Chapter 181: Provocation
It was noon.

After Wang Ruofu instructed the kitchen to prepare the table, she immediately sent Madam Liu to call the gentlemen to the other side of the screen to take their seats.

Hualan invited Wang Ruofu to go out together, while discussing their plans for the afternoon.

Wang Ruofu had nothing to do in the afternoon.

Originally, Wang Ruofu was going back to her parents' home today.

According to her original temperament, she would definitely stay at Wang's house and brag to her family members to show her satisfaction.

However, after what happened with Wang Ruoyu, Wang Ruofu didn't want to stay in the Wang family for long.

So as to avoid meeting Wang Ruoyu and looking unlucky.

Therefore, as soon as the sun rose today, Wang Ruofu got up early and went back to her parents' home in the early morning frost. After briefly greeting her brother Wang Yan and her mother, Old Lady Wang, she went back home early on the pretext that her daughter Hualan was going back home to pay her respects and that some students from the school had come to give New Year gifts in the morning.

Wang Ruoyu was too embarrassed to confess what he had done to the Wang family.

So although the Wang family was a little surprised at Wang Ruofu's reason, they still accepted it with pleasure.

That's true. After all, Wang Ruofu's daughter is now married, and she has married into the marquis's mansion to become the eldest lady. In the future, her title of "Wang family's daughter" will naturally take a back seat when it comes to "daughter and son-in-law returning home."

Not to mention that many sons of noble families came to visit.

Of course, Wang Ruofu, the grandmother of the Sheng family, also had to be present for the social event.

The Wang family happily agreed, and they arrived a little earlier than in previous years. However, Wang Ruoyu, who happened to pass by Wang Ruofu who was leaving, was not in a very good mood.

"I originally wanted to take advantage of the presence of my brother and mother today to talk to Wang Ruofu. Even if we can't get back together right away, Wang Ruofu will definitely not refuse outright for the sake of her family."

Wang Ruoyu claimed that he understood Wang Ruofu and knew that she was easily influenced.

If she were allowed to say a few more nice things to her face, Wang Ruofu would definitely be able to put aside her deliberate cold attitude and regain her enthusiasm towards her biological sister.

But she didn't know that her children were Wang Ruofu's Achilles' heel.

Wang Ruofu's previous actions had "three hits in one go", directly implicating all three children. How could Wang Ruofu forgive him so easily?
Sheng family.

The porch of the dining room.

Yang Wenyuan was standing quietly.

He hasn't sat down yet, and Gu Tingye is begging him to wait outside to confirm the news for the afternoon from Hualan.

Hua Lan was talking to Old Madam Sheng and Old Madam Yu at this time.

After sending the two people into the house, he walked towards Yang Wenyuan.

“Several elders agreed.”

Hua Lan came to stand beside Yang Wenyuan and said softly:
"Old Madam Yu will stay this afternoon. My mother and I will accompany the two elders. Yu Yanran will be accompanied by Minglan, Rulan and others. As for your husband, you only need to hold Changbai back, and you will naturally have a reason to stay."

Yang Wenyuan nodded immediately.

The couple then went into their own rooms.

"How is it? What did my sister-in-law say?" As soon as Yang Wenyuan entered the room, Gu Tingye impatiently pulled him to the seat that had been reserved for him and asked him repeatedly.

"Mrs. Yu agreed!"

Yang Wenyuan rolled his eyes at Gu Tingye and said:

"As long as you pull Changbai along and be thick-skinned, you can stay here naturally."

After hearing this, Gu Tingye knew that the most urgent task at the moment was still Changbai.

He immediately bowed his head towards Yang Wenyuan...

Yang Wenyuan didn't expect Gu Tingye to do such a big gift for this matter. Seeing this, he quickly said politely:
"Zhong Huai, we are all classmates and friends. This is just a small favor. There is no need to show such a big gift. It is too formal."

Unexpectedly, when Gu Tingye looked up, Yang Wenyuan met his surprised eyes.

"Why such a great honor?"

Gu Tingye whispered in confusion:
"Hurry up and get up. I want to go talk to Zecheng!"

"Ok?"

Yang Wenyuan was startled, then looked to the other side and suddenly found that it was Changbai who was sitting there.

Now I understood immediately.

Damn, he forgets his principles for the sake of beauty!

Gu Tingye quickly switched seats with Yang Wenyuan, but he didn't notice Yang Wenyuan's resentful look at all. He was only focused on his own happiness.

"What's wrong?" Changbai looked at Gu Tingye who suddenly came over with a confused look on his face.

Upon seeing this, Gu Tingye immediately whispered in her ear.

After a while.

Yang Wenyuan witnessed with his own eyes how Changbai's expression changed from one of rejection to a slight relaxation to his cheerful agreement to the trio.

