When Ren Yaoqi came out again, Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang were indeed still waiting outside.
Qiu Yun looked up at the sky, pulled out a folding fan from somewhere, struck it against his left hand, and said to Ren Yaoqi: “Fifth Sister, you’re quite quick. I thought you would make us wait for an hour.”
This wasn’t sarcasm—Ren Yaoqi had said she would go back to pack and hadn’t deliberately delayed. Because she knew that with Yun Wenfang’s temperament, even if she dragged it out until evening before coming out, he would still be waiting outside.
She didn’t want to anger these two young masters over such a trivial matter.
Regarding Qiu Yun’s teasing, Ren Yaoqi merely smiled slightly without saying anything.
Only then did Ren Yaoqi realize that Qiu Yun was quite talkative. As the three walked along the path, without waiting for Ren Yaoqi to ask, he began introducing the fan in his hand: “Yun Wenting brought this back from the capital. The calligraphy on it is his writing. Everyone says Young Master Yun’s calligraphy is excellent. What do you think, Fifth Cousin?”
Ren Yaoqi glanced at it. Eldest Young Master Yun Wenting of the Yun family was also quite a famous scholar in Yunyang City. In her previous life, when Yun Wenfang was taken back by the Yun family, she had seen him once—he was indeed handsome and elegant. If one were to say Yun Wenting’s calligraphy matched his appearance, that wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
“Mm, good,” Ren Yaoqi nodded in agreement.
Qiu Yun proudly waved the fan in front of Yun Wenfang: “See, Fifth Cousin also says it’s good. Only you say his calligraphy is ugly! You’re jealous!”
Yun Wenfang glanced at Ren Yaoqi and said coldly: “It’s freezing cold—be careful not to catch cold.”
But Qiu Yun waved his fan even more enthusiastically, saying leisurely: “This shows you don’t understand! Capital people carry fans year-round. They don’t use fans for cooling, but for this—” As he spoke, Qiu Yun used the fan to cover most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
“Like this, covering the face. Telling others, ‘I don’t want to greet you right now, please carry on!’ Capital people call this ‘bian mian’ (convenience face).”
Ren Yaoqi lowered her head and smiled. Having lived in the capital for many years, she knew this custom. What Qiu Yun said was indeed true. Originally, it was only popular among women, but later, the scholars and gentlemen outside also began using it, though women used round fans.
Qiu Yun’s digression made the atmosphere more natural.
At this moment, Yun Wenfang suddenly said to Ren Yaoqi, “I heard Han Yunqian lost a painting to you?”
Ren Yaoqi was too lazy to investigate who had spread this news. She nodded.
“Then you should also make a bet with me,” Yun Wenfang paused, then continued expressionlessly.
Ren Yaoqi finally understood why she had opposed Yun Wenfang in her previous life. Even now, she sometimes couldn’t help wanting to teach him a lesson.
“What do you want to bet?” Ren Yaoqi asked casually.
Yun Wenfang’s expression softened slightly. After thinking, he said, “We can bet on anything. If you lose, you give me a painting. If I lose… if I lose, you can name any condition!”
Ren Yaoqi looked troubled: “Can we not bet?”
“No!” Yun Wenfang replied decisively.
Ren Yaoqi stopped walking, turned to look at him, then a flash of cunning passed through her eyes, though her face showed reluctant agreement: “Alright then.”
A trace of doubt flashed in Yun Wenfang’s eyes.
Ren Yaoqi tilted her head thoughtfully. They happened to be approaching Warm Fragrance Pavilion, and Ren Yaoqi turned to see several bamboo branches extending diagonally from behind the pavilion—there was a small bamboo grove there.
Ren Yaoqi waved to Yun Wenfang and Qiu Yun, leading them around the right side of Warm Fragrance Pavilion toward the small bamboo grove.
Yun Wenfang and Qiu Yun exchanged glances. Qiu Yun stroked his chin with a slight smile, while Yun Wenfang followed behind Ren Yaoqi, and Qiu Yun also followed.
The small bamboo grove behind Warm Fragrance Pavilion was merely a scenic feature, so not many bamboo plants were grown, but because someone tended to them daily, they were lush and verdant, quite charming.
Ren Yaoqi stopped at the very edge of the bamboo grove. The soil inside was somewhat loose, and she wanted to finish quickly without ruining her new deerskin boots.
“Dew washes the lead powder joints, wind sways the jade-green branches. Graceful like a gentleman, suitable everywhere,” Qiu Yun recited while waving his fan and swaying his head. “No wonder the ancients said, ‘Better to eat without meat than live without bamboo.’ This truly is a wonderful place!”
Ren Yaoqi ignored Qiu Yun’s literary pretensions. She examined the bamboo while walking back and forth, then turned to Yun Wenfang: “You’re certain the bet can be anything I decide?”
Yun Wenfang looked at Ren Yaoqi and nodded. Qiu Yun also approached with interest, wanting to see what challenge she would pose.
