Xu Wan kicked Zong Jincheng's leg again, not caring at all about his anger, and even deliberately provoking him, "Hey, does this count as using your bowl to smash your pot?"

"Bang——"

The anger meter was full.

Even though no sound was made, everyone could feel Zong Jincheng's fury, which was even greater than the anger he had shown every previous time Xu Wan teased him!

Zong Wenxiu quickly pulled him aside to calm him down, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. It's just a small crack, much better than before. If you think it's not good enough, we can rebuild it tomorrow."

Jing Zhe also hurriedly added, "It's already very good now. At least we won't be so cold anymore, and it's spring now, the weather will get warmer and warmer!"

His younger sister, not very good at speaking, just tugged at his clothes, signaling him not to be angry.

Zong Jincheng strode forward.

Like a pufferfish, he sat angrily in the carriage heading home, his arms crossed.

The carriage had no curtain, and the cold wind blew in. The people on both sides of the road looked into the luxurious yet simple carriage, only to see—

A pufferfish-like Zong Jincheng, pouting all the way.

Although the wind was cold, at least the heart was warm. Xu Wan was about to laugh to death at this kid, but luckily, she still had a shred of conscience and didn't laugh out loud in the carriage.

Zong Wenxiu glanced at her face, which was trying hard not to laugh, completely puzzled about what the joke was.

The sulking Zong Jincheng got off the carriage and walked straight to his courtyard, ignoring anyone who called out to him, clearly not planning to eat dinner.

Xu Wan watched his back and said, "Forget him, Wenxiu, let's go eat."

Zong Wenxiu hesitated, "Isn't that a bit unkind? He's been running around all day and is now so angry... I think I should go persuade him."

Xu Wan smiled and called him to follow.

As they walked, the maids and servants passing by greeted them, and Zong Wenxiu, not yet accustomed to the rules of the marquis's residence, always instinctively nodded back, causing the maids to giggle.

Unaware of what was so funny, Zong Wenxiu's cheeks turned slightly red.

Xu Wan explained with a smile, "Jincheng often hangs out with Zhai Yao and the others. Recently, after I had the housekeeper cut off his allowance, those guys still forced him to pay the bill, making Jincheng pawn his jade pendant worth thousands of taels of silver for that meal. But after that, Jincheng didn't cut ties with Zhai Yao and the others, not realizing at all that in their eyes, he's just a walking bank."

"Thousands of taels..." Zong Wenxiu was hearing about such a large sum of money for the first time. If it were him, he'd probably lose sleep, afraid of losing even a single tael.

Xu Wan continued, "This incident just let him experience firsthand what it feels like to have something you worked hard on trampled on by others. Otherwise, who knows if one day, among those young scoundrels riding recklessly in the streets, there might be Zong Jincheng?"

Zong Wenxiu was shocked.

He couldn't think too deeply about it. His younger brother, though not as notorious as rumored, rarely cared about others' feelings.

If today, it was his brother on the horse...

When he rode, he would indeed only care about his own pleasure, not noticing how a casual action of his could cause serious consequences for others.

A change in perspective brings a world of thoughts.

Xu Wan, walking ahead, had already pulled some distance from him. The noble and elegant figure in red was bold and beautiful. From afar, they heard her say loudly, "Then today, let's teach him this lesson."

"Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."

...

The swing in the small courtyard was flying again.

"Meow! Meow!"

"Chirp! Chirp!"

The birdcage hanging on the swing was filled with screams. The cat lurking behind was firmly gripping the gaps in the cage, and the swing was swinging wildly, scaring the little birds into flapping and screeching.

The instigator, Zong Jincheng, was still vigorously pushing the swing. His delicate little face was twisted, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes sharp and irritable. The usually clear and clean black eyes now didn't bother to move much.

"Young Master, the madam has had the food brought over. She said you can eat in the courtyard tonight."

Shunzi, carrying the food, didn't dare to enter, only poking his head out, afraid of being caught in that person's anger.

Sure enough, Zong Jincheng was unappreciative, like a lit firecracker, shouting, "I'm not eating! Take it out! If you dare come in again, I'll break your leg!"

Shunzi: "..." Alright, sir.

The sensible servant quickly retracted his head, pretending he had never spoken.

After the person left, Zong Jincheng kicked the swing in frustration, ignoring the screaming cats and birds behind him, and sat down on the steps in front of the house.

The steps were cold, but it woke him up.

Eight-year-old Zong Jincheng sat with his legs spread, watching the ants marching in formation on the ground, carrying white things, one team after another, with some leading small squads forward.

If it were before, seeing the ants moving, he would either step on them or pour a bucket of water, easily wiping out these weak creatures.

But now, he thought of today's flag.

The flag that ruined the result of his hard work.

To them, an insignificant carriage curtain could shield someone from the cold wind all night, even something that could save a life.

He remembered Xu Wan's reminder: the Hanxue Baoma (a legendary horse) was a gift from him to Zhai Yao, but Zhai Yao used it to smash the roof he had given to Jing Zhe and his sister!

He even thought, if it weren't for the sudden arrival of a stepmother in the house, if he hadn't been confined at home, if he had continued hanging out with Zhai Yao as usual, would he have been one of those throwing the flag today?

"Damn it..."

Zong Jincheng wanted to find an excuse to go settle accounts with Zhai Yao, but in the end, he realized he wasn't much better himself.

Zong Jincheng was in self-imposed isolation.

He leaned back and lay down on the eaves, wrapped in a fox fur cloak.

The cold wind blew, making him shiver, and he realized how cold the early spring evening was.

Zong Jincheng thought, what about Jing Zhe and his sister tonight?

The little devil quickly got up and ran out, heading straight for the dining hall.

Xu Wan and Zong Wenxiu had already finished eating. Seeing Zong Jincheng panting as he ran in, with fine sweat on his head, one would think he had just participated in a 1000-meter sprint.

Before she could speak, they heard the usually arrogant young dandy utter two sentences in quick succession:

"Those three blood-sweating horses, I never said I was giving them away, just letting them play with them. The horse contract is still in the mansion!"

"We need to fix Jing Zhe's roof quickly, or they'll be cold tonight and might get sick!"