Needless to say, some shady benefits must have been promised.

Don’t worry about scarcity but inequality.

It would have been fine if Gu Tingye had not engaged in the dirty "power-for-money transaction" in front of him, but after taking a quick look, Yang Wenyuan realized belatedly that he had helped Gu Tingye so many times, and it turned out that it was all voluntary work!

At this time, Yang Wenyuan was secretly thinking about how to ask for benefits from Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingyu had just made Changbai agree to his request and was turning around with a smile on his face when he suddenly felt his sleeve tighten.

I looked around but couldn't find any reason, so I just smiled.

After a lively dinner.

Sheng Hong said he was going to change his clothes, and asked Chang Bai to stay and accompany everyone.

As soon as everyone left, Gu Tingye immediately started to arrange activities for the afternoon.

Gu Tingye really hopes to have a unisex sport in the afternoon, preferably something like polo.

In this way, with his skills, he would surely be able to win the girl's heart in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, although the Sheng family is a wealthy family compared to officials of the same level, it is not as wealthy as a noble family. Naturally, the sports such as polo proposed by Gu Tingye cannot be played.

Playing chuiwan is not a good idea either, after all, the Sheng family’s house is so small and most of the place is paved with blue bricks and slabs.

You can't just drill a hole on purpose, right?

Although Gu Tingye is not short of money, this is an offense to the master's family, and Gu Tingye would not be so stupid as to do so.

After careful consideration, Gu Tingye decided to play the game of tossing pots.

Gu Tingye is also one of the best in the skill of pitching pots.

It can be used from both sides.

When he was in Yangzhou, he inadvertently became Yang Wenyuan's wingman because of his superb skills in pitching pots.

Gu Tingye discussed and decided on the game of pitching pots.

When Qi Heng, who was standing by, saw this, he was immediately attracted.

Seeing this, Bu Wei, who was following him, quickly reminded him:
"Sir, the princess told you to go home early for dinner before she left this morning. I'm afraid you have to go back before it gets dark..."

Qi Heng's face darkened slightly when he heard this.

It was getting dark early at this time. If it was really as my mother said, I was afraid I would not have much time to stay at the Sheng family. I would have to leave after sitting for a while...

At this time, Rulan came over and asked Changbai:
"Second brother, elder sister just said that you would come to us to do something this afternoon?" Changbai looked helpless.

I didn't expect that my sister Hualan would also put the blame on me...

But after looking at Gu Tingye who was constantly winking at him, and thinking about the authentic work of Wang Youjun that he had just promised, he could only nod his head in agreement:
"Yes, there are many people here today, and we are all old acquaintances. Why don't we play pot-to-pot together?"

"Tossing a pot?!"

Before Rulan could say anything, Minglan's pretty face suddenly popped out from the other side of the screen.

All the elders have been taken away by Hualan. Now there are only a few girls left among the female relatives, as well as Mama Liu and Mama Fang who are in charge of looking after everyone, and an old maid left behind by Madam Yu.

Minglan was eavesdropping behind a screen, but when she heard the word "touhu", she could no longer hold back.

She still remembers what happened in Yangzhou.

At that time, his third brother Changfeng was easily defeated by Gu Tingye in the game of tossing pot. He wanted to step forward to rescue him, but was stopped by his brother-in-law Yang Wenyuan halfway. He died before he could make a move.

Thinking of this, Minglan turned her gaze to Yang Wenyuan standing beside her.

"..." Yang Wenyuan understood the questioning and reproachful look in Minglan's eyes, and immediately turned his head away embarrassedly.

Sixth sister, I was also forced by the situation at that time!

If you want to ask me what compelled me, I can only tell the truth.

It’s for the brotherhood between me and Gu Tingye!
I will not allow Gu Tingye to make a fool of himself in front of everyone, even if he wants to!
This is brother!

Seeing Yang Wenyuan glance away, Minglan looked at Gu Tingye again.

"!!!"

Gu Tingye is not stupid, but rather very quick-witted, otherwise he would not have passed the imperial examination in such a short time.

When he saw Minglan's eyes looking at him, he immediately seemed to have received some strong signal and couldn't help but blurt out:
"Yes, pitching pots! I have always been famous for pitching pots in Bianjing. Even when I went to other places, I never lost a game. Wherever I went, I only defeated my opponents!"

It was only because Chang Feng was not present that Gu Tingye could say such words. Otherwise, if these words fell into Chang Feng's ears, he would probably have to fight on the spot...

No drinking competition!

Chang Feng: I can’t beat you in pitching pots, but can I drink more than you?!
Without so many elders around, Minglan was no longer restrained by her temper and immediately said:
"Really? Uncle Gu, you are not afraid of sticking your tongue out when you brag."

"How could this not be true?!"

