All Hail Cousin Brother

229 Cousin, I’m Angry

However, his father was so angry that he took off his shoes and threw them at his face. “Back then, I relied on this method to win over the beauty. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a brat like you. You should learn from me. In the future, you might be able to rely on this to get a wife. Otherwise, with your bad character, you won’t be able to have a wife and children in this lifetime.”

It turned out that when his mother was in her private room, her father had done this. As time passed, outsiders probably knew that the You King desired his mother. As long as one wasn’t stupid, they wouldn’t dare to snatch her away.

Besides, the two of them always wore similar clothes, so it was inevitable that people would think that they were having an affair. Her mother was a fairy, so if her reputation was tarnished, wouldn’t she have to accept it?

Previously, his father had always scolded him for being a hooligan.

Now, he knew that he had taken after his father.

At that time, he looked down on his father. “It’s a good thing that my mother didn’t become stupid from reading ‘The Maiden’s Ring’ and ‘The Legend of the Fierce Maiden’. Otherwise, as long as she was a fierce person, she would have ended up with a white ribbon around her neck. Let’s see where you can find a wife.”

At that time, his father was very proud. “As for those who became stupid from studying, I don’t think much of them either…”

“Cousin, even Third Miss Song and Sixth Miss Qi praised you for looking good today.” Yu Youyao looked at her cousin and smiled. Her eyes were filled with joy, as if she was the one being praised.

Zhou Linghuai came back to his senses. When he looked at the little girl’s yellow and green embroidered clothes, for some reason, he felt his palms, which were holding the armrest, sweating slightly.

Yu Youyao’s voice lost a little of its childishness and became a little more tactful. “Cousin will play the zither, make incense fans, and carve pendants for me. He’s worried that I won’t be able to keep up with my studies, so he’ll guide me in my studies every day. He’ll teach me how to write, play the zither, and play chess. He’ll also make patterns for me. Other people’s brothers aren’t as good as Cousin. They’re all very envious of me since Cousin dotes on me so much.” As she spoke, she looked smug. Her curved lips were sweet and soft. “In the past, I was envious that Second Sister had Eldest Brother and Second Brother doting on her. Now, Second Sister is envious of me!”

Zhou Linghuai tightened his grip on the armrest again and said nothing.

After saying that, Yu Youyao held her cousin’s hand again. “Cousin, look. I used the brow powder you gave me this morning. Don’t my eyebrows look good? Tell me you made the brow powder.”

“I usually paint and often mix my own dyes, so I mixed indigo with minerals, resin, and so on. The color is fresher.”

In the first few days, after using the indigo dye, a poem suddenly popped into his mind: “At the age of eight, I stole a mirror. I can already draw with my long eyebrows.”

She thought about the little girl’s beautiful eyebrows. If they were to be drawn…

For some reason, he used dyer’s woad, true indigo, and Chinese indigo to make the brow powder. The rest of the process was not very complicated. It was only dried this morning.

The well made brow powder had a hint of green in the black. It was dipped in water and drawn on the eyebrows. The heavy color spread out, making the black and green colors look even more beautiful.

Yu Youyao was full of praise. “Only the Persians have them. One of them costs more than ten gold coins, and it’s rare. Cousin, you’re really amazing. You even know how to make it.”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “This isn’t the typical brow powder. The color is a little similar, but there’s also a big difference. Mine is a little more fresh, and the texture is thicker.”

He didn’t know how brow powder from Persia was mixed, but he had been very interested in some “unorthodox methods” since he was young. He had learned how to mix dyes and knew the procedures for making brow powder, so it wasn’t complicated anymore.

Yu Youyao smiled. “I like the brow powder that Cousin makes. I heard that it’s complicated, so I won’t learn it. In the future, if I lack brow powder, I’ll ask Cousin for it.”

She wasn’t worried at all that he would refuse and Zhou Linghuai indeed didn’t refuse. He nodded. “Okay!” In the end, he added, “I’ll try to make another color. You can use something different in the future.”

With that, he looked up at the little girl’s eyebrows.

The little girl’s eyebrows were good-looking. She had a pair of slender eyebrows that looked like the crescent moon, but they also looked as distant as a mountain region far away. She could try different types of brow powder in the future.

The stone powder was thick and heavy, making her look dignified. The copper powder was peacock green, and after applying the color, she would look delicate. The green sparrow powder was dark gray, making her look even more solemn.

However, in his opinion, these colors were not worthy of a lady. They had to look good in different ways.

Yu Youyao was overjoyed. “Thank you, Cousin!”

Zhou Linghuai looked at her sweet smile and subconsciously smiled.

Yu Youyao smiled and tilted her head. She looked at her cousin with anticipation in her eyes. “Cousin, it’s my birthday today. Have you forgotten something?”

Surely she wouldn’t be dismissed with a box of brow powder!

Although she liked her cousin’s cooking very much, she still felt that it lacked some surprises.

Zhou Linghuai was stunned for a moment. “What did I forget?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Youyao pouted and was a little angry. “Cousin, you actually forgot. How could you do this? Think about it quickly. You have to remember.”

Zhou Linghuai frowned and really thought about it.

Yu Youyao stared at her cousin. Seeing that he did not even remember it, she became even angrier. “Cousin, think about it quickly. Think about it quickly. If you don’t, I’ll be angry!”

Zhou Linghuai felt a little helpless. “I really can’t remember. Cousin, why don’t you tell me directly?”

Yu Youyao glared at her cousin angrily. Tears welled up in her eyes, and even her voice sounded aggrieved and choked. “Cousin, you’re too annoying. I-I’m angry. I…” With that, she suddenly stood up and stomped her feet. “I’ll ignore you from now on!”

With that, she turned to run out.

However, Zhou Linghuai held her hand.

“Why are you pulling me? Let go!” Yu Youyao was so angry that she turned around and glared at him. Her eyes were red, but she looked like she was about to cry. If anyone saw this, their hearts would ache.

Zhou Linghuai’s scalp went numb, and he quickly said, “I almost forgot to give Cousin the birthday gift I prepared for her.”

With that, he took out a dark wooden box with golden silk that was much smaller than a baby’s palm. There were carved branches and apricot flowers on it, making it look elegant and exquisite.

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened immediately. When she saw the corner of her cousin’s lips, she understood that she had been played by him. She was furious. “Cousin, you’re too much. How can you bully me like this? Hurry up and apologize, or I’ll really ignore you in the future!”

Zhou Linghuai pulled the little girl to sit down and admitted his mistake without any hesitation. “Okay, okay, okay. I was wrong. I’ll apologize to you now. Don’t be angry with me.”