Chapter 246: with translation of title

246. Chapter 246: Unlucky Since Childhood

Qiao Sheng glared reproachfully at Qiao Lihua and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? We're sisters; can I still ask you to pay me back this money?"

"Sister…"

Qiao Lihua was so moved that she didn't know what to say.

These past days she has helped her enough.

Qiao Sheng smiled and said, "It's enough that you know I'm your sister; from now on you can tell me anything, and as long as it's not excessive I'll help you."

Without waiting for Qiao Lihua to say anything.

Qiao Sheng leaned in and said, "Second sister, sister asks you a question: have you taken a liking to Ji Fan?"

She asked that out of the blue.

It made Qiao Lihua's face flush red, and she said in a small voice, "Sister, what nonsense are you speaking? That's not true; how could I have taken a liking to him!"

Qiao Sheng said aloud, "Oh, never mind. Earlier, seeing how nervous you were about Ji Fan, I thought you liked him. But to be fair, he's quite good‑looking."

"Sister, stop talking nonsense, I won't listen to you…"

Qiao Lihua stamped her foot and said.

"Alright, alright, I won't say more."

While saying that, Qiao Sheng went back and had An Liu go to the Yamen to investigate.

After An Liu's investigation, it turned out that the town had three people named Ji Fan; two of them were twenty‑two years old, and the remaining one was fifteen.

The fifteen‑year‑old one was obviously not the one.

Qiao Sheng then had An Liu look into the other two.

An Liu's ability to handle matters was still decent; after a little over an hour, he returned.

"Qiao Niangzi, I've clarified what you asked me to investigate. Of the two men named Ji Fan, one is from Ji Family Village, the other from Qingshui Village. The Ji Fan from Qingshui Village is ugly, obviously not the one you mentioned, so the Ji Fan you wanted me to look up is the one from Ji Family Village."

"The Ji Fan from Ji Family Village is twenty‑two this year; his father died when he was thirteen, leaving him, his mother, and his younger sister to rely on each other."

"His mother is named Tian Cuifen, forty years old. His sister is Ji Xue, fourteen years old. Ji Fan hasn't married yet; first, his family is poor, and second, he's a very unlucky person."

Qiao Sheng seized the point and asked, "Unlucky?"

An Liu nodded and continued.

"Ji Fan has been unlucky since childhood. Although he studies quite well, as soon as the imperial exam comes, problems arise; he failed several times and is still a tongsheng. And that's not the only issue—he chokes on water, trips while walking, basically everything is unlucky."

Qiao Sheng: "…"

That's just too tragic!

He's so unlucky.

If my own second sister truly liked him and wanted to be with him…

Wouldn't that just become a burden for him?

What should be done about this?

While Qiao Sheng was pondering, An Liu spoke: "Qiao Niangzi, why are you investigating such a person? Did he do something?"

"He saved my second sister."

Qiao Sheng didn't explain clearly.

An Liu saw that she didn't intend to continue, so he didn't ask further.

Given the previous events.

Qiao Lihua didn't dare to run around alone; whenever she came to find Qiao Sheng, she came by ox cart.

She arrived at Qiao Ji Restaurant in less than three days.

Qiao Sheng and the others had just finished lunch a short while ago.

He caught a glimpse of her arrival.

Qiao Sheng greeted her, "Second sister, you're here."

"Sister, let's talk outside."

Qiao Lihua walked briskly toward a place with no one around.

Qiao Sheng followed her, staying silent the whole way, waiting for her to speak.

Qiao Lihua stopped, opened her mouth and said, "Sister, Doctor Feng's medicine prescribed for Master Ji—I don't know how it's been taken, I want…"

"You want to go see Ji Fan, right? Fine, let's go; I already know where he lives."