Chinese New Year

Jiang Zhe wondered what kind of official position it would be. He wanted to ask Chen Deng, but was afraid that asking would damage his good image in the eyes of his "students," so he secretly thought to himself, "I'll just see how others handle it..."

Seeing that the teacher seemed to have agreed, Chen Deng felt very happy, but also a little guilty.

After all, it was he who recommended the teacher, so the teacher would naturally carry some small Chen family mark. According to his father, with the teacher's talent, there is nowhere in the world he cannot go.

If the teacher becomes famous throughout the world, I, as the student, will also feel proud...

Chen Deng, secretly amused, glanced at Jiang Zhe, then suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "Teacher, weren't you shopping with your wife today? Why are you here?"

"Don't even mention it!" These words hit Jiang Zhe's sore spot. He had originally planned to go home and enjoy some time alone with Xiu'er, but he had even sent Chen Deng and Fang Yue away because of this. And now, that girl is here!

"..." Upon hearing Jiang Zhe's distressed words, Chen Deng opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

"That's right!" Jiang Zhe's eyes lit up, and he said, "Yuan Long, I'm entrusting this arduous task to you!"

"...Me?" Chen Deng stared wide-eyed, pointing at himself. Oh well! He'd struck it lucky again!

"The task is arduous and the road ahead is long!" Jiang Zhe casually remarked before drifting away.

Chen Deng raised his hand, watching Jiang Zhe run off into the distance like a shot, and was immediately at a loss for words, saying dejectedly, "Never mind!"

Shaking his head helplessly, he walked towards the Mi residence.

Mi Mansion...

"Brother..." Mi Fang walked to the desk with a smile and said to Mi Zhu, who was reading there, "I have something to tell you, please don't be angry."

Without even glancing at Mi Fang, Mi Zhu turned a page of his book and said calmly, "Speak!"

"Well..." Mi Fang chuckled awkwardly and said, "This matter could be a big deal or a small deal..."

Mi Zhu glanced at Mi Fang speechlessly, then frowned and said, "Could it be that Zhen'er ran away?"

"Ah!" Mi Fang exclaimed, clapping her hands in amazement. "As expected of my elder brother! Brilliant!"

Mi Zhu turned a page of his book and said softly, "So what do you want to say?"

"..." Mi Fang was taken aback, stared blankly at Mi Zhu, and tentatively asked, "Big brother isn't angry?"

Mi Zhu slammed the book on the table and said in a deep voice, "What do you say, Second Brother?"

"Don't be angry, don't be angry..." Mi Fang said to herself. Why was her older brother so angry today?

"My little sister is still young, of course she'll feel bored staying cooped up in the house. Big brother, you shouldn't take it to heart..."

"I'm angry with you!" Mi Zhu said coldly. "I recommended you, my second brother, to Lord Tao several times to be his chief clerk, but you... Gongliang, the Mi family is no longer what it used to be. We should both do our best to protect the family business, but you..."

"Well..." Mi Fang chuckled awkwardly, realizing he had misunderstood. It turned out his elder brother had been holding a grudge about this all along. "I'm rather lazy; I'm afraid I can't hold onto this clerk position very well..."

"Nonsense!" Mi Zhu said in a deep voice, "With the combined strength of the Chen family and my Mi family, I doubt Cao Bao would dare to do anything like that!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"Sigh!" Mi Fang sighed and said, "So be it! Your heart isn't in this! You've practiced martial arts since childhood, and your skills surpass mine. Becoming a general is what you truly desire..."

Mi Fang glanced at Mi Zhu but said nothing.

"Second brother, remember this well: only my brother and I remain in the Mi family..."

"And there's a younger sister too!"

"You!" Mi Zhu was speechless with anger. "That girl has already run off to Jiang Zhe's place..."

"...Oh!" Mi Fang said with a grin, "So, Big Brother already knew..."