Seeing that his method of provoking the person had worked, Gu Tingye looked surprised, but he couldn't help feeling happy in his heart.

He knew that Minglan and Yu Yanran always got along best and had a very close relationship.

If Minglan got involved, could Yu Yanran just stand by and watch?
"Of course!"

Gu Tingye expected Minglan to come on stage by herself and bring Yu Yanran along, but Minglan rolled her eyes and looked at everyone in the room again.

Qi Heng had been sitting aside, staring at Minglan, who was "more beautiful than all the other beauties and more eloquent than any other woman". When he saw Minglan's eyes sweeping over him, he immediately sat up straight and behaved properly. However, his beloved's eyes just glanced at him briefly. The joy in his heart suddenly disappeared and he seemed a little distraught.

"Can you compare with my brother-in-law?" Minglan's eyes finally fixed on Yang Wenyuan, and then she asked Gu Tingye.

"Your brother-in-law? Hmm..."

Gu Tingye's tone suddenly paused.

If it were in the past, Gu Tingye would naturally not be afraid, but this Yang Wenyuan took some unknown medicine, his martial arts and archery skills improved rapidly as if he had taken drugs.

Years ago they had a contest in martial arts and archery.

Their martial arts skills were similar, but their archery skills...

Gu Tingye suspected that Yang Wenyuan had replaced his Eagle Eyes and Iron Arms.

Not only could he hit the target from a hundred paces away, but he could even shoot five arrows in a row, forming a line. Who could withstand that?

There are many similarities between pitching pots and archery.

Although Gu Tingye had never competed with Yang Wenyuan, and he rarely saw him playing pot-tossing with others, he was not naive enough to think that Yang Wenyuan could not do it, so...

Gu Tingye: How should I respond to this? It's urgent!
Facing Yang Wenyuan's half-smile, Gu Tingye's heart skipped a beat.

I was still a little skeptical at first, but when I saw Yang Wenyuan's smile, I became more certain of my guess.

Gu Tingye doesn't want to die before he achieves anything.

Although he was confident in himself, the archery skills that Yang Wenyuan taught him were too shocking.

I was thinking about it.

But he saw Yang Wenyuan turned sideways, suddenly lifted his sleeves and rubbed his fingers secretly.

"Huh?" Gu Tingye was stunned.

He had played with Yang Wenyuan for the longest time, so he naturally understood the meaning of Yang Wenyuan's action.

He wants to let me off the hook, but the condition is that I have to help pay for it?

Seeing Yang Wenyuan making the "bang!" sound with his lips and shaking a finger, Gu Tingye understood immediately.

Paying for your fireworks workshop, right?

A month's spending?

no problem!
Gu Tingye has been a wealthy man ever since he received the huge inheritance from the Bai family when he was a teenager.

The fact that Yang Wenyuan liked to tinker with the fireworks workshop was well-known throughout the city of Bianjing, and Gu Tingye naturally knew about it as well.

And I heard that it is not only happening in Bianjing City, but there are also movements in other places.

Gu Tingye now felt at ease.

They are just a few fireworks workshops, how much would they cost?
This is what a brother is! Gu Tingye was silently moved.

I'm afraid that Yang Wenyuan only brought up the matter of the fireworks workshop for the sake of his own face, otherwise he wouldn't let me pay for such a small amount of money.

Gu Tingye didn't hesitate at all and immediately nodded secretly to Yang Wenyuan.

Yang Wenyuan took the money and did the job. He coughed lightly, waited for everyone's attention to gather, and then slowly said:

"Sixth sister, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. My brother-in-law twisted his wrist while practicing martial arts a few days ago, so it's inconvenient for him to use force..."

Seeing Minglan's suspicious expression, Yang Wenyuan immediately said:

"But don't worry, I can still try!"

Yang Wenyuan's tactic of retreating to advance also left Minglan with no other options.

However, this time she was just teasing Gu Tingye and taking the opportunity to report back to Yang Wenyuan for forcibly stopping her. Seeing that things were impossible, Minglan decided to give up.

Gu Tingye saw that Minglan was not doing well and immediately said:
"From what Sixth Sister said just now, could it be that she also knows how to play pot tossing? Since you call me Second Uncle, we are all family, why not have some fun?"

Gu Tingye has always been thick-skinned.

On the road to pursuing happiness, he naturally spared no effort, and there was no trace of shame on his face for bullying the little girl.

Minglan showed some hesitation.

She wanted to leave after finishing her words, but Gu Tingye spoke rudely again. Now the "new grudges and old grudges" were mixed together, and Minglan couldn't help but feel moved.

Rulan was happy to watch the fun, and she had seen how good Minglan was at pitching pots, so she immediately urged:
"Don't be afraid, Sixth Sister. Sister Yanran and I are standing by to support and cheer for you!"

(End of this chapter)