Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Normally, one is aloof like an alien, and the other is mischievous like a spoiled brat. Now, one is peeling shells while the other is eating kernels; one is reading aloud while the other is listening to a story. The aloof one seems somewhat approachable, and the mischievous one seems somewhat dignified.

Luo An and Nan Fei stayed on the island for three years, only going out for medical missions. Nan Fei has a family; what was he hiding from for years? Luo An has no feelings for Nian Yao; what was he trying to conceal by getting married?

Looking at the harmonious scene in the tea room, Qin Jiu was startled by a thought that had never crossed his mind before.

Luo An looked up and saw the obvious shock and disbelief in Qin Jiu's eyes. He tapped the table lightly, and Nan Fei followed his gaze to Qin Jiu, shouting, "Brother Jiu, save me!"

Nanfei helped Qin Jiu sit down in a chair, brought out a chessboard, and specially chose black pieces for Qin Jiu. After arranging everything, Nanfei nodded in satisfaction: "Brother Jiu, Young Master, take your time, there's no rush."

Nanfei sprawled out on the platform as if granted a pardon, choosing the most comfortable position. What strange quirks Luo An had? He said reading while lying down was noisy, insisting on sitting upright and pronouncing words perfectly. Let him off the hook.

Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned, and Qin Jiu lost in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Nanfei leaned over to take a look and exclaimed in surprise, "Ninth Brother, if we don't get down there soon, we should look at you with new eyes!"

Has it regressed so drastically?

Qin Jiu chuckled and sized him up: "You know so much about chess, why don't you play?"

Nanfei said, "You are a hero who never gives up despite repeated defeats, while I am a wise man who knows when to yield."

Qin Jiu was wondering whether to praise or criticize Nan Fei when he saw Luo An stand up, press Nan Fei down into a chair, and sit on the platform to read a book.

Qin Jiu moved the black pieces to Nan Fei's side: "You play black."

Nan Fei and Luo An rarely played chess, one because Nan Fei didn't want to play and the other because he looked down on it. As someone who could understand a game at a glance, Nan Fei was certainly not weak. Qin Jiu underestimated his opponent, and by the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late to turn the tide.

Qin Jiu sighed, "The waves of the Jingjiang River keep pushing forward, Uncle Jiu is really getting old."

Regarding how to address someone, Qin Jiu was always particular and had never changed how he addressed himself. Nan Fei was equally particular, and his form of address had also remained unchanged. It was like talking to a brick wall; they were each talking about their own thing.

Nanfei said, "In terms of chess skills, Ninth Brother is much better than me. Ninth Brother's performance was off today, is something on your mind?"

Qin Jiu, holding a chess piece in his hand, chatted idly: "I do have something on my mind, but I don't know if Nanfei and the young master would be willing to listen?"

Nanfei was a lively person who got along well with the brothers on the island, joking and teasing each other. Several brothers had already pulled him aside to talk about Ji Kongming. Sometimes they would talk about it by the tea room, clearly for Luo An to hear.

The brothers figured Luo An, being the son-in-law of the Dahe Gang, should know this. But Luo An hadn't made any move, so Nanfei didn't press the issue. Whoever controlled the Dahe Gang wouldn't affect their medical practice. If all else failed, they could just pack up and leave.

Nanfei thought for a moment and said, "Ninth Brother, the young master is just a doctor."

Qin Jiu said, "The old gang leader is gone. The current gang leader is young, and the young master is the son-in-law of the Great River Gang..."

Nanfei said leisurely, "How about this, Ninth Brother, if there's anything you can do to help us, just let us know. We'll do whatever it takes to help you."

Instructions? Qin Jiu was merely a council member and accountant; how dare he give instructions to his son-in-law?

Qin Jiu looked him up and down: "Nanfei, I heard that when you were twelve, General Yuan had the Lord of Dongyang issue an imperial decree to arrange your marriage, and you couldn't wait to get married at the age of fifteen, not even a day longer. General Yuan, as the commander of the Zhenbei Army, certainly has good taste."

Qin Jiu usually only plays chess and doesn't chat idly, so why is he in such a good mood today? And why is the topic so gossipy? This is unusual...

