In the Eighth month, the lotus flowers within the pond are already wilted, leaving only a few dried leaves and some hyacinth adrift. But even these bulbs of hyacinth were not left alone, being disturbed by the mischievous youngsters. That piece of black linh bich jade was forced to the side of the pond. Lam Old Master loved that linh bich jade that had fallen into the pond. A few young men stood to the side of the pond and commanded three to four servants their same age to lower themselves and bend their backs to look for the jade. In the chaos, the water in the pond heaved to and fro.
Lam Can Dung could guess who the boys are as she came over. The chubby boy with dark skin, eyebrows like caterpillars in a light yellow coat was Luc family's Fifth Young Master, Luc Luan who was the same age as her. The tall, skinny and elegant boy with fair skin wearing a grey cloak was Ngo family's Ngo Tuong. The other chubby boy wearing a blue coat was Luc Luan's brother, Luc's family Third Young Master, Luc Kinh. The last boy, wearing a light green coat, had an elegant and beautiful face, but desperation painted it over. His eyes frantically looked around. This was her brother, Lam Diec Chi.
Looking at the boys rushing back and forth within her family's manor, Lam Can Dung did not find it too bizarre. At Binh Chau, the three families of Lam, Luc, and Ngo were all famous families, all were scholarly. Even until now, they were the subject of marriage proposals and alliances. Especially the two families Lam and Luc, who are especially close. When there are marriage proposals, these two would take center stage. They were generally tied through marriage. That was why these people had a close relationship with the Lam family. When they were children, they would often visit Lam Manor, creating a familiar relationship with each other. During these years, everyone has grown up a bit, a division has arisen between the sexes. But on this occasion, with Lam Diec Chi leading, people came to the garden with no obstruction. Each minister would look on with one eye closed and one eye open.
In fact, Lam Diec Chi deserved to be punished by Old Master later. But in the end, the disaster would fall on her mother, hating the dog but hitting the cat. It even spread to her and her brother. Lam Can Dung furrowed her brows and concentrated: This matter need not even be mentioned. As a wife, with no love from the husband and regardless of what happens, it is the wife's fault. During this time period, as a wife one had to look after the manor, give birth, serve loyally at the husband's side, and, in the husband's steed, take care of the concubines and their children. Otherwise, the woman was not virtuous and considered an evil woman.
Lam Can Dung silently took in a breath: What kind of reasoning was this! Though she herself felt that it was unfair, at that time she still did what society considered was right. Since she was little, she had learned this. With ears that hear and eyes that saw, everyone did it this way. After time passed, it would become a habit. Unfortunately, she had experienced all this and was reborn; this could no longer be tolerated.
"Fourth Younger Sister." Lam Diec Chi was startled as he saw Lam Can Dung. Tears gathered as fear struck him. With a pleading look at Lam Can Dung: "What can be done?" Though his mother was doted on by Lam family's Third Master, he was still a concubine's son. In Lam Old Master's eyes, he heavily placed emphasis on hierarchical order. Like this, he had no status! If he was did not swagger around and brag, smuggled the boys into the garden to show them the jade, how could something like this happen? The 13-year-old was so scared his face turned white.
Lam Can Dung did not speak a word. Her gaze rested on Luc Luan, the dark skinned, chubby boy gave her two thumps up. With his index finger, he pulled at the corner of his eyes to make a silly face. "Blegh!" He turned towards her with his tongue sticking out, showing her as ugly a face as possible.
"Pa!" Luc Kinh was just 14-years-old and placed a lot of importance on face. With a red face, he overlooked his brother and eyed Ngo Tuong. With a guilty face, looked at Lam Can Dung, chuckled and said: "Fourth Younger Sister, please don't blame him. Fifth also hates to see this quirky and ugly face."
"Why did you hit me? I am going to tell mother." Luc Luan screamed, not being polite and returned a slap. "I don't think it is weird."
She had never thought of blaming Luc Luan. There were not many that treated her this well, even better than her own family. After much difficulty, Lam Can Dung calmed herself. Looking at the boys with a happy face, relaxed, and lowered her body: "Luc Third brother, Luc Fifth brother, Ngo Second brother, Big Brother."
