Chapter 2: Xia Jin scolds Deng Tu Zi, Xiao Kui's heart is startled by his uncle

  Xia Jin went out the door, winding his way to the accounting room. Along the way, he felt a lot clearer in his mind. Although his uncle was a distant relative, he had always been kind to both Xia Jin and Xiao Kui. It was also thanks to his uncle's help that Xiao Kui was able to enter the Fu Yue Lou. Thinking about it now, his uncle must have acted on impulse when he agreed to this matter.

  As he walked, Xia Jin arrived at the door of the accounting house. The sound of abacus clicking away was incessant inside. Xia Jin went in and called out softly: "Uncle Zheng Shan!" A sturdy big man gently put down the exquisite abacus in his hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his head carefully, and laughed loudly: "Xia Jin, is it only after you finished reading Xiao Kui that you remembered this old scoundrel?" The accountants in the house were already accustomed to Zheng Shan's loud voice and continued to calculate without lifting their heads.

  As soon as they stepped out, Zheng Can patted Xia Jin's shoulder heavily, causing him to wince in pain. This uncle had always been so rough and careless, fortunately, his own body was tougher than an average scholar, otherwise he would have fallen apart long ago.

  Xia Jin told Zheng Can about the details of what happened with Xiao Kui, and after listening, Zheng Can burst out laughing: "I knew it was something like this! As the saying goes, a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its nest. You've actually set your sights on that little flower right in front of your own door!

  This is my fault, I didn't realize you had those feelings for Xiao Kui. My original intention was to marry her off to a wealthy family, even if it wasn't as the main wife, at least it would be better than their current life. You could also focus on your studies with peace of mind.

  As an uncle without children of his own, I regard you as my own son. If I couldn't even handle these small matters properly, then I'm truly incompetent!"

  After finishing speaking, Zheng Can stroked his whiskers, which were as sharp as a wolf's fangs, and patted Xia Jin's shoulder heavily. Xia Jin didn't even notice the pain, and hurriedly thanked his uncle. Zheng Can waved his hand: "Next month I will definitely get to drink my niece-in-law's respectful tea, you mustn't be like those bookworms who only care about studying and forget about life's major events. By the way, have you forgotten the martial arts skills I taught you since childhood? A scholar with no physical strength is useless, the body is the capital, practice well and your studies will also be spirited."

  Shi Jie said, "Uncle entrusted his nephew and he dare not forget." Zheng Can thought to himself: This kid is originally a good material for practicing martial arts. He has been practicing the Arhat Fist since childhood, which has quite an effect. His physical strength is even better than that of those who have practiced martial arts since childhood on the Jianghu road. It's just a pity that he was foolish because of reading books and became a blockhead. But it doesn't matter, as long as he can live a peaceful life in this lifetime, it will be worth it for his own sake and for the sake of his younger sister. Seeing Shi Jie happy, Zheng Can waved his hand and told him to hurry up and leave, to go accompany his future niece-in-law more often.

  Xia Jin's body was here, but his heart had already flown to where Xiao Kui was. Zheng Can called out to him, and he rushed out like a bird in flight. Behind him, Zheng Can shouted that Xia Jin and Xiao Kui were invited to dinner at his place tonight. Xia Jin responded with a "yes" and didn't bother to see if his uncle had heard him, continuing to run forward on his own.

  When Xia Jin found Xiao Kui, he told her what Zheng Can had said. Xiao Kui couldn't help but cry tears of joy. Life was indeed like this - if one could find a good partner, even the gods would envy them. Xia Jin and Xiao Kui talked about how they were invited to dinner at Zheng Can's place tonight, and Xiao Kui thought to herself that this wasn't an ordinary family gathering. She felt both happy and afraid in her heart, having previously hated Zheng Can but now quickly forgetting about it as she thought about how to please her future uncle.

  Xia Jin and Xiao Kui chatted for a long time, until the sun was high in the sky. Thinking that Shu Yue Lou would be opening soon, Xiao Kui would have to get busy, and he also needed to go buy some gifts to bring when they went to see his uncle tonight. So, he bid farewell to Xiao Kui and returned to his own home.

  In the evening, Xiao Kui was picked up, and she was dressed exceptionally beautifully. She wore a green jade smoke shirt, a scattered flower mist green grass pleated skirt, and a thin smoke gauze draped over her shoulders. Her waist was slender, her skin as smooth as condensed fat, and her aura as elegant as a dark orchid. Her bright eyes moved nimbly, with a hint of mischief and playfulness, looking at Xia Jin. Xia Jin couldn't help but stare blankly, standing there in a daze. Xiao Kui punched Xia Jin with a pink fist, her face red with anger, saying: "This bookworm, on the bustling street, staring straight at people without shame! I don't know what happened to the Confucius and Mencius he learned, probably all thrown away!"

  Xia Jin smiled foolishly and said, "Xiao Kui looks really good tonight..." "Pfft, you're talking like those rascals, not like a scholar. Hurry up and find your uncle, don't make him wait." Xia Jin woke up from his daze, repeatedly saying yes, and led Xiao Kui out of the Washing Moon Building. Just as Xia Jin and Xiao Kui were laughing and leaving the Washing Moon Building, they ran into a refined-looking young scholar wearing elegant clothes, with sword-like eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, walking in a dignified manner, lightly tapping his paper fan. Seeing Xia Jin and Xiao Kui chatting and laughing, he was taken aback for a moment, then walked up to them, carefully sizing up Xia Jin. Xiao Kui hid behind Xia Jin when she saw the young scholar.