Ren Yaoqi smiled charmingly, her eyes lively: “Very well. I claim I can distinguish male from female bamboo. Do you believe me?”
Qiu Yun was first stunned, then chuckled: “I’ve never heard that bamboo can be distinguished as male or female. Cousin, this is quite interesting.” When had he failed to notice that Fifth Cousin was such an interesting person? He had truly misjudged her.
Yun Wenfang stared intently at Ren Yaoqi for a long time before shaking his head: “I don’t believe it.”
Ren Yaoqi turned and touched a bamboo stalk beside her, tilting her head: “Very well then, we’ll bet on this. If I can distinguish male from female bamboo, then I win. If I cannot or if I’m wrong, then Young Master Wen wins.”
Before Yun Wenfang could respond, Qiu Yun called out: “Wait, wait. What kind of bet is this? Though I’m your cousin, I can’t show favoritism. Win or lose—won’t it just be your word?”
Ren Yaoqi said confidently, “I’ll naturally provide convincing evidence when the time comes. Let Cousin Brother be the witness—you can decide who wins or loses. How about that?”
Qiu Yun closed his fan and tapped his chin lightly, thinking, then nodded with a smile: “Fine! But don’t blame me later for helping reason rather than relatives.”
Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly and looked at Yun Wenfang, who was leaning against a mature bamboo with his arms crossed, his tall figure seeming to merge with the bamboo grove, equally upright and handsome.
“I have no objection.”
Ren Yaoqi nodded with satisfaction: “If I lose, I’ll give you a painting. If I win—” Ren Yaoqi’s eyes shifted slightly, her smile innocent and harmless, “you’re not allowed to trouble me anymore.”
Qiu Yun laughed so hard he could barely stand straight.
Yun Wenfang’s face darkened as he gritted his teeth and growled: “When have I ever troubled you?”
Ren Yaoqi blinked innocently, looking troubled: “What should we do? We seem to understand ‘trouble’ differently. How about this—if I refuse something from you in the future, a refusal is a refusal. You’re not allowed to get angry or seek revenge afterward!”
Qiu Yun laughed even louder, nearly collapsing from laughter.
Yun Wenfang’s expression was very ugly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi looked frightened and pointed at him: “See, that’s what being angry looks like!”
Yun Wenfang: “…”
“Are we betting or not? If not, I’m leaving,” Ren Yaoqi said with a smile, returning to her usual gentle and obedient appearance.
“Bet.” Yun Wenfang said this word with obvious gritted teeth, yet seemed to deliberately restrain his temper.
Ren Yaoqi nodded and pointed confidently at the bamboo stalk Yun Wenfang was leaning against: “This one is female!”
Yun Wenfang frowned as he looked at the bamboo behind him, his face full of gloom, and couldn’t help glaring at Ren Yaoqi.
Qiu Yun ran to Yun Wenfang’s side, stroking his chin as he carefully examined the bamboo that looked no different from the others for a long time, then snorted and looked sideways at Ren Yaoqi, saying leisurely: “Cousin, I said I’d help reason rather than relatives.”
Ren Yaoqi said slowly: “The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ states: ‘Bamboo has male and female. Look at the first branch from the root—if paired branches grow, it must be female and will have shoots.’ Simply put, counting from the bamboo root upward, the first section that produces shoots is female bamboo.”
The two looked where Ren Yaoqi pointed and indeed saw new shoots emerging.
Qiu Yun looked at Ren Yaoqi with a strange expression and exclaimed: “Compendium of Materia Medica? You read the Compendium of Materia Medica!”
Ren Yaoqi said seriously, “I had trouble sleeping for a while, so I had a maid bring the dustiest book from the study. This method worked, and I could learn unexpected things along the way. Cousin Brother could try it too.”
Qiu Yun burst out laughing.
Ren Yaoqi looked at Yun Wenfang, who was pursing his lips in silence: “If Young Master Wen doesn’t believe it, you can go back and check the books.”
Yun Wenfang snorted lightly and turned his head away.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and walked outward, saying: “It’s getting late. Let’s go to my aunt’s place.”
Qiu Yun suppressed his laughter and stepped forward to speak quietly with Yun Wenfang: “Losing is losing—there’s nothing shameful about it. Han Yunqian didn’t win either.”
Yun Wenfang felt somewhat better.
When Ren Shijia saw the three of them coming to her courtyard, she was very happy and quickly ordered maids to bring out the pastries she had brought from Yunyang City.
She recognized Yun Wenfang and had learned from Old Madam Ren the reason for his visit to the Ren family, so she also called him ‘Zishu’ like Qiu Yun did.
Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang didn’t stay long—they only paid their respects, sat briefly, and then took their leave.
Before leaving, Qiu Yun reminded Ren Yaoqi: “Remember we’re going out tomorrow. We’ll leave after paying respects to the old madam and return in the evening.”
Qiu Yun didn’t put on arrogant airs with people he was familiar with, but was quite talkative and witty. In this life, his attitude toward Ren Yaoqi was much better than in the previous life.