Chapter 32 Senior Brothers and Sisters

Xue Qingdai thought the matter had blown over, but in the eyes of the Xue family, she was still just a little girl who had ruined herself for so-called “true love.” That freezing cold winter water hadn’t just chilled her—it had almost cost her her life. The Xue family was fiercely protective to an extreme, so it was only natural for them to be this hard on someone like Xie Wei.

She had given Xie Wei a “gift” too—an acupuncture needle that left him infamous. But she hadn’t forgotten her older cousin Zhao Meiqin either.

“Third Brother, I don’t like him anymore. You can beat him up if you want, just make sure he doesn’t find out it was you.”

“And that cousin Zhao Meiqin of mine—is she studying in the capital too?”

“Yeah, our aunt is over the moon about it. She’s bragged to Mom about her daughter getting into university like, 800 times.”

“But Zhao Meiqin’s got some twisted thoughts. All her efforts are aimed at Xie Wei. And that guy’s useless.”

Xue Yongkang had long seen through Xie Wei’s selfish nature. He had warned his sister plenty of times, but she never listened. Now, all of a sudden, she said she didn’t like him anymore? Honestly, he didn’t quite believe it. Xie Yan was definitely more decent in comparison.

“Don’t bother with their family drama. We’re not getting involved. And even if your fiancé Xie Yan ever makes you upset—if I can’t beat him, your two older brothers will gang up on him. No one gets to bully you.”

Xue Qingdai felt incredibly reassured with her brother’s arm gently around her shoulders, but she was also more afraid of him finding out she was secretly planning to break off the engagement. Xie Yan must keep that a secret!

As for Zhao Meiqin… well, she might just get the same acupuncture treatment as Xie Wei. They could stink together.

In the novel, male lead Xie Yan’s nephew, Xie Wei, had a “white moonlight” named Zhao Meiqin—they both got into the capital’s university. But Zhao Meiqin wasn’t as sweet as she seemed. Since Xie Wei was the only grandson and the sole heir to the Xie family fortune, she had been secretly scheming for a piece of it.

Xue Qingdai seriously suspected Zhao Meiqin was the reincarnation of a crooked competitor. That same competitor used to spread lies about sharing a secret remedy with her to steal her business, falsely accused her of selling fake medicine, and nearly destroyed her.

Enraged, she compiled three books’ worth of documentation—some of which involved trade secrets she didn’t dare release publicly for fear of offending more people. She hadn’t intended to go that far… but someone else had. They wanted her dead.

This time around, if Zhao Meiqin thought she could get her hands on the Xie family’s wealth, Xue Qingdai would make sure she failed.

Meanwhile, far off in the distance, Xie Wei’s lips were pale, eyes dull, and dark circles lined his face. He looked like the embodiment of “premature failure”—Zhao Meiqin would surely be “blessed” in marriage.

Xue Qingdai secretly giggled at the thought, but was caught by Xue Yongkang, who grabbed her ponytail.

“Still staring?”

“Who did your hair…?” He had always done her hair in braids himself and didn’t know how to do ponytails.

“Xie Yan~” she answered cheerily.

“Oh.” A piece of his heart felt like it had gone missing. He had only been busy for a little while, and it already felt like Xie Yan was slowly replacing him at Daidai’s side. When she got into trouble, Xie Yan had been the first to show up.

“Xie Yan’s been by your side these last few days?”

Xue Qingdai was momentarily distracted by the sight of sugar-coated hawthorn skewers. She bought two, and the vendor wrapped them in white sticky rice paper. She licked her lips and bit into one eagerly.

“Yeah! Didn’t you tell him to come pick me up?”

“Oh? Got it.” Xue Yongkang slapped his thigh. He’d let his guard down around Xie Yan these past few days, and now this wolf was trying to marry his sister early. He had to hand it to Xie Yan.

Xue Qingdai felt itchy under her brother’s scrutinizing gaze. “Third Brother, what are you thinking about?”

Thinking you’re a fool? You’re about to get tricked away by Xie Yan!

