You are unlucky and I am tough

Cheng Caijun said with a sullen face, "Cheng Shuang, my aunt-in-law is paid to cook for me. My family also paid for the banquet today. Why can't I ask you to cook a dish?"

"You paid the money, it's none of my business." Cheng Shuang rolled her eyes, "Get out of here."

Cheng Caijun still stopped her and said in a low voice, "Do you know the status of my classmates? Letting you cook is to give you a chance to show off."

"Are you getting excited?" Cheng Shuang scolded impatiently, "How dare you be so arrogant? You asked one person from my family to cook, so you mean my whole family has to be at your beck and call? And you even asked me to cook fish for you to curry favor with the rich and powerful? Why don't you just go to heaven?"

She made the roasted whole lamb just for the sake of the village head and Zhao Xiuwen, it wasn't like she had nothing to do.

"Why is this sister still angry?" Zheng Tu saw Cheng Shuang's attitude and said gently, "It doesn't matter who cooks the fish. Don't hurt the harmony between brother and sister."

"Who said he and I are brother and sister?" Cheng Shuang nodded her head in response to the scholars' questioning and inquiring gazes. "Cheng Caijun is a fool. He's making random claims of relatives here. I don't know him well."

Zheng Tu opened his mouth and said, "Oh, is that so?"

The group of scholars behind him looked at Cheng Caijun with strange eyes, and some of them were already laughing.

"Who are you calling stupid?" Cheng Caijun's face turned pale. "Cheng Shuang, I just asked you to make two dishes. If you don't want to refuse, why bother saying such hurtful things?"

Cheng Shuang ignored the incompetent and furious Cheng Caijun and looked at Zheng Tu. "He's been very attentive to you. I don't know if he's trying to curry favor with you or show off in front of you. He thinks he's a superior person just because he passed the imperial examination. He can order anyone in the village around. But I'm sorry, sir, I'm a good citizen, not a slave."

Zheng Tu's eyes lit up as he watched her speak so eloquently, and his smile deepened. "I'm sorry we've offended you, young lady. How about I give you a live fish as an apology?"

"That's not necessary." Cheng Shuang said, "The fish are originally mine. You paid for them, so why would I send them back?"

Zheng Tu didn't understand what this meant, and Cheng Shuang was too lazy to explain, so she turned sideways and tried to pass by.

When Cheng Caijun saw the people behind him looking at him with different expressions, his face turned pale with anger and his chest kept heaving.

Why?

Last time, Zhao Xiuwen embarrassed him, the kids in the village embarrassed him, and now even that little bitch Cheng Shuang embarrassed him.

Seeing Cheng Shuang was about to leave, he rushed forward and grabbed her arm.

"You can't leave. You must apologize to me today and tell me..."

"You're fucking sick."

Cheng Shuang struggled a few times but failed to get rid of him. She was so angry that she turned around and threw a loud and crisp punch.

"How dare you hit me?"

Cheng Caijun was stunned for a moment after being hit, then became furious and raised his hand to hit back.

"stop."

A majestic voice came from behind, and at the same time Wei Qinglang ran over and grabbed Cheng Caijun's hand.

Cheng Shuang didn't stand there stupidly to get beaten. He raised his leg and kicked him. Combined with the force used by Wei Qinglang to shake him off, Cheng Caijun fell directly to the ground.

The group of scholars turned around. They didn't recognize Magistrate Shen, but they all recognized the prefect and the two sons of the Zhu family. They all bowed and said, "Students greet the prefect."

Prefect Zhu raised his hand to indicate that there was no need to formally bow. A group of people consciously made way to both sides, each wondering why the prefect had come.

The four of them walked forward. Prefect Zhu frowned at Cheng Caijun, who was still slumped on the ground. "Madam Cheng, what happened?"

Cheng Shuang was brave enough to take responsibility and said bluntly, "Sir, this man grabbed me in broad daylight and kept pulling me, so I slapped him."

"What?" County Magistrate Shen frowned in disbelief. "Mr. Cheng, how could you do such a thing? This is simply absurd."

"I'm innocent." Cheng Caijun covered his face and climbed up. "Your Excellency, County Magistrate, I'm her cousin. I just pulled her aside to say a few words. I never thought she would hit me over a disagreement."

"Cousin?"

County Magistrate Shen looked at Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang, wanting to hear what they had to say.

Cheng Shuang shook her head, "No, we have no relationship."

"My Lords, I am truly his cousin," Cheng Caijun said anxiously. "She is my fourth uncle's daughter. I just wanted her to help cook some fish. She is truly my sister."

"I'm not." Cheng Shuang shouted angrily, "Our two families no longer have any relationship. Don't even think about ordering me around like you did before. You're not even worthy of mentioning my father."