"Nonsense!" Mi Zhu glared at Mi Fang and said in a deep voice, "That Jiang Zhe is also a great talent. If Zhen'er marries him, it will be bad for the Mi family..."

"Cough cough cough!"

"What's with the coughing! Even if Zhen'er were here, I would say the same thing! As her elder brother, I didn't force her; it was her own choice. I was just thinking about the family. Is that wrong?"

"cough!"

"You..." Mi Zhu suddenly raised his head and immediately saw Mi Fang winking at him. Then, looking towards the door, his expression became quite interesting.

"How about... I come back later?" Chen Deng said awkwardly in Jiang-style language while standing at the door.

"So it's Brother Yuanlong who has graced my humble abode..." Mi Zhu got up and walked over, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"Well..." Chen Deng was in a difficult situation, so after thinking it over, he pretended not to hear. "Brother Zizhong, Yuanlong has come to bother you..."

Mi Zhu glared at Mi Fang, who was smirking, and said, "Yuan Long, have you come to discuss something with me?"

"Oh, no..." Chen Deng shook his head and told the whole story. He was originally worried that the person in front of him would slam his fist on the table and stand up, but now he didn't have to worry about that anymore.

"My upbringing wasn't strict enough, please excuse my poor manners!"

"How dare I! How dare I!"

"Big brother, should we bring little sister back?" Mi Fang deliberately came to cause trouble, but the two ignored him, leaving him feeling foolish.

"I'm not worried about my younger sister being with Mr. Jiang, but I'm afraid she might cause him trouble..."

Chen Deng carefully observed Mi Zhu's expression, secretly chuckling to himself. No wonder his father had said that his elder brother Zizhong was mature beyond his years; he was indeed insightful...

"Then I'll take my leave..."

"No need to see me out..." Mi Zhu got up and saw Chen Deng to the door. When he returned, he saw Mi Fang laughing loudly and immediately said in embarrassment and anger, "Laugh! What are you laughing at!"

Mi Fang smiled and said, "That's good too. Wouldn't it be even better if the Mi family and the Chen family had a stronger connection?"

"You!" Mi Zhu was speechless. Anyway, it was your older brother who lost face! But after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make some sense?

"Don't mention it again!"

Back home, Jiang Zhe called out in his signature voice, "Xiuer, I'm home!"

Not long after, Xiuer came out of the house and looked at Jiang Zhe, who was drinking tea in the hall, and said, "Husband, has it been taken care of?"

"Of course!" Jiang Zhe then told Xiu'er about his encounter with Chen Deng.

Xiuer nodded. "That's good then. But since Mr. Chen has recommended you for the position, my husband must be even more diligent in the future..."

"Yes, yes, yes! Huh, where's that girl?" Jiang Zhe looked around.

Xiuer stepped forward, pouted, and whispered, "Sister Zhen'er is cooking for me, husband, could it be...?"

Seeing Xiuer's strange smile, Jiang Zhe immediately said, "No! I'm just curious!"

"Oh..." Xiu'er suddenly realized, nodded and said, "Sister Zhen'er said that she wants to stay with me tonight... This..."

"What?" Jiang Zhe's eyes widened, and he quickly said, "No way!"

"How stingy!"

Suddenly, a sentence came out from behind. Jiang Zhe turned around and saw that it was Mi Zhen. So the two of them stared at each other.

"Since that's the case, then so be it..." Xiu'er said to Mi Zhen, "Let me tidy up the guest room for you, sister, if you don't mind..."

"You'd better not like it!" Jiang Zhe said.

"Then thank you, sister..." Mi Zhen's eyes twitched, and she glared back at Jiang Zhe resentfully.

"Hmph!" This girl, always ruining good things! Jiang Zhe snorted, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Since it's almost New Year's, I happen to have a pair of Spring Festival couplets ready. Let me find two sheets of red paper, write them down, and hang them by the door!"

"A couplet?" Xiu'er looked at Jiang Zhe strangely, and even Mi Zhen looked confused.

.