I'll Pick the Hardest Bone to Gnaw

Zhou Wanwan frowned and said, "What I fear most is learning things like embroidery and cooking."

Zhou Qinghe chuckled and said:

"Then you and Gu Sinian should switch places. Gu Sinian really likes these things."

I even said, "Why would a grown man like him need to learn these things? But he's doing quite well at it."

Zhou Qingchen said with a smile, "Isn't it said that a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen? But in our family, it's all the opposite."

Zhou Wanwan's older brothers are all good cooks.

Amidst laughter and chatter, they arrived at Cloud-Hidden Temple. As soon as Zhou Wanwan stepped into the Cloud-Hidden Temple courtyard, she saw many young ladies gathered together.

Zhou Qingyan led his men to another courtyard. Upon seeing Zhou Wanwan, Lu Yao smiled faintly and said:

"Wanwan, you're here! I saw you at State-Pacifying Temple last time, and I didn't expect you to talk to the abbot for so long."

It seems the abbot of State-Pacifying Temple likes you very much!

Zhou Wanwan raised an eyebrow at her and said, "You mean the abbot of State-Pacifying Temple? Isn't he arrested and locked up in jail now? Don't you know that?"

Lu Yao said with a beaming smile, "I heard that the abbot of State-Pacifying Temple is extremely fond of women. Could it be Wanwan Sister Wanwan has been defiled by him?"

This is ruining Zhou Wanwan's reputation.

Zhou Wanwan sighed and looked at her, saying, "It was clearly you two young ladies who were defiled by him, and I helped you lock him up in jail, so why are you unhappy now?"

Lu Lan said in a shrill voice:

Zhou Wanwan, you're talking complete nonsense!

"That day, you clearly entered the abbot's meditation room with your maid. Many people saw it. Don't try to deny it."

Zhou Wanwan looked at her with a smile and said:

"Lu Lan, wasn't this something you sisters planned together?"

Otherwise, how could they know so much?

Do you know what crime the abbot of State-Pacifying Temple committed?

Lu Lan was taken aback and asked, "What crime?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"The abbot of State-Pacifying Temple, who stole the golden Buddha, has now been arrested by the authorities."

You seem to have forgotten what I did before. I worked for the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office, so naturally I was there to investigate cases.

Besides, the constables are all with me. You three sisters are quite interesting; you've led everyone astray with just one sentence."

Lu Zhiwei and said, "We thought you'd been... you know, we were just concerned about you. Don't be so sarcastic."

Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:

"Really? I actually found some other strange things."

For example, I'm curious about your private dealings with those monks. What kind of deals did you make with them?

Lu Zhiwei forced a smile and said:

"What kind of deal can we make with them? Don't talk nonsense."

Let's go see the maple leaves in this temple! The maple leaves there are the most beautiful.

Zhou Wanwan saw Su Zhixia and Shen Yunshu not far away.

The two men's eyes lit up when they saw Zhou Wanwan.

Su Zhixia laughed and said, "We were just looking for you! You're such a busy person!"

Shen Yunshu put her arm around Zhou Wanwan's and said, "Wanwan, I'm so glad to see you. I have something for you."

Shen Yunshu took out a piece of jewelry from her bosom and said, "This is something I brought back from the capital. I'm giving it to you."

A while ago, Shen Yunshu returned to the capital. Zhou Wanwan held the jewelry, her face beaming with smiles.

This is the most fashionable style in Beijing right now; it looks exceptionally luxurious and beautiful.

The ladies standing nearby saw this and their eyes were glued to the jewelry. They were so envious and jealous that their eyes turned red, and they all felt a pang of resentment.

Nie Rou looked at Shen Yunshu and said:

"Yunshu Shu really cares about Zhou Wanwan."

We used to be close sisters, but now we've become estranged.

Shen Yunshu glanced at her indifferently, her tone aloof. "I wouldn't dare presume to associate with you."

Nie Rou's face stiffened as she said, "Ha! What's so great about you? You just married a penniless man. I'd like to see what you'll become in the future."

Su Zhixia smiled faintly and said:

"No matter what, it's still better than the Cui Family. I heard that the Cui Family has been eyeing our Wanwan."

"Don't you even know who you are? You look so poor and pathetic. Do you think you're good enough for Wanwan?"

Nie Rou looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "It's already a blessing that she's even interested in you. Don't be ungrateful."

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "You should keep this good fortune to yourself!"

The Cui Family is so poor they're practically bankrupt. Even if Nie Rou marries into their family, she'll only be filling Cui Family hole.

But now she has no choice but to marry.

Nie Rou looked at Zhou Wanwan with a half-smile and said, "Just you wait!"

After saying that, he took Lu Lan's arm and left.

The banquet was hosted by the Lu Family. Lu Lan said with a smile, "Let's skip lunch at the temple today and head to the pleasure boat!"

This time, the Lu Family specially rented two top-class pleasure boats, which were built to be very grand and exquisite.

The group boarded the painted boat and sat down to dine, while musicians sang melodious tunes, creating a relaxed and elegant atmosphere.

The Lu Family went to great lengths to arrange this banquet on the painted boat.

To put it bluntly, it was specially prepared for the eligible young men and women of various families, so that these scions of noble families could take the opportunity of boating on the lake and attending banquets to meet and get to know each other better.

Not far away, on another pleasure boat, Nie Feng, Xie Cheng'en, and Cui Hongyuan stood at the bow, looking at the pleasure boat in the distance.

Xie Cheng'en said, "That bitch Zhou Wanwan is here again today."

Nie Feng looked at Cui Hongyuan, "Didn't you say you wanted to take her back as a concubine?"

Cui Hongyuan sighed and said, "She wouldn't even look at me. She doesn't even look at you guys, how could she possibly look at me?"

Nie Feng smiled faintly and said:

"I think Zhou Wanwan is quite good at choosing people; the women she picked for her three brothers are all quite good."

Su Zhixia, Shen Yunshu, Feng Yueyao— aren't they all top-tier beauties?

Cui Hongyuan and said, "We can't afford to offend those families."

Xie Cheng'en laughed heartily:

"You're all too cowardly. She's just the daughter of a fourth-rank official."

"If we just ruin their reputations, won't these women obediently become our concubines?"

Cui Hongyuan quickly waved his hand and said, "Wouldn't Zhou Wanwan be going to eat us alive?"

Xie Cheng'en sneered, "What's there to be afraid of? It's because Zhou Wanwan insisted on going against me that I'm going to make her pay the price today."

Nie Feng looked at Su Zhixia and said:

"I've always liked Su Zhixia; she's gentle, virtuous, knowledgeable, and reasonable."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to marry her as a concubine?"

Cui Hongyuan urge to ask:

"Shen Yunshu is quite nice too, she's charming and cute."

Moreover, both families are wealthy and powerful, and they can help us, so it's a win-win situation.

Xie Cheng'en looked at Zhou Wanwan and said:

"Since you've all made your choices, I'll choose the toughest one."

"Once I ruin Zhou Wanwan, let's see how arrogant she can still be then."