"He earned money to support your education and your entire family. But after he died, my sister and I were forced to work like slaves at home. We couldn't even have a mouthful of porridge and could only drink vegetable porridge."

"If there weren't still people in the village, my siblings and I would have starved to death long ago. How dare you claim to be my relative on his behalf?"

"That's nonsense." Cheng Caijun saw the prefect frowning and said hurriedly, "No, that's not what she said, Prefect. She's living a good life. It was my mother who arranged the marriage with the Wei family for her."

"She and her younger siblings are now living in luxury in the Wei family, with servants serving them. My family has never abused her at all."

"Really? Then why did I bring my younger siblings along when I got married?" Cheng Shuang looked at him coldly, "Which woman in the world would bring her younger siblings along when she got married? If I wasn't afraid they would be tortured to death, why would I bring them along?"

"The Wei family is doing better now, but everyone in the village knows what life was like when I first got married. What did your family do? Do we need to ask the village head?"

"You..." Cheng Caijun was at a loss for words for a moment, his face turning red and white. Seeing Prefect Zhu looking at him and shaking his head, his heart felt as if it had sunk into an ice cellar.

Having left such a bad impression today, can he still attend the prefect's banquet later?

The prefect didn't like him, so he had no chance to attend the banquets organized by the academic officials.

How did things come to this?

Wei Qinglang observed for a moment, then cooperated and embraced Cheng Shuang, patting her to comfort her. "It's okay, it's all over."

It was obvious that Cheng Shuang's accusation was an act, deliberately done for the prefect and the county magistrate to see, just to let them know what Cheng Caijun and his family had done.

Cheng Shuang also shut up at the right time. This was enough to say. If the two adults wanted to know the truth, they could just ask around in the village.

"Your Excellency, I've been studying at the academy and haven't been privy to many things going on at home." Cheng Caijun finally came up with an excuse and explained, "Perhaps my parents haven't taken good care of them, but I've always treated them like family. Your Excellency, please understand."

Are you putting the blame on your own parents?

Prefect Zhu shook his head slightly, looking at Cheng Caijun with disappointment in his eyes. He didn't think Cheng Shuang would lie to him.

He really didn't expect the relationship between the two families to be like this. He was wrong to let Cheng Caijun enter Yunhe Academy.

But now that he has enrolled in school, he cannot be expelled without reason, not to mention that he has just passed the imperial examination.

Fortunately, the matter of arranging for Cheng Caijun to enroll in Yunhe Academy has not been mentioned today. Otherwise, judging from Cheng Shuang's attitude towards Cheng Caijun, this matter might be counterproductive.

Prefect Zhu silently decided in his heart that he would just pretend that the incident had never happened, and then said to Wei Qinglang, "Send Madam Cheng back first and then come over."

Wei Qinglang nodded and took Cheng Shuang away.

Zheng Tu looked at the backs of the two people leaving, his face full of regret. This young lady was actually married.

After Cheng Shuang walked away and looked back, she could still see the two adults and the group of scholars talking about something. Cheng Caijun's head was almost bowed to the ground.

"Did I perform well just now?" She bumped into Wei Qinglang proudly.

Wei Qinglang laughed, "Oscar owes you a little golden man."

"I won't offend anyone unless he offends me. If he offends me for no reason, it would be a joke even if I made him a scholar."

The aroma of food could already be smelled in the distance. Wei Qinglang escorted them to their doorstep. "I think the feast will start in less than an hour. I'll go first. If Hu Chunhua hears about you beating up Cheng Caijun, she'll definitely come after you. Otherwise, why don't you just stay home from the village threshing grounds and say you're not feeling well."

Cheng Shuang shook her head. "Even if I'm right to avoid her, I'm still weak. It's not like I can't win an argument. I'm not afraid if she comes looking for me!"

Wei Qinglang said, "I'm afraid she'll throw a tantrum and start a fight, and you'll suffer."

"I can't stand the loss. I'm not made of clay in a fight, and Nanxing is here."

"Forget it, I can't argue with you." Wei Qinglang was helpless and reached out to pat her cheek. "Then I'll go first."

Just as she was about to turn around, Cheng Shuang grabbed her hand and said, "Wait a minute, can you help me with something?"

Wei Qinglang glanced at his held hand and was in a good mood. "What's the matter?"

Cheng Shuang hooked her finger, indicating him to lower his head, then leaned over and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Female household?" Wei Qinglang was surprised.

Cheng Shuang nodded. "I've asked the village head before. Under special circumstances, it's possible to establish a female household, but it's more difficult to do."

"After what happened just now, I think the prefect will ask you about your family matters. Find a chance to tell him about my aunt's situation and ask him to grant her a female household."

"My aunt is always worried that it will be difficult for her two cousins ​​to find a husband in the future because they are following her like this. Having a household registration will make her feel more at ease."

Wei Qinglang thought about it and nodded, "Okay, I understand."