Luc Luan lost face and stared intently at her. With a deep voice, he loudly said: "I heard that you got sick. You should've got skinnier; how did you get so fat? Are you not trying to lose weight? Everyday my Second sister would wail about losing weight, not even daring to eat rice."
At the side, Ngo Tuong laughed and looked at Lam Can Dung, waiting for a reply.
Lam Can Dung stroked her two cheeks. Nourishing herself for half a month, did she get fatter? Why did she not notice? After living for many years and then returning to this time period, she could not remember if she was fat or skinny. In a short period of time, she found it difficult to answer Luc Luan.
"Impudent. The affairs of females are not for you to comment on." Luc Kinh scolded Luc Luan. Ashamed, he looked at Lam Can Dung and said: "Fourth Younger Sister, this chubby lump of coal is causing mischief again. Diec Chi said to him that his linh bich jade stands at the top of Binh Chau, he didn't believe…" Though he said this, his eyes showed satisfaction at someone else's misfortune as it landed on Lam Diec Chi, standing to the side in low spirits. He looked at that linh bich jade, half submerged in water, and turned towards Lam Can Dung with sympathy in his eyes: "You know it now…" It was not a secret that she did not like Lam Diec Chi.
Lam Can Dung looked at Luc Kinh as he pretended to be ignorant of everything and he laughed. In her heart, she coldly laughed too. In the past, she had eyes but was blind and considered him a good person. But who would've known that this person, for his own benefit, would later kill his family? With his current appearance, pretending to be a good person, there were still clues. How did she not recognize it before?
Luc Luan's personality was such that he hated it the most when people said that he was fat or black, even his brother was not an exception. With a black face, he turned towards Luc Kinh and said in a loud and boisterous voice: "This fat whitey, how would I know that this rock was not held tight? Lam Fourth only said that this is the only jade in Binh Chau. He did say that there was something wrong with it and that it shouldn't be touched. Luckily, I am a lucky person, otherwise it would've fallen from over here and I would've lost face…" In a dominant and overbearing matter, he looked at Lam Diec Chi, whose face immediately paled. In a loud voice, he said: "Isn't that so? Lam Diec Chi! Say, did you intentionally do it? Because of the fight you lost last time, this is revenge?"
"That's not true! I also didn't know it would end up this way." Lam Diec Chi hurriedly took his sleeve to wipe back and forth, but the cold sweat just kept pouring. Grinding his teeth, he prepared to jump into the pond and join the recovery effort.
With this face, he definitely was prepared to jump in! Lam Can Dung hurriedly called to Ngo Tuong, who stood at the side with a cold face that had yet to speak. She said: "Ngo Second brother, quickly pull him back."
Ngo Tuong immediately listened and grabbed on to Lam Diec Chi. Lam Diec Chi struggled fiercely and argued: "Let me jump down there, otherwise grandfather will beat me to death."
Honestly, this person was foolish to the point of being pitiful. Looking at the big rock, with his little body, would he be able to retrieve it? Lam Can Dung peacefully looked at Lam Diec Chi: "The problem is the foundation of the rock is ruined. It is not related to brother. We will be your witnesses. Isn't that so? Luc Fifth brother?" She stared at Luc Luan.
The little fatty took two deep breathes. Giving Lam Can Dung face, reluctantly said: "Yes, I saw that this rock was very beautiful and wanted to touch. The result was that after a light touch the rock fell over." With a condescending look, "What bad luck!"
Ngo Tuong looked at Lam Can Dung from the corner of his eyes, smiled casually and said: "That's right. We all saw it." If there was a reason that Lam Can Dung wanted to overlook Lam Diec Chi's bad luck, why did he have to be a busy body? That was not who he was.
Lam Can Dung looked at Ngo Tuong gratefully and giggled. Ngo Tuong smiled back, showing his white teeth and indicating that she did not need to place his actions in her thoughts.
Of the four people here, three will help Lam Diec Chi, giving rise to help. He turned to look at Luc Kinh, who had not expressed his attitude.
