All Hail Cousin Brother

182 Truly Unique

“Alright, thank you, Cousin.” Zhou Linghuai nodded. The Lingxi Bug was a secret of the Xie family, and it was not appropriate to tell outsiders about it.

Yu Youyao took out a thumb-sized white jade bottle. “Third Cousin even brought me a small bottle of the Lingxi Bug’s…”

It was indeed not good to use the words “waste” to describe medicine that was going to be consumed. Yu Youyao suddenly stopped talking, but she couldn’t help but smile.

Thinking of the various strange medicinal herbs needed for the Essence Protection Pill, Zhou Linghuai’s expression was a little indescribable. Then, he saw the corners of the little girl’s mouth twitch as she tried her best to hold back her laughter. Her fair face also turned red, and she felt extremely helpless.

“Cousin.” Yu Youyao felt guilty under her cousin’s gaze. She finally felt guilty and felt that she shouldn’t have laughed. “Cough, it’s a medicinal liquid. The medicinal liquid of the Lingxi Bug.”

Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but feel his hands itch. He tapped her forehead lightly. “Even Cousin is laughing at me.”

Yu Youyao covered her forehead with her hand and looked reproachful. “Cousin, why are you acting like Third Cousin? You always knock on my forehead. Although it doesn’t hurt much, I’m already a big lady.”

Zhou Linghuai’s heart skipped a beat when he heard the words ‘big lady’. He couldn’t help but look at the girl. She still looked very young and still looked like a young lady in front of others, but in front of him, she looked like a child. He didn’t know when she would really grow up.

Yu Youyao held a small jade bottle. “I’ll give it to Uncle Sun later and ask him to try making the Essence Protection Pill. The Essence Protection Pill can help Cousin nourish his muscles and strengthen his bone marrow, so that he can recover faster.”

She would secretly added half a drop of spiritual dew into the medicinal liquid. As she did not know the effect of the medicinal liquid, she did not dare to add too much.

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Okay!”

“Cousin, Third Cousin brought me many new and interesting things. I picked some for you.” Yu Youyao picked out a sandalwood box from the gifts she received. “Cousin, take a look at this.”

Zhou Linghuai tilted his head and saw a pile of gift boxes on the table not far away. There was a deep smile in his eyes. Whenever the little girl received something good, she would always give it to him.

He took the sandalwood box and opened it, then saw the items inside. “This tells the time? I haven’t seen it in the Great Zhou Dynasty. It was shipped from overseas by the Xie family’s merchant ships, right?”

Yu Youyao nodded repeatedly. “Cousin, you’re so smart. This is called a watch. Third Cousin gave me two, one red and one white.” As she spoke, she took another piece from her sleeve and showed it to her cousin. “I kept this red one for myself, so I gave the white one to you. In the future, you can use this to look at the time. It’s much more convenient than a funnel.”

Yu Youyao placed the red and white watches together, her smile soft and sweet. “Other than the different colors, the two watches are identical. Do you like them, Cousin?”

The clocks that Third Cousin had brought were all of different styles. Only these two pieces were identical.

“Yes, I like it very much.” After a pause, Zhou Linghuai said in a hoarse voice, “I like everything that Cousin gives me.”

Yu Youyao leaned closer to her cousin. “Cousin, I’ll teach you to read the time. Look…”

Actually, after taking a look at this clock, he already knew how to use it. There was no need for it, but the little girl was excited to teach him, and he was happy to let her teach him…

After lunch, Zhou Linghuai said, “Go to the study and I’ll test what you’ve learned recently. It’ll be good for you to know how much you’ve grown recently and how much you can teach according to your talent.”

Yu Youyao pouted and followed her cousin into the study. Her cousin usually guided her in her studies, calligraphy, and zither skills. Although he did not restrict her from learning, his requirements were very strict.

Ms. Ye had asked them to learn things, but her cousin had asked her to understand them thoroughly.

In a short period of time, her learning progress was much slower than ordinary people, but after a while, she would realize that her foundation was solid. The further she went, the more proficient she became in learning.

Recently, her studies had also improved by leaps and bounds, and Ms. Ye’s class progress had also increased. Yu Shuangbai and the others were also suffering. It was only when she looked for Ms. Ye that she slowed down a little.

Zhou Linghuai tested her on calligraphy.

Yu Youyao laid out the paper, ground the ink, held the brush, dipped it in ink, and waved it. Every move was done in one breath, revealing a confident and calm confidence.

Zhou Linghuai nodded. The little girl had long and thin eyebrows. Her eyebrows were lowered, and there was a faint sheen to them. She held a jade brush, and a small portion of her slender wrist was revealed in her narrow sleeve. The more he looked, the more her fingers looked as fair as jade. The light yellow and green parasol flowers were scattered all over her dress. She looked elegant and pleasing to the eye, with an indescribable elegance and beauty.

After Zhou Linghuai finished his cup of tea, Yu Youyao finally put down her pen and gently picked up the brush and ink on the table. She smiled sweetly. “Cousin, I’m done.”

Zhou Linghuai did not miss the slyness in her eyes. He knew that this girl was being mischievous again. He took the paper from her and looked down.

Yu Youyao had written a poem from the The Book of Poetry and the Way of the Nation.

An Obscure View—

Gazing into the obscure view, green bamboo.

There were gentlemen who were as sharp as nails.

There was no such thing as a good man with a bad character!

Gazing into the obscure view, green bamboo.

There were gentlemen who were as bright as stars.

A beautiful and elegant gentleman will always be remembered!

Gazing into the obscure view, green bamboo is abundant.

There were gentlemen who were as precious as gold and tin.

They were modest men who were broad minded, magnanimous, humorous, courteous and personable!

Zhou Linghuai looked at it word by word, his eyes deep. The little girl did not realize that her handwriting had improved, but some of her habits of using the brush, ink, and writing were exactly the same as his. The words she wrote were also very similar to his.

However, his words had a hidden sharpness. His muscles and bones were restrained, making him look even more majestic and powerful. However, the little girl’s words were graceful and natural, revealing the flexibility of a girl.

Her cousin did not say anything for a long time. Yu Youyao leaned towards him and asked eagerly, “Cousin, are my words acceptable?”

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Yes!”

Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up and she immediately smiled. “I’ve been practicing my calligraphy according to Cousin’s handwriting recently.”

Zhou Linghuai’s eyes darkened. “Why did you write this poem?”

Yu Youyao sat in front of her cousin and held her little face in her hands. She looked at her cousin with bright eyes. “Bones have to be cut, ivory has to be studied, precious jade has to be carved, and stones have to be ground. I feel that Cousin’s bones are like jade. They require cutting and grinding. Only then can they become a treasure that’s truly unique.”

Cutting and grinding were the methods of carving bones, teeth, jade, and stone. They were figurative language. A person’s literary talent, cultivation, and character were like bones, ivory and jade.

In her heart, her cousin was such a person.