Quick Wear: Cousin, Come to the Bowl Quickly

When the banquet was over, the sun had already set. Miao distributed the remaining meat and vegetables to the women from the village who came to help, and the men moved their own tables, chairs and benches back home. Everyone had a happy face.

The head of the village and his family were also about to go back, so Du Xingzhi hurried forward to express his gratitude, "Thank you so much for your help these days, grandma, aunt, and uncle. Otherwise, my mother and I would definitely be too busy to handle it."

The head of the village waved his hand, signaling for no further words. Mrs. Du smiled and teased Du Xingzhi, "We are all family, why are you still asking for thanks?" Du Xingzhi heard the sarcasm in her words, and looked at Lin Xi, who was wearing a scarlet silk dress beside her. His ears turned slightly red, and he coughed unnaturally.

Seeing this, Miao also smiled and agreed, "That's exactly the truth."

The whole family walked out of the courtyard, but Lin Xi stopped at the door. Seeing that his sister didn't leave, Lin Jun asked curiously, "Nannan, what's wrong?"

Lin Xi stammered, "Second brother, you guys go back first. I dropped something. I'll go look for it."

Hearing this, Lin Jun wanted to turn back, "What's dropped? I'll help you find it."

Lin Xi stammered and refused, "No, no need, I can find it myself."

Lin Jun was about to speak, but his mother grabbed him by the collar and said, "Just let her find it herself, don't meddle in other people's business."

Lin Xi returned to the yard, looked at Miao who was rubbing her waist from time to time, and said, "Aunt, you go and have a rest. My cousin and I will take care of the rest." Du Xingzhi also persuaded his mother to go into the house and have a rest.

Miao was indeed tired after a busy day. Now she only felt sore in her back and waist. She looked around the yard and saw that there was nothing left to clean up, so she nodded and went into the house.

For a while, Lin Xi and Du Xingzhi were the only two people left in the yard. Lin Xi helped Du Xingzhi count the gifts sent today. Most of the villagers sent chickens, ducks, fish, eggs and the like. Du Xingzhi's comrades sent some pens, ink, paper and inkstones. As for the wealthy gentry, they gave much more. They just sealed the gifts in red envelopes and stuffed silver bills inside. A rough calculation showed that there were about two hundred taels of silver.

This is why everyone wants to take the imperial examination. As long as you are on the list, someone will give you money. However, these people did not send money to ask Du Xingzhi, a juren, to do anything. They just wanted to make a good relationship. Moreover, they all had good reputations, so Du Xingzhi accepted them. After all, he had to go to the capital for the next spring examination. The mountains were high and the roads were long. It would cost a lot to stay in a hotel and eat.

After counting everything, the two were finally able to take a break. Du Xingzhi made some tea and sat down with Lin Xi at the stone table in the yard.

“It’s been a while, but I haven’t properly congratulated my cousin on his success in the imperial examination.” After saying that, he took out a silver-white purse from his bosom. The purse had fine stitching and was embroidered with a branch of golden osmanthus in full bloom, with a silver full moon hanging high above the osmanthus, which was a very auspicious omen.

"This was embroidered a long time ago. Inside it is the amulet that my mother and I got from Siqing Temple. I hope it can protect my cousin from illness and disaster and bring him a safe and smooth life."

Du Xingzhi took the purse and caressed the full moon on it lovingly. Then he took out a small red cloth bag from his arms and said, "My daughter and I have a tacit understanding."

Lin Xi took the cloth bag and opened it, and found a jade bracelet with excellent water head inside. She looked at Du Xingzhi and said, "This is too valuable. I can't accept it."

Du Xingzhi's eyebrows were gentle, and he looked at her with tender love in his eyes, "In my heart, Nannan's love is more precious than any treasure." After saying that, he gently took Lin Xi's hand, "Besides, this jade bracelet was originally my mother's dowry, and it was given to me specifically to give to my future wife. Doesn't Nannan want to marry me?"

Lin Xi's face turned red with embarrassment at his gaze and his pretentious tone. She wanted to run away, but Du Xingzhi held her hand, leaving her with nowhere to escape. She could only lower her head in an attempt to hide her hot face.

Seeing that the tips of her ears were so red that blood was about to drip out, Du Xingzhi stopped teasing her. He just held her hand and slowly and firmly put the jade bracelet into Lin Xi's wrist. He gently lifted her chin, looked at her face which was too red due to shyness, and gently lowered his head.

Lin Xi's almond-shaped eyes suddenly opened wide, and as she looked at the face that was getting closer and closer to her, she suddenly closed her eyes again. After a moment, a gentle touch first fell on her forehead, then the corner of her eye, then the tip of her nose, and finally on her lips.

Du Xingzhi could feel Lin Xi trembling slightly, so he grabbed her hand, which was pressed tightly against his chest due to nervousness, and inserted his five fingers between hers, holding her tightly, but the movements of his lips became more and more gentle.

The two of them were breathing together, their lips and teeth intertwined, and just when Lin Xi thought she would faint from lack of oxygen, Du Xingzhi finally let her go. Lin Xi's body softened, and she fell straight into Du Xingzhi's arms, gasping for breath.

Du Xingzhi helped her breathe, feeling a little distressed and a little amused, "Silly girl, don't you know you need to breathe?"

Lin Xi was immediately furious and raised her head from his arms, but Du Xingzhi was just lowering his head to check on her condition. Their chins and heads collided with each other, causing Du Xingzhi to hiss in pain and turn his head away.

Lin Xi didn't care about being shy anymore and hurried over to check the situation. Du Xingzhi had a fair complexion, so any marks were particularly obvious. He saw a large red patch on his chin, which looked shocking on his white jade face.

Lin Xi felt so distressed that she wanted to touch him, but she was afraid of hurting Du Xingzhi. She was at a loss for what to do. "I'm sorry, cousin. It's all my fault!" She stood up again and said, "I'll go get some ointment from my aunt."

Du Xingzhi quickly reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to sit next to him, "It's okay, it just hurt a little, it's much better now, it just looks scary, don't alarm your mother."

"Really? You didn't lie to me?" Lin Xi was still worried, her eyes full of concern.

"I'm not lying to you." Du Xingzhi touched Lin Xi's head soothingly.

Lin Xi finally felt relieved. The embarrassment she had just felt surged up again. She spoke awkwardly, "I haven't done it with anyone before, so I naturally can't breathe." At this point, she suddenly realized and looked complicated, "My cousin is very skilled. Could it be that he is a fan..."

Du Xingzhi scratched her nose in amusement and quickly interrupted her wild thoughts, "Don't talk nonsense, you are the only one in my heart and eyes. I haven't said a few words to the woman next to me. Don't wrongly accuse me."

Lin Xi naturally knew that this was his first time, but she got a little irritated for a moment, rolled her eyes, and pretended not to believe it, "Then why are you so skilled and even know to change and breathe."

Du Xingzhi couldn't help laughing out loud, and it took him a while to calm down. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "What a sour taste, my dear girl, don't you know that men can learn some things without a teacher? If you are not satisfied, I will teach you more in the future."

His warm breath sprayed on Lin Xi's ears, making Lin Xi think of the tenderness of the two of them just now. The redness that had finally disappeared covered her entire face again. She pushed Du Xingzhi away, saying, "Who asked you to teach me!" and quickly ran out of the yard, leaving Du Xingzhi laughing heartily on the spot.