  The scholar burst out laughing: "Miss Xia Kui, you're as lovely as ever! I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've become even more beautiful! May I ask who this gentleman is?" Xia Jin heard this and was displeased, thinking to himself: This is outrageous, flirting with his own fiancée in the middle of the street, how improper! Xia Kui whispered in Xia Jin's ear at this time: "This is that scoundrel Wang Changqing, he's been pestering me repeatedly, I find him very annoying." Xia Jin heard this and raised his hand to salute, saying: "I am Xia Zhichang from Guangling, it seems like Brother Wang often flirts with women in the streets, enticing butterflies with flowers."

  Wang Changqing didn't know the sour taste in it: "Also, I don't know that Xia brother likes to look for Feng Liu on the street, play with the wind and moon, but unexpectedly, Xia brother also likes to do that thing with Miss Feng on the street, showing a good identity as a scholar." Xia Jin was not angry either, this guy was not afraid of anyone, he could scold the emperor for three days and three nights. "Wang brother, don't slander my family's woman, are all the nuns from the temple really nuns? I heard that Wang Gongzi's father is a good Buddhist, often going to White Horse Temple to worship Buddha, but it seems that with Wang brother being such a tiger son, his father's monk career is not going smoothly. Xiao Kui, today uncle has an invitation, as a junior, you can't lose your manners, follow me." After saying this, he made a bow and asked Wang Changqing to give way, pulling Xiao Kui away with big strides without looking back.

  Wang Changqing didn't get angry, and as Xiao Kui and Xia Jin left, he said on his way out: "Brother Xia's high platform and broad vision, I was enlightened today, and one day I will definitely come to visit you." Xia Jin also ignored him, directly pulling Xiao Kui forward, Xiao Kui was both happy and shy, happy that the man she liked helped her out of a difficult situation and made Wang Changqing lose face, shy because before they were married, he called her "wife" so intimately, this wooden head seemed to have opened up.

  They walked halfway, and Xia Jin stopped, releasing the hand that was holding Xiao Kui. He looked at Xiao Kui with a serious face: "Xiao Kui, I..." Xiao Kui's face turned red as she twisted her clothes and lowered her head without speaking. Xia Jin gritted his teeth: "Xiao Kui, it was my fault earlier. I shouldn't have called you my own person, and you haven't even entered the door yet. I shouldn't be holding your hand; men and women should not be so intimate, it's against etiquette! It's against etiquette! Xiao Kui...I'm sorry..." Xiao Kui: "......" Xia Jin: "Xiao Kui, what's wrong?" Xiao Kui: "Don't talk to me."

  The two of them frolicked and teased each other until they arrived at Zheng Can's door. Xiaogui nervously adjusted her clothes, straightened her posture, and took the initiative to pull Summer forward, pushing open the gate into the courtyard. Zheng Can's courtyard was not large, but it was exquisite, with a variety of rare flowers and plants that he had carefully tended to over time. In a cluster of golden bamboo, there was a stone table surrounded by three stone stools, on which several delicate dishes were placed. Just then, Zheng Can emerged from the house with a warm smile, "Summer, you little scamp, your uncle has been waiting for this future niece-in-law until his heart is almost boiling over!" Xiaogui's beautiful eyes sparkled as she called out "Uncle" in a bashful tone, which truly delighted Zheng Can. Although Summer was not his own biological child, he had raised him since childhood and considered him to be his own precious darling.

  Now that Xiaoding is about to become a young adult, as an elder, it's a mix of emotions, happy and yet can't help but sigh, the child has finally grown up. Xiaojin heard Xiaokui call out "Uncle" and couldn't hold back, muttering: "Not in line with etiquette..." Unexpectedly, Zhengcan overheard and glared, scolding: "Xiaojin, don't spout nonsense today! What's wrong with your wife calling me Uncle?! I acknowledge this nephew-in-law!" The loud words made Xiaojin and Xiaokui's ears ache, Xiaojin could only repeatedly respond in agreement. Xiaokui became familiar with Zhengcan and began to scold Xiaojin one after another.

  Xia Jin was at a loss, unable to do anything but nod and agree. One was his uncle, the other his future wife - he couldn't afford to offend either of them. Just as the three were laughing and chatting, they heard a loud "bang!" The solid wooden door, over ten feet tall, was kicked open with one foot, falling to the ground and stirring up dust and dirt everywhere. As the dust settled, a group of men with long beards and black clothes slowly walked in through the doorway. A pair of fierce eyes stared fixedly at Zheng Can: "Shaolin's Dragon Subduing Stick - I never thought that after all these years, you'd be hiding in this out-of-the-way place, putting on some kind of uncle-nephew play with these two little beasts!" As soon as he finished speaking, the man in black took a long stride forward, his left hand probing the air and his right hand flipping over several palm flowers, stirring up dust and dirt in the courtyard. With a loud "whooshing" sound, he charged towards the stone table, striking it with his palm! In an instant, the stone table was pressed down firmly by this one palm strike - "crash!" The stone table split into four or five pieces, the wine and dishes on top scattering everywhere, and stone powder flying all over the place. For a moment, it was impossible to see what had happened to the three people behind the stone table.