Lam Can Dung looked at the white and chubby Luc Kinh. On the outside he was smiling and being amiable, but that only serves to hide his insidious and evil nature. Though she felt especially reproachful, her smile brightened even more. "Luc Third brother? Earlier, you said…" Even though Lam Diec Chi should not have boasted about this rock, but he should not have encouraged Luc Luan to bully Lam Diec Chi. She placed all the blame on Luc Luan; would he not even let Lam Diec Chi go? This is the Lam family, not the garden of his Luc Manor.
Seeing all of the gazes on him, Luc Kinh blinked and smiled: "Of course, it this way. Fourth Younger Sister, remember that when speaking to the ministers, you should check to see if the other rocks in the garden have problems. If there is, it should be remedied immediately, else it would harm others."
Lam Can Dung innocently laughed: "That's only natural." She turned towards Lam Diec Chi, calming himself, and softly said: "Big brother, I have come for you. Father has called for you." Need to hurry, she didn't want her mother to see.
Caught in a difficult situation, Lam Diec Chi looked at the rock in and then turned towards the people around Luc Kinh. Lam Can Dung sighed and moved forward a few steps and, in a small voice, said: "You should hurry. I will tell Madam to have a few people to get the rock up."
Lam Diec Chi gratefully looked at her and chuckled. Placing his hands together in a farewell gesture, he looked towards the other people. After swiping at the cold sweat on his forehead, he finally left.
Lam Can Dung giggled and looked at the remaining people. "I had just heard that entertainment troupe has arrive. Why doesn't older brothers go and see if any of the singers are pretty? If there are, you could come and regale us? I have to find Madame, first."
Luc Luan stepped forward onto the ends of her skirt and smiled lightly. "I'm not going. I will go with you to find little Seventh to play."
Luc Kinh looked at Luc Luan's black face and scolded. "No manners! Still removing your leg?"
"Hit me one more time. See what'll happen?" Luc Luan with a "HA" charged towards Luc Kinh with an eye still on Lam Can Dung.
Lam Can Dung looked at him and smiled. Luc Luan did not think that she would not get angry, but even would even smile. His ears flushed red and he asked: "Are you sick?"
In the Eighth month, the lotus flowers within the pond are already wilted, leaving only a few dried leaves and some hyacinth adrift. But even these bulbs of hyacinth were not left alone, being disturbed by the mischievous youngsters. That piece of black linh bich jade was forced to the side of the pond. Lam Old Master loved that linh bich jade that had fallen into the pond. A few young men stood to the side of the pond and commanded three to four servants their same age to lower themselves and bend their backs to look for the jade. In the chaos, the water in the pond heaved to and fro.
Lam Can Dung could guess who the boys are as she came over. The chubby boy with dark skin, eyebrows like caterpillars in a light yellow coat was Luc family's Fifth Young Master, Luc Luan who was the same age as her. The tall, skinny and elegant boy with fair skin wearing a grey cloak was Ngo family's Ngo Tuong. The other chubby boy wearing a blue coat was Luc Luan's brother, Luc's family Third Young Master, Luc Kinh. The last boy, wearing a light green coat, had an elegant and beautiful face, but desperation painted it over. His eyes frantically looked around. This was her brother, Lam Diec Chi.
Looking at the boys rushing back and forth within her family's manor, Lam Can Dung did not find it too bizarre. At Binh Chau, the three families of Lam, Luc, and Ngo were all famous families, all were scholarly. Even until now, they were the subject of marriage proposals and alliances. Especially the two families Lam and Luc, who are especially close. When there are marriage proposals, these two would take center stage. They were generally tied through marriage. That was why these people had a close relationship with the Lam family. When they were children, they would often visit Lam Manor, creating a familiar relationship with each other. During these years, everyone has grown up a bit, a division has arisen between the sexes. But on this occasion, with Lam Diec Chi leading, people came to the garden with no obstruction. Each minister would look on with one eye closed and one eye open.
In fact, Lam Diec Chi deserved to be punished by Old Master later. But in the end, the disaster would fall on her mother, hating the dog but hitting the cat. It even spread to her and her brother. Lam Can Dung furrowed her brows and concentrated: This matter need not even be mentioned. As a wife, with no love from the husband and regardless of what happens, it is the wife's fault. During this time period, as a wife one had to look after the manor, give birth, serve loyally at the husband's side, and, in the husband's steed, take care of the concubines and their children. Otherwise, the woman was not virtuous and considered an evil woman.