Nanfei blinked and raised his hand in a delicate, orchid-like gesture: "What, Ninth Brother, are you captivated by me?"

Qin Jiu shuddered: "I...I'm perfectly normal..."

Nanfei asked, "Who does Ninth Brother think is abnormal?"

Qin Jiu subconsciously turned her head to look at Luo An, but then forced herself to turn to the other side, where Liu Lin was standing outside.

Nanfei said "Oh": "Uncle Liu is not normal?"

Snow fell in June, a shocking injustice.

Liu Lin asked seriously, "Nan Fei, what do you think is wrong with me?"

Nanfei laughed and said, "Uncle Liu, I was just joking with Ninth Brother."

Qin Jiu looked at Nan Fei, clearly unwilling. Were they really going to stand idly by while the Great River Gang faced its crisis?

Nanfei thought for a moment: "Ninth Brother, Chief Xue said that their marriage is not real..."

Qin Jiu said, "Nanfei, what's wrong with their marriage? You've been married before, so you have experience. Do you think their marriage is missing any procedure or ritual?"

Nanfei said, "Ninth Brother has also been married before, so why do you think their marriage is real? Is it just because Ninth Brother officiated at the wedding?"

Qin Jiu considered himself an eloquent person, but even he had to admit defeat in front of Nan Fei. However…

Nanfei, seeing Qin Jiu's dissatisfaction, smiled and said, "Brother Jiu asked which ritual was missing; naturally, it's the ritual of Zhou Gong. If the wedding night wasn't consummated, the marriage isn't considered complete. What do you say, Brother Jiu?"

This was exactly what Qin Jiu wanted to hear: "They don't consummate their marriage because the gang leader is ugly?"

Nan Fei, oblivious, chimed in, "To be fair, if Chief Xue dressed up properly, his looks would be... above average."

Qin Jiu said, "On the day of the gang leader's wedding, the old gang leader specially invited a nanny from Fengchun Pavilion to do her makeup. I heard that everyone who saw her was so shocked that they couldn't stand up. She must have looked above average that day, right?"

Although Nanfei found it strange, he still nodded in agreement.

Qin Jiu said, "If you don't consummate your marriage with such a beautiful woman, is it because you are impotent or because you are not fond of women?"

Nanfei dropped the chess piece with a thud, and Luo An picked up the book that had fallen to the ground. Even Liu Lin outside the tea room was shocked.

Qin Jiu's expression was very serious; he wasn't joking.

Nanfei stammered, "Ninth... Ninth Brother... what do you mean?"

Qin Jiu said, "Nanfei, you've been on Chongming Island for three years, and you're eighteen this year, right?"

Nanfei stared at him, not daring to move.

Qin Jiu said in a serious tone: "You married General Yuan Feng at fifteen, and followed the young master at fifteen. Did you consummate your marriage with General Yuan Feng?"

Nan Fei leaned back in his chair, his posture defensive: "Ninth Brother, this is my private matter, it has nothing to do with the Dahe Gang..."

Qin Jiu interrupted him: "Then there isn't."

Nan Fei coldly replied, "Whether it exists or not has nothing to do with the Dahe Gang."

Qin Jiu didn't argue, but pointed at Luo An and said, "Young Master is holding the book upside down."

Luo An wasn't reading the book; he felt it was too awkward for two grown men to discuss his sexual matters, so he just covered his face with the book.

After Qin Jiu finished speaking, he left. Nian Yao peeked in from outside the pillar of the tea room to look at Luo An and then glanced at Nan Fei before retreating back behind the pillar and quietly leaving.

Nanfei was chilled to the bone by the eerie smile on Nianyao's face, and rushed out with a scream.

Liu Lin called out, "Nanfei, where are you going?"

Nan Fei didn't even turn his head: "I'm going to Jingjiang to clear my name."

Nanfei rushed out of Xianzhou Academy and onto the beach before realizing he'd been tricked. The old gang leader had arranged for the young master and Nianyao to fake a marriage. What did that have to do with the young master? And he was even being subtly insulted.

Why did he stupidly agree with Qin Jiu's words?

Nanfei gritted his teeth: "Qin Jiu, I will not rest until I avenge this wrong."