Adhere to the gentleman's principles

The next day, at meal time, Xu Zhiwan said at the table: "Thanks to you two, father and son, the accounts of the shop and the restaurant have been calculated neatly and without mistakes these days. Aren't you two father and son quite harmonious?"

Li Ziyan and Li Yin looked at each other and said, "Tsk." Li Yin said, "If this brat doesn't behave himself, his uncle and I will beat him up every day and he will behave."

Li Ziyan could only say stubbornly: "You either use your uncle to pressure me or use your ruler to beat me."

Li Yin said, "I am your father and you have to accept whatever method I use to discipline you. It was you who was so disobedient before. It's all thanks to my daughter-in-law who managed you well."

Li Ziyan looked at Zhao Junning and said to Li Yin in a low voice, "I'm too lazy to talk to you more."

Zhao Junning patted Li Ziyan and said, "Talk to your father-in-law nicely."

Li Ziyan became obedient after hearing Zhao Junning's teaching. Xu Zhiwan said to Li Yin, "You are already old, why are you arguing with a child? Can you please talk properly?"

Li Yin lowered his head and said, "Madam, I... am."

The next day, Zhao Junning went to Shangwufang in a rage, "Li Ziyan!" She said with a fire in her eyes that was about to burn Li Ziyan. Li Ziyan was stunned by the voice, and his eyes trembled, "Junning, you... you listen to my explanation, it's not what you think."

The dancer next to him approached Li Ziyan, who was so scared that he dodged left and right. Shen Congwen and Xu Wenhe were also shocked by Zhao Junning's voice and trembled in fear. They looked at Li Ziyan with distress in their eyes. Li Ziyan avoided the dancer and approached Zhao Junning: "Wife, listen to my explanation, it's not what you see."

Zhao Junning nodded: "I know, so I came to take you home."

It was the seventh day of the seventh month. "Today is Jun Ning's birthday. Let's raise a toast to celebrate for Jun Ning." Xu Zhiwan said. Zhao Nian, Meng Xiangning, Li Yin, Zhao Junhao, Li Ziyan, Zhao Junning, Xu Wenhe and Xu Gong raised their glasses together. Zhao Junning raised her glass and said, "Thank you, elders."

Xu Zhiwan said, "Jun Ning, now you have officially come of age and are one year older. This is your coming-of-age gift from your mother. Zi Yan gave you one when you had your coming-of-age ceremony. This is your mother's token of appreciation." The plate was filled with all kinds of gold jewelry, and the most eye-catching one was the waist badge of the head of the family. "This is the waist badge from your mother-in-law."

"I will give it to you sooner or later. You have managed our business and everything in the mansion in an orderly manner, and you have also changed Ziyan's personality. When mom and dad grow old, this family will be yours, and it is necessary to give you this badge. Also, don't be so distant and ask mother-in-law to call me mother instead?" Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan, and Li Ziyan said, "Just take it if mom gives it to you."

Zhao Junning looked at Xu Zhiwan with tears in her eyes: "Thank you, mother." Meng Xiangning said: "Junning, your mother-in-law gave it to you, and your mother also gave it to you. You performed the ceremony of coming of age before your marriage, but today is your real coming of age day, so mother will give you this. A jade pendant, a hairpin, and a sachet." She waved her hand and there was a plate of white silver, "Your mother-in-law gave you the power to manage the household, and your mother gave you a red envelope for coming of age."

Zhao Junning hugged Meng Xiangning and said, "Thank you, mother. You have worked so hard to give birth to me. Today is also a day of suffering. And you also gave me a gift."

Meng Xiangning patted Zhao Junning's back gently. Zhao Junhao, who also had the same birthday as Zhao Junning, also received gifts and blessings.

In the evening, Li Ziyan took Zhao Junning by the hand and wandered around the market for a long time. At night, because tonight was Chinese Valentine's Day and Zhao Junning's birthday, the Chinese Valentine's Day Lantern Festival was even more lively.

