I'm the Farmgirl You Can't Mess With

Chapter 1387: Side Story: Fan Zijin (3)

Editor: Atlas Studios

“He pushed me into the water.” Fan Zijin pushed the door open and entered. He looked up at him stubbornly and said word by word, “He was the one who pushed me into the water. Father, I’m not lying.”

Fan Siwen’s expression was a little ugly. He looked at his son for a while before turning to look at his wife, who was glaring at him. “Zijin, Zixiao is your big brother. I hope that you brothers will be respectful and helpful towards each other. In the past, your big brother might have had some conflicts with you, but you’re brothers after all…”

“Fan Siwen.” Xia Tong interrupted him loudly. “Aren’t you just trying to say that I instructed Zijin to frame Zixiao? You don’t have to say such pompous words. Let me tell you, it’s all your inability to properly distinguish between the legitimate son and the concubine’s son that caused Fan Zixiao to become the way he is today.”

Fan Siwen retorted angrily, “When did I not differentiate between the legitimate son and the concubine’s son? I’ve always accorded you with the necessary dignity. Zixiao is also my flesh and blood…”

Fan Zijin turned around and left. He had heard such arguments countless times. He knew that in the end, either his father would slam the door and leave, or his mother would chase after his father to beat him up. In the past, although he felt terrible about it, he’d never felt such hostility until now. For more chapters visit novel·fire·net

Whenever Fan Zijin recalled the fear of being pushed into the water and thought of Qi Haoran, who was lying on the bed with a fever, his heart would be filled with rage.

Fan Zijin walked out of the main courtyard and found the wet nurse. “Get someone to invite Eldest Cousin over. Tell him that Haoran is sick.”

The wet nurse quickly left.

Fan Zijin turned around and returned to Qi Haoran’s side. He thought that since his father did not believe him, he would personally make Fan Zixiao pay the price for his actions.

Qi Haoran had a good foundation. Although he had been feverish for half a night, he recovered immediately after his fever subsided. The next morning, he got up and ate two bowls of porridge and two small steamed buns. After wiping his mouth, he was once again a mischievous little brat.

However, Fan Zijin was much quieter than before. After he slowly finished his breakfast, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and said to his father, “Father, I will prove it to you.”

With that, he pulled Qi Haoran away.

Fan Siwen was confused. He had already forgotten what happened yesterday afternoon, so he didn’t know what his son wanted to prove to him.

Xia Tong didn’t take it to heart either.

After the two children walked out of the main room hand in hand, Fan Zijin turned around and said to the servants, “All of you, take 15 steps back.”

The servant girls and maidservants looked at each other and took 15 steps back in unison as told.

When Fan Zijin saw them retreating on their toes, he immediately wrinkled his nose and pointed at a pot of chrysanthemums. “Retreat there.”

The servant girls and maidservants had bitter expressions on their faces, but they still followed his instructions and retreated. However, their eyes were fixed on the two children, afraid that they would accidentally run out of their line of sight. It had to be known that because of what happened yesterday, they would be punished by flogging and would have to take turns getting beaten up in the next few days.

After confirming that the servants were out of earshot, Fan Zijin was satisfied. He leaned close to Qi Haoran’s ear and said, “Let’s go find Fan Zixiao.”

Qi Haoran hated Fan Zixiao very much. And so, he wrinkled his nose and said, “I’m not going. I hate him.”

Fan Zijin snorted. “He pushed me into the water and almost killed you. Did he think that with Father’s support, this matter would be over just like that?”

“Then what do you want?”

“Hmph, I want him to have a taste of being submerged in water.”

Qi Haoran hesitated and said, “I’m not sure it’s a good idea. It felt so awful to fall into the water.”

He had not forgotten the feeling of choking and suffocating yesterday.

Fan Zijin’s expression turned even colder. “All the more reason he ought to be punished.”

Fan Zixiao was grounded in his room by Fan Siwen. In theory, he was not allowed to go out or let anyone visit him. However, Fan Zijin and Qi Haoran barged in like little tyrants. Fan Zixiao’s servants were afraid of hurting the two young masters, but they were also afraid that the trio would get into a conflict. While they did not dare to stop them, they did not dare to let them barge in.

Hence, the three of them confronted each other with a group of servants between them.

Fan Zijin mocked Fan Zixiao. “You’re a coward. Not only do you not have the balls to own up to your actions after pushing me into the water, you don’t even dare to see us.”

With a scowl, Fan Zixiao straightened his body and said, “Who said I don’t dare to see you?”

His eyes flickered and he said somewhat sheepishly, “I was reading in the garden yesterday. I didn’t see you guys, let alone push you.”

“Then do you dare to confront us by the lotus pond? At that time, there were the things you dropped and your footprints by the side.”

Fan Zixiao’s expression changed. His eyes flickered twice before he snorted. “So be it. Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

“Eldest Young Master, Old Master wants you grounded. You’re not allowed to go anywhere for the next few days.” Fan Zixiao’s wet nurse panicked and quickly stopped him.

Fan Zijin and Qi Haoran made faces at him and provoked him. “Coward. You can’t even get rid of the servants around you. If you have the ability, come and chase us. Otherwise, you’ll be a coward and worse than a rat.”

With that, the brothers turned around and ran.

Their servants hurriedly followed.

With a reddened face, Fan Zixiao pushed the wet nurse away and chased after the duo. He hated it when people called him a coward.

The reason for that was because he was a concubine’s son, and his mother often asked him to be tolerant of others outside. Would he allow others to call him “coward”?

The three children chased each other to the lotus pond. Fan Zixiao clenched his fists. Seeing that the servants were scattered around, he could only suppress the panic in his heart and say, “Don’t try to frame me. I-I didn’t come to the lotus pond yesterday. It’s impossible for me to push you into the water.”

His mother had said that he mustn’t admit to this even if he was beaten to death. Otherwise, not only would he lose his father’s love, but he would also be charged with murdering his younger brother and could forget about living a good life in the future.

Fan Zijin sneered and pointed at the ground beside him. “You accidentally left something behind and you’re refusing to admit to it?”

Fan Zixiao panicked and hurriedly took two steps forward to take a look. Immediately, Fan Zijin jumped behind him and pushed him into the water.

Fan Zixiao let out an exclamation and couldn’t help but flop in the water as he screamed for help.

The servants were startled for they did not expect that Fan Zijin would dare to push Fan Zixiao into the water right before their eyes. Just as they were about to go into the water to save him, Fan Zijin stopped them and said, “No one is allowed to go down.”

Qi Haoran was originally a little nervous at the side, but when he saw Fan Zixiao struggling and screaming in the water with his eyes closed, he couldn’t help but be speechless. He shouted, “Stop shouting. The water only reaches your chest and doesn’t even submerge your mouth and nose. What are you shouting for?”

The anxious servants were stunned and quickly craned their necks to take a look. Sure enough, although the Eldest Young Master kept screaming and splashing about in the water, the water level did not even reach his face. Everyone was a little speechless.

Fan Zixiao gradually came back to his senses. Seeing that so many people had seen his sorry state, and that the servants might even be laughing at him in their hearts, he could not help but glare at the two of them, feeling incensed.

Fan Zijin looked at him coldly and said, “I’m younger than you. After you pushed me into the water yesterday, I choked. Cousin almost died. Yet now, you’re able to stand on solid ground and glare at us. You were merely startled. What right do you have to hate us?”

Fan Zixiao turned away guiltily.