Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 156 - 126: After Years as Husband and Wife, I Know All Your Sensitive Spots

With intense curiosity, Wang Jiu took the contract and carefully examined it. It was indeed as Zhou Wenjun had said, regarding the couple's voluntary waiver of their parental authority. The content was crude, yet concise, completely nullifying the parental control rights of Zhou Wenjun and her husband. Although their blood relationship remained, the coercive power of the parents effectively disappeared.

However, based on Wang Jiu's understanding of human society, the absolute control of elders over the younger generation is a fundamental element of social order. As society progresses, the resistance of the younger generation has become stronger, but overall, paternal authority remains one of the cornerstones of today's societal structure. Even if it falters, it wouldn't be completely abandoned as this contract indicates.

"Why sign such a thing?" Wang Jiu asked with puzzlement, "I don't see any benefit for you and your husband in this contract."

Zhou Wenjun allowed a barely noticeable smile to flicker across her face but quickly composed herself to answer seriously: "This was a bet Wanqing made with Li Jing when she was nine. The wager was this contract. If she won, we wouldn't interfere with her actions as parents anymore. If Li Jing won, she would strictly abide by everything her parents said. Li Jing then competed with her, and thus this contract was formed."

Wang Jiu, even more curious now, asked, "What did they compete in that allowed a nine-year-old girl to win against the head of the second household?"

Zhou Wenjun replied, "They discussed whether the main female character and the second female character in the new work 'Domineering Senior Brother' by Three Lives Stone had feelings beyond friendship. Li Jing thought they didn't, while Li Wanqing believed they did."

"Hmm, and then what happened?" Wang Jiu inquired.

Zhou Wenjun explained, "Then Wanqing wrote to Three Lives Stone to inquire about it, and the official response confirmed that there was more. Honestly, it surprised many people at the time, including myself. Most readers believed that the main character and the second female character just shared a pure friendship with no romantic relationship. However, when Wanqing asked, 'Some at the Cyan Cloud Li Family believe there's no romantic relationship, but I think there is. Mr. Three Lives Stone, what is the correct answer?' the author's response was clear: there is a relationship. It shocked a lot of people."

"And that's how Li Jing gave up his parental authority?"

"Keeping one's word is a basic quality of a person. If one can't even keep promises to their own daughter, then having authority would only lead to its abuse," Zhou Wenjun explained persuasively. "Let's say Wanqing is such an early and brilliant child that someone like us can't educate her. It's better to leave it to professionals."

At this point, Zhou Wenjun smiled again slightly: "After signing the contract, the family entrusted Wuqing Daoist to be Wanqing's teacher. In the following two years, she practiced with Wuqing Daoist, and her cultivation improved rapidly."

"I see," Wang Jiu nodded, "It makes sense to leave professional matters to the experts."

While speaking, Wang Jiu utilized his photographic memory to record all the details.

In fact, he wasn't interested in having Li Jing and Zhou Wenjun come forward to discipline Li Wanqing; he just wanted to thoroughly understand Li Wanqing's family life from a know-thy-enemy perspective.

"So, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to reading. I got called out by the alarm in the middle of my book, which is so frustrating..." Zhou Wenjun muttered a slight complaint and prepared to return to the library to continue reading.

Wang Jiu said, "Wait, I still have questions. Is Li Jing not at home?"

Zhou Wenjun frowned instantly: "He is, but you want to talk to Li Jing? However..."

She pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "Never mind, it's none of my business. If you want to find him, put on this bracelet and go to the top floor."

Upon hearing this, a barrage of questions welled up in Wang Jiu's mind, and he quickly grabbed Zhou Wenjun, continuing to inquire, "Wait, if Li Jing is home, why are you the one answering the door?"

"We take turns on duty," Zhou Wenjun quickly, and somewhat impatiently, explained, "Each person takes a 3-day shift at the door. If an outsider visits, the person on duty is responsible for greeting and necessary tasks. The other person can focus on reading without disturbance. It's my turn today, so I'm answering the door. Any more questions? If not, I'm going back to reading."

