All Hail Cousin Brother

347 Cousin, You’ve Worked Hard

Zhou Linghuai nodded and entered the Jade Courtyard with Yu Youyao.

The hollyhocks that her cousin had given her the day before were already a little withered.

Yu Youyao replaced the water and flowers. She did not throw away the handful that was a little dry. She planned to make them into spices and stuff them into a sachet to repel insects.

Zhou Linghuai held a cup of tea and couldn’t help but smile when he saw the little girl busying herself in the house.

After Yu Youyao put the hollyhocks into the bottle, she realized, “Cousin, didn’t I send something to you early in the morning? Why aren’t you wearing it?”

Zhou Linghuai took the sandalwood box from Chang An. “Since it’s a gift from you, please help me put it on.”

“Okay!” Yu Youyao quickly walked up to her cousin and opened the sandalwood box. She first took out the Acacia Rope and tied it to her cousin’s left arm. She said, “Avoid soldiers and ghosts and you will not fall sick.”

Zhou Linghuai tilted his head to look at the “Acacia Rope” on his arm, then at the little girl who had tied the same “Acacia Rope” on her arm. His smile deepened.

After Yu Youyao tied the Acacia Silk Rope, she tied an exquisite knot. “The Acacia Silk Rope is also known as a longevity strand or a life-extending strand. According to the ‘General Customs’, on May 5th, a five-colored knot will be used to extend one’s lifespan, bring advantages into one’s life. I hope that Cousin will live a long life and be in good health.”

Zhou Linghuai nodded softly. He could also imagine what kind of sincere expectations the little girl had for him.

At her cousin’s waist, there was still the pouch she had given him previously. The pouch had been worn for a while, but probably because its owner cherished it very much, the patterns on it were still as bright as new.

Yu Youyao hung the sachet on her cousin’s waist. There were two pouches, one green and one black that were placed together. The green pouch was a little bigger, and the other was a little smaller, but it revealed its exquisiteness. “In May, the weather suddenly became hot and humid, making it easy to contract an epidemic illness. Wearing the sachet with insect repellent poison can ensure your safety. Cousin, you have to be safe.”

She had started preparing the sachet after giving the green pouch to her cousin. Fortunately, her embroidery skills were improving day by day. Now, it was no longer difficult to embroider these little things.

Zhou Linghuai stroked the exquisite embroidery on the sachet. The embroidery was smooth. It was obvious that the little girl had indeed put in a lot of effort. “Don’t embroider too much in the future. It’ll hurt your eyes.”

Yu Youyao smiled. “As the saying goes, a good Dragon Boat Festival can prevent illnesses for a year. It’s very meaningful to hang a sachet. I hope that Cousin can wear the sachet I embroidered myself. In the future, you’ll be safe and immune to all poisons and illnesses.”

Of course, she had to do it personally to feel at ease.

Zhou Linghuai’s heart skipped a beat. “Thank you, Cousin.”

Yu Youyao blinked at her cousin and hung the sachet behind his waist. “It wards off ghosts and evil. It’s impervious to all filth.” When she was done adjusting everything, she looked at her cousin carefully and smiled. “There has to be a sense of ritual to have fun during the Dragon Boat Festival.” She tilted her head and sized up her cousin again, smiling until her eyes curved. “That’s more like it.”

There were all kinds of customs during the Dragon Boat Festival. Actually, there was nothing new about it. He was used to it in the past.

However, this year, he was wearing the “Acacia Rope” that the little girl had personally knitted and tied for him. He was also wearing a sachet that she had embroidered with the spices that she had personally mixed.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly began to look forward to the Dragon Boat Festival next year. “I’ve also prepared a gift for Cousin.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, her eyes lit up. “Where’s the gift? Let me see it quickly. I was looking forward to the gift Cousin prepared for me a few days ago.”

Chang An handed two boxes, one big and one small, to Zhou Linghuai.

Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up. “Cousin has also prepared two gifts.”

Young Miss’s surprised and happy expression finally made Chang An understand what Young Master had said. “Double the gift and double the joy!”

Zhou Linghuai handed the box to the little girl. “Open it and take a look.”

This was a surprise specially prepared for her.

He was really looking forward to seeing her expression when she saw it.

Yu Youyao couldn’t wait to open it. When she saw the portrait inside, she smiled until her eyes narrowed. “Is this the portrait of Zhong Kui that Cousin drew for me? However, the portrait of Zhong Kui in the residence has already been pasted. Cousin’s gift seems to be a little late.”

At the mention of Zhong Kui’s portrait, Zhou Linghuai felt a little guilty. He clenched his fists and coughed lightly. “No!” As if worried that the little girl would be angry, he added, “I will draw for you the portrait of Zhong Kui next year.”

“No? Then what is it?” Yu Youyao looked curious and did not care much about Zhong Kui’s portrait. In any case, she was just joking with her cousin.

However, hadn’t her cousin given her a painting of the Dragon Boat Festival?

That painting was hanging on the wall of the study now. Why was it given to her again?

Zhou Linghuai smiled but said nothing.

With a suspicious heart, Yu Youyao gently unfolded the scroll. The first thing that came into view were a few pavilions. Below them was an arched bridge with a few trees beside it. There were weak willows swaying in the wind. There was a crowd on the bridge. In the details, everyone’s arms were tied with acacia rope and sachets hung around their waists.

She was only halfway through the painting when Yu Youyao felt a strong festive atmosphere from it.

Her eyes widened as she unfolded the painting to the end. In the huge moat, there were more than a dozen dragon boats of various shapes and sizes paddling in the river.

Yu Youyao was already about to faint from the huge surprise. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “It’s ‘Dragon Boat Race’. Cousin, Cousin. Wow, you even specially drew ‘Dragon Boat Race’ for me. Oh my god, I’m so happy…”

The little girl held the painting, her eyes filled with joy. Even her eyes were smiling like crescent moons.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly felt that after being tired for a few days and nights, he also felt happy. “Although I can’t personally bring you out of the residence to see the dragon boat race, I can still feel the excitement of the dragon boat race.”

Yu Youyao recalled that two days ago, she had mentioned the Dragon Boat Festival to her cousin. At that time, she was still a little shocked that she couldn’t leave the residence to take a look. She didn’t expect her cousin to hear it and give her such a big surprise.

In just two to three days, he had drawn such a big painting. It seemed that her cousin had worked hard these few days.

No matter how exciting the dragon boat competition in the moat was, could it compare to her cousin’s intention to paint personally?

Yu Youyao was overjoyed. Her eyes seemed to be filled with starlight, bright and resplendent. “Cousin, your painting is really beautiful. I like it very much. Thank you, Cousin…”

She spread the painting on the desk. It was a long scroll painting that covered half of the desk. The pigment made of mineral dyes made the entire painting look ancient. There were scenes and objects in the painting. It was dense and exquisite, and there was a sense of freedom and uninhibitedness in every aspect. It seemed that when her cousin drew this, his heart was also wild. When he drew, his strokes were as rapid as the rain and the rivers, but he did not hesitate at all.