Xue Yongkang kept a warm smile. “Nothing…”

Xue Qingdai handed him one of the skewers. “Third Brother has secrets now too.”

He looked out into the distance with his charming peach blossom eyes and gently tucked her scarf tighter. “You don’t have a secret with Xie Yan, do you?”

“Of course not! A few days ago he brought our family some coal briquettes,” she hurriedly added, afraid he’d suspect something.

“Really now, Third Brother won’t eat his, I’ll take it!” she said, snatching the hawthorn skewer from his hand.

Back at the entrance of the hutong, they acted extra low-profile as outsiders. If they were in Pengyang Village, they would’ve just strolled in grandly.

The siblings hid their purchases under their clothes and headed back discreetly. Even the newly bought Phoenix bicycle had been made to look old. Their temporary residence looked completely unremarkable from the outside.

By 7 p.m., half the lights in the courtyard had gone out. With no evening entertainment, Xue Qingdai went to bed early.

The next morning, she was rudely awakened by her brother’s cold hands on her feet. She kicked at him instinctively.

“Daidai, get up, don’t be lazy! Your master said your senior brother and sister are back today. As the youngest, you can’t show up late.”

Her brother helped braid her hair into two tight braids while hurrying her toward the clinic. She leaned against his back the whole way, eyes shut until they reached Jiren Hall.

The cornmeal porridge her third brother cooked today was a little harsh on the throat.

Xue Qingdai walked in lazily. “Third Brother, I want red-braised pork when I get home.”

“Alright,” Xue Yongkang said, wrapping her scarf tighter.

“Add egg to it.”

“You can do that with red-braised pork?”

“That’s how I like it. With rice.”

“Fine, fine, whatever you say.”

Then he biked off to a rented room and burned the paper records of his business dealings over the past half-month. That creeping feeling of being watched was getting stronger by the day.

Xue Qingdai had always studied medicine alone—it was a solitary routine. But now, she could learn from her seniors and spar with fellow apprentices. It felt amazing.

This time, she was going to be the boss.

Jiren Hall was bustling with activity. A stick of incense burned gently on a pearwood table, filling the pharmacy with the drifting scent of sandalwood.

Senior sister Fan Hua, tall and imposing at 1.76 meters, stood in a white robe. She wasn’t fond of acupuncture needles—preferred using raw strength. Her specialties were manual bone setting and massage, and she was also an amateur martial artist. There was a heroic sharpness between her brows.

“Little junior sister, do you really want to use embroidery needles? That stuff’s hard to learn. Why not let me teach you how to feel bones with your hands? A few cracks and snaps and people are cured. Girls love that sort of thing.”

“Oh, give it a rest,” someone scoffed. “You think everyone’s as reckless as you? Let junior sister study pharmacology with me—making pills, mixing bitter remedies. Quiet, delicate work like this suits girls better.”

“Master, just let her study with me,” Fan Hua pushed.

Second senior brother Yang Lin, dressed in black, was currently rolling herbal pills at the cabinet. He’d trained in martial arts since childhood but fell in love with traditional medicine halfway through. He’d been obsessed with formulating remedies ever since, and the quality of Jiren Hall’s herbs had always been under his careful supervision. Despite his expertise, he had a baby face that made him look perpetually young, always smiling and radiating zero threat.

Master Shen Shichun, already tired of these two disciples who couldn’t go a day without squabbling, still found her littlest disciple the most adorable—especially when she asked sweetly for chicken drumsticks.

“Enough, you two. She read your letters and likes both of you.”

“But she’s primarily studying acupuncture.”

“When she gets here, don’t scare her off.”

Fan Hua crushed a bone into powder with her bare hands and glared at Yang Lin, signaling him to stop trying to steal their junior sister.

Yang Lin, unwilling to back down, cheekily held a fresh snake gallbladder up to her mouth.

“Ugh!” Shen Shichun grimaced at the duel between her two disciples.

Just then, a gust of chilly wind swept in as Xue Qingdai walked through the door.

“Little junior sister, you’re here!”