Lam Can Dung silently took in a breath: What kind of reasoning was this! Though she herself felt that it was unfair, at that time she still did what society considered was right. Since she was little, she had learned this. With ears that hear and eyes that saw, everyone did it this way. After time passed, it would become a habit. Unfortunately, she had experienced all this and was reborn; this could no longer be tolerated.
"Fourth Younger Sister." Lam Diec Chi was startled as he saw Lam Can Dung. Tears gathered as fear struck him. With a pleading look at Lam Can Dung: "What can be done?" Though his mother was doted on by Lam family's Third Master, he was still a concubine's son. In Lam Old Master's eyes, he heavily placed emphasis on hierarchical order. Like this, he had no status! If he was did not swagger around and brag, smuggled the boys into the garden to show them the jade, how could something like this happen? The 13-year-old was so scared his face turned white.
Lam Can Dung did not speak a word. Her gaze rested on Luc Luan, the dark skinned, chubby boy gave her two thumps up. With his index finger, he pulled at the corner of his eyes to make a silly face. "Blegh!" He turned towards her with his tongue sticking out, showing her as ugly a face as possible.
"Pa!" Luc Kinh was just 14-years-old and placed a lot of importance on face. With a red face, he overlooked his brother and eyed Ngo Tuong. With a guilty face, looked at Lam Can Dung, chuckled and said: "Fourth Younger Sister, please don't blame him. Fifth also hates to see this quirky and ugly face."
"Why did you hit me? I am going to tell mother." Luc Luan screamed, not being polite and returned a slap. "I don't think it is weird."
She had never thought of blaming Luc Luan. There were not many that treated her this well, even better than her own family. After much difficulty, Lam Can Dung calmed herself. Looking at the boys with a happy face, relaxed, and lowered her body: "Luc Third brother, Luc Fifth brother, Ngo Second brother, Big Brother."
Luc Luan lost face and stared intently at her. With a deep voice, he loudly said: "I heard that you got sick. You should've got skinnier; how did you get so fat? Are you not trying to lose weight? Everyday my Second sister would wail about losing weight, not even daring to eat rice."
At the side, Ngo Tuong laughed and looked at Lam Can Dung, waiting for a reply.
Lam Can Dung stroked her two cheeks. Nourishing herself for half a month, did she get fatter? Why did she not notice? After living for many years and then returning to this time period, she could not remember if she was fat or skinny. In a short period of time, she found it difficult to answer Luc Luan.
"Impudent. The affairs of females are not for you to comment on." Luc Kinh scolded Luc Luan. Ashamed, he looked at Lam Can Dung and said: "Fourth Younger Sister, this chubby lump of coal is causing mischief again. Diec Chi said to him that his linh bich jade stands at the top of Binh Chau, he didn't believe…" Though he said this, his eyes showed satisfaction at someone else's misfortune as it landed on Lam Diec Chi, standing to the side in low spirits. He looked at that linh bich jade, half submerged in water, and turned towards Lam Can Dung with sympathy in his eyes: "You know it now…" It was not a secret that she did not like Lam Diec Chi.
Lam Can Dung looked at Luc Kinh as he pretended to be ignorant of everything and he laughed. In her heart, she coldly laughed too. In the past, she had eyes but was blind and considered him a good person. But who would've known that this person, for his own benefit, would later kill his family? With his current appearance, pretending to be a good person, there were still clues. How did she not recognize it before?
Luc Luan's personality was such that he hated it the most when people said that he was fat or black, even his brother was not an exception. With a black face, he turned towards Luc Kinh and said in a loud and boisterous voice: "This fat whitey, how would I know that this rock was not held tight? Lam Fourth only said that this is the only jade in Binh Chau. He did say that there was something wrong with it and that it shouldn't be touched. Luckily, I am a lucky person, otherwise it would've fallen from over here and I would've lost face…" In a dominant and overbearing matter, he looked at Lam Diec Chi, whose face immediately paled. In a loud voice, he said: "Isn't that so? Lam Diec Chi! Say, did you intentionally do it? Because of the fight you lost last time, this is revenge?"
