Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 740 Like
Yang Qin had already planned it out: once he picked up his sister-in-law, he would take her straight home. If anyone tried to stop him, he wouldn't be polite.

When he rushed over to snatch his sister-in-law, he was like a hedgehog with its quills out, full of ferocity.

But he never expected that the King would come at him like this, catching him completely off guard.

Yang Qin didn't speak, and Wang Yan continued, "What? You don't recognize me after only a few months?" There wasn't much blame; instead, it seemed rather...friendly.

Upon hearing this, Yang Qin had no choice but to bow to Wang Yan, saying, "Lord Wang." He stubbornly tried to use the form of address to distance himself from Wang Yan.

Sure enough, there was a moment of silence. Yang Qin stiffened his neck, preparing to use his thin shoulders to hold up the strange atmosphere, but then he felt a heat on his head. Wang Yan reached out and straightened the towel binding his hair.

Then a voice with a hint of laughter came: "You've been taking care of the family while your sister-in-law was away in Bianjing. Zheng-ge'er brought you some things, go and take a look."

Wang Yan's mood seemed completely unaffected, and he remained very warm towards Yang Qin. Yang Qin felt that he had been trying so hard, only to end up choking and stumbling.

"I don't……"

Before he could even utter the word "want," a small bow was handed to him.

Wang Zheng said, "Brother made a bow for each of us. It fits me perfectly, but I don't know if you can draw it?"

Yang Qin couldn't take his eyes off it after just one glance.

“This bow arm is made of aged wood,” Wang Zheng said, “and has been air-dried for several years. Look at the handholds here, they’re wrapped in Xiangfei bamboo, and here…”

Wang Zheng pointed to them one by one: "The piece of ox horn is attached to the outer arm of the bow."

Wang Zheng pointed to a spot, and Yang Qin glanced at it. The ox horn-shaped piece was translucent, with a honey-like color, much like... that precious amber.

Yang Qin couldn't help but swallow.

“The most exquisite part is here…” Wang Zheng pointed to the inside of the bow, “This is lacquered, come and touch it.”

Yang Qin subconsciously reached out his hand, only to feel that the place his fingertips touched was warm and smooth like jade.

“My brother said that the best silk for short bowstrings is made of silkworm silk, and the surface has been polished with beeswax, which is why it is this color.”

Wang Zheng knew it like the back of his hand, because he also loved this bow so much that he would even put it next to him when he slept.

"Let's make this clear first, I haven't stolen your bow," Wang Zheng said, placing it in Yang Qin's hand. "Once you're taller and can use it, we'll have a contest, shall we?"

Yang Qin was about to say instinctively that there was no need to grow taller, he could already draw it, it was just a short bow, how could it be difficult for him?
However, he soon remembered that the bow was made by Wang Yan.

Just as he was about to put the bow back, he heard Wang Yan say, "The Xiangfei Bamboo Bow was chosen by your sister-in-law, and she even named it 'Lingque Bow'."

As Wang Yan spoke, he touched the curved bow, and Yang Qin was surprised to find that it was inlaid with silver thread, outlining a bird pattern.

Yang Qin immediately gripped the bamboo bow tightly, then put the short bow back into his bosom. Since it was his sister-in-law who named it, then this bow could only be his.

“You’re still a bit too young,” Wang Yan said to Yang Qin. “When I was practicing archery, I was two years older than you.”

Yang Qin couldn't help but say, "I'm tall."

Wang Yan laughed: "If you're not strong, you'll suffer a lot."

"I'm not afraid." Yang Qin took a deep breath. Once he had mastered the skills, he would be able to protect his mother and sister-in-law in the future.

This time, Wang Yan nodded and said, "Then I'll come and teach you in a couple of days."

“My elder brother is an excellent archer. Every year when the academy and the prefectural school hold archery ceremonies, he always wins first place. However, this martial art is not easy to learn. If you practice too much, you will not even be able to hold a pen.”

Yang Qin looked at Wang Yan: "I will learn." He not only wanted to learn, but he wanted to learn well and surpass Lord Wang.

The thought had barely crossed Yang Qin's mind when he suddenly realized that he had spoken to Lord Wang again, and that he would be seeing Lord Wang frequently in the future. When Lord Wang came to see him, would he go to see his sister-in-law again?

Is it too late for him to regret it now?

Yang Qin made up his mind that if Lord Wang really taught him, he would prepare a fee for his tuition. He couldn't take advantage of others... But how much fee would be appropriate?
As they were talking, Xie Yuyan walked up to Madam Lin and Madam Zhang and bowed to them.

Madam Lin smiled and pulled Xie Yuyan back, saying, "Don't be so formal. You must be very tired from traveling around these days. You should go back and rest early."

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Madam Lin then asked, "Would you like to ride in our carriage?"

Xie Yuyan responded, "I will follow Madam's arrangements."

Zhang's eyes crinkled with laughter. Xie Yuyan then asked Zhang about her recent situation, and Zhang repeatedly said that everything was fine.

The three of them talked as they got into the car.

Wang Yan watched the carriage slowly move forward, and before he could even say a word to his mother, he was left behind.

Yang Qin was in a bad mood, but seeing this scene, he felt inexplicably happy again.

……

The atmosphere inside the carriage was exceptionally relaxed.

Madam Lin was very well prepared, fearing that she might be awkward when meeting Ayan for the first time, so she specially brought along her pet cat.

As soon as Xie Yuyan got into the carriage, the cat eagerly jumped over and circled around Xie Yuyan's legs, meowing from time to time, as if complaining that Xie Yuyan hadn't come to see it for a long time.

As soon as Xie Yuyan sat down, it jumped onto Xie Yuyan's lap and then buried its fluffy head in Xie Yuyan's arms.

The mother who was accompanying the carriage reported from outside: "Just now, Li Nu was in a hurry to get off the carriage. She must be looking for Lady Xie."

Madam Lin seemed to understand why her son had left the cat with Ayan when they were in Daming Prefecture. Judging from the way the cat treated Ayan, it seemed as if Ayan was its master.

Xie Yuyan reached out and stroked the raccoon's fur, watching it close its eyes comfortably.

Madam Lin smiled and said, "When this cat was at home, only Yan-ge'er could hold it. When Yan-ge'er brought it home, I wanted to feed it some food, but it scratched me."

Xie Yuyan asked, "Did you scratch Madam's skin?"

Madam Lin nodded: "But the injury isn't serious."

Xie Yuyan gently patted the furry head, and the cat seemed to understand her meaning, hugging her arm and turning over coquettishly, revealing its soft belly.

Madam Lin found it strange; the cat seemed to have a completely different personality in Ayan's presence, becoming extremely docile.

“Now I believe that whether it’s people or these little things, it all comes down to fate,” Madam Lin said with a smile. “It can’t be forced.”

Her son Yan was like that, and so was this cat. Madam Lin felt that even she herself was exceptionally fond of Ayan upon seeing him, wishing she could immediately welcome him into the house.

Zhang carefully examined Xie Yuyan and saw that although Ayan had lost some weight, she was in good spirits and had a slight blush on her cheeks, which put her at ease.

Xie Yuyan exchanged a few words with Madam Lin and then came to see Zhang Shi: "The house is in a mess, Mother, thank you for your trouble."

“I can’t be of much help,” Zhang said. “I can only do small things.”

Xie Yuyan shook his head: "With my mother at home taking care of things, I can feel at ease when I'm away."

(End of this chapter)