At the Lantern Festival, the two of them came to the Yue Lao Temple. Li Ziyan looked at Yue Lao and stopped. Zhao Junning asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Ziyan said, "Yue Lao Temple, let's go in and worship."

Zhao Junning said, "Today is the Qixi Festival and we should go to the Magpie Bridge to worship."

Li Ziyan shook his head and said, "There are too many people and it's too noisy at the Magpie Bridge. I'm afraid you can't hear me. Let's go in and worship. Then we can go to the Magpie Bridge to tell you what I want to tell you. And I feel close to this Yue Lao Temple."

Zhao Junning nodded and said, "Okay."

In the Yue Lao Temple, Li Ziyan knelt in front of the Yue Lao Temple and said in his heart: Yue Lao bless me tonight's confession and hope Jun Ning can accept it. After worshiping, Li Ziyan and Zhao Jun Ning went to the most lively Magpie Bridge.

The bridge was decorated with flowers and red ropes.

Li Ziyan let out a long sigh and looked at Zhao Junning. Zhao Junning asked, "What do you want to tell me? Now that there are fewer people on the Magpie Bridge and there is no quarrel, just tell me."

Li Ziyan said, "Jun Ning, today you are coming of age." Zhao Jun Ning nodded, and Li Ziyan said, "Do you still remember what I said to you when we first got married?"

Zhao Junning was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Remember, you said you didn't like me, and you only married me to be responsible and divorce me when you found someone you liked."

Li Ziyan wanted to speak after hearing this, but Zhao Junning paused and said, "Do you have someone you like? Are you planning to bring the girl you like into your home?"

Li Ziyan shook his head and said, "No, that's not it." Zhao Junning said, "So you want to divorce me first and then marry me?" Zhao Junning's nose felt sore and his voice choked up. Li Ziyan said, "No, that's not what I meant."

Zhao Junning cried, "Then marry me. Have you written the divorce?" Zhao Junning cried as she spoke. Li Ziyan said, "I won't marry anyone else. Do you remember what I said to you when we met the Crown Prince, the Prince of Qin, and the Princess that day?"

Zhao Junning sobbed and said, "You said you wouldn't welcome the newcomers." Then she added, "But you just asked me if I remembered what you said when we got married. Wasn't it about welcoming the newcomers? And you also said you treated me like a brother."

Li Ziyan wanted to beat himself to death now. Why did he say that he treated Zhao Junning as a brother? Now she remembered it. However, seeing Zhao Junning's pitiful and lovely appearance and the words she said, he laughed and held her face and said, "My silly girl, when did I say those words on the night of our wedding? Don't you remember what I said to you on New Year's Eve? Besides, when I said I treated you as a brother..."

He whispered, "It's also for your own face that you still remember it until now."

Zhao Junning recalled what he said that night and said, "You said you didn't want to divorce...but you were smiling so happily just now."

Li Ziyan said hurriedly: "I just thought you were thinking about what happened on New Year's Eve and that's why you were laughing happily. Who knew you were thinking about it more? It's my fault." He wiped the tears from Zhao Junning's face and said: "You made my girl cry."

Zhao Junning took Li Ziyan's hand that was holding her face and said, "Who is your girl? Don't you dislike me? Treat me as a brother." Zhao Junning kept saying "brother!"

Li Ziyan smiled even more happily and said, "But I didn't say I can't like you, did I?" Then he waved his hand over Zhao Junning's head and said, "Throw away the word brother. I am your husband, your master, and someone who... likes you." After saying this, he looked at Zhao Junning sincerely. Zhao Junning looked at Li Ziyan after hearing this. Li Ziyan then asked cautiously, "Junning, do you like me?"

Zhao Junning was stunned after hearing what Li Ziyan said. Li Ziyan said, "If I say I like you, will you like me? Are you willing to try to like me?"