"That's not true! I also didn't know it would end up this way." Lam Diec Chi hurriedly took his sleeve to wipe back and forth, but the cold sweat just kept pouring. Grinding his teeth, he prepared to jump into the pond and join the recovery effort.
With this face, he definitely was prepared to jump in! Lam Can Dung hurriedly called to Ngo Tuong, who stood at the side with a cold face that had yet to speak. She said: "Ngo Second brother, quickly pull him back."
Ngo Tuong immediately listened and grabbed on to Lam Diec Chi. Lam Diec Chi struggled fiercely and argued: "Let me jump down there, otherwise grandfather will beat me to death."
Honestly, this person was foolish to the point of being pitiful. Looking at the big rock, with his little body, would he be able to retrieve it? Lam Can Dung peacefully looked at Lam Diec Chi: "The problem is the foundation of the rock is ruined. It is not related to brother. We will be your witnesses. Isn't that so? Luc Fifth brother?" She stared at Luc Luan.
The little fatty took two deep breathes. Giving Lam Can Dung face, reluctantly said: "Yes, I saw that this rock was very beautiful and wanted to touch. The result was that after a light touch the rock fell over." With a condescending look, "What bad luck!"
Ngo Tuong looked at Lam Can Dung from the corner of his eyes, smiled casually and said: "That's right. We all saw it." If there was a reason that Lam Can Dung wanted to overlook Lam Diec Chi's bad luck, why did he have to be a busy body? That was not who he was.
Lam Can Dung looked at Ngo Tuong gratefully and giggled. Ngo Tuong smiled back, showing his white teeth and indicating that she did not need to place his actions in her thoughts.
Of the four people here, three will help Lam Diec Chi, giving rise to help. He turned to look at Luc Kinh, who had not expressed his attitude.
Lam Can Dung looked at the white and chubby Luc Kinh. On the outside he was smiling and being amiable, but that only serves to hide his insidious and evil nature. Though she felt especially reproachful, her smile brightened even more. "Luc Third brother? Earlier, you said…" Even though Lam Diec Chi should not have boasted about this rock, but he should not have encouraged Luc Luan to bully Lam Diec Chi. She placed all the blame on Luc Luan; would he not even let Lam Diec Chi go? This is the Lam family, not the garden of his Luc Manor.
Seeing all of the gazes on him, Luc Kinh blinked and smiled: "Of course, it this way. Fourth Younger Sister, remember that when speaking to the ministers, you should check to see if the other rocks in the garden have problems. If there is, it should be remedied immediately, else it would harm others."
Lam Can Dung innocently laughed: "That's only natural." She turned towards Lam Diec Chi, calming himself, and softly said: "Big brother, I have come for you. Father has called for you." Need to hurry, she didn't want her mother to see.
Caught in a difficult situation, Lam Diec Chi looked at the rock in and then turned towards the people around Luc Kinh. Lam Can Dung sighed and moved forward a few steps and, in a small voice, said: "You should hurry. I will tell Madam to have a few people to get the rock up."
Lam Diec Chi gratefully looked at her and chuckled. Placing his hands together in a farewell gesture, he looked towards the other people. After swiping at the cold sweat on his forehead, he finally left.
Lam Can Dung giggled and looked at the remaining people. "I had just heard that entertainment troupe has arrive. Why doesn't older brothers go and see if any of the singers are pretty? If there are, you could come and regale us? I have to find Madame, first."
Luc Luan stepped forward onto the ends of her skirt and smiled lightly. "I'm not going. I will go with you to find little Seventh to play."
Luc Kinh looked at Luc Luan's black face and scolded. "No manners! Still removing your leg?"
"Hit me one more time. See what'll happen?" Luc Luan with a "HA" charged towards Luc Kinh with an eye still on Lam Can Dung.
Lam Can Dung looked at him and smiled. Luc Luan did not think that she would not get angry, but even would even smile. His ears flushed red and he asked: "Are you sick?"