"Also, you want me to find Li Jing but have me wear this bracelet and go to the top floor. Are you and Li Jing not living together?"

"Of course not," Zhou Wenjun replied, "He's on the top floor, and I'm in the basement. We dine and practice separately on regular days."

Wang Jiu asked curiously, "Why? From what I know, human couples only choose to live apart when there's extreme discord. Is there a conflict between you and Li Jing?"

Zhou Wenjun said, "Of course there's no conflict; our relationship is great. Although the decision for marriage was made hastily, we both believe we are the best partners for each other."

She paused before seriously explaining: "We live apart to minimize interference with each other and to meet each other's needs. Our reading habits and aesthetic preferences diverge significantly, as do our requirements of the surrounding book environment. Living together would inevitably lead to conflicts due to these differences. Such emotional conflicts would certainly cause a waste of time—something neither of us can afford. So in the second year of our marriage, we established a plan to live apart and have stuck to it to this day. Hmm, most people probably wouldn't accept such an arrangement, so Li Jing is undoubtedly the best partner selection for me."

"I see. It's a very interesting marriage philosophy. What about child-rearing? What's your approach?"

Zhou Wenjun answered, "You'd better ask Li Jing about that. He's primarily responsible for the children; I just provide the womb for conception, nutritional support during breastfeeding, and reference opinions at other times."

"Understood, a very typical ancient male-preference family view. Worth noting," Wang Jiu nodded, "Thank you for your cooperation. Here's a small gift, just a token."

With that, Wang Jiu handed Zhou Wenjun a brand-new copy of 'Proud Young Master.'

Zhou Wenjun's eyes became wide with amazement: "Isn't this, isn't this the advance copy of Mr. Three Lives Stone's unreleased book?! How did you get it?"

Wang Jiu said, "Li Jinglun gave it to me. His book partner sent it to the wrong address, and he was so upset that he wanted to destroy it. It seemed a shame, so I took it."

Zhou Wenjun nodded appreciatively: "Thank you so much. I've always been a loyal fan of Mr. Three Lives Stone, eager to read each of his books at once. This advance copy... it means a lot to me. Here, when you visit Li Jing later, wear this bracelet too."

As she spoke, Zhou Wenjun handed over a golden bracelet.

"It's a VIP badge vetted by me. As a husband, he's obliged to receive you with the highest standards, so you don't have to worry about him brushing you off," Zhou Wenjun said and was just about to dive into her book reading when she remembered something, "Oh, right, if he does try to brush you off, tell him 'In Star River Destruction, the one who killed Mr. Feng was actually...'"

Wang Jiu asked, "Actually?"

"Just that's enough, he'll definitely beg you not to spoil the plot," Zhou Wenjun said, "Of course, if anything unexpected happens, just tell him the real culprit is the male protagonist."

"I got it."

"Then I wish you the best of luck. Goodbye," Zhou Wenjun said and then bounced away with her book, full of excitement.

——

As soon as Wang Jiu was about to leave, the Ice Lake Fairies surrounded him again, chirping and gossiping.

"Do you have a good relationship with the female master? She talked to you quite a bit!"

"It seems like more than she's spoken to the male master in years combined!"

"Did anyone count the words?"

"No, ask Xiao Bai. She loves counting. She almost got crushed by a Thunder Core from miscounting electric arcs before."

While the fairies were noisily arguing, Zhou Wenjun's voice came through.

"Oh, right, if those fairies get too annoying, just grab one and twist their left ear three times to the right."

Wang Jiu curiously asked, "Is that some kind of weird mechanism?"

"No, it's just that it will hurt the fairy so much that it'll scream, scaring the others back into the lake."

"I see," Wang Jiu said, as he looked toward the fairies, who had already scattered in fright.