Yeyang and the others were.
Dong Yuanyao followed Daohuaâs pointing finger and saw Zhou Chengye looking their way. Pretending to be scared, she hid behind Daohua, âYiyi, save me.â
Playing along with Dong Yuanyao, Daohua said, âYouâre asking the wrong person for help. You should be asking Sister Zhang. Big Brother Zhou will definitely only listen to Sister Zhang.â
Seeing the two of them like this, Zhang Nanyan stamped her foot and pointed to Dong Yuanyao, someone she was more familiar with, âLittle Sister Dong, youâre not a good person, making fun of me like this, Iâm going to get you.â With that, she reached out to grab Dong Yuanyao.
Dong Yuanyao immediately tugged on Daohua to evade, while Daohua also helped her block Zhang Nanyan.
Zhou Jingwan said, âAlright, you two are bullying my sister-in-law, let me help you.â Saying this, she also joined in the fun.
During the frolics of the four, Su Shiyu came over with her maids.
Seeing his own little sister, Su Hongxin immediately took a butterfly paper kite reserved for her and personally took her over to where Daohua and the others were.
âMiss Su!â
âShiyu!â
âSister Su!â
Seeing Su Shiyu coming over, the four women paused in their play.
It was then that Su Hongxin spoke, âMy sister is rather delicate, so you ladies must take good care of her.â
Su Shiyu was a bit embarrassed, âBrother, I can fly a kite, you go find the Little Prince and the others.â
Su Hongxinâs face was filled with concern. His sisterâs health wasnât as robust as the Yan girls or Dong girl, and she couldnât get too tired.
âWhere did that kite come from, I want one too.â
Seeing the kites in the hands of the Daohua trio, Zhou Jingwan spoke up.
âYou can play with mine!â
Daohua handed her pig-headed kite to Zhou Jingwan.
Zhou Jingwan took one look and showed her distaste, âItâs so ugly, I donât want it.â
Daohua snorted, âDonât want it then forget it.â Saying so, she turned to look at Zhang Nanyan.
Zhang Nanyan couldnât show her disdain as plainly as Zhou Jingwan, so she could only force a wry smile.
Now Daohua understood, glanced at the pig-headed kite in her hand, and sighed, âKite, oh kite, it seems Iâm the only one who does not despise you. If you donât fly the highest for me, it would truly be letting me down.â
âWhat are you mumbling about!â
Xiao Yeyang and several others walked over, Zhou Chengye holding two kites in his hands, one shaped like a dragonfly and the other like a swallow.
Daohua glanced at the othersâ kites, then at her own, and her face began to show traces of scorn, âI have to say, appearances are sometimes very important. If itâs ugly, itâs embarrassing to take it out in public!â
âWhat are you talking about!â
Xiao Yeyang gave Daohua a look and took the pig-headed kite from her hands, âCome on, Iâll fly it for you.â
Daohua immediately followed, âIt needs to fly the highest. I want my pig-head to beat everyone.â
Xiao Yeyangâs lips curled in a slight smile, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, âDonât worry, your pig-head is the best.â
Daohua nodded, âExactly. Yuanyao and the othersâ kites are pretty, but pretty things often look good but are of no use. My pig-head is better.â
Meanwhile, Zhou Chengye handed the dragonfly kite to Zhou Jingwan while holding onto the swallow kite himself, looking at Zhang Nanyan with a smile, âYou hold the string, Iâll help you fly the kite.â
Zhang Nanyan felt shy, but she didnât refuse.
Today was the Festival of Flowers. Everyone was out having fun, and there was no need to adhere to the usual strict rules.
Watching her brother lead his future sister-in-law away, Zhou Jingwan pouted and stood in place, fuming.
She actually preferred the swallow kite.
The sister-in-law hadnât even married into the family yet, and her brother was already protecting her, while she, his biological sister, was discarded like grass to the side.
How infuriating!
âDo you need my help?â
An unexpected voice interrupted Zhou Jingwanâs complaints.
Zhou Jingwan turned around to see Yan Wentao scratching his head with an embarrassed look, her face immediately beaming with a radiant smile, âYes, please,â she said eagerly, quickly handing the kite to Yan Wentao.
âI want to fly it the highest, higher than Daohuaâs pig-head.â
Dong Yuanyao had run around for a while and was already low on energy. She handed her paper kite to her brother, âBrother, what are you looking at? Hurry up and help me fly this kite. I must beat that pig-head.â
Dong Yuanxuanâs gaze moved away from the amiable and harmoniously interacting Xiao Yeyang and Daohua, beginning to fly the paper kite somewhat absentmindedly.
Soon, the various girls went off to fly their kites, leaving only Su Shiyu standing still.
Yan Wenkai looked around and saw Su Hongxin engrossed in conversation with his elder brother. He shook his head and said to Su Shiyu, âHongxin is really not a qualified brother. Shiyu sister, come on, Yan fourth brother will take you to fly a kite.â
Seeing Yan Wenkai take her kite without even asking for permission, Su Shiyu was stunned.
Yan Wenkai walked a few steps and, noticing that Su Shiyu hadnât followed, looked back, âSister Shiyu, come on, hurry up!â
Su Shiyu then snapped out of her daze, âOh.â
Yan Wenkai strode forward, but after a few steps, he slowed down, waiting for Su Shiyu to catch up before continuing forward, âSister Shiyu, listen to fourth brother Yan, you should exercise more when you get home. You are so frail, Iâm afraid you might get exhausted.â
Su Shiyu frowned slightly, intending to explain that she wasnât weak, but after glancing at Yan Wenkai, she swallowed her words.
Humph, this Yan fourth brother, too annoying. Every time he sees her, itâs either about exercising or eating more.
If only she practiced martial arts⦠thenâ¦
Su Shiyuâs gaze landed on the pig-head kite in the sky, and her face lit up with amusement.
Hearing the laughter, Yan Wenkai turned his head in surprise and caught sight of Su Shiyuâs fleeting smile, causing him to have a hard time looking away.
Su Shiyu noticed Yan Wenkaiâs gaze and immediately restrained her smile, feeling slightly embarrassed because her thoughts had just been about turning Yan Wentao into a pig-head.
Unable to see the beautyâs smile anymore, Yan Wenkai felt a bit regretful, but he didnât give it much thought and went on to fly the kite with a laugh.